The 1930s witnessed the birth of the American–Soviet friendship movement which revolved around the Friends of the Soviet Union, founded in 1929. One of the major goals of the movement was for the United States and the Soviet Union to form an anti-fascist alliance. This eventually led to the foundation of the NCSR, which became the NCASF in 1941. The Council's membership was largely made up of professionals sympathetic to socialism and communism.
Structureedit
The council was formed of several different branches and offices.[1]
Membersedit
Corliss Lamont was one of the founders and the first chairman of the council. Professor Ralph Barton Perry of Harvard University was vice-chairman of the council. Edwin Smith was the executive director of the council.
In April 1944 at the founding of the council, Charlie Chaplin was one of the sponsors. On 16 November 1944, when an "American – Soviet Friendship Rally" was held in Madison Square Garden, a number of Hollywood movie stars — including Chaplin, John Garfield, Rita Hayworth, Orson Welles, James Cagney, Katharine Hepburn, Gene Kelly, and Edward G. Robinson — signed a message in a gesture of support. The statement said that the artists added their voices in favor of the bond that existed between "our great country and our great Allies." The message added: "In this friendship lies not only the hope but the future of the world."[3]
In May 1948, the New York Times that the new movie The Iron Curtain "has been under attack since January by various groups including the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship."[4]
Composer Aaron Copland was later questioned by Senator McCarthy regarding his membership on the Music Committee.[1]
NCASF's successor organization, based in Canada, is called the International Council for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People (ICFSSP). The magazine of the International Council is called Northstar Compass. The affiliate to the International Council in the United States is the U.S. Friends of the Soviet People (USFSP). The current officers of USFSP are Dr. Angelo D'Angelo (Chair), George Gruenthal (Vice Chair), Fiona Fairchild (Secretary), and Joseph F. Hancock (Bulletin Editor).
Legacyedit
The moving image collection of the National Council of American–Soviet Friendship is held at the Academy Film Archive. The collection consists of over 1,000 16mm prints, representing about 700 titles.[5]
Publicationsedit
During its years of operation the NCASF released numerous publications focusing upon daily life in the Soviet Union and information regarding the state of American–Soviet relations.[1]
Anna Louise Strong (1944). Soviet Farmers. New York: National Council of American-Soviet Friendship.[6]
Referencesedit
^ abcd. McCarthy Hearings 1953-54. United States Government. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
^Kinlock, Stacy (1991). "Guide to the National Council of American Soviet Friendship". The Tamiment Library / Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives (Records TAM 134). New York City, New York: New York University. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^Maland, Charles J. (1991). "Chaplin's Politics and American Culture, 1943-1952". Chaplin and American Culture: The Evolution of a Star Image. Princeton, N. J.: Princeton University Press. p. 253. ISBN0-691-02860-5.
^ "Of Local Origin". New York Times. 12 May 1948. p. 33 (Amusements). Retrieved 27 April 2020.
^"National Council of American–Soviet Friendship Collection". Academy Film Archive. 5 September 2014.
^Soviet Farmers. Pocket library on the U.S.S.R. New York: National Council of American-Soviet Friendship. 1944.
national, council, american, soviet, friendship, ncasf, successor, organisation, national, council, soviet, relations, ncsr, predecessornational, council, soviet, relationssuccessorinternational, council, friendship, solidarity, with, soviet, people, icfssp, f. The National Council of American Soviet Friendship NCASF was the successor organisation to the National Council on Soviet Relations NCSR National Council of American Soviet FriendshipPredecessorNational Council on Soviet RelationsSuccessorInternational Council for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People ICFSSP Formation1944FounderCorliss LamontMerger of1991Legal statusInactivePurposeAmerican Soviet relationsOfficial languageEnglish Russian Contents 1 History 1 1 Foundation 1 2 Structure 1 3 Members 1 4 Activities 1 5 Closure 2 Successors ICFSSP and USFSP 3 Legacy 4 Publications 5 References 6 External linksHistory editFoundation edit The 1930s witnessed the birth of the American Soviet friendship movement which revolved around the Friends of the Soviet Union founded in 1929 One of the major goals of the movement was for the United States and the Soviet Union to form an anti fascist alliance This eventually led to the foundation of the NCSR which became the NCASF in 1941 The Council s membership was largely made up of professionals sympathetic to socialism and communism Structure edit The council was formed of several different branches and offices 1 Members edit Corliss Lamont was one of the founders and the first chairman of the council Professor Ralph Barton Perry of Harvard University was vice chairman of the council Edwin Smith was the executive director of the council Chairmen of NCASF 2 Name Years in service Corliss Lamont 1943 1947 William Howard Melish 1947 1951 John Kingsbury 1949 1956 Rockwell Kent 1957 1971 William Howard Melish 1971 1978 Ewart Guinier 1979 1984 John Cherveny 1985 1987 John Randolph 1988 1991 Executive Directors of NCASF Name Years in service Edwin Smith 1944 1945 Richard Morford 1946 1981 Alan Thomson 1981 1991 Roy Kaufman 1991 Activities edit In April 1944 at the founding of the council Charlie Chaplin was one of the sponsors On 16 November 1944 when an American Soviet Friendship Rally was held in Madison Square Garden a number of Hollywood movie stars including Chaplin John Garfield Rita Hayworth Orson Welles James Cagney Katharine Hepburn Gene Kelly and Edward G Robinson signed a message in a gesture of support The statement said that the artists added their voices in favor of the bond that existed between our great country and our great Allies The message added In this friendship lies not only the hope but the future of the world 3 In 1946 the House Un American Activities Committee initiated a formal inquiry into the NCASF In 1947 charges were brought against the Council for failing to register with the Subversive Activities Control Board In May 1948 the New York Times that the new movie The Iron Curtain has been under attack since January by various groups including the National Council of American Soviet Friendship 4 Composer Aaron Copland was later questioned by Senator McCarthy regarding his membership on the Music Committee 1 Closure edit In 1991 the council ceased operations 1 Successors ICFSSP and USFSP editNCASF s successor organization based in Canada is called the International Council for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People ICFSSP The magazine of the International Council is called Northstar Compass The affiliate to the International Council in the United States is the U S Friends of the Soviet People USFSP The current officers of USFSP are Dr Angelo D Angelo Chair George Gruenthal Vice Chair Fiona Fairchild Secretary and Joseph F Hancock Bulletin Editor Legacy editThe moving image collection of the National Council of American Soviet Friendship is held at the Academy Film Archive The collection consists of over 1 000 16mm prints representing about 700 titles 5 Publications editDuring its years of operation the NCASF released numerous publications focusing upon daily life in the Soviet Union and information regarding the state of American Soviet relations 1 Anna Louise Strong 1944 Soviet Farmers New York National Council of American Soviet Friendship 6 References edit a b c d McCarthy Hearings 1953 54 Volume 2 McCarthy Hearings 1953 54 United States Government Archived from the original on 11 June 2011 Retrieved 1 June 2011 Kinlock Stacy 1991 Guide to the National Council of American Soviet Friendship The Tamiment Library Robert F Wagner Labor Archives Records TAM 134 New York City New York New York University a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Maland Charles J 1991 Chaplin s Politics and American Culture 1943 1952 Chaplin and American Culture The Evolution of a Star Image Princeton N J Princeton University Press p 253 ISBN 0 691 02860 5 Of Local Origin New York Times 12 May 1948 p 33 Amusements Retrieved 27 April 2020 National Council of American Soviet Friendship Collection Academy Film Archive 5 September 2014 Soviet Farmers Pocket library on the U S S R New York National Council of American Soviet Friendship 1944 External links editFBI records on the National Council of American Soviet Friendship Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title National Council of American Soviet Friendship amp oldid 1219485381, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
