People's World Research Files, 1929-1996

Summary

Creators:
People's World (San Francisco, Calif.) . and Working Group (Oakland, Calif.)
Abstract:
Consists of text subject files of the People's World.
Extent:
36.25 cubic feet (39 cartons)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], People's World Research Files, larc.ms.0399, Labor Archives and Research Center, San Francisco State University.

Background

Scope and content:

Consists of the research files of the newspaper People's World, organized by subjects and individual's names and primarily comprises newspaper clippings and ephemera. Some folders do contain primary source materials including speeches, notes, and interviews. Issues addressed include social and political events of local, national and world-wide scope, such as the Communist Party in the U.S., especially California; labor union activities; the Independent Progressive Party and the peace movement; poverty conditions; discrimination against African Americans, Jews, Japanese; and life in the Soviet Union.

Biographical / historical:

The West Coast-based People's World was founded on January 1, 1938 as a daily grassroots newspaper affiliated with the Communist Party USA (CPUSA). Published in San Francisco, People's World circulated up and down the West Coast and was financed entirely by subscription. Its self-stated purpose was to represent the interests, causes and struggles of the common people under the banner "For Security, Democracy and Peace." The paper's articles and photographs heralded social change, focusing on such issues as equality, civil rights, labor, and immigration. In the late 1950s, in response to strong anti-Communist propaganda led by Senator Joseph R. McCarthy, the readership of People's World declined and the paper was forced to go to a weekly schedule. In 1986 it returned to being a daily after it merged with Daily World. The resulting People's Daily World continued to serve as the political voice of the Communist Party.

Acquisition information:
The People's World Photograph Collection, which included research files, was originally donated by the staff of the newspaper on June 6, 1986 (1986/073). There have been four additional accessions (1990/013, 1992/003, 1992/049, and 1994/037).
Processing information:

Processing on this collection was completed by Labor Archives and Research Center staff in 2019.

Arrangement:

To a large degree, original order has been maintained. The materials are arranged into two series: Series 1: Subject Files, and Series 2: Biographical Files

Physical location:
Materials are stored onsite.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to the Labor Archives and Research Center. All requests for permission to publish or quote from materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Labor Archives and Research Center as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], People's World Research Files, larc.ms.0399, Labor Archives and Research Center, San Francisco State University.

Location of this collection:
J. Paul Leonard Library, Room 460
1630 Holloway Ave
San Francisco, CA 94132-1722, US
Contact:
(415) 405-5549
specialcollections@sfsu.edu
Website