New York State Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate Seditious Activities Hearing Testimony and Executive Session Transcripts
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Overview of the Records
Repository:
New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230
Summary:
The series consists of testimony related to an investigation of individuals and organizations suspected of violating the State's
criminal anarchy law. The majority of the testimony relates to organizing activity and publications aimed at overthrowing
the United States government and replacing it with a Socialist government. Witnesses included the Attorney General his staff,
state and local police; local district attorneys; foreign language translators; and individuals familiar with conditions within
Russia or with immigrant agencies.
Creator:
Title:
Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate Seditious Activities hearing testimony and executive session transcripts
Quantity:
1.6 cubic feet
3 microfilm rolls 35mm
Inclusive Dates:
1919-1920
Series Number:
L0026
Arrangement
Organized into three subsets of records: Committee Hearing Transcripts, 1919-1920, 0.8 cubic foot; Executive Session Transcripts,
1919-1920, 0.4 cubic foot; and Chairman's Transcripts, 1919-1920, 0.4 cubic foot.
Chronological by date of hearing or executive session.
Scope and Content Note
The series consists of over 3,000 pages of testimony given before the Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate Seditious
Activities, known as the "Lusk Committee" for its chairman Clayton R. Lusk. Testimony was taken for the purpose of gathering
information about activities of suspected radical organizations and to investigate the roots of communist or socialist movements
worldwide, but particularly in the United States and New York. Records are arranged in three subsets.
Committee Hearing Transcripts, 1919-1920, 0.8 cubic foot. This subset consists of testimony relating to the organization and propaganda activities of many
socialist and labor groups and to political conditions in Russia. The committee was also interested in the finances of these
groups: how and where funds were solicited and what were they used for. Most of the testimony relates to radical activity
in the New York City area but there is information about groups active in Buffalo, Rochester, and Utica.
Much of the testimony was provided by the New York State Attorney General, who served as the committee's counsel, or members
of his staff. Other witnesses included state and local police (who served as agents of the committee), local district attorneys,
translators of foreign language documents, individuals with knowledge of conditions in Russia, individuals who worked with
immigrant agencies, and others who may have worked for or had connections with suspected subversive organizations and/or individuals.
The testimony between committee members and this last category of witnesses was often contentious. Included is testimony from
Ludwig C.A.K. Martens (the Bolshevik government's representative to the United States), and prominent members of the socialist
movement, Nathan Chabrow and Dr. Michael Mislig.
The testimony includes verbatim transcripts of correspondence, pamphlets, newspaper articles, and other material seized by
the committee during raids on suspected radical organizations. Included are transcripts of documents from the Russian Soviet
Bureau, the Industrial Workers of the World, the Rand School of Social Science, and national and local branches of the Socialist
Party and the Communist Party.
Executive Session Transcripts, 1919-1920, 0.4 cubic foot. This subset is largely testimony from representatives of businesses engaged in various aspects
of the international sugar beet industry showing why there were consistently high consumer prices for sugar. The committee
had concluded that many individuals were being attracted to radical philosophies because of a belief that capitalism unnecessarily
raised prices of products. The committee hoped to use this testimony to help educate people on the positive benefits of the
capitalist system.
Chairman's Transcripts, 1919-1920, 0.4 cubic foot. This subset consists of three volumes of transcripts of committee hearings and executive sessions,
possibly kept by Senator Lusk himself, and which may duplicate portions of the other subsets.
The testimony of Ludwig C.A.K. Martens, head of the Russian Soviet Bureau, is found in the transcript of the June 12, 1919
executive session conducted immediately after the committee's detectives raided the bureau. During the testimony, Martens
explained the general operations and the commercial nature of the bureau, and Committee Chairman Clayton Lusk denied any knowledge
of the raid on the bureau. Also, two special agents testified anonymously as to the activities of the bureau and its employees.
The commercial agent for the bureau also testified as to the problems of buying American equipment for the new Soviet government.
The tone of these conversations, at times, is accusatory and contentious.
The volume containing hearing testimony given in New York City discusses radical activity nationwide (mentioning Cleveland,
Ohio, specifically) and the political situation in Russia, in addition to the finance of the Russian Soviet Bureau and the
activities of Hungarian groups in New York City.
The volume containing testimony gathered in Buffalo, Utica and Rochester between December 31, 1919 and January 2, 1920 contains
testimony from private investigators on communist and socialist activities in those cities, various ethnic groups' activities
(mainly Italians and Poles), and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). Testimony on the activities of Ludwig C.A.K. Martens,
the Rand School, John Reed, Emma Goldman, and the anarchist movement are detailed also. Often, seized letters and pamphlets
were read verbatim into the transcript; discussion on the Rand School's publication Love and Marriage, a booklet discussing
sexual issues (contraception, the role of women), is found here.
Alternate Formats Available
Microfilm is available for use at the New York State Archives or through interlibrary loan.
Other Finding Aids
Available at Repository
The first folder in the series contains an incomplete index, generated by the committee, to exhibits, topics, and witnesses.
Custodial History
L0026-78 was originally accessioned as part of boxes 8 and 9 of old collection #281, accessions -236 and -237.
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.
Access Terms
Personal Name(s):
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Detailed Description
Dates |
Contents |
Box |
Folder |
Accretion: L0026-78 |
|
Indexes |
1 |
1 |
1919 June 12 |
P. 1-70: Hugh Frayne |
1 |
2 |
1919 June 18 |
P. 71-75: Henry Grunewald |
1 |
3 |
1919 June 18 |
P. 76-104: Walter Brey, George Star |
1 |
4 |
1919 June 19 |
P. 106-123 |
1 |
5 |
1919 June 26 |
P. 183-236: Clarence Converse |
1 |
6 |
1919 June 26 |
P. 237-266 |
1 |
7 |
1919 June 27 |
P. 267-354: Rand School |
1 |
8 |
1919 July 8 |
P. 433-531 |
1 |
9 |
1919 July 9 |
P. 532-624 |
1 |
10 |
1919 July 17 |
P. 625-732: Labor |
1 |
11 |
1919 July 18 |
P. 733-801: Labor |
1 |
12 |
1919 July 24 |
P. 803-911: Russia |
1 |
13 |
1919 July 25 |
P. 912-993: Russia |
1 |
14 |
1919 July 30-31 |
P. 994-1035: Socialism |
1 |
15 |
1919 November 15 |
P. 1036-1085: Ludwig C.A.K. Martens |
1 |
16 |
1919 November 25 |
P. 1086-1203: Ludwig C.A.K. Martens |
1 |
17 |
1919 November 26 |
P. 1204-1291: Michael Mislig |
1 |
18 |
1919 December 4 |
P. 1292-1436: Michael Mislig |
1 |
19 |
1919 December 11 |
P. 1437-1501: Ludwig C.A.K. Martens |
1 |
20 |
1919 December 11 |
P. 1509-1531: Nathan Chabrow |
1 |
21 |
1919 December 31 |
P. 1583-1680: Buffalo |
1 |
22 |
1920 January 1 |
P. 1681-1808: Utica |
1 |
23 |
1920 January 2 |
P. 1809-1949: Rochester |
1 |
24 |
1920 January 16 |
P. 1950-2101 |
1 |
25 |
1920 January 17 |
P. 2102-2200 |
1 |
26 |
1920 January 19 |
P. 2201-2278 |
1 |
27 |
1919 June 12 |
P. E1-E75 |
1 |
28 |
1919 June 26 |
P. E76-E102 |
1 |
29 |
1919 December 26 |
P. E103-E219 |
1 |
30 |
1919 December 27 |
P. E220-E300 |
1 |
31 |
1920 April 17-18 |
P. E301-E358 |
1 |
32 |
1920 May 17 |
P. E1-E53: Cost of Living |
1 |
33 |
1920 May 18 |
P. E130-E163: Cost of Living |
2 |
1 |
1920 May 19 |
P. E164-E225: Cost of Living |
2 |
2 |
1920 May 19 |
P. E226-E314: Cost of Living |
2 |
3 |
1920 May 24 |
P. E384-E502: Cost of Living |
2 |
4 |
1920 May 24 |
P. E503-E539: Cost of Living |
2 |
5 |
1920 May 25 |
P. E617-E674: Cost of Living |
2 |
6 |
Accretion: L0026-89 |
1919 June |
New York City Hearing |
1 |
1 |
1919 June |
New York City Hearing |
1 |
2 |
1919 December |
Buffalo, Rochester, and Utica Hearings |
1 |
3 |
1920 January |
Buffalo, Rochester, and Utica Hearings |
1 |
4 |