Summary Information
James P. O'Brien Interviews 1969-1970
Audio 873A
46 tape recordings
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Tape-recorded interviews made by James P. O'Brien as part of his research for his doctoral dissertation, “The Development of a New Left in the United States, 1960-1965” (University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1971). Discussed were political activism on campuses during the early 1960s, the Student Peace Union, Students for a Democratic Society, civil rights and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and other subjects.
There is a restriction on access to or use of eight of these interviews; see the Administrative/Restriction Information portion of this finding aid for details.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-audi00873a ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
One of the founders of Radical America in Madison, Wisconsin, while a student at the University of Wisconsin, O'Brien continued to contribute to or edit the journal following its move to Somerville, Massachusetts (circa 1970). A pamphlet version of O'Brien's New Left research was published in 1969 as “A History of the New Left, 1960-1968,” following its appearance in three installments in Radical America in 1968.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Five of the O'Brien interviews require permission of the interviewee for access. These interviews are those with
- James B. Gilbert whose address as of 1969 was Department of History, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
- George Brosi whose address as of 1981 was Council of the Southern Mountains Bookstore, CPO Box 2106, Berea, KY 40404
- Paul Richards for whom we have no address
- James W. Russell for whom we have no address
- Joel Shufro for whom we have no address
Three other interviews require permission of the interviewee for direct quotation. These interviews are those with
- Michael J. Miller whose address as of 1969 was 1349 Rose, Apt. D, Berkeley, CA
- Josel S. Geier whose address as of 1969 was c/o ISC, P.O. Box 910, Berkeley, CA
- Jesse Lemisch whose address as of 1969 was 6912 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL
James O'Brien's address as of 1980 was 18 Aberdeen Road, Somerville, Massachusetts 02144.
Presented by James P. O'Brien, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1969-1970. Accession Number: M69-105, 106, 107, 108, 115, 116, 117, 131, 132, 211, 213, 214, 215, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 325, 333, 437; M70-66, 95, 111, 136, 221, 226, 227, 228, 259, 260, 281
Processed by Lynne Goldman and Tris Sieb, August 20, 1982.
Contents List
Audio
873A/1
|
Kenneth Calkins : Concerns the origins and early development of the Student Peace Union and political activism on campuses.
|
|
Audio
873A/2
|
Philip Altbach : Recollections of his background as it relates to the development of his personal politics; discussion of ideological differences between various student political groups; information on the Young Socialist Alliance, the Student Peace Union, and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
|
|
Audio
873A/3
|
James B. Gilbert : Discussion of the development of his political views, a trip to Cuba, and student life and politics at Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, 1957-1961, and at the University of Wisconsin, 1961-1966.
|
|
Audio
873A/4
|
Robb K. Burlage : Concerns student politics at the University of Texas, 1955-1959, and Students for a Democratic Society in the Boston area, 1961-1963.
|
|
Audio
873A/5
|
Eric Foner : Concerns student politics at Columbia University, 1959-1963.
|
|
Audio
873A/6
|
Dan Georgakas : Discusses the development of his radical political philosophy, his skepticism on a policy of non-violence, the importance of underground newspapers, and other topics.
|
|
Audio
873A/7
|
Frederick Heinze : Concerns the civil rights movement at Southern Illinois University, Cairo, the difference in his attitude towards blacks when living in the South and in the North, and his involvement in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.
|
|
Audio
873A/8
|
Richard Flacks : Concerns his involvement in Students for a Democratic Society, 1962-1963, and the civil rights movement.
|
|
Audio
873A/9
|
George Brosi : Tells of Carleton College student politics, 1960-1965, and Students for a Democratic Society.
|
|
Audio
873A/10
|
Peter Wiley : Describes his experiences as a political activist.
|
|
Audio
873A/11
|
David Eakins : Talks about his beginnings in the campus political scene, political writers he studied, and the journal Studies on the Left.
|
|
Audio
873A/12
|
James Hawley : Discusses student politics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1962-1966.
|
|
Audio
873A/13
|
Robert L. and Pamela P. Allen : Discuss their involvement in the civil rights movement at Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia, and at Carleton College, 1960-1965.
|
|
Audio
873A/14
|
Eugene Dennis, Jr. : Speaks of political activity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1960-1965, including mention of Socialist Party work, election activities, and anti-war activities.
|
|
Audio
873A/15
|
Paul Breines : Discusses student life and politics at the University of Wisconsin, 1959-1963, and at Cornell University, 1963-1965.
|
|
Audio
873A/16
|
Michael J. Miller : Discusses the development of the political party S.L.A.T.E. and the Bay Area Friends of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
|
|
Audio
873A/17-18
|
Joel S. Geier : Discusses student politics at the University of Chicago in the late 1950s, the Young People's Socialist League, Independent Socialist Clubs, and the Free Speech Movement.
|
|
Audio
873A/19
|
Steve Johnson : Talks of student politics at Harvard, 1960-1965, and of political leaders and scientists working for the government.
|
|
Audio
873A/20
|
Terence Cannon : Concerns student life at Cornell, 1957-1961, the 1963 March on Washington, and the origins of The Movement newspaper.
|
|
Audio
873A/21
|
Jesse Lemisch : Describes student life and politics at Yale University in the late 1950s and the Student League for Industrial Democracy.
|
|
Audio
873A/22
|
Arthur MacEwan : Discusses student life and politics at the University of Chicago, 1959-1963.
|
|
Audio
873A/23
|
Mark Naison : Discusses student politics at Columbia University.
|
|
Audio
873A/24
|
John Thomas Condit : Concerns Young People's Socialist League activities in the late 1950s and early 1960s and civil rights work.
|
|
Audio
873A/25
|
Robert S. Gabriner : Discusses political activities at Cornell University during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
|
|
Audio
873A/26
|
David Steinberg : Talks about the influences on his politics.
|
|
Audio
873A/27
|
Miriam Feingold : Discusses her political activities at Swarthmore College, 1959-1963.
|
|
Audio
873A/28
|
Tim Wohlforth : Discusses his involvement with the Young People's Socialist League, the Socialist Workers Party, the Socialist Party, and S.D.A.
|
|
Audio
873A/29
|
Michael D. Nolan : Talks about student life and politics at Columbia University, 1960-1964.
|
|
Audio
873A/30
|
Michael Parker : Discusses the Student Peace Union, 1959-1961.
|
|
Audio
873A/31
|
Michael Ferber : Describes his political activities at Cornell, participation in Freedom Rides, and other experiences.
|
|
Audio
873A/32
|
Donald Bluestone : Discusses his parents' influence on his political ideas and his activities at Cornell University, 1957-1961, and at the University of Wisconsin, 1961-1965.
|
|
Audio
873A/33
|
Joe Griffith : Discusses his activities at Cornell, participation in Freedom Rides, organizing a Congressional campaign, and anti-war activities.
|
|
Audio
873A/34
|
Paul Buhle : Talks about his political and civil rights activities in Champaign, Illinois, 1962-1966.
|
|
Audio
873A/35
|
Paul Richards : Concerns his political activities, involvement in S.L.A.T.E., and his experiences as the University of California, Berkeley, 1961-1966, and the University of Wisconsin, 1967-1969.
|
|
Audio
873A/36
|
Larry Faulkner : Discusses his political activities at Cornell University and elsewhere.
|
|
Audio
873A/37
|
Michael Meeropol : Speaks of politics during the early 1960s at Cornell University.
|
|
Audio
873A/38
|
James W. Russell : Describes his opinions on civil rights, his involvement in Students for a Democratic Society, and publishing a series of leaflets.
|
|
Audio
873A/39
|
Brian Peterson : Discusses politics at the University of Iowa, 1960-1962, and Drake University, 1962-1964, and civil rights activities.
|
|
Audio
873A/40
|
Jack Weinberg : Concerns the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Congress of Racial Equality at the University of California, Berkeley.
|
|
Audio
873A/41
|
David Wellman : Discusses his political work at Wayne State University, 1958-1962, his part in the start of SDS and in SNCC, his feelings toward the communism of his father, S.L.A.T.E., and activities in the Berkeley area.
|
|
Audio
873A/42
|
Heather Tobis Booth : Talks about her teaching at Freedom Schools and her feelings about women's positions in the social movement and in universities.
|
|
Audio
873A/43
|
Paul G. and Karen Bigelow Faler : Discuss political activities at Southern Methodist University and civil rights work there.
|
|
Audio
873A/44
|
Evan Metcalf : Discusses his political work at Swarthmore College, 1963-1965, and the Cleveland Community Project, 1965.
|
|
Audio
873A/45
|
Joel Shufro : Concerns his campus political involvement at Shimer College, Mt. Carroll, Illinois, 1960-1962, and the University of Chicago, 1962-1965, including discussion of Cuba, atom bomb testing, and Students for a Democratic Society.
|
|
Audio
873A/46
|
David McReynolds : Discusses his political involvement at Antioch College, 1954-1958, and other campuses, including mention of HUAC, the Young People's Socialist League, and national politics.
|
|
|