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Socialist Party Documents

 Collection
Identifier: MC 1531

Scope and Content Note

Two are "membership cards," small red pasteboard folders. The front contains the words Socialist Party of America and Issued by Authority of the National Committee, Socialist Party.

Filled in blanks indicate that the cards were issued by the Springdale Local in the State of Arkansas. They are membership cards of F. W. Letch or Letsch of Spring Valley, who was admitted April 1915. They are signed by Sam Buseler, Recording Secretary. Inside the folder are stamps endorsed by "SBSec" indicating that monthly dues have been paid in 1917 and 1918.

The third item appears to be a galley proof of two printed reports, "Minutes of Organization Proceedings of Arkansas State Association of Farmers Mutual Insurance Companies" First is the report of a preliminary meeting, held in Rogers February 13, 1926; the second, of the organization meeting, Rogers, April 29,1926. F. W. Letsch of Fayetteville served as Chairman pro tem and was subsequently named president of this organization.

The fourth item is a 1918 "New Appeal Almanac" apparently belonging to Letsch. It includes a calendar and index of facts relevant to labor issues and socialism.

The fifth item is a pamphlet written in 1920 by Kate O'Hare: "In Prison" an indictment of the Women's Federal Prison in Missouri. The pamphlet details the author's experience in prison and criticizes the conditions in which women are subjected to therein.

Dates

  • 1915-1926

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Access Information

Please call (479) 575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of the materials.

Use Information

No Use Restrictions Apply.

No Interlibrary Loan.

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Historical Sketch

The Arkansas Socialist Party was organized on May 23, 1903 in Little Rock, Arkansas. The party's platform called for the collective ownership of industry; reduced working hours; a national insurance and pension programs; education reform; equal rights for women; initiative, referendum and proportional representation and recall of elected officials. By 1910 the party had 121 locals and gained the support of several newspaper in Jonesboro, Clarendon, Green Forest, Hot Springs, Judsonia, Maddock, Piggott, Pine Bluff and Van Buren. After winning few victories and enduring party splits, the Socialist Party of Arkansas ceased to exist after 1920.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet (1 box)

Arrangement of the Papers

Materials are arranged by topic.

Acquisition Information

The Socialist Party Documents were donated to the Special Collections Department, University of Arkansas Libraries, on February 5, 2004 by Professor William A. Myers of the Department of Chemical Engineering.

Processing Information

Processed by Ethel Simpson; completed in February 2004.

Creator

Source

Title
Socialist Party Documents
Status
Completed
Author
Ethel Simpson
Date
2004
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Department Repository

Contact:
University of Arkansas Libraries
365 N. McIlroy Avenue
Fayetteville AR 72701 United States
(479) 575-8444