New American Movement collectionHLL.2019.015

Allison Ransom
Holt Labor Library at CSU Dominguez Hills
March 2020


Contributing Institution: Holt Labor Library at CSU Dominguez Hills
Title: New American Movement collection
Identifier/Call Number: HLL.2019.015
Physical Description: .83 Linear Feet
Physical Description: 2 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1971-1982, undated
Abstract: The collection contains pamphlets, newsletters, bulletins and foundational documents that reflect the New American Movement's (NAM) activities and political platforms. The NAM was active from 1972-1982 and advocated for workplace equality and a democratic socialist society founded on socialist feminist ideas.
Language of Material: Collection material is in English.

Content Description

The New American Movement collection, 1971-1982, comprises documents reflecting the foundation of the organization and chapter organizing, and one constitution. Also included are pamphlets regarding the Movement's platform on economics, politics, militarization, and war, bulletins and pamphlets concerning workplace organizing and striking, newsletters about socialist feminism and reproductive justice, and songbooks.

Preferred Citation

For information about citing archival material, see the Citations for Archival Material  guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.

Custodial History

The New American Movement Collection was donated to the Holt Labor Library in San Francisco, California between 1992 and 2019, and was 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.

Arrangement

The collection is alphabetically arranged in one series.

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 not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biographical / Historical

The New American Movement (NAM) held its founding convention in 1972 and was active until 1982 and was formed by anti-war and women's movement activists, as well as members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). The organization sympathized with the ideology of Antonio Gramsci, who believed that a revolutionary organization should develop a "common sense" in the popular consciousness of a society that could challenge and then replace presiding social and political structures. This theoretical foundation was the basis for the NAM's attempts to create a wide-reaching socialist movement that was focused on organizing the 1970s working class, which was becoming increasingly composed of female clerical and healthcare workers. The NAM aimed to develop a socialist-feminist and anti-racist class consciousness among the entire working class by increasing feminist and gay and lesbian participation in unions and labor strikes, and combating sexual descrimination and harrassment against homosexual and female workers. The organization also advocated for abortion rights and against forced sterilization practices. In 1982, the NAM merged with the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC) to form the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
Bibliography:
Guide to the New American Movement Records TAM.051, Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archive, Elmer Holmes Bobst Library, New York University, New York, NY, March 20, 2019. http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/tamwag/tam_051/index.html
New American Movement (NAM). Discover the Networks, March 2020. https://www.discoverthenetworks.org/organizations/new-american-movement-nam/
Cohen, Victor. "Recollecting the New American Movement : an introduction," Works and Days : the New American Movement : an oral history. Vol. 28, No. 1-2, whole number 55/56, spring/fall 2010. http://www.worksanddays.net/2010/File02.Cohen.pdf
Gardener, Judith Kegan. "Ambitious Moderation : socialist feminism in the NAM years," Works and Days : the New American Movement : an oral history. Vol. 28, No. 1-2, whole number 55/56, spring/fall 2010. http://www.worksanddays.net/2010/File05.Gardiner.pdf

Processing Information

Allison Ransom processed the collection and wrote the finding aid in March 2020.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Socialism -- United States -- 20th century
Women and socialism -- United States
Feminism -- United States
New American Movement (Organization)

box 1, folder 1

Constitution, Chapter Organizing, and General Information Materials 1971, undated

Scope and Contents

Contains information pamphlets regarding the establishment of new chapters, including one pamphlet concerning the development of a student chapter and a "written and graphic" manifesto.
box 1, folder 2-5

Discussion Bulletin 1977, 1979-1981

Scope and Contents

No. 18, 27-35
box 2, folder 1

Economics and Politics Pamphlets undated

Scope and Contents

Contains various pamphlets regarding socialism, the economy, and revolution
box 2, folder 1

Militarization and War Pamphlets 1973, undated

box 2, folder 2

Plant Closures, Workplace Organizing and Strike Bulletins and Pamphlets 1972, [1974], 1981, undated

box 2, folder 3

Socialist Feminism and Reproductive Justice Newsletters and Leaflets 1972-1973, 1979, 1982, undated

Scope and Contents

Contains National Interim Committee document regarding reproductive rights, one pamphlet titled "Some thoughts of gay men on the relationship of the sexual politics to New American Movement," various issues of the NAM Women's Newsletter, Women's Newsletter on Sociaist Feminism, and Women Organizing, papers from the NAM conference on Socialism and Feminism, Durham, North Carolina, and one socialist feminist bibliography
box 2, folder 4

Songbooks undated