New York State Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate Seditious Activities Legal Papers Relating to Searches and Prosecutions of Suspected Radical Individuals and Organizations L0037

New York State Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate Seditious Activities Legal Papers Relating to Searches and Prosecutions of Suspected Radical Individuals and Organizations

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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:

This series contains affidavits, orders, briefs, search warrants, notes of trials, correspondence, and other records produced or collected by the Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate Seditious Activities, known as the "Lusk Committee," for its chairman Clayton R. Lusk. The records pertain to charges brought against the many individuals and organizations by the Committee. The majority relate to the Rand School, the Communist Party of America, and the Russian Soviet Bureau.

Creator:

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

Title:

Legal papers relating to searches and prosecutions of suspected radical individuals and organizations

Quantity:

1 cubic foot

2 microfilm rolls 35mm

Inclusive Dates:

1919-1920

Series Number:

L0037

Arrangement

Alphabetical by folder subject heading.

Administrative History

During its investigation, the committee searched New York City headquarters of suspected radical organizations, collected testimony from individuals active in these organizations, and assisted in the prosecution of many individuals charged with criminal anarchy under several sections of the state's Penal Law, as part of its charge to investigate radical activity. The state's Attorney General served as the counsel to the committee and was very active during these investigations.

Scope and Content Note

This series contains primarily legal papers relating to the investigations including affidavits, briefs, court orders, court stenographers' minutes, petitions, search warrants, lists of seized property, and subpoenas. The series also includes correspondence, testimony of witnesses, trial notes, legal memoranda, and other records relating to committee searches and prosecutions.

Approximately half of the material relates to searches of the Rand School of Social Science and the subsequent attempt to revoke the charter of the school's parent organization, the American Socialist Society. Other material relates to searches and prosecutions of the Communist Party of America, the Industrial Workers of the World, the Russian Soviet Bureau, and the Socialist Party Left Wing Section. The material provides information on the structure, staffing, meetings, publications, educational programs, and other aspects of the activities of these organizations.