Edward J. Falkowski Papers
Call Number
Dates
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
Edward J. Falkowski (1901-1984) was a journalist, trade unionist, and radical who was politically close to the communist movement in the 1920s-1940s. He was a prolific writer, contributing articles to left-wing journals throughout his life. He spent the years 1930-1937 living in the Soviet Union and writing for the English-language paper Moscow News. In addition to being a journalist, in the 1950s Falkowski was also a shop steward to the United Automobile, Aircraft and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), Local 365. The collection documents Falkowski's years in the Soviet Union, his involvement with Local 365, the evolution of his work as a writer and journalist, and his family relationships. The collection mainly consists of Falkowski's published and unpublished writings, correspondence, journals, scrapbooks, and labor union records.
Historical/Biographical Note
Edward J. Falkowski (1901-1984) was a journalist, trade unionist, and radical who was politically close to the communist movement in the 1920s-1940s. He was born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania in 1901. As a teenager, Falkowski began working in the coal mines, and he became active in the United Mine Workers (UMW). In 1926, Falkowski began attending Brookwood Labor College in Katonah, New York on a UMW scholarship. During this time, Falkowski's articles and poetry first appeared in Labor Age and New Masses. (Falkowski used two pseudonyms in his published writings: "Edward Fulsky" in the 1920s and "Polonicus" in the 1970s.)
In 1928, Falkowski traveled to Germany as a work exchange student. Encouraged by friends and attracted politically to the Russian Revolution, he decided to visit and write about the Soviet Union, arriving in May 1930. He remained in the Soviet Union for seven years, during which time he worked as a journalist for the Moscow News (an English-language paper), married, and began raising a family. In 1937, he left the Soviet Union and returned to the United States, where he settled in Toledo, Ohio. He taught for a time at Commonwealth College in Mena, Arkansas, then was drafted into the army. After his service, he remarried and continued his writing activities.
In the mid 1940s, at the urging of labor organizer Leo Krzycki, Falkowski helped organize and worked for the communist-associated American Slav Congress, an umbrella organization of Slavic Americans. He later directed a Polish press agency.
As a factory worker in the plastics department at Eagle Electric Manufacturing Company in the 1950s, Falkowski served as shop steward to the United Automobile, Aircraft and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), Local 365 in Queens, New York. He moved into a management position at Eagle Electric in 1959.
In the 1960s, Falkowski was active in New York City housing issues, worked as a field interviewer for the National Opinion Research Center, and contributed articles to the Christian Herald, Good Business, Supervision, Modern Management, Christian Science Sentinal, New Republic, and New Freeman.
Falkowski died in New York City in 1984.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into seven series. Folders are arranged alphabetically or chronologically within each series.
Series I: Journals
Series II: Correspondence
Series III: Writings
Series IV: Scrapbooks and Photographs
Series V: UAW, Local 365
Series VI: Moscow Years
Series VII: Unprocessed Materials
Scope and Contents
The collection spans over eight decades and documents Falkowski's years in the Soviet Union; his involvement with UAW, Local 365 and his employment at Eagle Electric; the evolution of his work as a writer and journalist; and his family relationships. The collection consists of Falkowski's published and unpublished writings, correspondence, journals, and scrapbooks. It also contains photographs, notes, biographical materials, and labor union records.
Subjects
Organizations
Genres
People
Topics
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (and related rights to publicity and privacy) to materials in this collection created by Edward J. Falkowski are held by the Falkowski family. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date; Edward Falkowski Papers; TAM 120; Box number; Folder number; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Helen Falkowski, widow of Edward J. Falkowski, sent a gift of Edward Falkowski's papers in 1984. The accession numbers associated with this gift are 1984.019, 1984.020 and NPA.2005.056.
Separated Materials
A run of the Polish Press Agency from 1944 to 1946, featuring articles written by Falkowski, was separated for library cataloging.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Photographs and other graphic materials were separated from this collection during initial processing and were established as a separate collection, the Edward J. Falkowski Photographs (PHOTOS 205). In 2013, the photograph collection was reincorporated into the Edward J. Falkowski Papers (TAM 120). Scrapbooks were rehoused in custom-made boxes by Preservation department.
Repository
Series I: Journals, 1917-1982, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Series I contains the journals Falkowski maintained throughout his life. The journals are particularly valuable for their documentation of his early years and his time in Germany and the Soviet Union.
Journals, 1917-1919, inclusive
Journals, 1920s, inclusive
Journals, 1930-1931, inclusive
Journals, 1935, inclusive
Journals, 1936-1937, inclusive
Journals, 1938, inclusive
Journals, 1939, inclusive
Journals, 1940, inclusive
Journals, 1941, inclusive
Journals, 1942-1945, inclusive
Journals, 1946-1947, inclusive
Journals, 1948-1949, inclusive
Journals, 1950-1954, inclusive
Journals, 1955-1957, inclusive
Journals, 1958, inclusive
Journals, 1959, inclusive
Journals, 195_? (1950s), inclusive
Journals, 1960, inclusive
Journals, 1961, inclusive
Journals, 1962-1964, inclusive
Journals, 1965, inclusive
Journals, 1966-1967, inclusive
Journals, 1968-1969, inclusive
Journals, 1970-1971, inclusive
Journals, 1972, inclusive
Journals, 1973-1974, inclusive
Journals, 1975, inclusive
Journals, 1976, inclusive
Journals, 1977, inclusive
Journals, 1978, inclusive
Journals, 1979-1980, inclusive
Journals, 1981-1982, inclusive
Journals, undated
Series II: Correspondence, 1910-1983, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Series II is primarily Falkowski's correspondence with his family, especially his wife and siblings. Prominent correspondents include Joseph North, Jack Conroy, Louis Adamic, and Elizabeth Gurely Flynn.
Correspondence, 1910s, inclusive
Correspondence, 1920s, inclusive
Correspondence, 1930s, inclusive
Correspondence, 1940s, inclusive
Correspondence, 1950s, inclusive
Correspondence, 1960s, inclusive
Correspondence, 1970-1973, inclusive
Correspondence, 1974-1976, inclusive
Correspondence, 1977, inclusive
Correspondence, 1978, inclusive
Correspondence, 1979, inclusive
Correspondence, 1980s, inclusive
Hannah (?), December 1928-April 1934, inclusive
Clyde Beasley, March 1979-August 1982, inclusive
Jon Bloom, September 1976-February 1979, inclusive
Inga Christensen, undated
Jack Conroy, October 1937-August 1982, inclusive
Viola Cooper, July 1940-May 1942, inclusive
Harold Dellinger, December 1975-December 1978, inclusive
Harold Dellinger, January 1979-August 1982, inclusive
Edna Falkowski Nofen, July 1938-June 1982, inclusive
George Falkowski, July 1968-December 1976, inclusive
George Falkowski, January 1977-January 1983, undated, inclusive
Helen Falkowski, undated
Helena Falkowski, June 1922-November 1964, inclusive
John Falkowski, August 1978-June 1982, inclusive
Paul Falkowski, June 1961-May 1982, inclusive
Stanley Falkowski, January 1927-August 1951, inclusive
Walter Falkowski, July 1917-1930s, inclusive
Boleslaw Gebert, February 1969-February 1979, inclusive
John Maliniak, May 1976-June 1982, inclusive
Polish Embassy, 1945-1968, inclusive
Rose Prokofiev, October 1931-December 1937, inclusive
Rose Prokofiev, February 1938-September 1945, inclusive
Rose Prokofiev, December 1973-May 1980, inclusive
William Seligman, March 1974-August 1982, inclusive
Tracy Strong, October 1980-October 1981, inclusive
Juan Tomaszewski, November 1971-October 1978, inclusive
Juan Tomaszewski, June 1979-June 1982, undated, inclusive
Ann Utterback, December 1976-March 1977, inclusive
Wayne State University, February 1974-June 1979, inclusive
Douglas Wixson, February 1982-August 1982, inclusive
Undated and Fragments, undated
Series III: Writings, 1910-1970s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Series III contains both published and unpublished works by Falkowski.
Subseries A: Published Writings
Scope and Content Note
Journals for which Falkowski wrote include Labor Age, New Masses, Rebel Poet, The Anvil, Moscow News, Polish American Journal, and People's Voice (under the pen name "Polonicus"). He also wrote for the Federated Press, a leftist labor news service.
The Anvil thru Fur den Sonntag, 1930s-1960s, inclusive
Good Business thru New Freeman, 1920s-1960s, inclusive
New Masses, 1920s-1940s, inclusive
People's Voice, 1950s-1970s, inclusive
Observer thru Young Outlook, 1930s-1960s, inclusive
Unknown Sources, undated
Subseries B: Literary Manuscripts
Scope and Content Note
The literary manuscripts consist of Falkowski's poetry, sketches, short stories, plays, and novels. The first folder in the subseries contains four unique issues of a literary journal produced by Falkowski and his friends in Pennsylvania.
Chapbooks, 1920s, inclusive
Fragments, undated
Notes, undated
Notes on Art, Books, etc., 1960s-1970s, undated, inclusive
Notecards, undated
Novel: Anthracite, undated
Novel: Dawn Lantern, undated
Novel: Iron Vineyard, undated
Plays, undated
Play: Dark Circle, undated
Plays: Untitled and Fragments, undated
Poems, 1960s-1970s, undated, inclusive
Poems and Prose, 1910-1930, inclusive
Stories, undated
Stories: Untitled and Fragments, undated
Subseries C: Journalism, Notes, Interviews, Biography, and Autobiography
Scope and Content Note
The subseries includes interviews and manuscripts produced from Falkowski's work as a journalist. It also includes Falkowski's autobiography and other biographical materials.
Biography, Autobiography, ID Cards, and Miscellaneous Biographical Materials, 1940s-1970s, undated, inclusive
Journalism and Notes: Arkansas, undated
Journalism and Notes: Coal, 1941, undated, inclusive
Journalism and Notes: College at Sixty, 1949, 1977, undated, inclusive
Journalism and Notes: Germany, undated
Journalism and Notes: Grant House, 1960s, undated, inclusive
Journalism and Notes: Ohio, undated
Journalism and Notes: Polish Matters, 1960s-1970s, undated, inclusive
Journalism and Notes: "Polonicus", 1960s, undated, inclusive
Journalism and Notes: Soviet Union, undated
Journalism and Notes: Work, 1950s, undated, inclusive
Interviews: Jeff Davis, 1940s, undated, inclusive
Interviews: National Opinion Research Center (N.O.R.C.), 1960s, undated, inclusive
Interviews: National Opinion Research Center (N.O.R.C.), 1960s, undated, inclusive
Series IV: Scrapbooks and Photographs
Scope and Content Note
Series IV contains twenty-seven scrapbooks, given sixteen subject titles by Falkowski. The major subject areas are mine workers and the UMW, Polish Americans, and Americans in the USSR. There are also a small number of photographs, postcards, and other graphic materials, primarily regarding coal mining in Pennsylvania and the American Slav Congress.
Scrapbook: Falkowski Writings, circa 1930-1970, inclusive
Scrapbooks: Fight to Save the Mines and Union Issues and Politics, circa 1930-1970, inclusive
Scrapbooks: Memoribilia, Moscow News: USSR Spetzes, Metro Spetzes Industry, circa 1930-1970, inclusive
Scrapbooks: Moscow News: Americans in USSR, Moscow News: Coal, Moscow News: Americans in USSR, circa 1930-1970, inclusive
Scrapbooks: Moscow News: Americans in USSR, Moscow News: USSR Culture, Moscow News: USSR Culture and Literature, circa 1930-1970, inclusive
Scrapbooks: Pennsylvnia Coal Mining, Coal Mining in the USA, Moscow News: Coal Special Features, circa 1930-1970, inclusive
Scrapbooks: Polish Clippings, Polonicus Clippins, Post-War Problems in Poland, circa 1930-1970, inclusive
Scrapbooks: Polish Emigres, Wartime Struggles of Emigre Groups, circa 1930-1970, inclusive
Scrapbook: Polish Emigres During the War, circa 1930-1970, inclusive
Scrapbooks: Post-War Lithuania and Baltic States, Moscow News: Clippings, Toledo Clippings, circa 1930-1970, inclusive
Scrapbook: Slav Congress in Poland, circa 1930-1970, inclusive
Scrapbooks: War Years in Poland, Moscow News: USSR Culture and Literature, circa 1930-1970, inclusive
Coal Mining, undated
Coal Mining, 1889, 1918, undated, inclusive
Portraits and Signed Photographs, 1970s, undated, inclusive
Sketch (Falkowski?), undated
Slav Congress, 1938, 1941, 1945, inclusive
Series V: United Automobile, Aircraft and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), Local 365
Scope and Content Note
Series V documents Falkowski's involvement with UAW, Local 365 during his employment in the plastics department at Eagle Electric Manufacturing Company in the 1950s. The series mostly consists of contract negotiations between Local 365 and Eagle Electric, Falkowski's shop notes, correspondence between Local 365 and Eagle Electric, and Eagle Electric inter-office correspondence.
Benefits, 1950s, undated, inclusive
Constitutions, 1950s, undated, inclusive
Contract Negotiations, 1949, inclusive
Contract Negotiations, 1950-1953, inclusive
Contract Negotiations, 1954-1956, inclusive
Contract Negotiations, 1957-1959, inclusive
Contract Negotiations, undated
Dues Book, 1950s, inclusive
Eagle Plastics Products and Equipment, 1950s, undated, inclusive
Elections, 1950s, undated, inclusive
Falkowski Correspondence, 1954, 1958-1959, inclusive
Grievances and Arbitrations, 1950s, inclusive
Membership, 1950s, undated, inclusive
Minutes, 1950s-1960, inclusive
Newsletters and Notices, 1950s, undated, inclusive
Shop Correspondence, 1949, inclusive
Shop Correspondence, 1950, inclusive
Shop Correspondence, 1951, inclusive
Shop Correspondence, 1952, inclusive
Shop Correspondence, 1953, inclusive
Shop Correspondence, 1954, inclusive
Shop Correspondence, 1955, inclusive
Shop Correspondence, 1956, inclusive
Shop Correspondence, 1957, inclusive
Shop Correspondence, 1958, inclusive
Shop Correspondence, 1959, inclusive
Shop Correspondence, 1960, inclusive
Shop Notes, 1949-1950, inclusive
Shop Notes, 1951-1954, inclusive
Shop Notes, 1955-1958, inclusive
Shop Notes, 1959-1960, inclusive
Shop Notes, undated
Shop Steward Manual, circa 1956, inclusive
Shop Stories, undated
Series VI: Moscow Years
Scope and Content Note
Series VI documents Falkowski's years in the Soviet Union. The materials in this series provide a first-hand account, through Falkowski's personal observations and interviews, of the daily life of industrial and agricultural workers in the 1930s. The materials offer insight into the workers' perceptions of the period's economic and political transformation, as well as their reactions from social and cultural viewpoints. There are also draft notes and essays on foreign specialists that document their perceptions of the Soviet Union and the conditions under which they worked and lived.
The series includes two unpublished manuscripts for novels that take place in the Soviet Union, one titled "Boris" and one which is untitled.
To a lesser extent, the series contains subject files on topics such as courts and trials, housing, press and journalism, and theatrical and fine arts. There are also a small number of profiles and interviews regarding literature and literary figures.
