Marvin Sanford papers, 1896-1970

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Summary

Creators:
Sanford, Marvin.
Abstract:
This collection contains correspondence, manuscripts, and ephemera related to American labor supporter and socialist Marvin Sanford (1897-1974) and his work in socialism, labor unions, and communism. The following topics and people are referenced in the collection: Edward Bellamy, cooperative societies including the Llano Colony, Eugene V. Debs, DeForest Sanford, Ricardo Flores Magón, the Industrial Workers of the World, Jack London, and Thomas Mooney.
Extent:
1 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Marvin Sanford papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The majority of the collection is related to Marvin Sanford and his work in socialism, labor unions, and communism. The collection is comprised of 72 manuscripts, most of which are typescripts of articles by various socialist writers including Daniel De Leon, Samuel A. DeWitt, Edward Keating, Gustavus Myers, Emil Seidel, and Norman Thomas. Also included are articles and research notes written by Marvin Sanford. There are 88 pieces of correspondence, most of which are written to Marvin Sanford and chiefly deal with socialism and politics in California. Authors of correspondence include Charles Pierce LeWarne and the World Socialist Party of the United States. The correspondence also includes 44 letters from DeForest Sanford to his son Marvin; these letters, which are written from the Union Printers Home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where DeForest spent the last years of his life, include some of DeForest's memories of his involvement with the socialist movement, labor unions, and the Llano Colony. The ephemera is comprised of newspaper clippings, and copies of Sanford's publications "Free Society," "The Searchlight," and "The Voice of Militant Labor." The entire collection covers socialism, communism, and union and labor issues, but more specifically the following topics and people are discussed: Edward Bellamy, cooperative societies including the Llano Colony, Eugene V. Debs, Ricardo Flores Magón, the Industrial Workers of the World, Jack London, and Thomas Mooney.

Biographical / historical:

Marvin Sanford (1897-1974), labor supporter and socialist, was the son of DeForest Sanford, another notable socialist. In the 1890s, the Sanford family moved to Washington State where DeForest Sanford established the "Peoples Advocate," a newspaper for the Social Democratic party; he also edited the official paper of the Knights of the Labor Advocate. The Sanfords later moved to Santa Cruz, California. The Sanford family also spent many years living at the Llano del Rio Colony in Antelope Valley, California. Marvin Sanford, like his father, also published socialist newspapers including "Free Society," "The Searchlight," and "The Voice of the Militant Labor." Marvin Sanford wrote many articles for the International Socialist Review and was a teacher at the Commonwealth College in Mena, Arkansas.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from George M. Sarris, July 1975.
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following order:

  1. Box 1: Manuscripts
  2. Box 2: Correspondence and Ephemera
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Marvin Sanford papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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