The papers of the Socialist Labor Party in Wisconsin are divided into
four series: general correspondence, special correspondence, proceedings, and publicity. The papers document Socialist Labor Party activities on all levels from 1932 to 1964 including the State Campaign Committee, Section Milwaukee and its branches, and the Lincoln County Propaganda Committee. Although originally created by the separate organizations, many of the papers eventually were obtained by Section Milwaukee and interfiled. Following approval of Section Milwaukee, Mrs. Cozzini selected these materials for donation.
The GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE series contains letters between active members in Wisconsin and the Socialist Labor Party's National Office concerning implementation of the party platform, tours of candidates for national offices, party activities in Wisconsin, and orders for supplies such as leaflets and party publications. Some correspondence between the branches, Section Milwaukee, and the State Campaign Committee concerns state activities such as conventions, publicity programs, and educational and social events.
The SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE includes field reports of campaign workers Arnold Fortman, Alfred Potter and John Schleier describing lectures and responses received as they toured Wisconsin in 1936; mimeographed letters to members and sympathizers publicizing the party's 1946 lecture series; correspondence between Section Milwaukee and supporters in Merrill, 1940-1946, concerning activities in Merrill and supplies of publicity items; correspondence and reports pertaining to the Lincoln County study class, 1939-1943; correspondence between Section Milwaukee and Allis-Chalmers Local Union 248 concerning party activities during the 1941 strike; correspondence pertaining to an incident in Janesville on July 10, 1937 when a Socialist Labor Party speaker was interrupted and threatened, and a subsequent editorial written in 1945 alluding to the party's use of violence; and correspondence concerning organized efforts to defeat anti-subversive legislation in 1953 and 1955.
The PROCEEDINGS file contains agenda, reports, resolutions and minutes of the state conventions, 1938, 1940, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1950-1954; minutes of the State Campaign Committee, 1936-1953, pertaining to statewide activities and finances; a few minutes from Section Milwaukee and joint meetings of Section Milwaukee and its branches, 1935, 1940, 1941 and 1948; and miscellaneous reports including vote tabulations, assessments of dues, membership lists and campaign schedules.
The PUBLICITY series contains copies of radio addresses delivered over Wisconsin stations between 1934 and 1964. Many of the texts were obtained from the national office and delivered in conjunction with campaigns. Other publicity items include copies of press releases about party activities, 1908, 1923, and 1939-1954; and correspondence and records of Wisconsin State Fair booths, 1951, 1952 and 1959. This series also includes newspaper clippings and flyers on microfilm.
The newspaper clippings, 1933-1955, consist of a booklet of clippings
compiled by John Stoltenberg documenting the party's activities, 1936- 1940; clippings about party activities of 1944-1946 compiled by the Party Press Committee; and miscellaneous clippings including letters to the editor submitted by party members and articles on party sponsored lectures and programs. The flyers, 1936-1958, include leaflets expressing the party's position on pertinent issues and publicizing lectures by candidates and national speakers.
