John Holmes Collection on Noah London
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Abstract
Russian-born Noah London was active in the Jewish Federation of the Communist Party of the USA, and was the first labor editor of its newspaper, Freiheit, before returning to the USSR around 1926, where he used his engineering training to help develop the new socialist state. He was arrested sometime during the 1937-38 purges and died around 1940. Contains an unpublished typescript, ca. 1934, describing London's disillusionment with Stalinism, the transcript of an interview with Freiheiteditor Paul Novick, and several unpublished typescripts about London by John Holmes (great nephew of London).
Historical/Biographical Note
Noah London (1888-c1940), born in Russia in 1888, was an important Jewish official of the Communist Party of the USA before returning to his native Russia around 1926. In the United States, he studied engineering at Cooper Union, was active in the Party's Jewish Federation, was the first labor editor of its newspaper, Freiheit, and was chair of the United Workers Cooperative Colony. In the USSR, he worked on the Moscow subway, and at one time was head of water management for the Russian SFR, reporting to Ordzhonikidze. He was arrested sometime during the 1937-38 purges connected to the Moscow Trials and died around 1940.
Arrangement
Folders are arranged alphabetically.
The files are grouped into 1 series:
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Scope and Content Note
This collection contains a 46 page unpublished typescript, c1934, describing London's disillusionment with Stalinism, the transcript of an interview with Paul Novick, editor of the Freiheit, conducted by John Holmes, great nephew of London, and several unpublished typescripts by Holmes regarding both London's writings and his life and political activities in the US and the USSR.
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection created by John Holmes was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date; John Holmes Collection on Noah London; TAM 135; box number; folder number;
Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012, New York University Libraries.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by John Holmes in 1988; additional materials were received in 2002. The accession number associated with this gift is 1998.005.
