Debs, Eugene V. Papers on Microfilm, 1834-1945
Collection Number: 5713 mf

Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Eugene V. Debs Papers on Microfilm, 1834-1945
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5713 mf
Abstract:
Papers of the major American socialist figure of the late 19th and early 20th Century
Creator:
Debs, Eugene V.
Quanitities:
2.33 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English
Biographical / Historical

Born and reared in Terre Haute, Indiana, Eugene Debs began work in a railroad enginehouse and then became a locomotive fireman, serving as an officer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen and as editor of the FIREMEN'S MAGAZINE. Resigning from his union offices in 1892, Debs organized the American Railway Union along industrial lines. The ARU was crushed in the Pullman Strike of 1894 and Debs was convicted of conspiracy and jailed for six months. In 1897, Debs helped to form the Social Democratic Party, which merged with a faction of the Socialist Labor Party to form the Socialist Party of America in 1901. One of the founders of the Industrial Workers of the World in 1905, Debs withdrew from that organization three years later. Debs ran for president of the United States on the Socialist ticket in five elections between 1900 and 1920. An opponent of American involvement in World War I, Debs was convicted of violating the Espionage Act in 1918 and was sentenced to a ten year prison term. Pardoned by President Warren G. Harding in 1921, Debs died in 1926.
Correspondence includes incoming and outgoing letters, telegrams, postcards, and memoranda of Eugene V. Debs and various members of his family. Published writings include editorials, articles, essays, letters to editors, epigrams, anecdotes and other printed materials produced for the general newspaper and periodical press, as well as for labor and socialist publications; also included are letters and speeches as a labor "agitator" and socialist presidential candidate, as well as Dept. of Justice materials concerning Debs' speeches. Scrapbooks were compiled by Eugene Debs and by his brother Theodore in his capacity as his brother's secretary and office manager and contain newspaper clippings, magazine articles and leaflets concerning Debs' speeches and political activities, as well as his imprisonment; also included are materials collected by Debs for research purposes.
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference archivist for access to these materials.
Conditions Governing Use

This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and Procedures for Document Use.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
Preferred Citation

Eugene V. Debs Papers on Microfilm #5713 mf. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Related Materials

Related Collections: /4073: James O. Morris Office Files /4249: Nick Salvatore Research files 5021: Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen Additional Records 5141: Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen Records 5149: Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen Records 5210: IWW Records 5256: Adolph Germer Papers 5430 mf: Morris Hillquit Papers on Microfilm 5484: Railway Labor Executives' Association Records 5518 AV: James O. Morris Collection of Labor Related Tape Recordings 5583/3: Archives Organization File (AOF) Part 3 5583/5: Archives Organization File (AOF) Part 5 5619 C-S MB: ACTWU President Jack Sheinkman Additional Books, Memorabilia, and Files 5619 PUBS: ACTWU Publications 5619/004: ACTWU President Jacob Sheinkman Files 5642 AV: "Eugene V. Debs" Audio Recording 5646: Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen Additional Records 5693: Labor Editorial Files 5763m: Eugene V. Debs Letter to Sidney Rissman 5780/002: ILGWU David Dubinsky Correspondence 5780/083: ILGWU Sol Chaikin Papers 5780/178: ILGWU Charles Zimmerman Collection of Radical Pamphlets 5780/203: ILGWU Jay Mazur Papers 5809 mf: Adolph Germer Papers on Microfilm 5863 mf: Department of Justice Investigative Files on Industrial Workers of the World, Part 1 on Microfilm 5897 mf: Strike Files of the U.S. Department of Justice, Pt. 1 on Microfilm 6034: Rare Pamphlet Collection 6036/091 PUBS: Dolores Miller ILGWU and Other Publications 6046: Archives Union File (AUF) 6118 AV: Kheel Center AV Collection 6221: Carolyn J. Jacobson Collection of "Eugene V. Debs for President" Materials
SUBJECTS

Names:
Debs, Eugene V. (Eugene Victor),1855-1926.
Constantine, J. Robert.
Debs, Theodore, 1864-1945.
American Railway Union.
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen.
Industrial Workers of the World.
Socialist Party (U.S.)
Subjects:
Presidential candidates--United States.
Presidents--United States--Election--1900.
Presidents--United States--Election--1904.
Presidents--United States--Election--1908.
Presidents--United States--Election--1912.
Presidents--United States--Election--1920.
Radicalism--United States.
Socialist parties--United States.
Labor unions. Railroads. United States.
CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
The container list for this collecion can be found in the ProQuest Research Collection finding aid and is available HERE.