Guide to the Elinor Ferry Papers TAM.116
Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archive
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
10th Floor
New York, NY 10012
(212) 998-2630
tamiment.wagner@nyu.edu
Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Collection processed by Tamiment staff
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on May 09, 2018
Finding aid is written in English using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Descriptive Summary
| Creator: | Ferry, Elinor |
|---|---|
| Source - dnr: | Ferry, Elinor |
| Title: | Elinor Ferry Papers |
| Dates [inclusive]: | 1952-1959 |
| Abstract: | Elinor Ferry (1915-1993), journalist, labor organizer, and socialist. In the 1950s, Ferry documented the activities of Senator Joseph McCarthy, and worked to aid those who refused to testify on Fifth Amendment grounds before Congressional committees investigating Communism. The bulk of the collection consists of Ferry's files on Senator McCarthy, consisting primarily of clippings from the year 1952-1954. |
| Quantity: | 4 Linear Feet (8 boxes) |
| Language: | Materials are in English |
| Call Phrase: | TAM.116 |
Historical/Biographical Note
Elinor Ferry (1915-1993), journalist, labor organizer, and socialist. Ferry became a sports writer for the Hearst newspaper chain at the age of 16 and shortly after helped organize the Newspaper Guild. From there, she became an assistant to Michael Quill, head of the Transport Workers Union. In the 1950s, Ferry documented the activities of Senator Joseph McCarthy, and worked to aid those who refused to testify on Fifth Amendment grounds before Congressional committees investigating Communism. Ferry was also active in the Independent Socialist Party (ISP), which attempted to unite former Communists with other socialists, from 1958-1960. In the 1960s Ferry worked on an unpublished book-length manuscript on Whittaker Chambers and his role in the Alger Hiss case. At one time Ferry was married to George Kirstein, publisher of The Nation.
Scope and Contents
The collection documents Ferry's involvement in the IPS and with the First Amendment Defendants. The bulk of the collection consists of Ferry's files on Senator McCarthy, consisting primarily of clippings from the year 1952-1954. Other files contain her Whittaker Chambers typescript, research notes and correspondence.
Access Points
Subject Names
- Kirstein, George
- Hiss, Alger
- Quill, Mike.
- Ferry, Elinor
- Ferry, Elinor
- Nathan, Otto, 1893-1987.
- Price, William Addison, 1915-2009
- McCarthy, Joseph, 1908-1957
- Chambers, Whittaker
Subject Organizations
- Independent-Socialist Party (U.S.)
- United States. Congress. House. |b Committee on Un-American Activities
- Socialist Workers Party
Subject Topics
- Political crimes and offenses -- United States.
- Anti-communist movements -- United States.
- Socialism -- United States.
- Communism -- United States.
- Civil rights -- United States.
- Women socialists -- United States.
- Subversive activities -- United States -x History -y 20th century.
Administrative Information
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 Elinor Ferry was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Elinor Ferry Papers; TAM 116; box number; folder number; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Elinor Ferry, 1982. The accession number associated with this gift is 1982.012.