Scope and Contents
The collection includes manuscripts, records of The Militant, correspondence, and miscellaneous items.
The manuscripts are divided into six sections: book manuscript, articles and other manuscripts by Preis, article manuscripts by other authors, print material, pamphlets and manuscripts of articles in the International Socialist Review. The book manuscript is of "Labor's Giant Step." Articles and other manuscripts by Preis and other authors include titles such as "Political Follies of 1950" and "The Present Situation in the Trade Union Movement." The print material includes articles from the The Fourth International, and the pamphlets include "Jobs for all" and "Welfare State or Socialism." There are also manuscripts for International Socialist Review including "How the Miners Won" and "American Labor--Fact and Fiction."
There are also records of The Militant including eight issues dating 1853-1864, mark-up and style sheets, and Martha Gray cartoons dating 1943-1945.
Miscellaneous items include Preis's commemorative address by Ted Selander, a photograph of Preis, and an obituary and article.
Correspondence, 1938-1964, is arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Correspondents include Comrades of Allentown, George Breitman, Cara Cook, James P. Cannon, Farrell Dobbs, Ross Dowson, Joe and Reba Hansen, Harry Howe, Jack Maloney, Jean Simon, W.F. Ward, and Beverly Wulp.
Dates
- 1853-1963
Creator
- Preis, Art (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections and University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
Arthur Preis (1911-1964), labor organizer, author, and historian, was born in Philadelphia and educated at the University of Pennsylvania and Ohio State University. In 1933 he organized the National Unemployed League. He was an early member of the Conference for Progressive Labor Action, which group formed the American Workers Party and merged with the Communist League of America. He later was a member of the national committee of the Socialist Workers Party. He was on the staff of The Militant (New York) from 1940, and wrote a series of articles on the history of the Congress of Industrial Organizations, which he later expanded into a book, Labor's Giant Step (N.Y., 1964).
Extent
3 linear feet (2 containers) : 2 record storage boxes
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Arthur Preis (1911-1964) was a labor organizer, author, and historian. The collection includes manuscripts, records of The Militant, correspondence, and miscellaneous items.
Arrangement
Material within this collection is minimally arranged. Any arrangement is either derived from the records' creators or custodians or from staff at the time of initial processing. It may be necessary to look in multiple places for the same types of materials.
Other Finding Aids
Paper finding aid with additional information is available in Special Collections & University Archives.
Processing Information
Collection processed by staff.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
This collection received a basic level of processing including minimal organization and rehousing.
Description information is drawn in part from information supplied with the collection and initial surveys of the contents. Folder titles are based on those created by the creators or previous custodians.
- Correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Labor journalism -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Labor leaders -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Labor movement -- United States -- History -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Labor unions -- United States -- History -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Manuscripts for publication Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Preis, Art
- Preis, Art
- Socialists -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Guide to the Arthur Preis Papers
- Status
- Complete Description
- Author
- University of Oregon Libraries Archivists' Toolkit Project Team and Jenn Newby
- Date
- 2012
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
- Sponsor
- Funding for production of this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
Repository Details
Part of the University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives Repository
