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Social Democratic Federation of America Records

Call Number

TAM.011

Date

1933-1956, inclusive

Creator

Social Democratic Federation of America

Extent

7 Linear Feet in 14 manuscript boxes.

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Abstract

The Social Democratic Federation of America (SDF) was organized in 1936 after the split in the Socialist Party between the Old Guard and the Militants. It was able to attract many of the traditional Socialist Party sources of support and its activities were directed by many prominent Socialist Party members, including August Claessens, Algernon Lee, Leo Meltzer, James Oneal and Louis Waldman. The SDF sought to promote the principles of social democracy and independent political action. In the late 1930's, SDF was associated with the American Labor Party of New York and the People's Party. During the 1940's and early 1950's, SDF's membership and influence declined forcing merger negotiations with the Socialist Party. The merger was affected in 1957. Contains correspondence with state branches; records of the national office and national executive committee; extensive records (1936-1956) of the New York City local, including correspondence, minutes, and financial records; material on Jewish Socialist Verband, Camp Tamiment (Pa.), the Fred Beal case, which grew out of the 1919 strike in Gastonia, N.C., WEVD (1933-1935) and various committees formed by the federation; also includes clippings on Jasper McLevy, national chairman.

Historical Note

The Social Democratic Federation of America (SDF) was organized in 1936 after the split in the Socialist Party ranks between the Old Guard and the Militants. Although not an official political party like the Socialist Party, the SDF was a political organization which consisted of the following groups: (1) Socialist Party state branches, particularly those in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Maryland; (2) Socialist Party municipal locals, particularly those in Reading, Pennsylvania, under the leadership of James H. Maurer, and Bridgeport, Connecticut, under the leadership of Mayor Jasper McLevy; (3) labor parties, especially members of the American Labor Party of New York, the FarmerLabor Party of Minnesota, and the Non Partisan League; and (4) socialist foreign language organizations, like the Jewish Socialist Verband and the Finnish Socialist Federation. During its formative period, the SDF was not only able to attract many of the traditional Socialist Party sources of financial support, but its activities were also directed by many prominent members of the Socialist Party, including August Claessens, Algernon Lee, Leo Meltzer, James Oneal, and Louis Waldman.

During its 20 year history, the SDF sought to promote the principles of social democracy and independent political action. Such ideals were realized through a variety of activities concerning domestic and international issues. Regarding the domestic issues, the SDF sought legislation to amend the National Labor Relations Act, supported Franklin D. Roosevelt in his Presidential campaigns in 1940 and 1944, called upon all labor organizations to unite against communist groups in the United States, and endorsed civil rights legislation. Internationally, the SDF played a vital role in various programs that brought German refugee children to the United States. The SDF also supported American participation in World War II, opposed Mahatma Gandhi's independence movement in India during the war, and assisted in the relocation of Jewish refugees after the war.

Like the Socialist Party, the SDF was also plagued by bitter internal conflicts. One of the major controversies affecting the organization in the late 1930s and early 1940s was its relationship with the American Labor Party of New York. When the New York Old Guard became the New York State division of the SDF in 1936, they adopted the name "People's Party" and subsequently joined the American Labor Party. From the perspective of the People's Party, this linkage with the American Labor Party was seen as an opportunity to help organize a formidable labor party, support Franklin D. Roosevelt in his Presidential reelection bid, and still remain outside the realm of conventional party politics. Ironically, however, the members of the People's Party, who had earlier withdrawn from the Socialist Party on the grounds that it was overly sympathetic towards communism, were now closely associated with an organization which was controlled by communists. The unsettling relationship with the American Labor Party ultimately caused such influential SDF figures as Louis Waldman and Leo Meltzer to resign from the organization.

Another conflict within the SDF involved the New Leader and its editor, James Oneal. Shortly after the SDF was established in the fall of 1936, the editorial board of the New Leader withdrew its support for the Socialist Party and joined the new organization. The relationship between the New Leader staff and the SDF executive committee was never cordial, since both groups held differing opinions as to what the editorial policy of the newspaper should be. These disagreements became so large in scope and so emotional in tone that James Oneal finally resigned as editor in 1940. In his resignation letter, Oneal stated that the New Leader had become a liberal, progressive publication instead of a significant SDF organ and that the New Leader had failed to strengthen the SDF overall. Following Oneal's resignation, the editorial board of the New Leader and the SDF leadership continued to fight over the proper editorial policy for the publication. Eventually, the staff of the New Leader split from the SDF.

During the 1940s and early 1950s, the SDF experienced a drastic decline in its membership and influence. Much of this decline can be attributed to three major factors: (1) the general decline in the popularity of socialism throughout this period; (2) the movement of many socialists, social democrats, and progressive liberals into the Americans for Democratic Action and other liberal organizations; and (3) the suspicions generated by the SDF's association with the American Labor Party. By the early 1950s, this decline forced the SDF leadership to begin serious negotiations with the Socialist Party on a possible merger. Attempts at uniting these two organizations began as early as 1937 and continued through the 1940s without much success. At this point in time, however, the mutual decline of both organizations had prompted a reassessment of the merger issue. Finally, in 1957, after several years of negotiations, the SDF merged with the Socialist Party.

Arrangement

Correspondence folders are arranged chonologically, the remainder, alphabetically.

Arranged in nine series:

Series I. National Files Series II. State and International Files Series III. Jewish Socialist Verband Files Series IV. Committee Files Series V. Financial Files Series VI. Literature Files Series VII. New York City Files Series VIII. New York State Files Series IX. Miscellaneous (not microfilmed)

Scope and Contents

The Social Democratic Federation of America Records, 1933-1956, consist of 89 files (some containing more than one folder), organized into nine series. Each file has been given a microfilm frame number. In the representative frame number (X:1), the arabic numeral "1" indicates that this is the first file, while the roman numeral "X" indicates that the SDF Records are the tenth collection in the microfilm publication Socialist Collections in the Tamiment Library, 1872-1956.

The materials contained in this collection include correspondence, financial papers, minutes, resolutions, ephemeral printed matter, reports, press releases, memoranda, lists, ballots, statements, position papers, political platforms, form letters, and circular letters. Each subject file within these sections has been assigned a frame number. Both the sections and the subject files have been cited in the complete reel list which follows this description of the arrangement of the collection.

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

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

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date; Social Democratic Federation of America Records; TAM 011; box number; folder number; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.

Location of Materials

Materials are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please request materials at least two business days prior to your research visit to coordinate access.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The provenance of this collection is unknown. The accession number associated with this collection is 1963.018.

Custodial History

This collection was transferred to NYU in 1963 from the Tamiment Institute Library. There is no earlier provenace information about this collection. The accession number 1963.018 is associated with this collection.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Due to the fragile nature of the original materials, researchers must use the microfilmed version; microfilm call number is Film R-7124, Reels 15-18. Series IX is not availbale on microfilm.

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

Socialist Collections in the Tamiment Library, 1872-1956 (Tamiment Microfilm: Film R-7124)

Socialist Collections in the Tamiment Library, 1872-1956: a Guide to the Microfilm Edition.

Collection processed by

Tamiment Staff

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-20 16:45:56 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Finding aid written in English

Processing Information

Decisions regarding arrangement, description, and physical interventions for this collection prior to 2019 are unknown. In 2019, materials were rehoused in new acid-free folders and boxes in preparation for offsite storage.

Revisions to this Guide

March 2019: Updated by Amy C. Vo to reflect container list changes due to rehousing

Edition of this Guide

This version was derived from SDF Guide.doc

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