Socialist Labor Party collection

Collection

Identifier: HLL-2019-037

Staff Only

Content Description

The collection contains minutes, reports, and resolutions from the 1976-1978, 1980-1981, 1983-1984, 1987, 1989, 1991, and 1993 National Conventions of the Socialist Labor Party, Socialist Studies pamphlets published by New York Labor News and the Socialist Labor Party, leaflets comprising statements by the Socialist Labor Party, one Constitution, and one New York Labor News catalogue with related materials.

Dates

1976-1994, undated

Creator

Socialist Labor Party (Organization)

Language of Materials

Collection material is in English.

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biographical / Historical

The Socialist Labor Party (SLP), established in 1876 as the Workingmen’s Party of the United States, was the first socialist party in the United States. It changed its name to the Socialist Labor Party in 1877, and by 1899 had distinguished itself by adhering to the libertarian Marxist theory of early SLP leader Daniel De Leon, which resulted in dissenting members of the Party leaving to form the Socialist Party of America. The SLP published its official organ, The People, from 1891 to 2008, with a later online edition ending publication in 2011, as well as a series of pamphlets titled Socialist Studies from 1983 to 1984, many of which were reprinted in later years. The SLP ran candidates for presidential election from 1892 through 1976 and advocated for an anti-capitalist Socialist Industrial Union government to be achieved by way of fostering class consciousness among the working class, an approach to Socialism is that is distinctly Marxist. The organization closed its national office on September 1, 2008.

Bibliography:

“Facts about the Socialist Labor Party of America.” Socialist Labor Party of America. The Home of Marxism-De Leonism. http://www.slp.org/facts.htm

[Winger, Richard] (December 31, 2008). “Socialist Labor Party Closes Office.” Ballot Access News. http://ballot-access.org/2008/12/31/socialist-labor-party-closes-office/

Extent

.42 Linear Feet (1 box)

Additional Description

Abstract

The collection reflects the activities, statuses, and guiding principles of the Socialist Labor Party (SLP) from 1976-1994. It comprises documents from National Conventions from 1976 to 1993, pamphlets, leaflets, one Constitution, and one catalogue from New York Labor News, the Party's publisher.

Arrangement

The collection is alphabetically arranged in one series.

Custodial History

The Socialist Labor Party collection was donated to the Holt Labor Library in San Francisco, California between 1992 and 2019, and was acquired by the Gerth Archives and Special Collections at California State University, Dominguez Hills, in 2019.