New York State Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate Seditious Activities Rand School Seized Files L0028

New York State Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate Seditious Activities Rand School Seized Files

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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 Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate Seditious Activities (known as the "Lusk Committee" for its chairman Clayton R. Lusk) seized these records in raids on the Rand School of Social Science in New York City. The committee tried unsuccessfully to use the records to revoke the charter of the American Socialist Society, the Rand School's parent organization. Records include correspondence, bulletins, and lists relating to home study courses, lectures, publications, and school activities. The records also include material relating to political and organizational activities of the Socialist Party.

Creator:

New York (State). Legislature. Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate Seditious Activities

Title:

Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate Seditious Activities Rand School seized files

Quantity:

1.4 cubic feet

Quantity:

2 35mm microfilm roll(s)

Inclusive Dates:

1913-1919

Series Number:

L0028

Arrangement

Organized into 5 subseries: Subseries 1, Subject Files, 1914-1919, 0.5 cubic foot, is arranged alphabetically by topic. Subseries 2, Photostatically-copied Correspondence, 1914-1919, 0.5 cubic foot, has no apparent order. Subseries 3, Course Inquiry File, 1913-1915, 0.1 cubic foot, is arranged roughly be date of inquiry. Subseries 4, Correspondence Course file, 1917-1918, 0.1 cubic foot, has no apparent arrangement. Subseries 5, Supporters' Name File, ca. 1915-1919, 0.2 cubic foot, is arranged alphabetically by individuals' last names.

Administrative History

The American Socialist Society operated the Rand School of Social Science in New York City. The emphasis of the school's curriculum was on economics and history along with courses on English, public speaking and other practical courses for immigrants. While the Rand School's stated philosophy was to promote the spread of socialism by peaceful means, the committee maintained that it sought the overthrow of the government.

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of material confiscated by the committee in raids on the Rand School in June 1919. The seizures were an attempt to gather evidence to prove the committee's suspicions about the School's revolutionary nature. The material pertains to the school's curriculum, its financial support, and to individuals connected in various ways to the Socialist party. The Committee attempted to use these and other documents to revoke the charter of the American Socialist Society to operate the school. The case was eventually dismissed by a New York State Supreme Court judge due to lack of evidence.

Subseries 1, Subject Files, 1914-1919, 0.5 cubic foot. This subseries contains primarily correspondence, bulletins, lists, and receipts relating to home study courses, lectures, publications, and other activities of the school. There is a small amount of material relating to political and organizational activities of the Socialist party including minutes of meetings and lists of local organizers within New York and other states.

Subseries 2, Photostatically-copied Correspondence, 1914-1919, 0.5 cubic foot. This subseries principally contains photostatic copies of correspondence received by the Rand School pertaining to its publications and courses and to activities of various Socialist party branches. The majority of letters were written by local Socialist party organizers submitting articles for Rand School publications or requesting speakers to attend meetings. The records also include several lists of individuals active in local Socialist party organizations and articles apparently submitted for publication by the Rand School. Some items are fading beyond legibility.

Subseries 3, Course Inquiry File, 1913-1915, 0.1 cubic foot. This subseries consists of approximately 750 5 x 8 cards pertaining to individuals who contacted the school about course offerings. The cards contain the following information: date of inquiry; name; address; source of referral; checklist of items sent; remarks relating to follow up contact with the individual; and an indication if the individual is a Socialist party member (few cards have this information).

Subseries 4, Correspondence Course File, 1917-1918, 0.1 cubic foot. This subseries consists of approximately 125 5 x 8 cards regarding individual orders for Rand School correspondence courses. The cards contain: name; address; course ordered; date order received; amount paid; and dates that course sections were sent.

Subseries 5, Supporters Name File. ca. 1915-1919, 0.2 cubic foot. This subseries consists of a card file of approximately 2,000 3 x 5 cards with the name and usually the address of individuals throughout the county who apparently had some contact with the Rand School or with the Socialist party. Many prominent American socialists' names are found. The file includes a number of cards with a notation that the individual is interested in working as a local Socialist party organizer. Cards with just street addresses are New York City addresses.