Maurice Isserman Research Files

Call Number

TAM.239

Dates

1940-1995, inclusive

; 1970-1995, bulk

Creator

Isserman, Maurice

Isserman, Maurice (Role: Donor)

Extent

4 Linear Feet (5 boxes)

Language of Materials

Materials are in English

Abstract

Maurice Isserman is an historian and author of The Other American: The Life of Michael Harrington (2000), and several other books relating to the history of the American left. The bulk of the collection contains interview transcripts, topical files, newspaper clippings and FBI files related to Isserman's research on Michael Harrington. Prominent interviewees include: William F. Buckley, Lewis Coser, Norman Dorsen, Hal Draper, Harry Fleischman, John K. Galbraith, Herbert Gans, Michael Harrington (there are also two interviews of Harrington conducted by others), his wife Stephanie Harrington, Irving Howe, Irving Kristol, David McReynolds, Jack Newfield, Victor Reuther, Eugene Rostow, Andre Schiffrin, Stanley Sheinbaum, and Diana Trilling. The collection also contains several files related to Isserman's research on American Communism between 1977 and 1980.

Historical/Biographical Note

Maurice Isserman is an historian and author of The Other American: The Life of Michael Harrington (2000), and of Which Side Are You On?: The American Communist Party during the Second World War, and If I Had a Hammer: The Death of the Old Left and the Birth of the New Left (1993). Isserman is also a professor of history at Hamilton College (New York).

Michael Harrington (1928-1989), is best known as the author of The Other America: Poverty in the United States (1962), and as the founder and leader of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee, which later became the Democratic Socialists of America (U.S. affiliate of the Socialist International). He also taught political science at Queens College, part of the City University of New York, and continued to write, lecture and travel widely until his death from cancer in 1989. Among his many books were two autobiographical works, Taking Sides: The Education of a Militant Mind(1985) and The Long-Distance Runner : An Autobiography(1987), The New American Poverty(1984), The Politics at God's Funeral: The Spiritual Crisis of Western Civilization(1985), and Socialism : Past and Future(1989).

Arrangement

The collection is organized into two series by reserach subject. Series I has been divided into four subseries by record type, which are arranged as follows: Subseries IA: Interview transcripts (arranged alphabetically); Subseries IB: Topical files (arranged alphabetically); Subseries IC: Newspaper clippings (arranged chronologically); Subseries ID: FOIA files (arranged by file number). Research files in Series II are arranged in alphabetical order by topic.

Scope and Contents

The bulk of this collection contains oral history interviews, newspaper clippings, FBI files, and subject files compiled by Maurice Isserman for his book The Other American: The Life of Michael Harrington. Oral history interviews feature prominent individuals including: William F. Buckley, Lewis Coser, Norman Dorsen, Hal Draper, Harry Fleischman, John K. Galbraith, Herbert Gans, Michael Harrington, Stephanie Harrington, Irving Howe, Irving Kristol, David McReynolds, Jack Newfield, Victor Reuther, Eugene Rostow, Andre Schiffrin, Stanley Sheinbaum, and Diana Trilling. The topical files contain background material on people, organizations, and issues. The newspaper clippings consist of articles by and about Michael Harrington. The four FOIA files were obtained by Isserman.

One folder of correspondence added to the collection in 2016 consists of photocopies of letters written by Harrington to his friends and family between 1948 and 1953. The bulk of these letters are addressed to Harrington's parents and his sister Margaret. The folder also includes several of Isserman's handwritten notes.

The collection contains several files related to Isserman's research on American Communism during World War II. These files date from 1977 to 1980 and include photocopies of Communist Party meetings between 1935 and 1940 and records related to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and the Communist Party. They also contain correspondence with Joe Clark, letters related to Isserman's research on Earl Browder, and transcript of an oral history interview with Steve Nelson.

Subjects

Donors

Isserman, Maurice

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 Maurice Isserman was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date; Maurice Isserman Research Files; TAM 239; box number; folder number; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Materials were donated by Maurice Isserman in 2000 and 2016. The accession numbers related to these gifts are 2000.024 and 2016.060.

Custodial History

Maurice Isserman sent a gift of research files, videocassettes, and audiocassettes related to Michael Harrington in December 2000. In 2016, Isserman sent a research file related to Michael Harrington's family correspondence.

Separated Materials

Separated from the collection were: (a) 14 videocassettes of public programs featuring or about Michael Harrington, which were transferred to the Library's NonPrint collection, and: (b) 116 audiocassettes, apparently the oral history interviews whose transcripts comprise series I, which were transferred to the Library's Sound collection.

Related Material at the Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives

Maurice Isserman Oral History Interviews (OH 036)

Collection processed by

Katja Vehlow; Entered into the Archivist's Toolkit by John D. Bence

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-20 16:58:15 -0400.

Language: Description is written in: English, Latin script.

Processing Information

There is no documentation regarding arrangement and description decisions made before 2016. In 2016 previously undescribed materials related to Isserman's research on American Communism were described in the collection as Series II: Early Research Files. At this time all previously described materials in the collection were moved into Series I: Research Files for The Other American: The Life of Michael Harrington, but the arrangement of materials within the series was not changed. The collection title was also updated from the Maurice Isserman Research Files for The Other American: The Life of Michael Harrington to the Maurice Isserman Research Files to reflect the inclusion of these new materials.

Additionally 1 folder of Michael Harrington's personal correspondence was added to the collection in 2016 and incorporated into Subseries IIB: Topical Files as Harrington, Michael - Personal Correspondence.

Revisions to this Guide

November 2016: Edited by Heather Mulliner to reflect the incorporation of a 2016 accretion

Repository

Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives

Series I: Research Files for The Other American: The Life of Michael Harrington, 1940-1995, inclusive

Subseries IA: Interview Transcripts

Berthelme, Elizabeth, March 17, 1995, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Bernstein, Jules, March 9, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Booth, Heather, March 11, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Brungard, Ed, December 14, 1990, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Buckley, William F., January 6, 1990, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Chapin, Jim, April/December 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Clark, Ed, March 23, 1990, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Clark, Jack, January/March 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Clingon, Eldon, May 19, 1993, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 9 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Corbin, Marty & Ed Egan, October 30, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Coser, Lewis, May 3, 1985, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 11 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Dempsey, Richard, May 16, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 12 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Denitch, Betty, August 6, 1984, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 13 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Denitch, Bogdan, 1984-1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 14 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Diaz, Eileen Fautino, March 16, 1995, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 15 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Dorsen, Norman, May 24, 1993, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 16 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Draper, Hal, undated

Box: 1, Folder: 17 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Dreier, Peter, November 5, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 18 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Faherty, William Father, May 13, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 19 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Faucher, Ed, January 6, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 20 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Finn, Jim and Molly, September 27, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 21 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

FitzGibbon, Peggy, November 3, 1990, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 22 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Fitzsimmons, Richard, February 7, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 23 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Fleischman, Harry, April 6, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 24 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Franklin, Joan S., March 19, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 25 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Galbraith, John K., May 19, 1993, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 26 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Gallin, Liz, January 6, 1992

Box: 1, Folder: 27 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Gans, Herb, March 16, 1995

Box: 1, Folder: 28 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Geltman, Manny, March 19, 1985, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 29 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Gittin, Todd, June 16, 1994, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 30 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Glotzer, Al, October 10, 1984, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 31 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Hacker, David, August 19, 1988, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 32 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Harrington, Alec, September 27, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 33 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Harrington, Michael -- interviewed by John Cogley, undated

Box: 1, Folder: 34 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Harrington, Michael, November 19, 1982, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 35 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Harrington, Michael – interviewed by Kirkpatrick Sale, October 6, 1969, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 36 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Harrington, Michael -- interviewed by Todd Gitlin, undated

Box: 1, Folder: 43 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Harrington, Michael and Dave, undated

Box: 1, Folder: 37 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Harrington, Stephanie, September 27, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 38 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Harrington, Ted, February 15, 1993, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 39 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Haskell, Gordon, July 15, 1983, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 40 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Healey, Richard, March 11, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 41 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Henle, Father, December 13, 1990, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 42 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Howe, Irving -- interviewed by Todd Gitlin, undated

Box: 1, Folder: 43 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Jacobson, Julius and Phyllis, undated

Box: 1, Folder: 44 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Jordan, Ruth, March 10, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 45 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Kelman, Steve, November 24, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 46 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Kristol, Irving, August 8, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 47 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Kusnet, Dave, March 11, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 48 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Kuttner, Bob, April 26, 1993, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 49 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Lacefield, Patrick and Dinah Lewenthal, August 5, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 50 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Levinson, Mark, July 24, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 51 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Lipon, Arthur, November 9, 1984, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 52 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Llewelyn, Frank, October 14, 1991

Box: 1, Folder: 53 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Loftus, Bill, September 27, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 54 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Max, Steve, May 14, 1986; October 16, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 55 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

McGovern, Hamilton, April 14, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 56 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

McReynolds, Dave, July 9, 1984; September 16, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 57 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Meier, Debbie, April 19, 1986; January 6, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 58 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Meyerson, Harold, July 27, 1990, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 59 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Mitchell, Peggy Brennan, October 22, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 60 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Moore, Arthur J., September 28, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 61 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Mort, Jo-Ann, September 26, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 62 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Murphy, Joe, October 16, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 63 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Newfield, Jack, January 6, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 64 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Nichols, Marcy Perot, March 16, 1995, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 65 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Novick, Peter, December 28, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 66 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

O'Brien, Dave, September 13, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 67 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

O'Gorman, Ned, May 23, 1993, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 68 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

O'Neill, Roger, April 6, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 69 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Padburg, John S.J., February 13, 1990, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 70 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Rawick, George, August 17, 1984, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 71 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Reinert, Paul C. S.J., December 13, 1990, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 72 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Reuther, Victor, August 6, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 73 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Roberts, Skip, August 6, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 74 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Rosenberg, Bernie, October 6, 1983, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 75 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Rostow, Eugene, August 6, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 76 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Schori, Pierre, June 11, 1993, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 77 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Schiffrin, Andre, June 19, 1983, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 78 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Schwartz, Joe, February 8, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 79 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Shier, Carl, November 4, 1990, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 80 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Shier, Nancy and Roberta Lynch, April 3, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 81 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Sheinbaum, Stanley K., July 29, 1990, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 82 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Schoch, Jim, October 23, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 83 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Silbiger, Steve, March 10, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 84 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Stanley, John, July 25, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 85 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Steinfels, Peter, October 14, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 86 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Stillman, Dan, undated

Box: 1, Folder: 87 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Stuart, Jack, January 7, 1995, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 88 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Thomas, Bill -- notes on interview with, January 10, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 89 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Thyessen, Freijof, December 8, 1984, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 90 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Towey, Martin, May 14, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 91 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Trilling, Diana, July 25, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 92 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Tristman, Dorothy and Larry Wittner, July 4, 1984, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 93 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Wakefield, Dan, February 7, 1993, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 94 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Walzer, Michael, March 20, 1986, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 95 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Warwick, Jane, January 6, 1991, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 96 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Wilkerson, Jerome Msgr, May 13, 1992, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 97 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Zimmerman, Fred Father, December 13, 1990, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 98 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Subseries IB: Topical Files

Chicago, 1992, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Civil Rights, 1959-1992, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Conservatives, 1980s, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Democratic Agenda, 1986-1987, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Democratic Socialists of America, 1983-1989, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

DSOC, 1991, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Fund for the Republic, circa 1956, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Harrington, Michael - Family, undated

Box: 2, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Harrington, Michael - Family, undated

Box: 2, Folder: 9 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Harrington, Michael - Illness, 1985-1989, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Harrington, Michael - Personal Correspondence, 1948-1951, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Holy Cross, 1945-1991, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 11 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Howe, Irving, undated

Box: 2, Folder: 12 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Ireland, 1991, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 13 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Jews & Israel, 1970-1992, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 14 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Labor Movement, 1965-1994, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 15 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

League for Industrial Democracy, 1964-1995, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 16 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

McReynolds, Dave, 1950s, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 17 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

New Left, undated

Box: 2, Folder: 18 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Queens College, 1975-1989, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 19 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Releases, undated

Box: 2, Folder: 20 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Reviews of Michael Harrington, 1965-1987, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 21 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Rustin, Baynard, undated

Box: 2, Folder: 22 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

St. Louis University High School, 1940-1944, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 23 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

SDUSA (Social Democrats, USA), 1986, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 24 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Shachtman / ISL, 1984-1996, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 25 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Socialism, history & future, 1970s, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 26 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Socialist International, 1977-1996, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 27 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Socialist Party, 1960s, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 28 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Socialist Party, 1960s, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 29 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Vietnam War, 1971-1993, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 30 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Village Voice, 1950s-1991, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 31 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Workers Defense League, 1984-1991, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 32 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Yale Law School, 1984-1992, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 33 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

YPSL (Young Peoples Socialist League), 1971-1991, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 34 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Subseries IC: Newspaper Clippings by and about Michael Harrington

Harrington clippings, 1951-1983, inclusive

Box: 3, Folder: 1-33 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Harrington clippings, 1984-1989, inclusive

Box: 4, Folder: 1-6 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Subseries ID: FOIA FIles (by file number)

FOIPA HQ 100-411915 Vol. 1 - 1 out of 2

Box: 4, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

FOIPA HQ 100-411915 Vol. 1 - 2 out of 2

Box: 4, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

FOIPA HQ 100-411915 Vol. 2 - 1 out of 2

Box: 4, Folder: 9 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

FOIPA HQ 100-411915 Vol. 2 - 2 out of 2

Box: 4, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Unprocessed Videos

Box: 6 (Material Type: Moving Images)

Series II: Early Research Files, 1977-1980, inclusive

Clark, Joe Correspondence, 1979-1982, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Communist Party Meetings and Office of Strategic Services (OSS), 1977, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 2-3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Communist Party Political Committee Meetings, 1935-1940, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Correspondence Regarding Earl Browder, 1977-1982, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Nelson, Steve Interview, 1977, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)