Theodore Draper research files

The collection consists of the research files of Theodore Draper from 1919 to 1990. The collection is comprised mostly of subject files and recorded interviews Draper collected during the course of his research on the history of American Communism, primarily those collected for the projected third volume, never completed, covering the period since 1930. The materials in this collection document the history of the American Communist Party, 1930-1945, and, to a lesser extent, American Communism from 1919-1929, as well as the individuals (primarily Earl Browder, General Secretary of the Communist Party, 1930-1945) who were active in party affairs, particularly for the later period.

Among the materials that Draper collected are taped interviews with Earl Browder, James P. Cannon, Joseph Starobin, "Manuel Gomez", and Josephine Truslow Adams as well as summaries, notes from and/or transcripts of interviews with the following individuals: Max Bedacht, Robert Bendiner, Herbert Benjamin, John Brophy, Esther Corey, Frank Crosswaith, Samuel Darcy, W. A. Domingo, John Frey, William Goldsmith, Robert F. Hall, J. B. S. Hardman, Granville Hicks, Sidney Hook, L. E. Katterfield, Jay Lovestone, Lewis Merrill, Richard J. Moore, David Ramsey, Reid Robinson, Joel H. Rogers, James Rorty, Nat Ross, Edward Welsh, Jacob Spolansky, Bertram Wolfe and Charles S. Zimmerman. In addition, there are internal party documents (some original, some photocopies); minutes of Central Executive Committee and Political Bureau meetings; a collection of almost 1,000 pamphlets; and party and other radical periodicals. Also present are correspondence and writings of party figures including, in addition to Browder, Max Bedacht, Herbert Benjamin, Alexander Bittelman, James Cannon, Eugene Dennis and Vincent R. Dunne.

Many of the materials in Series 1, American Communism research files, were acquired by Draper from individuals whom he interviewed. Numerous photocopies and original items have been labeled by Draper as "Wicks material," "Lovestone material," "Browder material," or "Zimmerman material." These designations identify either the source or the general subject to which the material relates. During the course of his research, Draper interviewed the widow of Harry Wicks, who allowed Draper to use documents in her possession from her husband's files; some she gave to him outright. These are designated "Wicks materials." "Lovestone material" refers to items relating to the group led by party leader Jay Lovestone and their expulsion from the party in 1929. Much of the Lovestone material was acquired (in original or photocopied form) by Draper from individuals interviewed. In some cases, Draper made typed copies or transcribed portions of the manuscript These are so designated. Material designated "Browder material" came from Earl Browder; Browder items photocopied from the Browder Collection at Syracuse are identified. Photocopies from collections in other repositories are so labeled; sources for other material have been noted whenever possible.

Series 2, Iran-Contra Affair research files, consists of research material for Draper's book A Very Thin Line: The Iran-contra Affairs (1991). Materials include transcripts of the federal trials of Oliver North and John Poindexter; photocopies of Oliver North's private diary used as evidence in his trial; other memoranda and documents used as evidence in the Iran-Contra Affair; and printed material.

Draper gathered this material for research purposes; his personal papers are not included in the collection. Draper's filing arrangement has been maintained for the most part, except where files had obviously become disarranged.