Collections

In an unpublished essay, Boswell, editor of the Labor Argus (Charleston's Socialist newspaper) describes the mining labor troubles at Paint Creek and Cabin Creek. He adamantly opposes Governor Hatfield's settlement and the role of the UMWA in accepting it. In particular he castigates Thomas Haggerty, a field marshal for the union, for compromising with capitalists.

Manuscript writings of Sammons, a Huntington contractor and founder of the West Virginia Anti-Communist League. Sammons, a businessman and self-described "amateur political economist" discusses his views regarding communism, free enterprise, and constitutional law.

Correspondence and writings of the mayor of Jane Lew and one-time Republican nominee for Congress, pertaining to fluoridation, United Nations, foreign aid, income tax, socialism, the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, and Lightburn's conservative interpretation of Americanism.

A collection of typescripts, brochures, pamphlets, books, tape recordings, and assorted ephemeral publications concerning radical political and economic groups and community organizing related to labor history in Appalachia and the United States as compiled by Keith Dix. Organizations and publications represented in the collection include New Directions in Labor (1970-1971), New American Movement (1970-1971), New University Conference (1971), Labor Research Association (1971), Students for a Democratic Society (1963), and Radical Education Project (1968-1969), among others. Also includes material from 1923 to 1976 concerning coal mining labor relations and the role of unions such as the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). Topics of these items include rank-and-file members of the union, strikes, agreements, and mechanization. Tape recordings contain oral history interviews conducted by Keith Dix. Interviews chiefly concern coal mining in West Virginia. A more complete list of publications and tape recordings is available in the library. Most of the collection is arranged according in subject files, according to the topic or name of organization.

Mr. Pryzbylinski, a resident of Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania, was a coal miner and actively promoted trade unionism and socialism in his area from about 1915 to 1930. When many mines in the anthracite coal fields closed in the early 1930s, he stopped working as a miner and became engaged in radio repair work. He was also interested in the co-operative movement. He encouraged this movement in the Mt. Carmel area and was president of the local co-operative. The collection includes 363 pamphlets concerning socialism, trade unionism, and the welfare of the working class. There are also clippings and magazine articles on these subjects. Included is a copy of the National Berger Memorial Edition of the Milwaukee Leader from August 7, 1930, and a typescript mimeograph copy of the proceedings of a meeting entitled "Who is Calvin Coolidge?" chaired by Oswald Garrison Villard, April 12, 1927. This group of materials comprises 8 boxes. Two boxes contain the material collected by Mr. Pryzbylinski on the co-operative movement. Includes the cooperative league's publication, Cooperation, and Consumer cooperation for 1929-1939; cooperative Association yearbooks; 67 pamphlets on the cooperative movement; newspaper and magazine clippings; and one bound volume, no. IX, of the Cooperative Builder, published in Superior, Wisconsin, for 1934.

Letter written by George Bernard Shaw to an unknown recipient advising the recipient to postpone career questions until "he" has enrolled in and finished university.

Papers, circulars, and pamphlets of a local activist. Includes materials of the Socialist Party U.S.A. and of a nationwide democratic socialist group, the New American Movement. Shepherd was also active in other groups such as the Fayette County, Pennsylvania Family Abuse Council and Shelterforce - National Housing Activists. There are copies of the Socialist Tribune, The Canton Speech of Eugene V. Debs, and a notebook on the 1978 N.A.M. Convention, Milwaukee, WI.