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Marvin Sanford Papers: Finding Aid
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Title: Marvin Sanford Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1896-1970
Collection Number: mssSanford papers
Creator:
Sanford, Marvin.
Extent: 213 items in 2 boxes
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
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.
Language: English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
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.
[Identification of item]. Marvin Sanford Papers, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Purchased from George M. Sarris, July 30, 1975.
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.
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.
Arranged in the following order:
- Box 1: Manuscripts
- Box 2: Correspondence and Ephemera
Secretary of the Young Socialist League (U.S.)
- Addressee of Carl B. Beals letter (1915, Feb. 26). Box 2 (3).
Bellamy, Edward, 1850-1898
- Subject in Newton Van Dalsem speech, “The Bellamy Movement in Southern California” (1950, Mar. 27). Box 1 (31).
- Subject in Newton Van Dalsem letter [1950] to Marvin Sanford. Box 2 (27).
Cooperative societies
- Subject in Nevada Colony Corporation “By-Laws of the Nevada Colony Corporation” (1915-1916). Box 1 (7).
- Subject in Marvin Sanford Manuscript regarding Co-operative Colonies [c.1913]. Box 1 (19).
- Subject in Charles Pierce LeWarne, 1930-, letters (1968-1970) to Marvin Sanford. Box 2 (10).
- Subject in Walter E. Reynolds letter (1933, Oct. 16) to Marvin Sanford. Box 2 (12).
Debs, Eugene V.
- Subject in Carl B. Beals letter (1915, Feb. 26) to Secretary of the Young Socialist League (U.S.). Box 2 (3).
- Subject in Luella Twining letter [c.1939] to “Editor, People’s World.” Box 2 (26).
Flores Magón, Ricardo, 1873-1922
- Subject in article “Socialists and the Mexican Liberals” (1911, June 24). Box 1 (39).
Industrial Workers of the World
- Subject in Ephemera: Newspaper Clippings (1936-1965). Box 2 (38).
Llano Colony (secular community)
- Subject in Marvin Sanford Manuscript regarding Co-operative Colonies [c.1913]. Box 1 (19).
- Subject in Walter E. Reynolds letter (1933, Oct. 16) to Marvin Sanford. Box 2 (12).
- Subject in DeForest Sanford letters (1952-1956) to Marvin Sanford. Box 2 (16).
- Subject in Bernie Stevens letter (1969, June 27) to Marvin Sanford. Box 2 (24).
London, Jack
- Subject in Marvin Sanford Article regarding Jack London, 1876-1916 [after 1916]. Box 1 (10).
- Subject in Luella Twining letter [c.1939] to “Editor, People’s World.” Box 2 (26).
- Subject in Hensley Charles Woodbridge, 1923-, letter (1961, Aug. 4) to Marvin Sanford. Box 2 (29).
- Subject in Robert Hanson Woodward, 1925-, letter (1969, June 25) to Marvin Sanford. Box 2 (30).
Mooney, Thomas J., 1882-1942
- Subject in Luella Twining letter [c.1939] to “Editor, People’s World.” Box 2 (26).
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
Huntington Library's Online Catalog.
Bellamy, Edward,
1850-1898.
Debs, Eugene V.
(Eugene Victor), 1855-1926.
Flores Magón, Ricardo,
1873-1922.
London, Jack,
1876-1916.
Mooney, Thomas J.,
1882-1942.
Sanford,
Marvin.
Industrial Workers of
the World.
Llano Colony (Secular
community)
Amateur journalism --
California.
Communism -- United States.
Cooperative societies -- United
States.
Labor movement -- California --
Periodicals.
Labor unions -- United States --
History -- Sources.
Socialism -- California -- History --
Sources.
Socialism -- California --
Periodicals.
Socialism -- United States.
Socialists -- United States --
Correspondence.
Communism -- California.
California -- Politics
and government.
Articles -- 20th century.
Letters (correspondence) -- 20th
century.
Newsletters -- California -- 20th
century.
Newspapers -- California -- 20th
century.
Typescripts -- 20th century.
De Leon, Daniel, 1852-1914.
De Witt, Samuel A.
Myers, Gustavus, 1872-1942.
LeWarne, Charles Pierce, 1930-.
Sanford, DeForest.
Seidel, Emil.
Thomas, Norman, 1884-1968.
World Socialist Party of the United
States.
Young Socialist League (U.S.),
correspondent.
Searchlight (San Francisco, Calif.)