Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Edward Mosk Papers,
- Dates:
- 1934-1961
- Creators:
- Mosk, Edward
- Abstract:
- The collection consists primarily of materials documenting the Progressive Citizens of America (PCA), Southern California Chapter and the Independent Progressive Party (IPP) in Southern California. Also in the collection are clippings pertaining to Upton Sinclair's EPIC (End Poverty in California) program, his 1934 California Gubernatorial Campaign, and material on Irwindale political figure Antonio Silva (1961).
- Extent:
- 1 box, 1 half-box, 1 half-legal box, and 2 oversized folders 1+ linear feet
- Language:
- English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Edward Mosk Papers, Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research, Los Angeles, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The papers of Edward Mosk contain clippings and bound scrapbooks that include bylaws, clippings, correspondence, event flyers, fact sheets, minutes, newsletters, pamphlets, news releases, resolutions, excerpts from speeches by Henry Wallace, and summaries of California state bills. The majority of the collection consists of four bound volumes of materials relating to the Progressive Citizens of America (PCA), 1947 and Independent Progressive Party (IPP), 1947-1949. The volumes are arranged chronologically. The first volume contains papers from the PCA, while the remaining three volumes document the IPP and its involvement with organized labor, Truman's red-baiting of Henry Wallace, and progressive petitions campaigns.
The rest of the collection consists of documents related to Mosk's legal career and interest in local and state politics. Clippings and a bound copy of a trial transcript document Mosk's involvement with Irwindale political figure Antonio Silva's conviction for grand theft, re-incarceration as a parole violator, trial for alleged vote fraud, and a court ruling ordering his deportation to Mexico. Mosk served as the attorney for Silva and co-defendant Justin Garcia in a 1961 felony election fraud case heard before the California Court of Appeals (People of California v. Antonio Silva, Justin Garcia, Ernestine Solorio and James McLean). State political materials consist of clippings and leaflets relating to Upton Sinclair's 1934 California Gubernatorial Campaign, including leaflets on his EPIC (End Poverty in California) Plan.
- Biographical / historical:
- Ed Mosk
Attorney Edward (Ed) Mosk, who died in the early 1980s, lived much of his adult life in the Los Angeles area. He was involved with a number of progressive causes and was an active member of the Progressive Citizens of America (PCA) and successor organization, the Independent Progressive Party (IPP) of California. In 1947, Mosk was elected to the Executive Board of the PCA. He also served as Chairman of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Committee for Yugoslav Relief. Mosk was the brother of Stanley Mosk who served as the California State Attorney General and then as a Justice on the California Supreme Court.
The Progressive Citizens of America and Independent Progressive PartyThe Progressive Citizens of America (PCA) was a left-liberal coalition with a pro-labor and pro-civil rights agenda. In December 1947, Henry Wallace, former Secretary of Agriculture and former Vice President, who since 1946 had been working closely with the organization, officially declared himself a candidate for President in the 1948 election. In August 1947, despite the wish of many progressives such as former California Attorney General Robert Kenny (who had served as Chairman of the Southern California Chapter of the PCA) and Carey McWilliams, the Independent Progressive Party (IPP) of California was formed. "The IPP was launched under the auspices of the Joint Trade Union Committee for a Third Party." (MacDougall, p. 190)
In July 1948, the national Progressive Party nominated Henry Wallace candidate for president. However, in spite of the tremendous amount of effort and hard labor that went into the campaign, Wallace won only 2.38 percent of the national vote. Not only did IPP suffer political loss, its size and influence were also affected greatly. After the 1948 campaign, the Party turned its focus to opposition of the Korean War.
- Custodial history:
-
The collection was donated to the Library, in 1990 by Fern Mosk, wife of Edward Mosk.
- Bibliography:
- "Researching the Progressive Party at SCL, "Heritage [Newsletter], pp. 5-6Los Angeles : Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research Holiday Issue, 1998
MacDougall, Curtis D., <span>Gideon's Army, </span> [3 volumes] New York : Marzani & Munsell, 1965
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- © 2001
- Date Encoded:
- Machine-readable finding aid encoded by Julia Bazar, August 2001
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is available for research only at the Library's facility in Los Angeles. The Library is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Researchers are encouraged to call or email the Library indicating the nature of their research query prior to making a visit.
- Terms of access:
-
Copyright has not been assigned to the Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research. Researchers may make single copies of any portion of the collection, but publication from the collection will be allowed only with the express written permission of the Library's director. It is not necessary to obtain written permission to quote from a collection. When the Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research gives permission for publication, it is 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], Edward Mosk Papers, Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research, Los Angeles, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
6120 S. Vermont AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90044, US
- Contact:
- (323) 759-6063