Series XII: Graphics and Artifacts, 1910s-2000s, inclusive
Extent
Extent
Scope and Contents
This series contains an assortment of photographs, posters, buttons, and artifacts created and collected by the Communist Party of the United States and by Party members. Many of the items in this series commemorate events and document political issues or topics that were of interest to the Party. Buttons and posters document a variety of political and social issues, while photographs and artifacts provide documentation of regional Party activities, specific events, or groups associated with the CPUSA. Materials in this series were collected from a variety of sources and touch on a wide array of topics, some of which may not be directly related to Communist Party activity.
Subseries XII.A: Photographs by Topic, 1910s-2000s, inclusive
Extent
Extent
Scope and Contents
Photographs in this series contain images of public demonstrations, affiliated groups, and collected photographs on a wide variety of topics. Photographs of events and demonstrations document Communist Party regional activities, as well as activities of labor groups and other organization on the political left. Photographs in this subseries were both collected, rather than produced, by the CPUSA, and provide a glimpse into the array of topics of interest to the Party. Among these materials are collected prints created by various photographers documenting topics like rural life in Latin America, working-class people in New York City, and labor demonstrations. Other photographs document events in communist nations including the Soviet Union, North Korea, China, and Eastern European Soviet satellite nations. Images documenting CPUSA activities include images of Party leaders, meetings, and various demonstrations.
Processing Information
Photographs in this subseries were originally included as part of the Communist Party, USA Non-Print Collection (TAM 132.003). They had been previously grouped by format with photographs of individuals, which have been placed Subseries IX.A: Individuals, Personal Papers. A small portion of photographs were arranged topically prior to processing in 2017, but the bulk were in loose grouping and have been arranged topically by the archivist.
Africa: Girl's Education: Album, undated, inclusive
Albany: New York Troopers Forcing Hunger Marchers from the Capital, 1931 February
Angela Davis Rally, circa 1972, inclusive
Anti-War Protest, 2003
Arizona: Communist Party, 1972-1981, inclusive
Association of Lithuanian Workers, undated
Australia: Peace Committee: Scrapbook, 1982
Banned Book Day: Reference Center for Marxist Studies, 2002
Digital materials
Besar, Kenneth: Photographs By, undated, inclusive
Black Radical Congress, circa 2000s, inclusive
Chile: Agrarian Reform, circa 1960s, inclusive
China: Mao Tse Tung Funeral, 1979
Class 38 Radio Operators-Mechanics Course, A.A.F.T.S. Scott Field, Ill., 1943-05-16
Cleveland, 1930s, inclusive
Cleveland: Party Convention, 26th, 1996
Congress of the Soviet Communist Party, 27th, 1986
Communist Party: General, undated, circa 1930s-1981, inclusive
Communist Party: Leaders, undated, inclusive
Communist Party: Leaders, circa 1940s-1970s, inclusive
Communist Party: Meeting: Unidentified, 1919
Communist Party Congress (Sofia, Bulgaria), 1986
Democratic People's Republic of Korea, undated
Demonstration: "Bail for Hunger Strikers", 1948
Demonstration (Hayward Field, University of Oregon), 1962
Demonstrations and Group Photos, 1910s-2000s, inclusive
Demonstrations: General, 2000s, inclusive
Emancipation Commission of New York, 1913
European Theater Operation Conference/ U.S.S.R. Conference, 1981 June
Farewell Party for Ray Turchi, Business Agent Local 301, 1941-03-16
First Constitutional Convention of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, 1955-12-05
Fishman, Samuel: Negatives, undated, inclusive
Fishman, Sam: Photographs By: Communist Party Rally with Benjamin Davis, Eugene Dennis, and Gus Hall, circa 1950s, inclusive
Fishman, Samuel: Photographs By, 1960-1961, inclusive
Fishman, Samuel: Photographs By: Mexico and Caribbean, 1958-1961, inclusive
Free Angela Davis Negatives, circa 1972, inclusive
Funeral: unidentified, 1967
German Democratic Republic: Industrial Workers: Album, circa 1960s, inclusive
Greek Resistance: World War II: Commemorative Reproductions, 1982
Language of Materials
Instituto Cubano de Amistad con los Pueblos, circa 1970s, inclusive
International Organization of Journalists, (10J) Washington, DC, 1987 April 25
Italy: Communist Party and Allies, 1955
Jewish Labor Demonstration, 1902
Labor Caucus, circa 1970s, inclusive
Lenin, Vladimir Ilyich, 1903-1969, inclusive
Lenin, Vladimir Illych: Commemorative Reproductions, undated, inclusive
Language of Materials
Lenin, Vladimir Illych: Life and Work: Album, undated, inclusive
Mexico: Chiapas, 1994, inclusive
Digital materials
Mexico: Sisquieros, David Alfaro: Portrait, undated, inclusive
Mooney, Mother: Farwell Banquet (Irving Plaza, New York, NY), 1932 March 6
National Caucus of Labor Committees: Photographs, circa 1960s-1970s, inclusive
National Conventions: 22nd, 1979
National Conventions: 26th Bridgestone Rally (March 1-3), 1996
New York City: Demonstrations and Daily Life, 1950s, inclusive
New York City: Scenery and Individuals, 2000s, inclusive
Portuguese Communist Party
Language of Materials
Rosenbergs, undated
Sacco and Vanzetti Protests, 1927
Scrapbook: "Travels" (Poland, U.S.S.R., Japan, Barbados, Sevilla, Spain), 1966
Scrapbook: "Travels", 1966
"Second String Communist Party Leaders Indicted under the Smith Act:, 1951 June
Spanish Civil War: Spanish Newspaper Articles (Negatives), circa 1936-1939
Spanish Refugee Relief: Album, 1937
Steel Workers' Demonstration (Washington, DC), 2002
Digital materials
Sullivanians, undated
Unity of Labor and the People Conference: Photo Collage, 2001
US Base around U.S.S.R.: Map: Negatives, 1980
US vs. Flynn, Elizabeth Gurley, et. al.: Alexander Trachtenberg Materials: Negatives, undated
Velez, Tony: Photographs By, 1979
"War Criminal": unidentified: Lithuanian, undated
World Festival of Youth Students, 13th (Democratic People's Republic of Korea): Rim Su Gyong, 1989
World Trade Organization Demonstrations, 2002
Digital materials
World War II: General, circa 1940-1945, inclusive
World Youth Festivals, 1985-1989, inclusive
Young Communist League, 1920s, 1990s, inclusive
Young Workers Liberation League, 1972, 1976, inclusive
Youth, 1970s, inclusive
Subseries XII.B: Posters, 1898-2006, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
This subseries consists of over 300 posters dating from the 1930s to the present, with the bulk dating from the 1970s to the present. The subseries documents a diverse array of topics of interest to the international Communist movement, including domestic and international political issues, Communist history, labor organizing, and solidarity movements. There are a significant number of posters produced by the CPUSA, the Communist Party of Portugal, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the French Communist Party and the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), as well as posters created by a range of organizations and individuals. There are a significant number of posters produced for the annual World Youth and Students Festival. The posters in this subseries include a diverse array of graphic styles and production techniques. These posters place the CPUSA within the context of worldwide Communist organizing, and are particularly strong on international political issues.
Arrangement
The subseries is arranged alphabetically by topic or region, with sub-topics when appropriate. Folder-level description includes a scope and contents note describing additional topics, people, places featured in the posters. This information is derived from the images and text from the posters in each folder. Date ranges are approximate, and are based on information from the posters in each folder.
Processing Information
The Communist Party of the United States Poster and Graphics Collection (GRAPHICS.024) was added the the Communist Party Records as subseries XII.B: Posters in 2017. Posters in this series have not been rearranged and follow the previous arrangement of GRAPHICS.024.
Africa: General, 1970s, 1996, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include Algeria, Angola, anti-imperialism, Ethiopia, German Democratic Republic (GDR) / East Germany, independence movements, Liberia, Libya, solidarity, sports, Sudan, Venceremos Brigade, youth, Zimbabwe
Angela Davis, 1970s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include elections, freedom, German Democratic Republic (GDR) / East Germany, India, political prisoners, Puerto Rico, Young Workers Liberation League (YWLL)
Anti-Imperialism, 1970s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include German Democratic Republic (GDR) / East Germany, International Union of Students, United States of America, youth
Apartheid (South Africa), 1970s-1980s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include African National Congress (ANC), James Mange, political prisoners, Soloman Mahlangu, South Africa, youth
Black American National Anthem, undated
Black Liberation, 1960s-1990s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include the Black Radical Congress, Communist Party of the United States (CPUSA), Malcolm X, Plainfield, NJ (USA), Young Workers Liberation League (YWLL), W.E.B. Du Bois
Chile, 1970s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include anti-imperialism, Carlos Lorca, fascism, Hortensia Allende, Jose Weibel, political prisoners, solidarity, Victor Jara
Communist Party of Portugal, 1970s, 1999, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include democracy, elections, German Democratic Republic (GDR) / East Germany, unionization, Russian Revolution
Communist Party of the United States (CPUSA): Daily Worker and Daily World, 1970s-1980s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include Daily Worker, Daily World, calendar
Communist Party of the United States of America (CPUSA): Electoral, 1960s-1980s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include Angela Davis, Anthony Monteiro, Charlene Mitchell, Gus Hall, Herbert Aptheker, Jarvis Tyner, Jesus Colon, Judith Le Blanc, Maria Ramos, Mike Zagarell, Minimum Wage, "People Before Profits", Rasheed Storey, Ronald Reagan, William Scott, Young Communist League (YCL)
Communist Party of the United States of America (CPUSA): General, 1970s-2004, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include Angela Davis, Gus Hall, Harvey Matusow, Henry Winston, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, Nelson Rockefeller, Paul Robeson, W.E.B. Du Bois, Young Communist League (YCL), Young Workers Liberation League (YWLL), youth
Cuba, 1980s, 2004, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include Che Guevara, Cuban Five, education, embargo, Jose Marti, solidarity, women, youth
Cultural Work, 1932, 1970s-1980s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include Bertolt Brecht, Bread is Rising Poetry Collective, Daniel Viglietti, Duke Elllington, German Democratic Republic (GDR) / East Germany, Gisela May, Harlem Globetrotters, Honore Daumier, Hugo Gellert, Kulturpalast, Dresden (GDR), Willie Nelson
Disarmament, 1970s-1990s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include the Communist Party of the United States of America (CPUSA), Europe, Hiroshima, National Council of American-Soviet Friendship, peace, Tokyo (Japan), Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Women for Racial and Economic Equality, World Federation of Democratic Youth
Economics, 1970s-1990s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include elections, French Communist Party, United States of America, World Trade Organization (WTO)
Europe: General, 1970s-1990s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include communist parties, Denmark, France, Norway
Farms and Farmers, 1970s-1990s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include agricultural reform, Cesar Chavez, Communist Party of Portugal, cooperative development
German Democratic Republic (GDR) / East Germany, 1970s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include Angola, fascism, party conferences, Russian Revolution, Socialist Unity Party of German, solidarity, working class
Labor: General, 1970s-1990s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include 3M, American Federation of Labor (AFL), immigration, International Labor Organization (ILO), International Transport Workers Federation, International Workers Order, Ralph Fasanella, solidarity, Spain, Sweden, United Auto Workers (UAW), United Steelworkers of America, workplaces
Labor: General Confederation of Labor (CGT), 1970s-1990s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include El Salvador, environment, labor organizing, solidarity, worker rights
Labor: May Day, 1970s-1980s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include Center for a United Labor and People, Haymarket affair, Lucy Parsons Film Collective, Union Square, New York City (USA)
Middle East: General, circa 1988
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include Lebanon, Palestine
North America: General, 1970s-1990s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include Canada, communist parties, elections, Emiliano Zapata, Grenada, imperialism, Mexico, Panama, political prisoners, trade
Occupational Safety, 1976
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include agriculture, explosives, protective gear, Romania, Sweden
Peace, 1970s-2000s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include Czechoslovakia, Daily World, George W. Bush, German Democratic Republic (GDR) / East Germany, People's Coalition for Peace and Justice, Republican National Convention (RNC), torture, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), United for Peace and Justice, Washington, D.C. (USA), World Federation of Democratic Youth, World Magazine, Young Communist League (YCL), youth
Portraits, 1970s, inclusive
Reds: Movie Poster, circa 1980s, inclusive
South America: General, 1980s-2000s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include Argentina, Bolivarian Revolution, Bolivia, Hugo Chavez, Uruguay, Venezuela
Spain, 1976, 1984, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include political prisoners, Spanish Civil War, U.S. Committee for a Democratic Spain, Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade (VALB)
Spain: Spanish Civil War, circa 1936-1939, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
This poster is very fragile, and should only be handled with assistance of library staff.
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), 1917, 1959-1979, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include England, fascism, health care, maps, Moscow Olympics (1980), public ownership, Russian Revolution, urban life, Vladimir Lenin, World War II
United States of America, 1970s-1990s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include Democratic National Convention (DNC), elections, housing, Karl Yoneda, March on Washington, peace, Pete Wilson, the Red Scare, Republican National Convention (RNC), Socialist Workers, Working Families Party, Wounded Knee, Yippie House
Vietnam, 1960s-1970s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include "A Day of Intellectuals for Vietnam", anti-war, draft, genocide, Organization of Solidarity of the People of Asia, Africa and Latin America (OSPAAAL), solidarity, W.E.B. Du Bois Clubs, youth
Women, 1980s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include Clara Zetkin, Cuba, International Women's Day, labor, Spain, Young Communist League (YCL)
World Youth and Students Festival, 1970s-2000, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea / North Korea, German Democratic Republic (GDR) / East Germany, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)
Youth, 1980s-1990s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Additional topics include Cyprus, education, German Democratic Republic (GDR) / East Germany (East Germany), Vladimir Lenin, Portugal, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), World Federation of Democratic Youth
Subseries XII.C: Buttons, 1920s-2000s, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
This subseries consists of hundreds of buttons and political badges dating from the 1910s to 1990s. Buttons were both collected and created by the CPUSA and document a wide array of political topics and election campaigns. A large portion of the buttons relate to election campaigns, and feature CPUSA candidates at the state and national level as well as buttons in support of candidates not affiliated with the Communist Party. Political badges feature small pins dating from the 1920s and 1940s, which touch on topics such as participation in May Day demonstrations, political causes, labor affiliation, and Party support. They also include pins in support of early CPUSA political candidates. Other buttons document a broad range of political topics from the 1950s to early 2000s, including anti-capitalism, environmentalism, peace, civil rights, women's rights, and campaigns against political leaders in the United States.
Arrangement
Buttons in this subseries are arranged into groupings by general topic, with sub-topics where necessary. Because some topics overlap, buttons contained in topical groupings may also relate to other topics contained in this subseries.
Processing Information
Buttons in this subseries were processed in 2017. At the time of processing, buttons were loose in boxes with no clear arrangement. Buttons have been arranged roughly by topic and attached foam boards. A small set of political badges and May Day pins were grouped together prior to processing and have been maintained in their original groupings.
Africa, circa 1980s, inclusive
American-Soviet Friendship, undated, inclusive
Anti-Capitalism, circa 1980s-2000s, inclusive
Australia: May Day and Peace, 1956-1987, inclusive
Children's Rights, 1990s, inclusive
Civil Rights, 1937, 1960s-1980s, inclusive
Communist Party: General, 1943-2001, inclusive
Economic Equality, 1962-1999, inclusive
Environmentalism, undated, inclusive
Elections: State and Local, 1968-1991, inclusive
Elections: State and Local: CPUSA Candidates, circa 1970s-1990s, inclusive
Elections: US Presidential, 1948-2008, inclusive
Elections: US Presidential: CPUSA Candidates, 1972-1984, inclusive
Free Angela Davis, 1970-1972, inclusive
Housing, 1980s, inclusive
International Affairs, circa 1940s-1987, inclusive
Jobs, 1976-1998, inclusive
Labor, 1938-1998, inclusive
Latin America, circa 1970s-1990s, inclusive
May Day, 1930s, 1973-1989, inclusive
Nuclear, 1965-1988, inclusive
Peace, 1960s-1980s, inclusive
Political Badges, circa 1920s-1940s, inclusive
Politics: Bush, George W. and George H.W., circa 1990s, 2000s, inclusive
Politics: General, circa 1950s-1990s, inclusive
Politics: New York City, 1980s-1990s, inclusive
Politics: Nixon, Richard, 1970s, inclusive
Politics: Reagan, Ronald, 1983-1986, inclusive
Senior Citizens, undated, inclusive
Socialism, 1985-1990, inclusive
Soviet Union, circa 1970s-1980s, inclusive
Spanish Civil War, circa 1936-1940, inclusive
Vietnam, 1965-1972, inclusive
Women's Rights, 1970s, inclusive
Youth, 1960s-1990s, inclusive
Unidentified Campaigns, undated, inclusive
Subseries XII.D: Artifacts and Memorabilia, 1924-2009, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
This subseries is comprised of an assortment of collected items relating to party events, individual members, or affiliated groups. It includes a wide array of materials such as banners, flags, t-shirts, political stickers, postage stamps, ink stamps, stationery, flyers, badges, and ribbons. Memorabilia related to youth activities are prominently featured among these materials and include textile banners, pennants, arm bands, hats, and badges. They also include poster boards filled with images documenting youth participation in the CPUSA from the 1930s to 1990s. Many items relate specifically to the Young Communist League (YCL) and Young Workers Liberation League (YWLL), but other items are more generally document youth activism in the party. Several items relate to Communist Party publications including memorabilia from the Daily World, and metal plates of text and images used in Communist Party publications between the 1940s and 1950s.
Arrangement
Collected artifacts in this subseries are arranged alphabetically by item name or topic.
Central Unica de Trabajadores: Pennants (Chile), circa 1950s-1970s, inclusive
Collected Memorabilia: 2018 Accretion, 1984-2004, inclusive
Communist Party Events: Ticket Stubs, 1940-1943, inclusive
Communist Party USA: Calendar, 1995
"Cuba Si, Yanqui No!": Badge, undated, inclusive
Culinary, Bartenders, Op. Engineers, Carpenters, Teamsters "Frontier Victory": Flags, 1998, inclusive
Daily World: Messenger Bag, undated, 2009
Daily World Calendar, 1976, inclusive
Daily World Publishing Co.: Stock Certificate, 1924, inclusive
"Defeat the Mundt Bill": Flyers, circa 1950, inclusive
Defendants Exhibit, 1949, inclusive
Democratic Popular Front of Palestine: Plaque, undated, inclusive
Dimitrov, Georgi: Photographic Reproductions of Life and Career, undated
Donation to the Communist Party, Mexico, 1972 October 17, inclusive
"Education Not Incarceration Fight the Police State" Black Radical Congress, Building A Liberation Agenda For the 21st Century, circa 2000
Engles, Frederich: Mounted Portrait, undated
Free German Youth (FDJ): Pennant, undated, inclusive
"Free Lori Berensen": Information Card, 2000, inclusive
"From the Library of Art Shields": Flyers, undated, inclusive
Gellert, Hugo: Commemorative Prints, undated, inclusive
German Democratic Republic Badge, undated, inclusive
Gold, Mike: "Change the World, So Long for a While": Liner Type, undated
Gorky, Maxim: Woodcut Print by Liston M. Oak, undated
Guthrie, Woody: Drawing: "Punchin' the Clock", undated, inclusive
Hall/Davis: Campaign Ink Stamp, 1984
Hammer and Sickle: Hankerchief, undated, inclusive
Harlem/Washington Heights Club: Banner, undated, inclusive
Hat: Vets for Peace in Vietnam, circa 1960s-1970s, inclusive
Hat: Young Communist League, undated
History of Communism Exhibit, undated
Ho Chi Minh: Drawing by David Gordon, undated, inclusive
International Publishers: Bookmark, 1965, inclusive
International Publishers: Keychain, undated, inclusive
Labor Cartoons: Ink Stamps, undated
Lenin, V.I. Reading Pravda: Reproduction of Drawing, undated
Magnets: Communist Party, USA, undated, inclusive
Magnets: Unions, undated, inclusive
Map of French Reigons, undated
Mexico: Labor Prints: Various Artists, undated, inclusive
The Militant: Facsimile of First Edition (Originally Published 1928), 1968
Model Caboose, circa 1942, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
The model train car contains the handpainted writing: "TO MOTHER BLOOR, HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY, GROUP OF STEEL WORKERS of Philadelphia." One end is stencilled or stamped: "New York Central Lines."
Mother Bloor: Cooper Plate, undated, inclusive
National Convention, 22nd: Delegate Badge, 1979, inclusive
National Convention, 23rd: Ribbons and Badges, 1983, inclusive
National Convention, 24th: Pen, 1987, inclusive
National Nominating Convention (Madison Square Garden, New York, NY): Ticket, 1940
National Worker's School: Concert at Irving Plaza: Ticket, 1928, inclusive
New Jersey: State Nominating Convention: Delegate Badge, 1928, inclusive
"No Easy Walk to Freedom" Anti-Apartheid: T-Shirt, 1990
Olympic Bear Mascot: Wooden Cutout, 1980
Original Drawings and Artwork, 1980s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes original artwork created by Communist Party members, as well as a drawing of Gus Hall by the artist Hugo Gellert.
