Eric Hass papers, 1899-1980

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Summary

Creators:
Hass, Eric
Abstract:
Correspondence, speeches and writings, notes, clippings, serial issues, other printed matter, and photographs, relating to the Socialist Labor Party, and to social problems of aging.
Extent:
11 manuscript boxes (4.5 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Eric Hass papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

Eric Hass was a longtime leader of the Socialist Labor Party. This party, dating back to 1876, was the first Marxist political organization in the United States. A number of the early leaders of the subsequent Socialist and Communist Parties served their political apprenticeships while passing through SLP ranks. Even before the death in 1914 of its outstanding leader Daniel De Leon, the SLP had been eclipsed in size and influence by the younger Socialist Party. For decades thereafter it nevertheless maintained a low profile existence, regularly publishing its newspaper The Weekly People and securing a ballot position for its presidential candidate every four years. Hass figured significantly in these activities as editor of The Weekly People for thirty years and as a four-time presidential candidate. In 1969, however, he broke with the party. While remaining a committed socialist, Hass came to believe that the SLP had become intellectually stultified and internally undemocratic.

The papers of Eric Hass are divided. Many are located in the Nebraska State Historical Society. Those in the Hoover Institution Library & Archives were acquired from Tillie Hass in 1981, after the death of her husband. These papers largely date from Hass's later years, following his departure from the SLP. After this rupture he worked for a time as caretaker of Trinity Churchyard in New York City, then retired to Costa Rica where the cost of living was low, and after a few years returned to the United States. As an experienced journalist and an avid amateur naturalist, he was able to supplement his income by writing nature articles for the mainstream press, principally the New York Times.

The Subject File contains a good deal of collected information on Daniel De Leon. The Speeches and Writings file includes some output by Hass from his SLP period, especially his editorial reports prefiguring his breach with the party, and his account of his resignation. The Correspondence file includes exchanges in the 1970s with Sam Brandon, Nick Simon and other former SLP members, analyzing their experiences and the prospects for reconstituting a De Leonist political organization.

During the decade of the 1970s Hass became increasingly involved in study of the social problems of aging, and in advocacy for older persons in regard to age discrimination and related issues. Toward this end he joined the Gray Panthers after his return from Costa Rica. Shortly before his death he completed a book-length study, "Agism: The Shunning of the Elderly." This manuscript, for which he was unable to find a publisher before he died, is in the Speeches and Writings file. The Subject File contains a substantial quantity of collected material on aging.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1905
Born, Lincoln, Nebraska
1928
Joined Socialist Labor Party
1932-1938
National organizer, Socialist Labor Party
1938-1968
Editor, The Weekly People
1949
Author, The Socialist Labor Party and the Internationals
1952
Socialist Labor Party candidate for President (first campaign)
1956
Socialist Labor Party candidate for President (second campaign)
1960
Socialist Labor Party candidate for President (third campaign)
1964
Socialist Labor Party candidate for President (fourth campaign)
1969
Resigned from Socialist Labor Party
1974-1978
Lived in Costa Rica
1980
Died, Santa Rosa, California
Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1981.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

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.

Terms of access:

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

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Eric Hass papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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