A.G. Heinsohn papers

Augereau Gray Heinsohn, Jr. (1896-1980), an east Tennessee industrialist, was considered to be a leading proponent of conservatism. He fancied himself as a philosopher of the right and believed the task of the American conservative was to "open the eyes of his fellow citizen" to the potential loss of freedom in America.

Heinsohn, "Heinie" to his friends, was born in Palestine, Texas, in 1896. He entered Princeton University as a member of the class of 1919, but when war was declared, left college to enlist in the Air Service. He served as a pursuit pilot with the 95th Aero Squadron in France.

In 1919, after his release from active duty, Heinsohn found employment with a New York textile firm as a sample boy, and quickly moved up in the business to manage a joint sales offfice in New York for the Cherokee Textile Mill and Spindale Mills.

Throughout his career, he was actively invovled in a personal conservative crusade, defending limited constitutional government and the free enterprise system. He was one of the early members of the John Birch Society, serving on its council, and later was a member of its executive committee: "The greatest honor that has ever been conferred on me."

He also served as a trustee for the Committee for Constitutional Government; was the only delegate representing Tennessee on the Citizen's Foreign Aid Committee; was a member of the Liberty Amendment Committee of Tennessee and the National Economic Council; chaired the Tennessee Independents, Fighters for Freedom, and the Americanism Commitee of the Tennessee Society of the Sons of the Revolution; and, was state treasurer for the States' Rights Party in Tennessee. In addition, Heinsohn wrote three books related to conservatism, as well as numerous pamphlets and letters. A.G. Heinsohn died of lung cancer in 1980.