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Morris Kornblum Papers

Call Number

ALBA.306

Dates

1936-1991, inclusive
; 1936-1939, bulk

Creator

Kornblum, Morris

Extent

.5 Linear Feet in 1 manuscript box

Language of Materials

Materials are in English and Spanish.

Abstract

The Morris Kornblum Papers consist of one box of correspondence, photographs, and collected publications from Morris Kornblum's service in Spain with the Abraham Lincoln Brigades. Morris Kornblum (aka Martin Balter) was a lab technician and field medic for the XV battalion. Correspondence makes up the bulk of this collection and consists of letters between Kornblum and his family between 1936 and 1938. The collection also includes photographs of Kornblum with fellow volunteers, and the hospitals where he worked during the war, as well as photographs from Veterans of the Abraham Brigade events in the 1980s. There is also a small amount of correspondence between Kornblum's relative Martin Balter and Abraham Lincoln Brigade researcher Frances Patai, which includes a letter from Fredericak Martin.

Biographical Note

Morris Kornblum (1913-2008), aka Martin Balter, was pacifist who volunteered with the Abraham Lincoln Brigades during the Spanish Civil War from 1936-1938. Kornblum served in a non-combatant position as a lab technician and field technician for the XV battalion. Kornblum also served in aa non-combatant capacity during World War II in Georgia and Okinawa. During the McCarthy era, Kornblum changed his name to Martin Balter because he worried that his service during the Spanish Civil War would make him the target of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Arrangement

Materials in the collection are arranged alphabetically by topic or form.

Scope and Contents

The Morris Kornblum Papers consist of one box of correspondence, photographs, and collected publications from Morris Kornblum's service during the Spanish Civil War with the Abraham Lincoln Brigades. Correspondence makes up the bulk of this collection and consists of letters between Kornblum and his family between 1936 and 1938. The collection also includes photographs of Kornblum with fellow volunteers, and the hospitals where he worked during the war, as well as photographs from Veterans of the Abraham Brigade events in the 1980s. There is also a small amount of correspondence between Kornblum's relative Martin Balter and Abraham Lincoln Brigade researcher Frances Patai. Their correspondence includes a 1975 letter from Fredericka Martin to Kornblum.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to users without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection, created by Morris Kornblum was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date; Morris Kornblum Papers; ALBA 307; box number; folder number; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by the Abraham Lincoln Brigades Archives in 2018. The accession number associated with this gift is 2018.013.

Collection processed by

Heather Mulliner

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-20 16:44:11 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Finding aid is in English

Processing Information

At the time of accessioning materials were described at the collection-level and moved in to archival housing. Correspondence has been maintained in groupings established by the donor, but folders have been titled arranged alphabeticaly by the archivist.

Repository

Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10012