Morris Childs papers, 1924-1995

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Summary

Creators:
Barron, John, 1930-2005 and Childs, Morris, 1902-1991
Abstract:
Correspondence, reports, notes, speeches and writings, and interview transcripts relating to Federal Bureau of Investigation surveillance of the Communist Party, and the relationship between the Communist Party of the United States and the Soviet communist party and government. Includes some papers of John Barron used as research material for his book Operation Solo: The FBI's Man in the Kremlin (Washington, D.C., 1996). Hard-copy material also available on microfilm (2 reels).
Extent:
2 manuscript boxes, 35 microfilm reels (4.3 Linear Feet)
Language:
In English and Russian
Preferred citation:

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

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes mainly papers of Morris Childs (1902-1991), a prominent member of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA). From 1954 to 1982, Morris Childs, along with his brother Jack Childs and wife Eva Childs, participated in an operation which was conducted by the FBI, and later named SOLO.

Within Operation SOLO the FBI supported a clandestine communication system designed and built by the Soviet KGB (Committee for State Security). Through this system the FBI regularly received messages from the Kremlin and, in the name of Jack or Morris, sent back information the United States wanted the Soviets to get. The FBI also handled millions of dollars smuggled from the Soviet Union to New York, either by Jack or Morris or by KGB agents, for the CPUSA. Morris Childs made fifty-seven trips (called by the FBI "missions") to the Soviet Union and other countries of the socialist camp. He often accompanied Gus Hall, General Secretary of the CPUSA; sometimes he traveled alone or with his wife. Morris had conferences with party leaders in the countries he visited and was shown confidential and secret documents. He took almost verbatim records of what he had heard or seen, and the notes were later handed over to FBI agents. These notes, both holograph and typescript (slightly edited), are included in the collection in the Morris Childs File. They give a most vivid impression of the position taken by communist leaders on various international issues. The collection also includes Morris Childs's notebooks with brief notes about the places he visited and people he met, as well as his interview transcript prepared by FBI agents.

Microfilm of Morris Childs materials on loan from the J. Edgar Hoover Foundation include correspondence, reports, and notes relating to Federal Bureau of Investigation surveillance of the Communist Party, and the relationship between the Communist Party of the United States and the Soviet communist party and government. The original papers are held by the J. Edgar Hoover Foundation. A transfer table indicating corresponding folder and microfilm reel numbers is available at the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1902 June 10
Born Moishe Chilovsky, Kiev, Ukraine
1911
Arrived in the United States Ellis Island
1921
Joined the United Communist Party of America
1929-1932
Received training at the International Lenin School in Moscow
1933-1938
Functionary of the Communist Party, member of the Central Committee
1936
Ran for U.S. Congress in Illinois
1946-1947
Editor, Daily Worker
1954-1982
Cooperated with FBI agents in Operation SOLO
1987
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for Intelligence
1991 June 5
Died
Acquisition information:
Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1998.
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], Morris Childs 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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