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California Labor School

January 01, 1970

The California Labor School (until 1945 named the Tom Mooney Labor School) was an educational organization in San Francisco from 1942 to 1957.[1][2] Like the contemporary Jefferson School of Social Science and the New York Workers School, it represented the "transformed and upgraded" successors of the "workers schools" of the 1920s and 1930s.[3]

California Labor School
Address
216 Market Street & 240 Golden Gate Avenue

San Francisco
,
California
Information
Other nameTom Mooney Labor School
Founded1942
Closed1957(1957-00-00) (aged 14–15)

History edit

During World War II, as part of Browderism, Communist Party USA leader Earl Browder established new communist "schools of social sciences" in major urban areas. On the East Coast, these schools included names of American patriots: the Sam Adams School (Boston), Tom Paine School of Social Sciences (Philadelphia), George Washington Carver School (Harlem, New York), Abraham Lincoln School (Chicago), and Jefferson School of Social Sciences (New York). West Coast schools used geographic names: the Pacific Northwest Labor School and the California Labor School.[3]

Founding edit

The CLS was founded in August 1942, in premises above a car showroom at 678 Turk Street in San Francisco, and named for labor leader Tom Mooney, who had died on March 6 that year. It later moved to a 5-story building at 216 Market Street, and in 1947 bought premises at 240 Golden Gate Avenue.[3][4]

The school was supported by 72 trade unions, including members of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations.[1] Its initial program "promised to analyze social, economic and political questions in light of the present world struggle against fascism".[4] It also taught the arts: the teenage Maya Angelou had a scholarship to study dance and drama.[5] The school taught students on many subjects such as labor organization, journalism, music, drama, history, women's studies, economics and industrial arts.[1] Union officials and professors from Stanford University and the University of California at Berkeley taught the courses at CLS.[1] The most popular course at the CLS called "Mental Hygiene Today" was taught by Erik Erikson.[6] The most important history course was called "History and Problems of the Negro in America".[6] The school offered different kinds of services such as preparing union pamphlets and newspapers, conducting dance concerts and theatrical shows at local meetings.[6]

Funding edit

The largest funder of the CLS was the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), headed by Harry Bridges. The American Federation of Labor (AFL), Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), American Veterans Committee, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) also supported it.[3]

Attendance and closure edit

From 1945 to 1947 the school was accredited for veterans' education under the G.I. Bill of Rights, and by 1947 there were 220 full-time students, among the 1800 students attending 135 classes. In 1948 the school was placed on the Attorney General's List of Subversive Organizations and attendances declined.[7] The school closed in 1957.[2][4]

Faculty and teachers edit

David Jenkins was the initial director and Holland Roberts was the first education director for this "people's school."[1][3]

Legacy edit

Archives of the school's material are held in the Labor Archives & Research Center of California State University[11] and the University of Michigan.[1]

The Graphic Arts Workshop (GAW) of San Francisco, a cooperative print studio, was founded in 1952 by several artists from the California Labor School.[12]

Los Angeles People's Educational Center edit

From 1944 to 1948, the school ran a "counterpart" or "extension" called the "People's Educational Center" (or "Peoples Educational Center). Its head was Dorothy Healey, head of the Communist Party of Los Angeles. Frances Eisenberg of Canoga Park High School served on its board of directors. John Howard Lawson was an instructor there.[7][13] Robert E. Stripling stated that the center succeed the writers school of the League of American Writers. Sam Wood testified that Edward Dmytryk taught there. Oliver Carlson testified that William Wolfe of the ILGWU education department ran it, succeeded by Sidney Davison (sent from New York); Herbert Biberman taught there (Soviet theater), as did Guy Endore Robert Lees. Advisors included Lees, Lawson, Healey, Herbert Sorrell, Frank Tuttle, and Sondra Gorney.[14][15]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Finding Aid for the California Labor School Records, 1942-1955". University of Michigan: Special Collections Library. Retrieved 15 April 2013. Includes several paragraphs about the school
  2. ^ a b Carlsson, Chris. "California Labor School, Historical Essay". FoundSF. Retrieved 2019-06-05. and by 1957, the California Labor School closed its doors for good.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Gettleman, Marvin (7 October 2001). (PDF). Gotham Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "California Labor School". Social Networks and Archival Context Project. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Biography". Official Website. Maya Angelou. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  6. ^ a b c Robert W., Cherny (2004). "East and West Coast Communist Schools". In William, Issel; Kieran Walsh, Taylor (eds.). American Labor and the Cold War: Grassroots Politics and Postwar Politics. New Jersey: Rutgers University. pp. 207–208. ISBN 0-8135-3403-8.
  7. ^ a b Committee on Un-American Activities, United States House of Representatives (March 1947). Investigation of Un-American Propaganda Activities in the United States. US GPO. pp. 244, 246. Retrieved 29 October 2001.
  8. ^ "Victor Mikhail Arnautoff papers, circa 1920-2017, bulk 1920-1953; Biographical Note". Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "California Labor School 1945 fall term catalog". Calisphere. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  10. ^ "Pele deLappe Papers". oac.cdlib.org. Online Archive of California, California Digital Library. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
  11. ^ "Inventory of the California Labor School Collection, 1942 - 1957". Online Archive of California. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  12. ^ Hamlin, Jesse (2002-11-25). "The Graphic Arts Workshop presses forward / S.F. artists group works for social justice". SFGate. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
  13. ^ Investigation of Communist Activities in the Los Angeles, Calif., Area. US GPO. July 1955. p. 1786. Retrieved 29 October 2001.
  14. ^ "Hearings regarding the communist infiltration of the motion picture industry". US GPO. 1947. pp. 68 (Wood), 241–242 (Carlson), 244 (Carlson). Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  15. ^ Ryskind, Allan (5 January 2015). Hollywood Traitors: Blacklisted Screenwriters Ð Agents of Stalin, Allies of Hitler. Regnery. pp. 191–193 (Carlson), 234 (Davison). Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  16. ^ . H-LABOR@H-NET.MSU.EDU. 26 July 2000. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.

External sources edit

  • Jenkins, David (1993). "The Union Movement, the California Labor School, and San Francisco Politics, 1926-1988" (transcription as manuscript in PDF) (oral history interview). Interviewed by Lisa Rubens. Retrieved 13 July 2016.

January 01, 1970
california, labor, school, until, 1945, named, mooney, labor, school, educational, organization, francisco, from, 1942, 1957, like, contemporary, jefferson, school, social, science, york, workers, school, represented, transformed, upgraded, successors, workers. The California Labor School until 1945 named the Tom Mooney Labor School was an educational organization in San Francisco from 1942 to 1957 1 2 Like the contemporary Jefferson School of Social Science and the New York Workers School it represented the transformed and upgraded successors of the workers schools of the 1920s and 1930s 3 California Labor SchoolAddress216 Market Street amp 240 Golden Gate AvenueSan Francisco CaliforniaInformationOther nameTom Mooney Labor SchoolFounded1942Closed1957 1957 00 00 aged 14 15 Contents 1 History 1 1 Founding 1 2 Funding 1 3 Attendance and closure 2 Faculty and teachers 3 Legacy 4 Los Angeles People s Educational Center 5 See also 6 References 7 External sourcesHistory editDuring World War II as part of Browderism Communist Party USA leader Earl Browder established new communist schools of social sciences in major urban areas On the East Coast these schools included names of American patriots the Sam Adams School Boston Tom Paine School of Social Sciences Philadelphia George Washington Carver School Harlem New York Abraham Lincoln School Chicago and Jefferson School of Social Sciences New York West Coast schools used geographic names the Pacific Northwest Labor School and the California Labor School 3 Founding edit The CLS was founded in August 1942 in premises above a car showroom at 678 Turk Street in San Francisco and named for labor leader Tom Mooney who had died on March 6 that year It later moved to a 5 story building at 216 Market Street and in 1947 bought premises at 240 Golden Gate Avenue 3 4 The school was supported by 72 trade unions including members of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations 1 Its initial program promised to analyze social economic and political questions in light of the present world struggle against fascism 4 It also taught the arts the teenage Maya Angelou had a scholarship to study dance and drama 5 The school taught students on many subjects such as labor organization journalism music drama history women s studies economics and industrial arts 1 Union officials and professors from Stanford University and the University of California at Berkeley taught the courses at CLS 1 The most popular course at the CLS called Mental Hygiene Today was taught by Erik Erikson 6 The most important history course was called History and Problems of the Negro in America 6 The school offered different kinds of services such as preparing union pamphlets and newspapers conducting dance concerts and theatrical shows at local meetings 6 Funding edit The largest funder of the CLS was the International Longshore and Warehouse Union ILWU headed by Harry Bridges The American Federation of Labor AFL Congress of Industrial Organizations CIO American Veterans Committee and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People NAACP also supported it 3 Attendance and closure edit From 1945 to 1947 the school was accredited for veterans education under the G I Bill of Rights and by 1947 there were 220 full time students among the 1800 students attending 135 classes In 1948 the school was placed on the Attorney General s List of Subversive Organizations and attendances declined 7 The school closed in 1957 2 4 Faculty and teachers editDavid Jenkins was the initial director and Holland Roberts was the first education director for this people s school 1 3 Victor Arnautoff 8 Jules Carson Isobel M Cerney 9 Imogen Cunningham Pele de Lappe figure drawing in the 1940s 10 Margaret De Patta 9 Garrett Eckbo 9 Erik Erikson 9 Claire Falkenstein 9 Philip S Foner lectured at CLS as a guest from the Jefferson School 3 Mary Fuller sculptor Edith Heath 9 Mimi Kagan 9 Freda Koblick 9 Peter Macchiarini 9 Pablo O Higgins Tillie Olsen Giacomo Patri 9 Byron Randall Anton Refregier Zahara Schatz taught at the Berkeley campus Howard Selsam lectured at CLS as a guest from the Jefferson School 3 Celeste Strack Oleta YatesLegacy editArchives of the school s material are held in the Labor Archives amp Research Center of California State University 11 and the University of Michigan 1 The Graphic Arts Workshop GAW of San Francisco a cooperative print studio was founded in 1952 by several artists from the California Labor School 12 Los Angeles People s Educational Center editFrom 1944 to 1948 the school ran a counterpart or extension called the People s Educational Center or Peoples Educational Center Its head was Dorothy Healey head of the Communist Party of Los Angeles Frances Eisenberg of Canoga Park High School served on its board of directors John Howard Lawson was an instructor there 7 13 Robert E Stripling stated that the center succeed the writers school of the League of American Writers Sam Wood testified that Edward Dmytryk taught there Oliver Carlson testified that William Wolfe of the ILGWU education department ran it succeeded by Sidney Davison sent from New York Herbert Biberman taught there Soviet theater as did Guy Endore Robert Lees Advisors included Lees Lawson Healey Herbert Sorrell Frank Tuttle and Sondra Gorney 14 15 See also editRand School of Social Science 1906 Work People s College 1907 Brookwood Labor College 1921 New York Workers School 1923 New Workers School 1929 Jefferson School of Social Science 1944 Highlander Research and Education Center formerly Highlander Folk School 1932 Commonwealth College Arkansas 1923 1940 Southern Appalachian Labor School since 1977 San Francisco Workers School 1934 California Labor School formerly Tom Mooney Labor School 1942 Continuing education Los Angeles People s Education Center 16 References edit a b c d e f Finding Aid for the California Labor School Records 1942 1955 University of Michigan Special Collections Library Retrieved 15 April 2013 Includes several paragraphs about the school a b Carlsson Chris California Labor School Historical Essay FoundSF Retrieved 2019 06 05 and by 1957 the California Labor School closed its doors for good a b c d e f g Gettleman Marvin 7 October 2001 Lost World of U S Labor Education Curricula at East and West Coast Community Schools 1944 1957 PDF Gotham Center Archived from the original PDF on 8 September 2015 Retrieved 16 October 2018 a b c California Labor School Social Networks and Archival Context Project Retrieved 15 April 2013 Biography Official Website Maya Angelou Retrieved 15 April 2013 a b c Robert W Cherny 2004 East and West Coast Communist Schools In William Issel Kieran Walsh Taylor eds American Labor and the Cold War Grassroots Politics and Postwar Politics New Jersey Rutgers University pp 207 208 ISBN 0 8135 3403 8 a b Committee on Un American Activities United States House of Representatives March 1947 Investigation of Un American Propaganda Activities in the United States US GPO pp 244 246 Retrieved 29 October 2001 Victor Mikhail Arnautoff papers circa 1920 2017 bulk 1920 1953 Biographical Note Archives of American Art Smithsonian Institution a b c d e f g h i j California Labor School 1945 fall term catalog Calisphere Retrieved 2021 06 14 Pele deLappe Papers oac cdlib org Online Archive of California California Digital Library Retrieved 2019 06 04 Inventory of the California Labor School Collection 1942 1957 Online Archive of California Retrieved 15 April 2013 Hamlin Jesse 2002 11 25 The Graphic Arts Workshop presses forward S F artists group works for social justice SFGate Retrieved 2019 06 04 Investigation of Communist Activities in the Los Angeles Calif Area US GPO July 1955 p 1786 Retrieved 29 October 2001 Hearings regarding the communist infiltration of the motion picture industry US GPO 1947 pp 68 Wood 241 242 Carlson 244 Carlson Retrieved 29 October 2018 Ryskind Allan 5 January 2015 Hollywood Traitors Blacklisted Screenwriters D Agents of Stalin Allies of Hitler Regnery pp 191 193 Carlson 234 Davison Retrieved 29 October 2018 Re Workmen s Educational Association San Francisco H LABOR H NET MSU EDU 26 July 2000 Archived from the original on 7 August 2016 Retrieved 7 February 2016 External sources editJenkins David 1993 The Union Movement the California Labor School and San Francisco Politics 1926 1988 transcription as manuscript in PDF oral history interview Interviewed by Lisa Rubens Retrieved 13 July 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title California Labor School amp oldid 1195231995, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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