Guide to the Records of the I.L. Peretz Yiddish Writers' Union, 1903-1973, RG 701

Processed by YIVO Archivist Marek Web, 1970s. Additional processing by Rachel Harrison as part of the Leon Levy Archival Processing Initiative, made possible by the Leon Levy Foundation.

YIVO Institute for Jewish Research
15 West 16th Street
New York, NY 10011
Email: archives@yivo.cjh.org
URL: http://www.yivo.org

Electronic finding aid was encoded in EAD 2002 by Rachel S. Harrison in June 2009. EAD finding aid customized in ARCHON in 2014. Description is in English.

Collection Overview

Title: Guide to the Records of the I.L. Peretz Yiddish Writers' Union, 1903-1973, RG 701

ID: RG 701 FA

Extent: 20.0 Linear Feet

Arrangement: The collection was originally processed by Marek Web circa 1975. Additional processing was completed in June 2009.The collection is arranged in 8 series. In general, the collection was maintained as much as possible in its original order, in accordance with archival principles. Some reorganization of the early correspondence files appears to have taken place during the original processing and routine financial documents, such as paid bills and check stubs, were discarded. The minutes and financial files are arranged chronologically, while the correspondence is arranged alphabetically by correspondent, topic or format. This order has been standardized in the finding aid, although the folders themselves have not been moved. The names of the miscellaneous correspondents in Series VIII have been transliterated and intellectually rearranged in Latin alphabetical order. Yiddish names have been transliterated according to YIVO standards except when the individual is known in English by another spelling. Additionally, if the name appeared in Latin letters anywhere within the folder, that spelling was used rather than a standard transliteration. Organizations and periodicals have been translated and, when not generally known by its English name, the Yiddish name follows in parentheses. The materials were originally divided into eight series and a four-part addendum, consisting of folders 721-748. The materials from that addendum have been intellectually integrated into the original series. The addendum materials integrated into Series I and Series II have been incorporated chronologically, while those in Series VIII have been incorporated alphabetically.

Languages: English, Yiddish, Russian, German, Hebrew, Polish, Spanish

Abstract

This collection contains the minutes, correspondence and financial records of the I.L. Peretz Yiddish Writers’ Union from its founding in 1915 until 1973. Among the correspondence is a fair amount concerning the Fund for Jewish Refugee Writers, unions and union grievances, requests for aid from Jewish writers and activists in New York and abroad, and labor disputes and strikes.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection contains meeting minutes, financial reports 1929-1972, dues ledgers and other bookkeeping books, correspondence with individuals, organizations and publishers, salary lists, financial statements, newspaper clippings, press releases, scrapbooks, photographs of members, account statements from companies, banks and brokers, and manuscripts and questionnaires from various countries for a YWU yearbook.

Some of the topics in this collection include the Fund for Jewish Refugee Writers, various Works Progress Administration projects, fundraising campaigns, requests for aid for individual refugees in Europe, Cuba, Japan, Shanghai, England, and Palestine, complaints and charges of members, contract and labor disputes, strikes, and Union reports.

Among the organizations represented are the National Refugee Service, Jewish Welfare Federations, Newspaper Guild, United Jewish Appeal, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, World Federation of Journalists, New York State Department of Labor, Conference of Jewish Journalists, Jewish Labor Bund, Central Yiddish Culture Organization, Tog, Jewish Daily Forward, Freie Arbeiter Stimme, HIAS, Keneder Odler, Jewish Labor Committee, Morgn Zhurnal, Jewish National Workers’ Alliance, Yidishe Velt (Philadelphia), Fund for Jewish Refugee Writers, Kinder Zhurnal, Morgn Freiheit, ORT, Workmen’s Circle, and YIVO. Correspondents include: Baal Makhshoves (Isidor Eliashev), Shlomo Bickel, Menahem Boraisha, Reuben Brainin, Abraham Cahan, Simon Dubnow, Ossip Dymow, Alexander Harkavy, David Ignatoff, H. Leivick, Kalman Marmor, Alexander Mukdoni, Shmuel Niger, David Pinski, Melech Ravitch, Abraham Reisen, Zalman Reisen, Zalman Shneur, Lamed Shapiro, Jacob Shatzky, Baruch Vladeck, Max Weinreich, and Chaim Zhitlowsky. These papers constitute the complete archive of the Yiddish Writers Union from its founding until 1973, including a 1903 minute book of the Jewish Press Club, a predecessor organization.

Historical Note

The I.L. Peretz Yiddish Writers’ Union (YWU), also sometimes called the Jewish Writers’ Union, was founded in New York in 1915 as a labor and mutual aid organization for Yiddish journalists. Its first president was Hillel Rogoff, of Forverts, and its first secretary was Joseph Margoshes, of Tog. The Union represented all Yiddish writers and journalists at the three major New York City Yiddish papers, Tog, Morgn Zhurnal and Forverts. The Yiddish Writers’ Union was a member of the United Hebrew Trades, an association of Jewish labor unions in New York City. The Union participated in strikes and labor disputes and fought for job security, severance pay benefits and a minimum wage for Yiddish journalists. In November 1939, together with the Jewish Labor Committee, the Union decided to found a Fund for Jewish Refugee Writers, a relief fund for Yiddish writers in Europe as well as for American members in financial need. The Fund was ultimately established in January 1940. This Fund conducted a one-time emergency appeal among Yiddish writers in America and their supporters and readers. Through the efforts of this Fund, the Union was able to sponsor the immigration of several thousand writers and political and cultural activists and also to send money to those writers whom they were unable to bring over. In 1929 the Union had 200 members. Although the Union continued to be active in labor disputes after World War II, its membership declined steadily. While still in existence in the 1980s, the Yiddish Writers’ Union had relinquished much of its role as a labor union and functioned primarily as a literary association.

Subject/Index Terms

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions: The collection is open to researchers with the permission of the YIVO Archivist. Permission to access the collection can be obtained by writing to archives@yivo.cjh.org. Permission to publish part or parts of the collection must be obtained from the YIVO Archives.

Use Restrictions: There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information, contact:YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011 email: archives@yivo.cjh.org

Acquisition Method: Given to YIVO by the Yiddish Writer’s Union in a series of installments in 1974.

Separated Materials: Photographs have been removed to the YIVO Photo Archive.

Related Materials: The YIVO Archives has the collections of many of the members of the Yiddish Writers’ Union, including the Papers of Leon Feinberg, RG 601; the Papers of Shmuel Niger, RG 360; The Papers of Mendel Osherowitch, RG 725; and the Papers of Alexander Seldin, RG 433. The American Jewish Historical Society Archives has the Papers of Boris Smolar, P-588 (AJHS). The YIVO library also has several books published by the Yiddish Writers’ Union, including Jewish Families and Family Circles of New York, The Communist Conspiracy Against the Jewish Press: The Case of the Jewish Writers’ Union Against the New York Newspaper Guild, and Seventy-Five Years Yiddish Press in the United States of America, edited by Jacob Glatstein, Shmuel Niger and Hillel Rogoff.

Preferred Citation: Published citations should take the following form:Identification of item, date (if known); I.L. Peretz Yiddish Writers Union Records; RG 701; box number; folder number; YIVO Institute for Jewish Research.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

Series 1: Series I: Minutes, 1903, 1919-1972,
Series 2: Series II: Finances, 1917-1972,
Series 3: Series III: Correspondence, 1911-1941,
Series 4: Series IV: Fund for Jewish Refugee Writers – Correspondence, 1939-1946,
Series 5: Series V: Correspondence (yellow series), 1935-1946,
Series 6: Series VI: Correspondence (blue series), 1941-1958,
Series 7: Series VII: Correspondence, 1946-1973,
Series 8: Series VIII: Financial Correspondence, Current Matters and Miscellaneous, 1909-1973,
All

Series V: Correspondence (yellow series) 1935-1946

The correspondence in this series consists mainly of complaints and charges of members, salary scale lists, contract and labor disputes, correspondence between the Union and the Newspaper Guild, and information about newspaper strikes. There is also information about social and cultural events sponsored by the Yiddish Writers’ Union and correspondence with YWU members.

Arrangement: This series is arranged alphabetically by correspondent, topic or document type.

Box 17

Folder 344: Alien bonds 1940-1942: correspondence with insurance companies and with individuals requiring alien bonds, including letters accompanying payments for bonds
Folder 345: American Jewish Conference 1943-1945: correspondence concerning applications by Yiddish Writers' Union for representation in American Jewish Conference, including letters on their behalf, list of delegates to conference, credentials for Yiddish Writers' Union delegate, text of resolutions, memorandums, elections ballots, notices of meetings of conference, financial statements, etc.
Folder 345A: American Jewish Congress 1941-1944: circulars, etc.
Folder 346: Answers to invitations 1941: invitations to speak at Union meetings with answers
Folder 347: Applications for membership 1941-1945: letters to applicants, lists of those approved with fees paid, letters of application, refusals
Folder 348: Asch, Sholem 1942: two letters from Asch
Folder 349: L. Berman case 1943-1944: correspondence concerning L. Berman's dismissal as an employee of the Common Council for American Unity and the Union's protest against it
Folder 350: British Labor Committee 1941: memorandum by the Jewish Labor Committee to British labor Party, requests for aid by American Labor Committee to Aid British Labor

Box 18

Folder 351: Chicago 1944: correspondence with I.L. Peretz Writers' Union, Chicago
Folder 352: Clippings of Cultural Evenings 1941-1943
Folder 354: Clippings 1944: Yiddish Writers' Union clippings
Folder 356: Committee of Jewish Writers and Artists 1944: letter and clippings concerning dispute between H. Leivick and I. Feffer
Folder 355: Committee of 150 1941: lists of Union and other members appointed to a committee to aid Union in struggle against the Newspaper Guild
Folder 357: Complaints and charges of members and against members 1941-1944: minutes of meetings on various disputes with newspapers and among membership, letters of complaint, letters informing members of complaints, answers to complaints, petition for special meeting, letters of protest
Folder 358: Conference in Defense of Yiddish Press 1941: correspondence concerning defense of Yiddish newspapers, especially the Day against strike by Newspaper Guild, invitations to conference, appeals for contributions, list of delegates, draft resolution, press releases, mailing list
Folder 359: Conference in Defense of Yiddish Press 1941: credentials of delegates
Folder 360: Conference in Defense of Yiddish Press 1941: credentials of delegates
Folder 361: Contributions in Defense of Yiddish Press 1941: letters accompanying contributions, letters of thanks
Folder 362: Copyrights 1940-1941: correspondence with Copyright Office about rights to the book Jewish Families and Family Circles in New York
Folder 363: CYCO 1941-1945: correspondence with Central Yiddish Culture Organization, mainly invitations and contributions
Folder 364: Day 1941-1945: salary scale lists, contracts, correspondence with Day publisher, copies of newspaper articles, circulars calling Day staff meetings, ballots for staff committee, memorandums by publisher, petition by staff, drafts of agreements, minutes of conferences, dues schedule, labor Department forms, all material concerns labor disputes
Folder 365: Department of State 1941: Visa Division, letters to Department of State in case of C. Penczyna, B. Chomski and B. Shaffner
Folder 366: Donations 1941-1945: letters from various organizations asking for donations, receipts, allocation decisions

Box 19

Folder 367: Dues 1941-1945: letters accompanying payments, letters asking for payment of dues, pleas for reducation of dues, dues schedule, lists of those on dues check-off list, notices of dues increase, etc.
Folder 368: Emergency Rescue Committee 1941: letters in case of Elie Eberlin, list of documents needed for visa application
Folder 370: Evenings 1941-1942: clippings about concerts, cultural evenings and other cultural activities
Folder 371: Evenings 1941-1943: invitations to artists, with some replies
Folder 373: Evenings 1941-1944: publicity, press releases, flyers
Folder 369: Evenings 1942-1943: answers to invitations
Folder 372: Evenings 1942-1944: miscellaneous correspondence about who should perform, list of those who appeared at Union evenings, correspondence about various other matters, program, press releases
Folder 374: Executive Committee 1941-1945: circulars calling executive meetings, press releases, correspondence, translation of constitution, petitions to executive committee, resolutions, telegram, etc.
Folder 375: Family Circle book 1940-1943: orders for book, letters accompanying the sending of the book
Folder 376: Finances 1940-1945: annual reports, financial statements, tax forms, bank books, budget, reports on various accounts, correspondence with banks, accountants, etc.
Folder 377: Forward 1942-1945: Forward circulation report, correspondence with Forward general manager, list of staff members, dues schedule, various matters
Folder 378: Frankle, Max H. - attorney 1943-1944: Frankle's corespondence, including telegrams, with government labor and wage boards in labor disputes, Union correspondence with him
Folder 379: (Newspaper) Guild 1935-1941: correspondence between Union and Newspaper Guild, constitution of Guild
Folder 380: Guild 1941: miscellaneous correspondence concerning the Day strike, written by various sources, leaflets, newspaper clippings
Folder 382: Guild strike 1941: press releases
Folder 381: Guild strike 1941: settlement, resolutions of YWU concerning settlement of strike, minutes of meeting, letters sent
Folder 383: Guild strike 1941: statement of Union, statements, memos, letters sent, press releases and appeals
Folder 384: HIAS 1941-1944: correspondence with HIAS on specific cases, letters about donations and financial arrangements, memos, reports, in the Ignatoff dispute with Asofsky, etc.
Folder 385: Information requests 1941-1943: miscellaneous letters with some answers
Folder 386: Invitations 1941-1944: invitations from various organizations

Box 20

Folder 387: Jewish Labor Committee 1941-1945: correspondence with JLC, reports of JLC, appeal by YWU, bill for dues, various matters
Folder 389: Jewish National Workers Alliance 1941-1943: three letters from the JNWA
Folder 388: (Committee for) Jewish Press Campaign 1944: list of names, plans for campaign written by public relations firm
Folder 390: Joint Distribution Committee 1941-1945: correspondence about individual cases of refugees, list of Jewish writers from Poland in USSR, France, etc., letters from individuals asking aid for others, receipt
Folder 391: Journal (Morgn Zhurnal) 1942-1945: correspondence with president of Jewish Morning Journal concerning labor matters, salary lists, minutes of executive meeting, correspondence about dues, etc.
Folder 392: Labor Temple 1941-1943: bills for use of facilities of Labor Temple, correspondence concerning use of facilities
Folder 393: Landsmanshaftn book 1940-1943: lists of those who requested the book, letters requesting copies of the book with answers, letters returning books sent on approval
Folder 394: Landynski case 1943: letters concerning investigation of reports about and complaint by S. Landynski, letters by Landynski, minutes of investigating commission, newspaper clipping
Folder 395: Letters from members 1940-1944: general
Folder 396: Lieberman, Elias 1941-1942: correspondence with the Union's attorney, E. Lieberman concerning dispute with Newspaper Guild, his bills
Folder 397: Lists 1941-1944: lists of people contacted for Fund for Jewish Refugee Writers, lists of contributors, lists of Jewish refugees in the USSR
Folder 398: Lists undated: mailing lists, membership, unions, organizations, lists of refugees in USSR, etc.
Folder 399: Lutzky case 1942-1943: correspondence about setting up arbitration committee to judge C.I. Lutsky's attack on the YWU on WEVD, minutes and decision of arbitration committee
Folder 400: Margoshes Dinner Committee 1943: correspondence about testimonial dinner for Samuel Margoshes, mailing list, replies to invitations
Folder 401: Membership 1941-1946: miscellaneous correspondence with members, dues, protests, new membership, labor problems, officers, announcements to members, etc., membership list
Folder 402: Miscellaneous 1941-1944: miscellaneous correspondence, credentials of delegations, ballots, open appeal, telegrams
Folder 403: Montreal - Jewish Writers Association 1941-1942: correspondence, telegrams on death of I.J. Singer
Folder 404: ORT 1941-1944: reports, form letters by ORT, correspondence, receipt, ORT newsletter, invitation to meetinf
Folder 405: Oswego books 1944: books for refugees in Camp Ontario in Oswego, NY, lists of books sent, correspondence, appeal by YWU, letters accompanying contributions
Folder 406: President's Advisory Committee on Political Refugees 1941-1942: correspondence about the Graubert family and others
Folder 407: Press plans 1943-1945: plan of action for future of Yiddish press, letter to Alexander Kahn, plans for 75th anniversary of Yiddish press in the USA
Folder 408: Press releases undated: concerning I. Feffer's attack on H. Leivick, newspaper article by Mordkhe Katz
Folder 409: Publicity section 1943-1944: list of members eligible for membership in section, leeters to publicity section, minutes and decisions, announcements of meetings, list of members, letters on labor matters concerning publicity writers, dues matters
Folder 410: Ravitch, Melech 1943-1944: correspondence
Folder 411: Recommendations 1941: general, two letters of introduction
Folder 412: Recommendations 1941-1945: jobs for members, correspondence

Box 21

Folder 413: Refugee requests abroad 1942-1943: correspondence, telegrams, bills, much of the file deals with letters from Palestine, also the case of Itzik Manger
Folder 414: Refugee Writers Group in New York 1941: correspondence
Folder 415: Relief requests 1941-1945: pleas for aid, answers, letters of thanks
Folder 416: Requests from organizations 1941-1945: requests for contributions and other requests
Folder 417: Sample letters 1940-1943: form letters
Folder 418: Settlements for individuals 1943: labor disputes involving the Day and United Jewish War Effort
Folder 419: Staff correspondence - Forward, Day and Morning Journal 1941-1944: letters to chairman of staff committees, letter from Day staff members
Folder 420: Suspended members 1940: form letters suspending members for joining the Newspaper Guild, letter registration form
Folder 421: Talent 1938-1941: advertising and letters, concerning concerts and other events sponsored by Yiddish Writers' Union, also lectures
Folder 422: Tax 1944-1945: lists concerning surtax on membership and correspondence
Folder 423: Telegrams 1941-1942: telegrams and letters sent on behalf of refugee writers, also telegrams received
Folder 424: (US) Treasury Department 1941-1944: tax forms
Folder 425: United Hebrew Trades 1941-1944: correspondence, bills and receipts for dues
Folder 426: We Invite 1941: invitations to individuals, three letters
Folder 427: World Jewish Congress 1941-1942: correspondence about individual refugees
Folder 428: Weinstein, Berish 1941-1944: correspondence concerning his salary and rights as an employee of HIAS
Folder 429: Workmen's Circle 1941-1944: correspondence
Folder 430: YIVO 1941-1945: correspondence, YIVO invitations, etc.
Folder 431: Zhitlowsky, Dr. Chaim 1941-1943: correspondence with him and his widow