Title: Young People’s Socialist League Records
Inclusive Dates: 1912-1993

Creators:

• Young People's Socialist League
• Zeidler, Frank P., 1912-2006

Call Number: Local History Manuscript Collection 93

Quantity:

• 1.6 cubic ft. (5 boxes)
• 5 oversize folders

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

This collection contains records of the Young People’s Socialist League (YPSL) from the national level of the organization as well as the state of Wisconsin focusing on the Milwaukee area.

Note:

To request materials from this collection, create/login to your Special Collections Account.

Language: English, German, French, Danish, Dutch

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-lhmc0093

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The Young People’s Socialist Leagues (YPSL) began in the early 20th century as the affiliated youth organization to the Socialist Party of America (SPA). Initially, these groups were largely independent until 1913 when a national level of the organization was formed. YPSL (or Yipsel as it was sometimes called) then had state and local levels which they sometimes called branches or circles. Some of the Milwaukee area circles/branches do predate the national level creation. The age limitations for YPSL membership varied but began with ages 14-25 and eventually moved up to 30 years old as the max age. In theory people could be members of both YPSL and the SPA if they were over 21. In addition to YPSL there were also a few other groups geared towards children. The Red Falcons of America was set up in 1933 and had two subsets. There was the Red Falcons for 11-14 years old and then the Young Falcons or Red Sparks for 8-11 years old. In the United States the Red Falcons fell under the leadership of YPSL but there were also branches of the Red Falcon Guides in Europe. YPSL also organized a Socialist Sunday School group.

The Socialist Party of America went through much change and internal discord from the late 1950s to 1970s which included disagreements with YPSL. In 1957 the SPA changed its name to Socialist Party - Social Democratic Federation (SP-SDF) and by the mid-1960s, the SP-SDF and YPSL became increasingly hostile to each other. In 1964 YPSL leadership voted to dissolve itself. At some point shortly after, the SP-SDF reforms YPSL. In the early 1970s, and the SP-SDF (now renamed the Social Democrats, USA) splits yet again but this time into three groups: the Social Democrats USA, the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee and Union for Democratic Socialism (UDS). The UDS eventually reorganizes and becomes the Socialist Party, USA and in 1989 they vote to reconstitute YPSL.

1913-1915	J.A. Rogers, Jr.
1915-1919	William F. Kruse
1919-1922	Oliver Carlson
1922-1924	Albert Weisbord
1924-1929	Aarne J. Parker
1929-1932	Julius Umansky
1932-1934	Arthur G. McDowell
1934-1937	Ernest Erber
1937-1940	Al Hamilton
1940-1942	Judah Drob
1942-1944	Robin Myers
1944-1946	Virgil Vogel
1946-1948	Irwin Suall
1948-1950	Thomas Brooks
1950-1952	Vern Davidson
1952-1954	Michael Harrington
1954-1957	Gabriel Kolko
1957-1961	Richard Roman
1961-1964	Joel Geier
1964-1968	Penn Kemble
1968-1972	Joshua Muravchik

The collection is organized into two main series, records from the national level of the organization and from the state and local level, specifically Wisconsin with a focus on the Milwaukee area. Milwaukee County branches (or circles as they were sometimes called) included are: Bay View Circle, Emil Seidel Circle, Marxian Circle, Morris Hillquit Jr. Circle, North Side Circle, and West Side Circle. There are also some materials on the children's group the Red Falcons. This collection contains correspondence, meeting minutes, committee activities, publications, ephemera and financial documents and ledgers. Also included are documents from the Wisconsin YPSL band, chorus and theater group (called the Players).

The collection is arranged into the following series:

1. National, 1931-1993
2. Wisconsin, 1912-1963

The series are arranged alphabetically. Within each series, folders are arranged alphabetically and then chronologically within each folder.

Young People’s Socialist League Records, 1912-1993, Collection 93. Local History Manuscript Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

• Hugo Lange, Jr. Papers. Local History Manuscript Collection 13.

• Socialist Party Records. Local History Manuscript Collection 322.

• Frank P Zeidler Papers. Local History Manuscript Collection 352.

• Socialist Pamphlet Collection. Local History Manuscript Collection 20.

• Daniel Webster Hoan Mayoral Records. City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 8.

• Socialist Party Photograph Collection. Milwaukee Historic Photo Collection 22.

The Socialist Party of America : a Complete History

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials. The collection is open to all in accordance with state law. The public may view Local History Manuscript Collections by appointment at the Central Library. To request an in-person appointment, create/login to your Special Collections Account. If you have any questions, please contact the Archives and Special Collections Department at mplarchives@milwaukee.gov.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

The bulk of the materials came from donations from Frank Zeidler. Over the years, Mr. Zeidler also collected materials from friends and fellow socialists to donate to the Milwaukee Public Library’s archives. The North Side YPSL materials were originally from Ervin Koth, the West Side YPSL materials came from Warren Hage and Milton J. Bodamer, and some of the Red Falcon’s material came from Max E. Weber. These were all given to Frank Zeidler and then donated to the Milwaukee Public Library. Materials were accessioned as Local History Manuscripts.

Processing Information

In 2021, YPSL materials originally included in the Socialist Party Records (LHMC 322) were removed and added to this collection. Processed by Casey Lapworth, Processing Archivist, 2021.

	Series: 1. National, 1931-1993
Box   1 Folder   1	Armband, undated
Box   1 Folder   2	The Challenge, 1935-1958
Oversize Folder   1	The Challenge, 1958
Box   1 Folder   3	Conferences / Conventions, 1935-1959
Box   1 Folder   4-7	Correspondence, 1933-1940
Box   5 Folder   1	Correspondence, 1946-1990
Box   1 Folder   8	Courses / Seminars, 1931-1962, undated
Box   1 Folder   9	Education Committee, 1938-1940
Box   1 Folder   10	Education Department, 1926-1940, undated
Box   1 Folder   11	Events / Fliers, 1935-1939, undated
Box   1 Folder   12	Membership, 1934-1938, undated
Box   1 Folder   13	National Executive Committee (NEC) Minutes, 1933-1938
Box   1 Folder   14	National YPSL Bulletin, 1934-1935
Box   1 Folder   15	Pamphlets / Publications, 1935-1954, undated
Oversize Folder   2	Publications, 1954
Box   5 Folder   2	Petitions, 1935
Box   1 Folder   16	Price Lists, 1934-1959, undated
Box   1 Folder   17	Programs / Resolutions, 1935-1958
Box   1 Folder   18	Reports, 1935-1960
Box   1 Folder   19	The Torch, 1990-1993
Box   1 Folder   20	Young Socialist Review, 1935-1941
Box   1 Folder   21	Youth Committee, 1933-1957
Box   1 Folder   22	Youth Committee Against Fascism, 1934-1941
Box   1 Folder   23	Youth Committee Against War, 1938-1941
	Series: 2. Wisconsin, 1912-1963	⇧
Box   2 Folder   1	Band, 1936-1939, undated
Box   2 Folder   2	Bibliography, 1939
Box   2 Folder   3	Chorus, 1936-1939, undated
Box   2 Folder   4	Conferences / Conventions, 1933-1949
Box   2 Folder   5	Constitution, 1912
Box   2 Folder   6	Correspondence, 1932-1963
Box   2 Folder   7	Education Committee / Director, 1933-1938
Box   2 Folder   8	Financials, 1933-1939, undated
Box   2 Folder   9	Membership, 1933-1938, undated
Box   2 Folder   10-11	Meeting Minutes – Milwaukee County, 1933-1939
Box   5 Folder   3	Meeting Minutes – State Board / Committee, 1932-1934
	Milwaukee County
Box   5 Folder   4	Red Falcons, 1934-1970, undated
Box   2 Folder   12	Red Falcons – Bandana / Kerchief, undated
Box   5 Folder   5	Red Falcons – International, 1934-1937, undated Language: German, French, Dutch, Danish
	Milwaukee County Circles / Branches
Box   2 Folder   13	Bay View, 1933-1936
Oversize Folder   3	Bay View – Charter, 1933
Box   2 Folder   14	Emil Seidel, 1938
Box   2 Folder   15	Marxian, 1934-1939
Box   2 Folder   16	Morris Hillquit, Jr., 1936-1938
	North Side
Box   2 Folder   17	The Challenge, 1933, undated
Oversize Folder   4	The Challenge, 1933
Box   2 Folder   18	Conferences / Conventions, 1929-1933
Box   5 Folder   6	Constitution / Creation, 1912-1932
Box   2 Folder   19	Correspondence, 1925-1929
Box   5 Folder   7-8	Correspondence, 1930-1933, undated
Box   2 Folder   20	Correspondence – Resignations/Expulsions, 1925-1933, undated
Box   2 Folder   21	Correspondence Course, undated
Box   2 Folder   22	Ephemera, 1931-1932, undated
Box   2 Folder   23	Financials, 1929-1930, undated
Box   5 Folder   9	Meeting Minutes, 1930-1933
Box   2 Folder   24	Meeting Minutes – National Notes, undated
Box   5 Folder   10	Membership, 1921-1933, undated
Box   2 Folder   25	Notes for Speakers, 1932-1933, undated
Box   5 Folder   11	Publications, 1932-1933, undated
Box   3 Folder   1-2	Publications (books), 1927, undated
Box   3 Folder   3	Reports, 1926-1933, undated
Box   3 Folder   4	Resolutions, 1931-1933, undated
Box   3 Folder   5	Suggestions, 1930, undated
Box   5 Folder   12	Writings, undated
Box   3 Folder   6	Young Circle Club, 1931
Box   3 Folder   7	West Side, 1935-1937, undated
Box   3 Folder   8	West Side – Meeting Minutes, 1912-1914
Box   5 Folder   13	West Side – Scrapbook, 1936-1937
Box   4 Folder   1	Miscellaneous, 1934-1946
Box   4 Folder   2	Office Space, 1936-1938
Oversize Folder   5	Socialist Sunday School, 1920
Box   4 Folder   3	Players, 1933-1938, undated
Box   4 Folder   4	Players – Scripts, 1931, undated
Box   4 Folder   5	Poetry, 1938-1942, undated
	Publications
Box   4 Folder   6	1938-1946
Box   4 Folder   7	Red Sparks, 1938-1939
Box   4 Folder   8	Songbooks, undated
Box   4 Folder   9	Wisconsin YPSL Bulletin, 1935
Box   4 Folder   10	The Young Socialist, 1937-1938, undated
Box   4 Folder   11	Reports / Resolutions, 1930-1938, undated
Box   4 Folder   12-13	Welfare Board, 1934-1939, undated