Register of the John G. Wright papers

Finding aid prepared by Dale Reed
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2003
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu


Title: John G. Wright papers
Date (inclusive): 1933-1977
Collection Number: 92033
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 9 manuscript boxes (3.6 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Speeches and writings, correspondence, resolutions, theses, and notes, relating to Marxian theory, the translation of works of Leon Trotsky, Trotskyist activities in the United States and abroad, and analysis of the post-World War II Chinese and Eastern European states.
Creator: Wright, John G.
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Access

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Use

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Acquisition Information

Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1992.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], John G. Wright papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Biographical Note

1902 Born as Joseph Vanzler in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in the Russian Empire
circa 1914 Emigrated to the United States
circa 1920 Graduated from Harvard University. Became a professional chemist
1933 Joined the Communist League of America (subsequently Socialist Workers Party)
1933-1940 Literary collaborator and translator of Leon Trotsky
1939-1956 Member, National Committee, Socialist Workers Party
1956 Died in New York City

Scope and Content Note

John G. Wright (the political and pen name of Joseph Vanzler) was a leader of the Socialist Workers Party of the United States from the 1930s to the 1950s. Wright was heavily involved with theoretical, journalistic and publishing-house work of the party. A polyglot, he translated texts from various languages into English for publication. His collaborative work with Leon Trotsky was of particular significance. Wright translated many of Trotsky's writings into English for the first time. During Trotsky's period of residence in Mexico at the end of his life (1937-1940), Wright, in New York City, corresponded with him regularly and, having access to major American academic libraries, provided him with Russian-language research materials to support his writing projects, especially his biography of Joseph Stalin. The papers thus shed light on Trotsky's literary activities and on the publishing history of Stalin. Post-World War II materials in the collection also document debates within the Trotskyist movement on analysis of the Chinese and Eastern European states, and the internal struggle within the Socialist Workers Party involving the faction led by Bert Cochran and George Clarke.
The John G. Wright Papers were formerly housed at the Library of Social History in New York City. The Hoover Institution Library & Archives acquired them in 1992.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Communism -- United States
China
Europe, Eastern
Trotsky, Leon, 1879-1940
Fourth International
Socialist Workers Party

 

Biographical File, 1956-1977

Scope and Contents

Obituaries, tributes, lists, and material for projected memorial volume.
box 1, folder 1

Obituaries and memorial tributes, 1956

Scope and Contents

Includes tributes by James P. Cannon, George Novack and Morris Stein.
box 1, folder 2

Lists of papers and books undated

Scope and Contents note

Includes list of selected Socialist Workers Party records.
box 1, folder 3

Projected Pathfinder Press memorial volume, 1977

Scope and Contents

Draft table of contents, draft introductory matter, and working materials.
 

Speeches and Writings, 1933-1956

Scope and Contents

Arranged chronologically.
box 3, folder 1

"American Perspectives," circa 1933

box 3, folder 2

"A Few Facts" [re France], 1934

box 3, folder 3

"Proposed Theses on the Role and Nature of the Revolutionary Party," 1934

box 3, folder 4

Untitled speech re Paterson, New Jersey, textile strike, 1934

Scope and Contents note

Notes and working materials.
box 3, folder 5

"The Bolshevik-Leninists in the SFIO" and La Vérité, 1935

box 3, folder 6

Untitled debate with Sidney Hook re Marxism, circa 1935

Scope and Contents

Notes and working materials.
box 3, folder 7

Letter to the editor, New International, re Sidney Hook, 1935 March 25

Scope and Contents note

Typescript and cover letter.
box 3, folder 8

"The Fate of a Marxist Classic," The Accumulation of Capital, 1935 July 8

box 3, folder 9

"Perspectives of the American Revolution," 1936

box 3, folder 10

Untitled speech re Moscow Trials, 1937 March

Scope and Contents note

Notes and drafts.
box 3, folder 11

"Roosevelt Beats the War Drums," speech, 1937 November 12

Scope and Contents

Announcement, notes, drafts and working materials.
box 3, folder 12

The Truth about Kronstadt, 1938

Scope and Contents note

Mimeograph
box 3, folder 13

Untitled speech re GPU murders and kidnappings, 1938

Scope and Contents note

Notes, drafts and working materials.
box 3, folder 14

"The Ideological Captives of the Bourgeoisie," 1939 July 15

box 3, folder 15

"Shachtman and the Slippery Ice of Russian History," speech, 1939-1940

Scope and Contents

Notes and drafts.
 

Outline History of Russian Bolshevism 1940

box 3, folder 16

Book One

Scope and Contents note

Mimeograph
box 3, folder 17-18

Book Two

box 3, folder 19

Notes and drafts

box 4, folder 1

Edited typescript 1977

box 4, folder 2

Untitled speech re splits in Bolshevik history, 1940

box 4, folder 3

Untitled speech re situation in Soviet Union, 1940 December 26

Scope and Contents note

Notes
box 4, folder 4

"What Are Russia's Chances?" [re German invasion], 1941 June

box 4, folder 5

Untitled speech re party organization, Socialist Workers Party convention, 1942

box 4, folder 6

Untitled speech, anniversary of founding of Second International, 1942 May 1

box 4, folder 7

Untitled speech, anniversary of death of Leon Trotsky, 1942 August

box 4, folder 8

Exchange of notes with other Socialist Workers Party leaders re revolutionary defeatism, 1942-1944

box 4, folder 9

Untitled speech, anniversary of death of V. I. Lenin, 1943 January

Scope and Contents note

Typescript
box 4, folder 10

Untitled speech, Socialist Workers Party National Committee plenum, 1943 October 31 - November 1

box 4, folder 11

"How Long Before the Revolution?," 1944

box 4, folder 12

Untitled speech re Germany, 1944

box 4, folder 13

Untitled speech, anniversary of Russian Revolution, 1944 November

box 4, folder 14

"The British Labor Victory: Its Meaning for the American Workers," national lecture tour, 1945 September - November

box 4, folder 15

"Stalin," speech re publication of Leon Trotsky's 1946

box 4, folder 16

"Theses on the American Revolution," 1946

box 4, folder 17

Untitled writing re Soviet Union, 1947

box 4, folder 18

Untitled speech re war and depression, 1947

box 4, folder 19

"The Twin Evils: War and Depression," May Day speech, 1947 May 3

box 4, folder 20

Untitled remarks, educational meeting re British Labour Party, 1947 September 18

box 4, folder 21

Untitled writing re Yugoslavia, 1948

box 4, folder 22

"The Soviet Union Today," speech, 1949

box 4, folder 23

Untitled speech re devaluation, 1949 October 6

box 4, folder 24

Untitled speech, anniversary of Russian Revolution, 1949 November

box 4, folder 25

Untitled speech re Yugoslavia, Socialist Workers Party convention, 1950

box 4, folder 26

Untitled speech re Eastern Europe, Socialist Workers Party National Committee plenum, 1950 February

box 4, folder 27

Review of Benjamin I. Schwartz, "Chinese Communism and the Rise of Mao," circa 1951

box 4, folder 28

Untitled remarks, unidentified meeting, 1951 January

box 4, folder 29

"The Colonial Revolution: Greatest Event of Our Time," speech, 1951 November 30

box 5, folder 1

Foreword and notes to Leon Trotsky, "The First Five Years of the Communist International," Volume II, 1953

box 5, folder 2

Untitled speech in opposition to Cochran-Clarke faction, 1953

box 5, folder 3

"Stalin and Stalinism," speech, 1953 April 17

box 5, folder 4

"Cochranite Level of Discussion: Mechanical Thinking Plus Sophistry Plus Slander," speech, 1953 May 3

box 5, folder 5

Untitled remarks re Cochran-Clarke faction, Socialist Workers Party National Committee plenum, 1953 May 28

Scope and Contents note

Notes
box 5, folder 6

"Djilas Case," 1954

box 5, folder 7

Untitled May Day speech, 1954 May 1

box 5, folder 8

Untitled writing re Hu Feng purge in China, 1955

box 5, folder 9

"Preliminary Notes on Automation," 1955 January 3

box 5, folder 10

Untitled resolution on colonialism, 1955 June 29

box 5, folder 11

"The Soviet Union Today," draft resolution, 1955 August 12

box 5, folder 12

"Draft Amendment on the Third Chinese Revolution" [with Farrell Dobbs and Morris Stein], 1955 September 13

box 5, folder 13

Untitled writing re 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, 1956

Scope and Contents note

Notes and drafts
 

"ABC of Marxism," International Workers School lecture series, (repeated for many years) undated

box 5, folder 14

General

box 5, folder 15

Dialectics

Scope and Contents note

Notes and drafts
box 6, folder 1

Historical materialism

box 6, folder 2

Marxian economics

box 6, folder 3

"Bolshevik Traditions (Intra-Party Conduct)," undated

box 6, folder 4

"The Collapse of the Second International," undated

box 6, folder 5

"Documents for the History of the Comintern," undated

box 6, folder 6

"Kamo: The Story of a Worker-Bolshevik," undated

box 6, folder 7

"Marxism and the Law," undated

box 6, folder 8

"Marxist Approach to Slogans," undated

box 6, folder 9

"Material Base of Thought," undated

box 6, folder 10

"On the USSR Theses," undated

box 6, folder 11

"The Proletarian Viewpoint," undated

box 7, folder 1

Untitled writing re American history undated

box 7, folder 2

Untitled writing re antisemitism undated

box 7, folder 3

Untitled writing re atomic energy undated

box 7, folder 4

Untitled writing re Nikolai Bukharin undated

Scope and Contents note

Notes and working materials
box 7, folder 5

Untitled writing re China undated

box 7, folder 6

Untitled writing re Communist International 1st Congress undated

box 7, folder 7

Untitled writing re Darwinism undated

Scope and Contents note

Notes
box 7, folder 8

Untitled writing re fascism undated

box 7, folder 9

Untitled writing re Ludwig Feuerbach undated

box 7, folder 10

Untitled writing re Karl Kautsky undated

box 7, folder 11

Untitled writing re John Maynard Keynes undated

Scope and Contents note

Notes and working materials
box 7, folder 12

Untitled writing re V. I. Lenin undated

box 7, folder 13

Untitled writing re Lovestoneites undated

box 7, folder 14

Untitled writing re Vaclav Machajski undated

box 7, folder 15

Untitled writing re Russian Revolution undated

box 7, folder 16

Untitled writing re Iakov Sverdlov undated

box 7, folder 17

Untitled writing re Leo Tolstoy undated

box 7, folder 18

Untitled miscellaneous writings undated

 

Writings by Others, 1933-1955

Scope and Contents

Arranged alphabetically by author. Includes manuscripts translated and/or edited for publication by Wright.
box 8, folder 1

Cannon, James P.,"The Struggle for a Proletarian Party." Socialist Workers Party, Internal Bulletin, 1940 April

Scope and Contents note

Printed copy with editorial annotations and notes by Wright
box 8, folder 2

Commission of Inquiry into the Charges Made Against Leon Trotsky in the Moscow Trials. The Case of Leon Trotsky, 1937

Scope and Contents note

Corrections and insertions
box 8, folder 3

Dewey, Frank. "Rudolf Hilferding," undated

box 8, folder 4

Dobbs, Farrell, Morris Stein, and Joseph Hansen. "Statement on the Internal Party Situation," 1953

 

Fischer, Oscar

box 8, folder 5

"Die Stalinisten erinnern sich an Thälmann: Warum hat Stalin nicht geholfen?" 1939-1940

box 8, folder 6

"Verfall und Aufstieg: Wanderer ins Nichts," circa 1941

box 8, folder 7

International Communist League. "War and the Fourth International," 1934

Scope and Contents note

Drafted by Leon Trotsky. Printed copy with editorial annotations and notes by Wright.
box 8, folder 8

Johre. Untitled writing re Thomas Mann undated

Scope and Contents note

Typescript (in English) edited and likely translated by Wright.
box 8, folder 9

Kim, Chang Sei. Untitled memoirs of a Korean physician undated

box 8, folder 10

Meyer, F. "Antwort auf die Anmerkungen Gen. Yalts," undated

Scope and Contents note

Includes a holograph.
box 8, folder 11

Morrow, Felix. "The Myth of French Democracy," circa 1940

 

Munis, Grandizo

box 8, folder 12

"Una internacional contra el internacionalismo," 1941 February

box 8, folder 13

"The Stagnation of Political Centrism," undated

box 8, folder 14

O'Rourke, Walter. Untitled writing re Mexico, 1941 June 8

box 8, folder 15

Parti Communiste Internationaliste [France]. "The Conception of the Party," circa 1945

box 8, folder 16

Peng, Shu-tse. "The Third Chinese Revolution and Its Perspective," 1954 December 1

 

Plekhanov, Georgii. "Belinsky and Rational Reality," Fourth International, 1955 Spring

box 8, folder 17

Typescript translated by Wright

box 8, folder 18

Notes and working materials for translation

box 8, folder 19

Printed copy

box 8, folder 20

R. "Theses on the Crisis of Stalinist Bonapartism," 1941 January 31

box 8, folder 21

Revolutionary Communist Party [China]. "The Founding Convention of the Revolutionary Communist Party of China," 1948 September 10

box 8, folder 22

Rizzi, Bruno. "La bureaucratisation du monde," 1939

box 8, folder 23

Sternberg, Fritz. "Draft of the Economic Part of the Program of the Fourth International," undated

 

Trotsky, Leon

box 9, folder 1

"Will Japan Commit Suicide?" Liberty 1933 November 18

box 9, folder 2

"Politics in the Reichstag Trial," New Republic, 1934 January 3

box 9, folder 3

"If America Should Go Communist," Liberty, 1935 March 23

box 9, folder 4

"How Should the Bolshevik-Leninists Act in Spain? Letter to a Spanish Comrade," 1936 April 12

box 9, folder 5

"Revolutionary Interlude in France," Nation, 1936 August 8

box 9, folder 6

Transcript of answers to American comrades, 1937

box 9, folder 7

"Did Stalin Poison Lenin?" Liberty, 1940 August 10

 

Stalin, 1941

box 9, folder 8

Working materials provided by Wright

box 9, folder 9

Memoranda by Wright, Charles Malamuth and Jean van Heijenoort re editorial changes to text made by Malamuth

box 9, folder 10

Miscellaneous writings.

Scope and Contents note

Translations of excerpts and notes by Wright
box 9, folder 11

Wollenberg, Erich. "The Red Army," 1938

 

Unidentified writers

box 9, folder 12

"La montée revolutionnaire atteint l'URSS," 1953

box 9, folder 13

"Report on Yugoslavia," 1950 May

box 9, folder 14

"Zwei Kamenews, zwei Lebenswege," undated

box 9, folder 15

Untitled writing re Palestine undated

Scope and Contents note

Includes a holograph (in German).
box 9, folder 16

Untitled series of writings on women and socialism undated

 

Miscellany, 1941-1953

Scope and Contents

Printed matter and artwork.
box 9, folder 17

Leaflets, cards, and style sheet undated

box 9, folder 18

Printed matter. Issues of Les cahiers de l'économie soviétique and clippings 1941-1953

box 9, folder 19

Artwork for press undated

 

Correspondence File 1934-1956

Scope and Contents

Arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Includes some letters by third parties. Editorial correspondence of Bert Cochran from 1945 to 1947 is interfiled with that of Wright. Wright and Cochran shared editorial duties on The Fourth International during this period.
box 1, folder 4

General 1943-1955

box 1, folder 5

Baghavan, R.S. (Ceylon) 1948-1954

box 1, folder 6

Bartell, Mike 1945-1947

box 1, folder 7

Birchman, Robert L. 1945

box 1, folder 8

Braden, Mark 1945

box 1, folder 9

Breitman, George 1943-1955

box 1, folder 10

Canfield, Cass (Harper and Brothers; re Leon Trotsky manuscripts) 1937

box 1, folder 11

Cannon, James P. 1944-1954

box 1, folder 12

Carlson, Grace 1943-1947

box 1, folder 13

Chester, Bob 1945-1955

box 1, folder 14

Clarke, George, 1945

Scope and Contents

Includes 1953 memorandum about Clarke.
box 1, folder 15

Cochran, Bert, 1945-1946

Scope and Contents note

Includes 1953 resolutions of Cochran-Clarke faction.
box 1, folder 16

Copeland, Vince 1944-1946

box 1, folder 17

Cornell, Charles 1946

box 1, folder 18

Creel, Warren 1944-1947

box 1, folder 19

Curtiss, Charles 1945-1948

Scope and Contents note

Includes 1939 note from Lillian Curtiss in Coyoacán.
box 1, folder 20

Davenport, William 1945-1946

box 1, folder 21

Dobbs, Farrell 1945-1953

box 1, folder 22

Dollinger, Sol (United Auto Workers), 1945

Scope and Contents note

Includes press releases and letters of protest re beating of Dollinger.
box 1, folder 23

Dowson, Ross (Canada) 1946

box 1, folder 24

Dunayevskaya, Raya 1937-1948

Scope and Contents note

Includes letters from Coyoacán.
box 1, folder 25

Dunne, Vincent Raymond 1945

box 1, folder 26

Forkosch, Morris D. (re Trotsky heirs) 1941

box 1, folder 27

Frank, Pierre (France) 1945

box 1, folder 28

Frankel, Jan (Coyoacán) 1937

box 2, folder 1

Geldman, Max 1945-1952

box 2, folder 2

Geller, Jules 1944-1951

box 2, folder 3

Glass, Frank 1944-1945

box 2, folder 4

Goldman, Albert (re Trotsky manuscripts) 1941-1945

box 2, folder 5

Gordon, Eloise 1944-1947

box 2, folder 6

Gordon, Sam 1945-1948

box 2, folder 7

Hansen, Reba 1945

box 2, folder 8

Haston, Jock (Great Britain) 1946

box 2, folder 9

Healy, Gerry (Great Britain) 1952-1953

box 2, folder 10

Karsner, Rose 1951

box 2, folder 11

Keemer, Edgar 1944-1945

box 2, folder 12

Kitt, Bill 1944-1945

box 2, folder 13

Konikow, Antoinette (mother-in-law of Wright) 1934-1946

box 2, folder 14

Kovalesky, Theodore 1943-1947

box 2, folder 15

Lee, Grace 1947

box 2, folder 16

Leinwand, Rose (sister of Wright) 1943-1945

box 2, folder 17

Liberty (re Trotsky manuscripts) 1938

box 2, folder 18

Malamuth, Charles (re Trotsky manuscripts) 1938-1940

box 2, folder 19

Mandel, Ernest (Belgium) 1945-1953

box 2, folder 20

Marcy, Sam 1956

box 2, folder 21

Mei, Lei Dar (re China) 1955

box 2, folder 22

Moreno, Nahuel (Argentina) 1955

box 2, folder 23

Morrow, Felix 1943

box 2, folder 24

Murphy, Patrick 1944

box 2, folder 25

New International (re Trotsky manuscripts) 1939

box 2, folder 26

Novack, George 1945-1952

box 2, folder 27

O'Brien, Vaughan T. (Coyoacán) 1938-1939

box 2, folder 28

Olshausen, George G. 1947-1948

box 2, folder 29

O'Rourke, Walter (Coyoacán) 1940

box 2, folder 30

Pablo, Michel (France) 1948

box 2, folder 31

Roberts, Dan 1944

box 2, folder 32

Rubinstein, Moisei (Mexico) 1936

box 2, folder 33

Saettone, Ruben (re Argentina) 1945

box 2, folder 34

Selander, Ted 1945-1947

box 2, folder 35

Sinclair, Louis (Great Britain) 1948

box 2, folder 36

Stein, Morris and Sylvia 1943-1948

box 2, folder 37

Swabeck, Arne 1942-1955

box 2, folder 38

Torchia, Rose 1945-1946

box 2, folder 39

Trainor, Larry and Augusta 1944-1947

box 2, folder 40

Trotskaia, Nataliia Sedova 1945

box 2, folder 41

Trotsky, Leon 1937-1940

box 2, folder 42

Van Heijenoort, Jean, 1937-1946

Scope and Contents note

Includes letters from Coyoacán.
box 2, folder 43

Vanzler, Edith (first wife of Wright) 1945

box 2, folder 44

Vanzler, Tyl (son of Wright) 1945-1953

box 2, folder 45

Walker, Charles R. (re Trotsky manuscripts) 1937

box 2, folder 46

Weber, Sara (Coyoacán) 1937-1938

box 2, folder 47

Weiss, Murry 1942-1951

box 2, folder 48

Weiss, Myra Tanner 1944

box 2, folder 49

Wild, Mr. (Great Britain; re Trotsky manuscripts) 1937

box 2, folder 50

Wolfe, Bernard (Coyoacán) 1937

box 2, folder 51

Wolfe, Bertram D. 1941