Thomas F. Barton papers HLL.2019.005
Allison Ransom
Holt Labor Library at CSU Dominguez Hills
October 2019
Contributing Institution:
Holt Labor Library at CSU Dominguez Hills
Title: Thomas F. Barton papers
Creator:
Barton, Thomas F.
Identifier/Call Number: HLL.2019.005
Physical Description:
2.5 Linear Feet
Physical Description:
5 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1964-2015
Date (bulk): 2003-2005
Abstract: This collection includes the personal and professional papers of Thomas F. Barton, an anti-war activist and socialist who
organized soldiers against the Vietnam and Iraq wars. It includes newsletters, articles, correspondence, meeting minutes and
agendas that document Barton's involvement with various anti-war and socialist organizations, and the distribution, founding,
and publishing of various anti-war newsletters.
Language of Material: Collection material is in English.
Content Description
The Thomas F. Barton Papers (1964-2015, bulk 2003-2005) contain correspondence, newsletters, press releases, articles, publications,
meeting minutes, and agendas that chronicle Barton's involvement in the anti-Iraq War movement, the anti-Vietnam War movement,
and various political organizations. Although active throughout the east coast, the papers primarily reflect Barton's activities
that were based in New York City. Correspondence is primarily between Barton and members of organizations with whom he was
involved, along with some correspondence between Barton and individuals directly impacted by the Iraq war. Files documenting
the publishing of the
Wildcatnewspaper, the distribution of the anti-Vietnam War
Vietnam GI newsletter, and the founding and publishing of
GI Special, later called
Military Resistance, and
Traveling Soldier are present in the papers. Also included are flyers, correspondence, and articles related to the organizing activities of
various anti-war committees and organizations, including Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW), Iraq Veterans Against the
War (IVAW), and Veterans for Peace (VFP), as well as socialist organizations such as the International Socialist Organization
(ISO) and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Subject files comprising correspondence, articles, publications, and
other documents regarding the Iraq War and anti-Iraq War movement, and political topics in China, El Salvador, North Korea,
Palestine, and Serbia are present. One file of correspondence between Barton and various affiliates reflects the activities
of the Wildcat group, and one file containing correspondence, articles, and newsletters that reflect New York City's District
Council 37's organizing with the Greater Hospital Association of New York (1199) is present as well. The papers also contain
single issues of
War Times,
Socialist Action, and
The Richmond Defender : Monthly Newspaper of the Defenders for Freedom, Justice and Equality, among other publications.
Processing Information
Yahaira Santana and Allison Ransom processed the collection, and Allison Ransom wrote the finding aid, in 2019.
Preferred Citation
Custodial History
The Thomas F. Barton Papers were donated to the Holt Labor Library in San Francisco, California around 2013, and were acquired
by the Gerth Archives and Special Collections at California State University, Dominguez Hills, in 2019.
Conditions Governing Access
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Arrangement
The papers are arranged in two series: Series I. Iraq War 2003-2015, undated; Series II. Vietnam War and Political Organizations,
1964-2005, undated.
Biographical / Historical
Thomas F. Barton was born in 1935 in Indiana. He was active in the Young People's Socialist League (YPSL), a chapter within
the Socialist Party, during the 1950s and through the first half of the 1960s. During this time, he was also a member of the
Student Peace Union, in which he assisted in organizing the anti-Vietnam War movement in Philadelphia, and an editor of the
Young Socialist Review. Barton represented the Chicago Branch of the YPSL at its national convention in 1964, a year by which the chapter began
to align more closely with Trotskyism. This ideological shift led to many changes within the organization that ultimately
led to its dissolution.
Barton continued to participate in the peace movement throughout the 1960s and 1970s as the east-coast distributor of the
anti-war
Vietnam GI newsletter with fellow activist Jeff Sharlet, which was circulated to troops deployed in Vietnam as well as those in the
Army Reserves in the United States. His participation with the newsletter laid the roots for his later anti-Iraq War activism.
In 2003, Barton began publishing the anti-war
Traveling Soldier newsletter which was distributed among soldiers deployed in Iraq, as well as Germany, Japan, and various military bases in
the United States. Barton also established the Military Project, a committee that grew from the organizing efforts of
Traveling Soldier that supported the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and helped organize soldiers and civilians against the war.
The Military Project also organized prisoners against the Iraq War into the Prisoners Against the War section of the committee.
In the same year, Barton also began publishing the anti-war
GI Special newsletter, later known as
Military Resistance, an emailed newsletter that is still being published. The Military Project collaborated with various anti-Iraq War organizations
and committees, including Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), Veterans for Peace (VFP) and the Troops Out Now coalition,
to advocate for the end of the Iraq War.
Barton remained active in the socialist and labor movements throughout his life. During the 1970s he published the pro-labor
and anti-Vietnam War
Wildcat newspaper, in association with the Wildcat group, which sought to organize industrial workers in various cities throughout
the United States. He maintained membership in multiple socialist organizations throughout the 1970s and into the 2000s, including
the American Socialist Organizing Committee, and published a newspaper of the same name. He was also a shop steward for Local
768, District Council 37, which organized against budget cuts to Medicaid and layoffs made within the Greater Hospital Association
of New York (1199) in New York City.
Bibliography:
"Background on Thomas Barton." Thomas Barton Papers (MS 539). Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts
Amherst Libraries.
Various items throughout the Thomas F. Barton papers, 1964-2015, bulk 2003-2005, HLL.2019.005, Gerth Archives and Special
Collections, California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Iraq War, 2003-2011
United States -- History, Military -- 20th century
United States -- History, Military -- 21st century
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- United States
Iraq War, 2003-2011 -- Moral and ethical aspects
Veterans -- Political activity -- United States
Iraq War, 2003-2011 -- Protest movements -- United States
Families of military personnel -- Political activity -- United States -- History -- 21st century
Peace movements -- United States -- History -- 21st century
Socialism -- United States -- History -- 20th century
Iraq War Series I.
2003-2015, undated
2003-2005
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Series I. contains subject files comprising correspondence, newsletters articles, and publications regarding the Iraq War
and the anti-war movement, as well as files documenting the founding and publishing of
GI Special, later called
Military Resistance, and
Traveling Soldier. The files related to
GI Special contain correspondence between Barton and individuals directly impacted by the Iraq war. Also included are minutes, agendas,
and correspondence related to the establishment of the Military Project. Of note is correspondence between Barton and Stanley
Howard, an incarcerated individual, regarding the Prisoners Against the War section of the Military Project. Correspondence,
flyers, and newsletters reflecting the activities, events, and rallies organized by various anti-Iraq War organizations, such
as Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), Veterans for Peace (VFP), and Citizen Soldier, are also present.
Arrangement
Files are arranged alphabetically within each sub-series.
Subject Files
2003-2015, undated
2003-2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 1
Abuse of Troops
2003
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 2
Anti-War Movement
2003-2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 3
Anti-War Veterans
2003, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 4
Army Gay Troops
undated
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 5
Army-Iraq
2003-2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 6
Army Times
2003
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 7
"Bush and White House/War"
2003, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 8
"Cindy Sheehan's Texas Vigil,"
The Washington Spectator, vol. 31, no. 16
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 9
Dahr Jamail Testimonial
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 10
Family Resistance
2003
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 11
Iraq, First Invasion Reports
2003, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 12
Iraq, Halliburton
2003
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 13
Iraq Resistance (including Worker Communist Party of Iraq)
2003-2005
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 14
Iraq Unions
2003-2005
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 15
Iraq Veterans Problems Including PTSD
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 16
Iraq War, General
2003-2005
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 17
Labor Action Newsletter
2003
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Volume 1, Number 2.
box 1, folder 18
Mark Twain, "War Prayer"
2003
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 19
Military Rights
undated
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 20
Occupation and Misinformation
2003
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 21
Oil
2003-2005
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 22
"Order of Battle"
2015, undated
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains one photocopy of the cove page of
Turning the Tide Vol. 28, No. 4, October-December 2015, and a newsletter from Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW).
box 1, folder 23
Pentagon
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 24
Pentagon Conflicts
2003
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 25
Troop Organizing, Class
2003, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 1
Troops Resistance
2003-2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 2
"Urban Warfare"
2003
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains article titled "US May Face Cruel Laws of Urban Combat," by Alfred W. McCoy,
Boston Globe, accessed on www.truthout.org.
box 2, folder 3
War Times Issue no. 9
2003
Language of Material: English.
Newsletters
2003-2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 4
GI Special: Correspondence
2003-2005
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 5
GI Special: Early
2003
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 6
GI Special: Publicized
2004, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 7
Traveling Soldier: "Binh" [correspondence]
2002-2004, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 8
Traveling Soldier: "Binh," [Ralph] Nader
undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 9
Traveling Soldier: Mailing List
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 10, box 5, folder 31
Traveling Soldier: Originals
2003-2005
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains issues number 1-9, 11.
Organizations and Events
2003-2006, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 11
"Bring them home now!" Coordinating Committee
undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 12
Brooklyn Parents for Peace
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 13
Campus Anti-War Network (CAN)
2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 14
Citizen Soldier
2003-2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 15
Fayetteville [North Carolina] March and Rally
2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 16
Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO)
2003-2004
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 17
Gold Star Mothers for Peace
2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 18
Harass the Brass
2003
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 19
Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW)
2003-2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 20
Kevin Benderman Defense
2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 21
Memorial Day NYC
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 22
Military Families Speak Out (MFSO)
2003
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 23
Military Law Task Force
2004
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains
On Watch : the official publication of the MLTF. Vol. XVIII, No. 1, Winter 2004.
box 2, folder 24
New York City Labor Against the War (NYC LAW)
2004-2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 25
Occupation: Dreamland film
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 26
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN)
2003-2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 27
Support Network for Armed Forces Union (SNAFU)
2004
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 28
The Theatre of War: A Documentary Film Series, City University of New York (CUNY)
undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 29
Troops Out Now Coalition
undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 30
United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ)
2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 31
Veterans Against the Iraq War
2003, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 1
Veterans Call to Conscience
2003
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 2
Veterans for Commonsense
2003-2005
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 3
Veterans for Peace (VFP)
2003-2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 4
War's Registers League (WRL)
2005-2006, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 5
Worker's World Party
2000-2004
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains flyers and correspondence regarding the history of the Party and the Party's position on labor.
Military Project
2003-2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 6
Agendas
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 7
[Alan] Stolzer Plays
2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 8
Baquba
2004
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 9
Basic Pack
2004, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 10
Binh Proposal [organizing proposal]
undated
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 11
Contributions
2004, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 12
Correspondence
2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 13
Film Resources
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 14
Flyers and Handouts
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 15
Founding Sign-On
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 16
Lawyers
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 17
Military Contacts
2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 18
Minutes
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 19
New York National Guard
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 20
NYC Reserves
undated
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 21
Originals
2004, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 22
Pre-Committee
2004, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 23
Prisoners Against the War
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 24
Reports
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 25
Rochester
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 26
Stanley Howard [correspondence]
2003-2005
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 27
Theory
undated
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 28
Veterans for Peace (VFP) response
2005
Language of Material: English.
Vietnam War and Political Organizations Series II.
1964-2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Series II. contains correspondence, articles, and publications that reflect Thomas F. Barton's involvement with the anti-Vietnam
War protest movement, and in particular his role as publisher of the
Wildcat newspaper and the east-coast distributor of
Vietnam GI. Also included are convention documents, newsletters, and correspondence reflecting the activities of various socialist organizations,
including the International Socialist Organization (ISO) and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), as well as publications
from organizations such as the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP). One file comprising correspondence, articles, and newsletters
documenting New York City's District Council 37's organizing activities is also present.
Arrangement
Files are arranged alphabetically within each sub-series.
Vietnam War Protest Movement
1968-2005, undated
1968-1985
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 29
Anti-Vietnam War films
2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains correspondence and one flyer regarding the films
Sir no Sir, and
We Gotta Get Out of This Place!
box 4, folder 1
Knutson Vietnam [Wildcat]
1968-1970, 1985, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 4, folder 2
Movement for a Democratic Military
1970
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains one article titled "Cops Attack Anti-War G.I.s : Police smash in door, bust peaceful meeting," re-printed from the
Los Angeles Free Press February 13, 1970.
box 4, folder 3
Revolutionary Defeatism [The Politics of Military Defeatism]
undated
Language of Material: English.
box 4, folder 4
Vietnam GI
1968-1970, 2004, undated
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains
Vietnam GI newsletter, June, 1969, among other newsletters and articles.
box 4, folder 5
Vietnam GI: 1980's
1985-1986, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 4, folder 6
Vietnam GI: Chicago Correspondence
1968-1970, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 4, folder 7
Vietnam GI: Contact Committee
1968-1969, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 4, folder 8
Vietnam GI: Content
undated
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains one post-it note.
box 4, folder 9
Vietnam GI: Other Newspapers and Pamphlets
1970-1973, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 4, folder 10
Vietnam Troops and Veterans News Clippings
1967-1978, 2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 4, folder 11
Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW)
1971, 1985, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 4, folder 12
Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW)
2003-2004, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 4, folder 13
Vietnam Veterans Against the War: Anti-Imperialist (VVAW-AI)
2005
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains
Storm Warning! Issue no. 50.
Socialist Organizations
1993-2005, undated
2003-2005
Language of Material: English.
box 4, folder 14
"Becker" ["Democrats, Republicans and U.S. Hegemony" by Richard Becker]
2004
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains
Socialism and Liberation : magazine of the party for socialism and liberation. Volume 1, No. 1, August 2004
box 4, folder 15
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)
1993, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 1
International Socialist Organization (ISO)
2003-2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 2
International Socialist Organization (ISO) Anti-War
2003-2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 3
International Socialist Organization (ISO) Discussion Bulletin, no. 1-2
2003
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 4
League for the Revolutionary Party (LRP)
2003
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 5
Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP)
2003
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains "Special Issue" [of the]
Revolutionary Worker, Vol. 25, No. 11.
box 5, folder 6
Socialist Publications
1964, undated
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains form letters to subscribers of
The American Socialist, as well as a manuscript of "the first chapter for a pamphlet now in the process of being printed for the Young People's
Socialist League; by David Komatsu and Scott Spencer, Chicago YSPL."
box 5, folder 7
Socialist Workers Party - UK (SWP- UK)
2004-2005
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 8
"Split in the AFL-CIO?"
Socialist Action
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 9
World Socialist Web Site
2005
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains statement of the Students for Social Equality titled "Hurricane disaster shows the failure of the profit system."
Military and Political Subject Files
1964-2005, undated
2003-2005
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 10
American Friends Service Committee
1964
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 11
Base Locator
2005
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains
2006 Guide to Military Installations Worldwide : More than 650 bases, posts, stations and more. Military Times Media Group, November 2005.
box 5, folder 12
"Black revolts 1960s"
1967
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains "Negro Revolt Echoes to the Ugly Crack of Sniper Fire,"
Life Vol. 63, No. 4, July 28, 1967.
box 5, folder 13
Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES)
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 14
China
1999-2004, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 15
"District Council 37" [American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)]
1996, 2001-2003
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 16
Dollar Crisis
2003, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 17
"Drugs" [Drug Policy Alliance]
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 18
Max Watts correspondence
1975, 1990, 2003-2004
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 19
Military Video Collection catalog
undated
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 20
Million Worker March
2005, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 21
North Korea
2003
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 22
Palestine
2003
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 23
"[Ralph] Nader 2000"
2000, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 24
Serbia
1999, undated
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 25
Solidarity Now
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 26
"The Mexican War" by Thomas Corwin, book chapter
undated
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 27
The Other Israel
undated
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains one flyer regarding the publication, which compiled analysis and reports regarding the efforts of the Israeli Peace
Movement.
box 5, folder 28
The Richmond Defender : Monthly Newspaper of the Defenders for Freedom, Justice and Equality, Vol. 1, No. 2
2005
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 29
US- Europe
2003
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains corresponde
box 5, folder 30
World Trade Organization (WTO)
1999-2000, undated
Language of Material: English.