WAUCommunistPartyUSAWashingtonState4901.xml Guide to the Communist Party of the United States of America, Washington State District Records 1919-2003 Communist Party of the United States of America, Washington State District Records Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries © 2007 (Last modified: 1/31/2020)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard). University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections 4901 Communist Party of the United States of America (Wash.) Communist Party of the United States of America, Washington State District Records 1919-2003 1950-2003 10.79 cubic feet (11 boxes, 1 oversize box, 6 videocassettes, 2 sound cassettes) Collection materials are in English. Records of the Washington State chapter of the Communist Party of the United States of America.

The Communist Party of the United States of America (CPUSA), Washington State District is a local chapter of the national CPUSA, a Marxist-Leninist political organization that was founded in 1919. The Washington State District (WSD) formed in the 1920s and has participated in a number of political and social movements in Washington in the twentieth century. In the 1930s the WSD focused on organizing unemployed workers affected by the Depression, forming unemployed councils. The WSD continued to grow in the 1930s and 1940s, party members worked to unionize longshore and timber workers, served in leadership positions in the Washington Commonwealth Federation, helped found the Washington Pension Union, and supported race and civil rights efforts. From the 1940s to the 1960s, the Second World War and the Red Scare significantly reduced membership in the WSD and put a halt to many of their economic and social justice efforts. The WSD resurged in the 1960s continuing efforts to support civil rights campaigns. Since the 1970s, members of the WSD were active participants in a number of other organizations such as Seattle Women Act for Peace, Seattle People's Coalition for Justice, and Peace, and Jobs or Income Now. Additionally, in the 1970s and 1980s a number of WSD members ran for office in Washington State including Marion Kinney, Elmer Kistler, and BJ Mangaoang. While the party's influence and mission has evolved since the 1920s, the WSD remains committed to building socialism, improving living standards of working peoples, seeking equal rights for women, and advocating for civil rights.

Sources:

“About CPUSA.” Communist Party USA, March 16, 2016. http://www.cpusa.org/about-us/.

Gregory, James N., et al. “Communism in Washington State History and Memory.” Pacific Northwest Labor and Civil Rights History. Accessed February 7, 2018. http://depts.washington.edu/labhist/cpproject/history.shtml.

Washington District. “Communist Party of Washington State Brief History,” March 13, 2002. http://www.cpusa.org/article/communist-party-of-washington-state-brief-history/.

Organized into 3 accessions.

Accession No. 4901-001, Communist Party of the United States of America, Washington State District Records, 1972-2001 Accession No. 4901-002, Communist Party of the United States of America, Washington State District Records, 1942-2002 Accession No. 4901-003, Communist Party of the United States of America, Washington State District Records, 1919-2003

The Communist Party of the United States of America, Washington State District Records include subject files, administrative files, political campaign files, speeches, reports, correspondence, agendas, meeting minutes, photographs, fliers, brochures, pamphlets, audio recordings, and video recordings that document the activities of the Washington State Communist Party from 1919 to 2003. Political campaign files document campaigns of various Communist Party candidates for public office in Washington State and nationally, including BJ Mangaoang, Gus Hall, Angela Davis, and Elmer Kistler. Subject files include brochures, pamphlets, photographs, and newspaper articles about various topics such as Executive Order 9835 (also known as the "Loyalty Order"), the House Un-American Activities Committee, the Canwell Committee, labor organizing in Washington, and prominent members of the Communist Party and the Washington State Communist Party. Also included are issues of the Washington State Communist Party "Partyline" newsletter, notes, newspaper articles, and biographical features that document the activities of the organization.

No restrictions on access to 4901-001 and 4901-003. 4901-002 is closed for processing.

Request at UW

Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Materials donated by the Communist Party of the United States of America, Washington State District, 2001, 2003 and 2005.

Materials processed by UW Special Collections staff.

Photographs from 4901-002 accession were relocated to the Communist Party of the United States of America Photograph Collection, PH2005-039, in 2003.

 Material Described Separately:

Communist Party of the United States of America Photograph Collection (PH2005-039)

 Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington) Communist Party of the United States of America (Wash.)--Archives Mangaoang, B. J George, Earl, 1894-1985 Brodine, Marc Communism--United States Communism--Washington (State) Partyline Social Classes Washington (State) Political Campaigns Labor History Seattle

 

Accession No. 4901-001: Communist Party of the United States of America, Washington State District Records, 1972-2001 (bulk 1972-1986) 0.46 cubic feet (1 box)

Arrangement: Materials remain in original order

Scope and Content: The accession contains correspondence, speeches, and political campaign records from the Communist Party of the United States of America, Washington State District dating from 1972 to 2001. Materials primarily document campaigns of various Communist Party candidates for public office in Washington State and nationally, including BJ Mangaoang, Gus Hall, Angela Davis, and Elmer Kistler.

Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.

 1/1 4901-001 Correspondence 1990-2001 Campaign materials 1/2-3 4901-001 Speeches, fliers, campaign platforms, press releases, and proposals relating to election campaigns 1980, 1986 1/4 4901-001 BJ Mangaoang gubernatorial election materials 1988

Scope and Content: Materials include photographs, fliers, newspaper articles, campaign letters sent to potential voters, voting results statistics, speeches, and press releases.

 1/5 4901-001 Legislative Election, 35th District, Elmer Kistler: press releases 1975 1/6 4901-001 Legislative Election, 27th District, Norma Rader: press releases, fliers, and campaign letters 1980 1/7 4901-001 Legislative Election, 35th District, Marion Kinney: press releases, fliers, campaign letters, and newspaper articles 1980 1/8 4901-001 Legislative Election, 37th District, Elmer Kistler: newspaper articles, notes, fliers, planning documents, and speeches 1984 1/9-10 4901-001 BJ Mangaoang Seattle, WA mayoral election materials 1977, 1985

Scope and Content: Materials include newspaper articles, voting results statistics, photographs, press releases, and fliers.

 1/11 4901-001 Presidential Election, Gus Hall and Angela Davis: newspaper articles, press releases, speeches, fliers, and brochures 1972 1/12 4901-001 Presidential Election, Gus Hall and Jarvis Tyner: newspaper articles, press releases, speeches, fliers, and brochures 1976 1/13-14 4901-001 Presidential Election, Gus Hall and Angela Davis: newspaper articles, press releases, speeches, fliers, and brochures 1980, 1984 1/15-16 4901-001 Public speech transcripts, speech notes, and newspaper articles written by and about BJ Mangaoang 1981-2000 1/17 4901-001 Newspaper articles about the Communist Party of the United States of America, Washington State District approximately 1945-1985 Accession No. 4901-002: Communist Party of the United States of America, Washington State District Records, 1942-2002 4.68 cubic feet (5 boxes including 6 videocassettes and 2 sound cassettes)

Arrangement: Materials remain in orginal order.

Restrictions on Access: Accession 4901-002 is closed for processing.

Scope and Content: The accession contains agendas, meeting minutes, subject files, biographical files, newspaper clippings, photographs, audio and video recordings, and issues of the "Partyline" newsletter that document the activities of the Communist Party of the United States of America, Washington State District dating from approximately 1940 to 2002. Materials in the accession cover subjects such as Executive Order 9835 (also known as the "Loyalty Order"), the House Un-American Activities Committee, labor organizing in Washington, and other issues of interest to the members of the organization. Also included are subject files about prominent members of the Communist Party and Washington State Communist Party including brochures, pamphlets, photographs, and newspaper articles.

 1 4901-002 Subject files about prominent members of the Communist Party and Washington State Communist Party approximately 1940-2002

Scope and Content: Materials include brochures, pamphlets, fliers, photographs, and newspaper articles.

 2 4901-002 Meeting agendas, meeting minutes and notes, pamplets, brochures, fliers, an audio recording, and subject files on various topics approximately 1940-2002

Scope and Content: Materials include subject files on topics such as Executive Order 9835 (also known as the “Loyalty Order"), the House Un-American Activities Committee, the Canwell Committee, labor organizing in Washington, and other issues.

 3 4901-002 Subject files on various topics approximately 1940-2002

Scope and Content: Materials include subject files on topics such as South Africa, racism, women, youth, labor organizer Earl George, and other issues.

 4 4901-002 Administrative files approximately 1940-2002

Scope and Content: Materials include documents about the history of the Communist Party, issues of the Partyline newsletter, conference and convention materials, brochure designs and planning documents, and annual "Plan of Work" reports and drafts for the Washington State Communist Party.

 5 4901-002 Audiovisual materials approximately 1940-2002

Scope and Content: Materials include video recordings of a rally, a social event, a political campaign advertisement, and a conference. Audio recordings are of marxist historian Gerald Horne from a People's Weekly World dinner forum.

 Accession No. 4901-003: Communist Party of the United States of America, Washington State District Records, 1919-2003 (bulk 1950-2003) 5.65 cubic feet (5 boxes and 1 oversize box)

Arrangement: Materials remain in original order.

Scope and Content: The accession contains administrative records from the Communist Party of the United States of America, Washington State District dating from 1919 to 2003. Materials include correspondence, reports, minutes, agendas, notes, committee files, conference files, biographical features, newspaper clippings, photographs, audio recordings, and video recordings that document the activities of the organization.

Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.

 Administrative Records 1 4901-003 Economic Bill of Rights; Photographs 1970-1992 1 4901-003 D. Muga circa 1979-1981 1 4901-003 Plans of Work 1981-1988 1 4901-003 Party Line 1972-2001 2 folders 1 4901-003 Northwest People's School 1983-1985 1 4901-003 Marxist Scholars Conference 1986 1 4901-003 Martinez Jobs Bill 1994-1998 1 4901-003 Loyalty Oath 1956-1974 1 4901-003 Labor School 1947-1991 1 4901-003 KKK/Far Right 1980-1981 1 4901-003 The Drug Epidemic (Report); Logos 1989 1 4901-003 Industrial Concentration in Washington 1967-1986 1 4901-003 Environment 1989-1993 1 4901-003 State Ideological Conference 1989 1 4901-003 Party History Washington State 1938, undated 1 4901-003 Hanford, Washington 1987-1988 1 4901-003 Foreign Born Committee (Northern Light Newsletter) 1961 1 4901-003 Folk Arts Festival - Labor's 1997 1 4901-003 FBI - Visit By 1987 1 4901-003 Far Right 1980-1999 1 4901-003 Washington State CPUSA Statements, etc. 1981-1996 1 4901-003 Cartoons undated 1 4901-003 Canwell 1997-1998 1 4901-003 Black Panthers 1969-circa 1976 1 4901-003 Anti-Communism 1946-1998 3 folders 1 4901-003 Anti-Apartheid 1983-1986 1 4901-003 Correspondence 1983-1993 1 4901-003 Affirmative Action 1985-1999 1-2 4901-003 Untitled 1956-1990 2 folders 2 4901-003 Untitled 1947-1966 2 4901-003 Photographs undated, 1995 2 4901-003 Pictures 1957-1998 2 4901-003 Photographs 1959, undated 2 4901-003 Photographs 1997, undated 3 folders 2 4901-003 Audio Cassette 1990 2 4901-003 Pictures 2002, undated 2 folders 2 4901-003 Photographs 1964-1983 2 4901-003 United Farm Workers Boycotts 1986, undated 2 4901-003 Associated Press Photograph of Hazel Wolf 1999 2 4901-003 Photographs circa 1970-1979 2 4901-003 Strike circa 1960-1979 2 4901-003 Photographs circa 1960-1986 2 4901-003 Photographs of Community Party Faces and Places circa 1970-1989 2 4901-003 Photographs of Elmer Allen circa 1970-1979 2 4901-003 PWW Picnics Photographs 1965-1995 2 folders 2 4901-003 Photographs of Vietnam Protests circa 1960s-1970s 2 4901-003 Untitled 1975-1989 2 4901-003 Untitled 1952-1969 2 folders 2 4901-003 Untitled 1966-1985 2 4901-003 Washington State 1972 3 4901-003 Minutes 1995 3 4901-003 Minutes, Opening Remarks, Report 1996 3 4901-003 Notes 1998 3 4901-003 Agenda, Minutes 2001 3 4901-003 Untitled 1979, undated 3 4901-003 Agendas, Minutes, Notes 1982-1993 3 4901-003 Miscellaneous Districts in the Southwest, King County, Tacoma circa 1970-1989 3 4901-003 Photographs, Note undated 3 4901-003 Washington State 1969 3 4901-003 Library Cards 1948-1983 3 4901-003 VHS Tape 1994 3 4901-003 USSR 1973 3 4901-003 Untitled 1982-2002 3 4901-003 Indian 2000-2001 3 4901-003 Native American Indian 1983-1998 3 4901-003 Untitled 1937-2000 3 4901-003 Native American 1985-1986 3 4901-003 Native American Economy 1985 3 4901-003 Makah 1998-1999 3 4901-003 District 1987 3 4901-003 Untitled 1995, undated 3 4901-003 Native American 1970 3 4901-003 COOP - PDW, Communist Party Convention Display circa 1980-1989 3 4901-003 Workers Photographs: Elmer Allen, Earl George & "Official" circa 1970-1984 3 4901-003 Pictures circa 1970-1989 3 4901-003 Ruckert 1987, undated 3 4901-003 Repression circa 1961-1975 3 4901-003 Native American Struggles 1971-1984 3 4901-003 Portrait undated 3 4901-003 "Official" Pictures of of Washington State Scenes circa 1960-1989 3 4901-003 Pennock 1953 3 4901-003 Manuscript undated 3 4901-003 Un-American Activities in Washington State (Reports) 1948 2 bound reports 3 4901-003 The Post-Intelligencer (Newspaper) 1919 3 4901-003 Photographs of Angela Davis 1984 4 4901-003 Photographs of Identified People circa 1950-1989 2 folders 4 4901-003 Untitled 1983 4 4901-003 Proposals, Notes 1999 4 4901-003 Untitled 2003, undated 4 4901-003 Loadline/Maritime 1984-1985 4 4901-003 Dawgtalk 1986 4 4901-003 Flightline 1982-1990 4 4901-003 Progressive Clerk 1986-1988 4 4901-003 Lifeline 1983-1988 4 4901-003 Dawgtalk 1986-1990 4 4901-003 Patriot Activity undated 4 4901-003 Untitled 1973 4 4901-003 Norma Rader 1991 4 4901-003 Free Angela Committee Materials circa 1971 4 4901-003 Untitled circa 1950-1989 4 4901-003 Robel 1963-1989 4 4901-003 Reports, Photographs, Biographies 1972-1983 4 4901-003 Untitled 1977-1992 4 4901-003 Reports, Convention Materials 1979-1991 4 4901-003 Photographs 1968-1998 4 4901-003 Statements of Mangaoang 1976-1992 4 4901-003 Photographs circa 1970-1979 4 4901-003 National Materials 1972 4 4901-003 Northwest Rally 1976 4 4901-003 Angela Davis & Gus Hall circa 1976 4 4901-003 Northwest Media 1976 4 4901-003 Idaho 1976 4 4901-003 General - H-T Media undated 4 4901-003 National Election Result 1972-1976 4 4901-003 Correspondence 1976 4 4901-003 H. T. Hall-Davis 1976-1977 4 4901-003 Idaho 1976 4 4901-003 Photographs 1939-1979 4 4901-003 Committee Files 1978 4 4901-003 Hall-Davis 1980 4 4901-003 Older Files 1953-1971 4 4901-003 Notes, Reports, Minutes, Conference Proceedings 1979 4 4901-003 Notes, Agendas, Reports, Memos, Minutes 1980 4 4901-003 Summaries, Reports 1981 4 4901-003 Reports, Memos, Notes, Correspondence, Clippings 1982-1983 4 4901-003 Agendas, Reports, Article 1974-1975 4 4901-003 Agendas, Notes, Plans, Correspondence 1984 4 4901-003 Agendas, Minutes 1987-1995 4 4901-003 Internal Revenue Service 1987-1998 4 4901-003 Washington Pension Union 1960-1977 5 4901-003 Property Taxes 1986-1995 5 4901-003 Seattle Business License 1986-1999 5 4901-003 Untitled 1983 5 4901-003 Pamphlet, Clipping undated, 1999 6 4901-003 Black and White Photographs undated