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William Golden Camp Wo-Chi-Ca Photographs

Call Number

PHOTOS.156

Date

circa 1940-1955, inclusive

Creator

Golden, William (Bill)
Vogel, Ruth (Role: Donor)

Extent

0.75 Linear Feet in 1 small flat box

Language of Materials

Materials are in English

Abstract

William Golden was an optometrist and amateur photographer. He was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Camp Wo-Chi-Ca (which stood for Workers Children's Camp), a children's summer camp in New Jersey. The camp, which was founded in 1934 and ran through the early 1950s, was mainly organized by the International Workers Order (I.W.O.) and was affiliated with the Communist Party, USA. The collection consists of approximately 300 negatives, nine mounted prints and a few smaller photographs, and photocopies of three promotional pamphlets or flyers. Photographic materials in the collection depict scenes of Camp Wo-Chi-Ca and camp life in the 1940s and early 1950s.

Historical/Biographical Note

William Golden was an optometrist and amateur photographer. He was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Camp Wo-Chi-Ca (which stood for Workers Children's Camp), a children's summer camp in New Jersey. The camp, which was founded in 1934 and ran through the early 1950s, was mainly organized by the International Workers Order (I.W.O.) and was affiliated with the Communist Party, USA. The camp was coeducational and racially diverse. Campers lived together in huts or tents, helped with camp chores, and participated in sports, concerts, plays, and political discussions. Camp Wo-Chia-Ca also received well-known visitors like Paul Robeson, Howard Fast, and Aaron Krammer.

Arrangement

Folders are arranged alphabetically.

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of approximately 300 negatives, nine mounted prints and a few smaller photographs, and photocopies of three promotional pamphlets or flyers. Photographic materials in the collection depict scenes of Camp Wo-Chi-Ca and camp life in the 1940s and early 1950s. The negatives appear to be mostly from a few days in August of one year. A few negatives are from visits to Hyde Park. Some negatives and photographs are housed in annotated paper sleeves or envelopes; the annotations may provide descriptions of individuals, places, or events in the images. There are also two promotional flyers or pamphlets for the camp and an advertisement for "Paul Robeson Day."

Donors

Vogel, Ruth

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use materials in the collection in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date; William Golden Camp Wo-Chi-Ca Photographs; PHOTOS 156; box number; folder number; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Ruth Vogel, Arthur Vogel's wife, circa 1993. The accession numbers associated with this gift are 1950.188 and NPA.1993.012.

Custodial History

William Golden's photographs were given to Arthur Vogel when Vogel was serving as program director for the Metropolitan Fraternal Club, a Jewish secular progressive club. The photographs were entrusted to Vogel by Club members older than Vogel who had been involved with Camp Wo-Chi-Ca. Arthur Vogel's wife, Ruth Vogel, then donated the photographs to the Tamiment Library, possibly around 1993. The accession numbers associated with this collection are 1950.188 and NPA.1993.012.

Related Archival Materials at the Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives

Researchers interested in Camp Wo-Chi-Ca may also wish to consult the Lea Lerner Camp Wo-Chi-Ca Graphics and Photographs (GRAPHICS 016), the Camp Wo-Chi-Ca Records (TAM 206), and the Ernest Rymer Jewish Peoples Fraternal Order (I.W.O.) Photographs (PHOTOS 245).

Collection processed by

Rachel Schimke, 2013

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-20 16:39:01 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Finding aid is in English

Processing Information

Materials have been rehoused in archival folders. Photographic materials are housed in their original paper sleeves or envelopes.

Revisions to this Guide

December 2022: Edited by Anna Björnsson McCormick to add information regarding William Golden's relationship to Camp Wo-Chi-Ca.

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