Thane Summers papers, 1935-1938

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Summers, Thane
Title
Thane Summers papers
Dates
1935-1938 (inclusive)
Quantity
.37 cubic feet (1 box and 2 rolls microfilm)
Originals: letters on paper (251 pages)
Copies: 1 roll microfilm: negative; 16 mm; silver
Copies: 1 roll microfilm: positive; 16 mm; silver
Collection Number
4473 (Accession No. 4473-001)
Summary
Papers of political activist who became a communist while he was a student at the UW
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Additional Reference Guides

View inventory/container list for this accession

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Summers became a Communist while he was a student at the University of Washington. In the spring of 1937 he left school and went to Spain to fight with the Republicans against fascism. He fought with the MacKenzie-Papineau Batallion and was elected by the men in his section as their political delegate. During the autumn of 1937, Summers was rewarded for his bravery and zeal by being selected for officers' training school. When he had completed officers' training he was placed in charge of the XV Brigade Scouts. Later this unit was dissolved and Summers was used for special duty attached to the headquarters staff. He was frequently sent on missions from battalion to batallion, or in advance of the front lines to observe the enemy. During heavy fighting, he was killed the following spring (March?) 1938.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Letters from Thane Summers to his friends Sophie and Arthur Krauss (1935-1937), and to his sisters in Seattle (1937-1938). Letters dated 1937 and 1938 were written in Spain while he was a combatant in the Spanish Civil War. Also included is microfilm of the paper letters.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

Entire accession reproduced on microfilm. Included in this accession (UW 1995)

Restrictions on Use

Literary rights of representatives of the records-creating organization transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated by Jenness Summers, 6/30/1994.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Communists--United States
  • Political activists--Spain
  • Political activists--United States

Personal Names

  • Summers, Thane--Archives

Corporate Names

  • MacKenzie-Papineau Batallion of Canada--Archives
  • Spain. Ejército Popular de la República. MacKenzie-Papineau Battalion

Geographical Names

  • Spain--History--Civil War, 1936-1939
  • Spain--History--Civil War, 1936-1939--Participation, Foreign

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)