Pacifists

Clara M. Vincent Papers

aorchard — Fri, 22 May 2015 16:02:04 -0400

Born in 1895 in Ingham County Michigan, Clara M. Vincent was a peace and civil rights
activist. Vincent immediately became entrenched in peace activism after the end of World War I. Her activism largely focused on civil rights, peace, nuclear disarmament, world hunger, and the separation of church and state. She was involved in innumerable organizations, including: Livonia Citizens for Better Human Relations, the Detroit branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Farmington, the Jane Addams Peace Association, and Americans for the Separation of Church and State. Moreover, she was a member of the Warsaw Peace Congress, in addition to aiding the Progressive Party’s Henry Wallace in his presidential campaign, during which she worked alongside Paul Robeson.

The Clara M. Vincent Papers includes correspondence, political flyers, and pamphlets from
Vincent’s political activities. Additionally, this collection contains a notable amount of
newspaper clippings revolving around racism, warfare, nuclear disarmament, and the formation of the Progressive Party.

Al Fishman Papers

abarker — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:16:12 -0400

Alvin Fishman was born in Los Angeles, Nov. 28, 1927, but he was raised in New York and graduated from Stuyvesant High School. He was drafted and served in Italy during World War II. After the war, he moved to Ann Arbor, MI to attend the University of Michigan and study architecture. During this time he became involved in politics. Fishman left the university prior to graduation to move to Detroit and work as a tool and die machinist in an auto plant for the next thirteen years. He married Margaret Radulavich in 1951; they had two children, Marcia and Daniel. As an adult, he returned to college to complete his education in mathematics at Wayne State University. He also pursued a Master of Public Adminstration from Wayne State in the 1970s. He made a living programming computer systems for the Detroit Police Department.

Al Fishman and his wife, Margaret, were activists for peace and justice. Al was a long time leader of Peace Action of Michigan, serving as co-chair and representative on the national board of directors. He joined in the 1980s when the group was called the SANE/Freeze, working on the Nuclear Freeze Campaign. He was also involved with the New Jewish Agenda, Detroit Area Peace with Justice Network, Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism, and Democratic Socialists of America.

Part 1 of Mr. Fishman’s papers reflect his activities as state chairperson for the New Democratic Coalition of Michigan (NDCM) and his involvement in various Detroit-area political organizations and the anti-Vietnam War movement.

Part 2 of the collection documents the Fishman’s activism in the city of Detroit and their participation in various peace, justice and human rights groups, such as New Jewish Agenda, Peace Action of Michigan and Detroit Area Peace with Justice Network groups. Materials from Margaret Fishman’s involvement in the group Women’s Conference of Concerns are included. The collection also contains some materials from Al Fishman’s work with the Detroit Police Department, the City Charter Revision Commission, and his unsuccessful bids for city office.

Industrial Workers of the World Records

drice — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 16:44:51 -0400

The Industrial Workers of the World was founded in 1905 and is a member-run union for all workers. The IWW organizes all workers producing the same goods or services into one union instead of pooling them by skill or trade. Numbered among its members (known popularly as Wobblies) are lumberjacks, miners, farmhands (especially migrant workers), sailors, and workers in textile mills. Since their founding, the IWW has made significant contributions to labor struggles around the world. The union is proud of its long-standing tradition of fierce defense of the first amendment and breaking down barriers of race, ethnicity, and gender. Since it's founding in Chicago, the IWW has moved its headquarters around the country.

Part 1 includes minutes and proceedings, trial records and evidence, newspapers, pamphlets, poems, cartoons, songs, and correspondence. Subjects of interest include the Centralia Conspiracy; criminal syndicalism; the Everett Massacre; Free Speech fights; organization of farm workers; labor conditions; the controversy between craft and industrial unionism; government raids and seizures; trials of various members; foreign IWW administrations; political prisoners; GEB 1960's-1970's; conventions 1970's; Junior Wobblies; Houston Branch; and information on such figures as Vincent St. John. Correspondents include T.J. Bogard, Arthur Boose, Richard Brazier, Frank Cederval, A.S. Embree, William D. Haywood, Claude Irwin, Joyce Kornbluh, John A. Law, George Lucas, Albert Prashner, Rudolf Rocker, Vincent St. John, Nicolaas Steelink, Fred W. Thompson, William Unger, Walt Westman, and Claire Whitaker.

Part 2 of the Industrial Workers of the World Collection contains General Executive Board correspondence from the 1960s and 1970s and minutes, newsletters and correspondence from several branch locations and foreign administrations covering the same time period. Also included are Constitutional General Convention minutes from the 1970s, membership dues booklets, songs, cartoons, poetry, articles, legal case files, and a large assortment of English and foreign-language pamphlets and leaflets. Of particular interest are the reports of undercover private detectives posing as IWW members who investigated IWW organizing among Arizona miners in 1923.

Part 3 include mainly correspondence, reports, and photographs that document the union’s activities and goals primarily during the time they were headquartered in Ypsilanti. Since the organization is global, some reports come from places as far as Sweden and Germany. Of particular note are copies of Junior Wobblies cards dating from the 1930s.

Content of Box 158, Folder "Cigar Makers Meeting" is unavailable.

(32776) World peace conference

gstrassel — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 16:39:38 -0500

World peace-themed conference possibly put on by the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom’s Detroit branch in the 1960s.

Rosa Parks is pictured talking to a WILPF Detroit branch member in front of the WILPF booth. It is unclear in what capacity Parks was attending the event, whether she was helming a booth or there just as an attendee.

(33632) Pacifism, Mothers of the United States of America, Protest, 1939

eclemens — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 10:59:24 -0400

Members of the Mothers of the United States of America prepare for an anti-war demonstration. The banner on their bus reads: "Mothers of the U.S.A., Michigan Division, Keep the embargo."