Guide to the Thomas J. Mooney Collection, 1917-1918
Processed by Hülya Reshad; machine-readable finding aid created by
James Lake
Sanoian Special Collections Library
California State University, Fresno
5200 North Barton Avenue M/S ML 34
Fresno, California 93740-8014
Phone: (559) 278-2595
Fax: (559) 278-6952
Email: specialc@listserv.csufresno.edu
URL: http://www.lib.csufresno.edu/SubjectResources/SpecialCollections
© 1998
California State University, Fresno. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Thomas J. Mooney Collection, 1917-1918
Sanoian Special Collections Library
Henry Madden Library
Fresno, California
Contact Information:
- Sanoian Special Collections Library
- California State University, Fresno
- 5200 North Barton Avenue M/S ML 34
- Fresno, California 93740-8014
- Phone: (559) 278-2595
- Fax: (559) 278-6952
- Email: specialc@listserv.csufresno.edu
- URL: http://www.lib.csufresno.edu/SubjectResources/SpecialCollections
- Processed by:
- Hülya Reshad
- Date Completed:
- 1998
- Encoded by:
- James Lake
© 1998 California State University, Fresno. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Thomas J. Mooney Collection,
Date (inclusive): 1917-1918
Creator:
Mooney, Thomas J., 1882-1942
Extent: 5 linear inches
Repository:
Henry Madden Library (California State University, Fresno).
Sanoian Special Collections Library.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Thomas J. Mooney Collection, Sanoian Special Collections
Library, California State University, Fresno.
Biography
Known worldwide as the scapegoat of anti-unionists, Thomas Joseph Mooney was falsely
accused for bombing the Preparedness Day Parade in San Francisco on July 16, 1916.
Mooney, a Socialist union activist and organizer, had previously been involved in an ugly
strike against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. This put him under immediate
suspicion for the bombing even though it was later proved that he was no where near the
actual bomb site during the parade. Mooney's wife, Rena, Warren Billings, Israel
Weinberg, and Edward Nolan were also tried for the bombing but only Billings and Mooney
were convicted. Mooney received the death sentence in 1917 and spent the next twenty-two
years in prison despite outrage from around the world and evidence that many of the
witnesses who testified against him had committed perjury, especially F.C. Oxman.
Culbert Olson, governor of California, officially pardoned Thomas Mooney in 1939.
Scope and Content
The Thomas J. Mooney collection measures 5 linear inches and dates from 1917 to 1918. The
collection centers around the trials and is comprised of mostly legal documents.
The letter is written by Webb, the Attorney General of State of California after his
discovery of F.C. Oxman's perjury. He also stated that Mooney had been tried at a time
when there was widespread prejudice against and suspicion of socialists because of
previous industrial conflicts. The report by District Attorney C.M. Fickert outlines what
he believes to be the factors that led to the conviction of Mooney and Billings, men whom
he believed to be innocent.
Related Collections
-
Title: Elmer Austin Benson Papers,
Date: 1931-1963
Minnesota Historical Society
Banker, politician. U.S. Senator, and Governor of Minnesota with papers relating to Benson's support of the pardon for Thomas
Mooney.
-
Title: John Frederick Finerty Papers,
Date: 1910-1961
University of Oregon Library
Lawyer, with files for cases involving Thomas Mooney.
-
Title: Joseph Labadie Collection
University of Michigan, Library, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections
Contains material on Thomas Mooney.
-
Title: Thomas J. Mooney Collection,
Date: 1916-1935
University of California, Los Angeles, Research Library, Special Collections
-
Title: Thomas J. Mooney Collection
University of California, Berkeley, Bancroft Library
-
Title: Tom Mooney Collection
New College of California, Holt Labor Library
Box Box 1
Testimony and proceedings, undated
Claims of dishonest testimony, 1917, and undated
Request for retrial, undated
International Workers Defense League fund, 1917
Petition of writ of habeas corpus, undated
Denial of retrial, undated
