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Pierson and Alice Ostrow Papers
TAM.288
Descriptive Summary
| Creator:
|
Ostrow, Alice Scardino, 1915-2001 |
| Creator:
|
Ostrow, Pierson, 1914-1967 |
| Title: |
Pierson and Alice Ostrow Papers |
| Dates: |
1928-1993 (bulk 1930-1948) |
| Abstract:
|
Pierson Ostrow (1914-1967) and Alice Scardino Ostrow (1915-2001) were socialist and
progressive activists. Both were born and raised in Philadelphia, and they met there
as students. They joined the Young People's Socialist League (YPSL) and became members
of the Socialist Party by the early 1930s. After marrying they moved to Newark, New
Jersey. In 1948 Alice Ostrow ran on the Socialist Party ticket for New Jersey's 12th
Congressional district. Mr. Ostrow was a philatelic dealer and real estate appraiser,
and in the latter capacity was active in the campaign for Vermont's fair housing law,
passed in 1967 (the Ostrow's had moved to Vermont in 1955). In Newark, Alice Ostrow
worked for the IRS and was legislative representative of the Federation of Federal
Employees. She also worked for the Communications Workers of America and organized
New Jersey Tenants for Rent Control. After her husband's death, Ms. Ostrow moved to
New York City where she was active in the American Civil Liberties Union, the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples, the Workers Defense League, and
Americans for Democratic Action. The collection contains unpublished writings of Pierson
Ostrow (student essays, poetry, political essays, and a play), files (containing internal
documents, printed ephemera and publications) on the Socialist Party and YPSL, both
nationally and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Newark, New Jersey (including one
on Alice Ostrow's Congressional campaign), files on the American Youth Congress, Camp
Arcola (a Federal Emergency Relief Administration camp fro unemployed women in Arcola,
PA), the Junior International League of the Women's International League for Peace
and Freedom, the Pennsylvania Committee for Total Disarmament, a scrapbook (clippings
and writings), and individual letters to Pierson Ostrow from Harry Laidler, Upton
Sinclair and Girolamo Valenti.
|
| Quantity: |
0.5 linear feet (1 box) |
| Mixed materials [Box]:
|
1 |
| Call Phrase: |
TAM.288 |
