Beall Archives - Meyers Collection

(Photo) From left: George A. Meyers, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn (Chair CPUSA), James Jackson (CPUSA), Soviet cosmonaut G.S. Titov and Henry Winston (CPUSA)

The collection is divided into twenty three series containing printed materials and artifacts donated by George Meyers and other contributors to the collection. The Meyers Collection Scope & Content with series descriptions is available in a print-friendly version (PDF).

Following is a description of each series. All series are fully processed unless otherwise indicated.

Series Descriptions:

Series 1:

George A. Meyers Personal Papers, 1907-1999. (1.8 ft.)
The bulk of this series consists of correspondence sent by and received by George Meyers and his family. Correspondence with Frostburg State University regarding the development of this collection is also included. Materials of particular interest in this series are those related to the Baltimore Smith Act Trial of Mr. Meyers and five other defendants in 1951-1952.

Additionally, there are materials related to the Self-Defense Committee, Baltimore Smith Act Defendants, an organization created to raise money for the defendants and to increase public knowledge of the trial.

There is a relatively small, yet informative, amount of material covering Mr. Meyers' candidacy for the U.S. Senate as a write-in candidate for the CPUSA during the 1952 elections. This material includes original press releases and correspondence with various radio stations to secure free air time for broadcasting campaign information.

Also of interest in this series is the file of obituary and memorial service announcements for a number of prominent Communist Party and labor figures including Art Shields (journalist), Spanish poet Pablo Neruda, and Don West, noted poet and activist in Appalachia.

Series 2:

Communist Party of the United States of America (CPUSA), 1943-1999. (2.3 ft.)
The largest component of this series is the manuscripts (.8 ft.) written by Mr. Meyers as notes for speeches and addresses and for publication in various Communist Party and labor periodicals.

Mr. Meyers' writing reflects his deep roots in organized labor and the Marxist-Leninist theories surrounding the "class struggle" to improve the conditions of the common working man. He was a strong advocate for the empowerment of women and minorities in organized labor and society, echoing the views held by the CPUSA.

Also included in this series are copies of Russian language articles written by Mr. Meyers for various Soviet publications (primarily TRUD) from 1975-1989, and material (texts of speeches and published material) of Mr. Gus Hall (1910-2000), past National Chairman, and former General Secretary of the CPUSA.

Other CPUSA materials of interest are official CPUSA resolutions and reports including those relating to the split of factional groups from the Party in the early 1990s.

Series 3:

Communism (General), 1921-1999. (1.04 ft.)
The largest component of this series is found in the theses and research papers which cover Marxist-Leninist theory and other aspects of Communism and labor. The material on state CPUSA organizations primarily focuses on Maryland, with a smaller amount of material on New York.

There are also a number of posters included in this series. The relatively small amount of material in this series is attributed to the fact that other parts of the George A. Meyers Collection focus on this area, primarily the book and pamphlet portions of the collection.

Series 4:

Labor and Union Organizations, 1918-1999. (1.7 ft.)
The bulk of the material in this series is found in the theses and research papers covering the history of organized labor and trade unionism. Of particular interest is a copy of the official FBI investigation covering the organization of the United Steel Workers of America (USWA) union from the 1930s-1950s.

Also of interest in this series are the 1993 resolutions of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) which demonstrate the increased activism of women in organized labor.

Series 5:

Political Organizations, 1914-1999. (1.2 ft.)
Of interest in this series is the information on the proposed federal legislation (The Mitchell Transfer Amendment) in 1978 to transfer funding from defense spending to the creation of jobs programs.

Series 6:

Alice Katherine Meyers Personal Papers, 1950-1968. (.7 ft.)
Alice K. Meyers was a strong supporter of her husband's activities in labor and in the CPUSA, and was actively involved in union activities herself. The FBI and the IRS investigations of Alice K. Meyers comprise a large portion of this series and also reflect Mr. Meyers' activities during the same time period.

A large portion of this series contains the correspon- dence from George A. Meyers to his wife during his federal prison term. The letters, written on prison-provided stationery, have the required length limit of only one page, and have a prison date stamp indicating review by prison officials before mailing.

Series 7:

Legal Documents, Court Cases, and Litigation, 1930-1993. (.6 ft.)
The documents in this series do not provide complete trial records for any of the cases indicated. The files contain only selected briefs, position papers, final court decisions and/or motions made by attorneys. The cases reflect a wide spectrum of the CPUSA leadership with Earl Russell Browder, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Eugene Dennis, and George Meyers being listed as defendants.

Of particular interest is a true court copy of the 1963 Report of the Subversive Activities Control Board requiring Mr. Meyers to register as a Communist pursuant to the Subversive Activities Control Act of 1950.

Series 8:

Personal Memorabilia, 1938-1999. (1.2 ft.)
This series contains a variety of interesting and unique items. The badges and medals, particularly the metal and ribbon CIO convention delegate badges from the 1930s and 1940s are in exceptionally good condition. The membership and "Press" cards demonstrate the broad spectrum of activities and organizations in which Mr. Meyers has participated. The convention delegate badges are helpful in dating many of the other activities referenced in the other series.

Series 9:

Leah Shiffman (Julia Barnes) Collection, 1938(?)-1997. (3.08 ft.)
Leah Shiffman (1905-1997) was a social worker who joined the CPUSA in 1933. Following her retirement in 1970 she was a columnist for the People's Daily World, and the current People's Weekly World. Her articles concerned health and senior citizen issues and were written under the pen name of Julia Barnes. She also wrote for the bulletin of the Retired Members Division of Local 1199, Hospital and Health Care Workers Employees Union. (Container listed)

Series 10:

Genne Kuhn Collection, 1969(?)-1977(?). (.7 ft.)
Genne Kuhn, the daughter of a coal miner, is very actively involved in coal workers' rights and the improvement of working conditions in Appalachia, particularly West Virginia. (container listed)

Series 11:

Individuals Associated With Materials in the George A. Meyers Collection, 1920(?)-1997. (.9 ft.)
This series contains articles by or about people associated with the George Meyers Collection. Folders are arranged alphabetically by name. An index to this series is available.

Series 12:

Incomplete Periodical Runs, 1915-1998. (2.08 ft.)
Periodicals in this alphabetically arranged series are titles with limited numbers of issues. Subject coverage includes a wide variety of progressive, socialist, Communist, and labor issues. Geographical coverage focuses on the United States, Latin America, and Asia. An index is available.

Series 13:

Gairdner B. Moment Collection, 1935(?)-1969(?). (.3 ft.)
Professor Moment was a former biology professor at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland, and a former neighbor of George Meyers. In August 1935 he attended the 15th International Physiology Congress held in the Soviet Union. This series contains professional papers, manuscripts, and souvenirs of his trip abroad.

Also of interest are his letters to his family written during this time detailing shipboard experiences and personal observations of the countries he visited. Of note are two Nazi postcards from 1935 which are in excellent condition.

Series 14:

Women's Movement Materials, dates undetermined. (1.4 ft.)
This series contains incomplete periodical runs and unprocessed papers concerning the feminist movement during the 1960s and 1970s Donated by Norma Lesser. (container listed)

Series 15:

SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) and RYM (Revolutionary Youth Movement), dates undetermined. (1.04 ft.)
This series is made up of incomplete periodical runs, clippings, and unprocessed papers covering radical university student organizations of the 1960s and 1970s. Donated by Norma Lesser. (container listed)

Series 16:

Video and Audio Tapes, 1973-1999. (17 video tapes, 110 audio tapes)
This series consists of video and audio tapes, both professional and personal. A number of audio tapes are interviews with George Meyers and other notable persons as well as speeches by such dignitaries as Gus Hall. An index to both sections of the series is available.

Series 17:

Photographic Materials, 1930-1998. (2.4 ft.)
Three boxes and one large three-ring binder make up this series. A special feature is the large album of professionally done photographs from the Congress held in the Soviet Union in 1961. Photographs are both in color and black and white, and both privately and professionally taken. Personal family photos are included as well as photos of political and labor events. The binder contains color slides primarily from George Meyers' visit to Mongolia in 1969. An index to both formats is available.

Series 18:

Souvenirs, 1960(?)-1980(?). (5 boxes)
This series contains souvenirs of George Meyers' travels abroad. Countries visited include Mongolia, the Soviet Union, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico. Of note is a piece of Kubla Khan's castle obtained in Mongolia, Mongolian dishes fashioned from gourds, an Australian boomerang, an embroidered jacket pin commemorating the 1980 Olympics held in the USSR, a pen set commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, and a number of souvenir picture packets.

Series 19:

Labor and Union Memorabilia, 1943-1997. (16 pieces)
A framed statement to George Meyers from the Celanese Local 1874, dated 1943, and a John L. Lewis silver medal in a blue velvet case are the outstanding features of this series. An index is available.

Series 20:

Banners and Pennants, undated. (15 pieces)
Banners and pennants from a number of foreign countries, labor unions, and Communist parties make up this series. An index is available.

Series 21:

Artwork by Fred Gaboury, undated. (2 pieces)
Fred Gaboury is Labor Editor of the People's Weekly World. Both pieces are metal wall hangings.

Series 22:

Bimba Portraits, 1944, and undated. (two 22" x 27 ½ " portraits)
This series contains a portrait of Anthony Bimba, author of the Molly Maguires, painted by his wife, Ilse, and a portrait of Ilse, painted by George Sapp.

Series 23:

Thomas Kapantais collection, 1997-present. (1.1 ft).
Kapantais was a public defender who practiced in West Virginia and Maine during the 60s & 70s. From his personal collection of over 10,000 books, Kapantais gave over 3,000 titles to the Meyers Collection. Many of the donated titles include progressive & socialist topics.

Last updated 12/3/07

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