Young Socialist Alliance. Madison Chapter: Records, 1962-1977
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Summary Information
Title: Young Socialist Alliance. Madison Chapter: Records
Inclusive Dates: 1962-1977

Creator:
  • Young Socialist Alliance (U.S.). Madison Chapter (Wis.)
Call Number: Mss 578; Micro 876

Quantity: 4.0 c.f. (4 record center cartons) and 10 reels of microfilm (35mm)

Repository:
Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:
Records of the Madison affiliate of the Young Socialist Alliance, formed nationally in 1957 under the influence of the Socialist Workers Party, and active locally from about 1965. Included in the collection are correspondence, administrative records, financial papers, notes, subject files, research materials, and newsclippings illustrating the anti-Vietnam war and other activities of the YSA, and its ties to other activist and radical groups. The papers have been arranged in ten series: organizational records, financial records, convention and election campaign papers, publicity and publications, YSA activity reports, U.W. campus activities, records of cooperation with other groups, general papers and subject file, and records of other Wisconsin and out-of-state locals. Most of the papers date from the mid-1960's to the early 1970's, and partially reflect the original arrangement of the donor, Patrick M. Quinn.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00578
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Biography/History

In 1957 a loose coalition of socialist youth groups met to launch The Young Socialist, a monthly newspaper which was strongly influenced by young members of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP). The newspaper became the focus of such factions as Young Socialist Clubs, National Young Socialist Supporters, and the Young Socialist League, all of which merged in 1969 to form the Young Socialist Alliance (YSA). Based on the socialism of Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Trotsky, YSA's working philosophy on high school and university campuses was to build a broad base of support through a network of local chapters, subordinate to the authority of the national organization.

Although organizationally independent, the YSA maintains a fraternal relationship to the Socialist Workers Party. YSA members campaign for SWP candidates, follow SWP's lead on most political issues, and raise funds by selling SWP publications.

The Madison local of the YSA was organized and active by 1965, although the major activity commenced with the rise of anti-Vietnam war opposition during the later 1960's and 1970's. The Madison YSA had close connections with other Madison anti-war groups, including Madison Committee to End the War in Vietnam, Madison Area Peace Action Council, and Student Mobilization Committee. Members cooperated with other groups in such local demonstrations as the 1967 Dow Demonstration, the 1969 Mifflin-Bassett Street Action, the October and November 1969 Vietnam Moratoriums, the 1970 GE strike, and the 1970 and 1971 protests of U.S. incursions into Cambodia and Laos. Madison members also traveled to the 1965 anti-war march on Washington and participated in other national events. A women's fraction of the YSA was formed about 1970. Other activities included street sales of The Militant, operation of the Che Guevara Book Store on Gilman Street, and fund-raising campus movies. The Madison local also acted as head-quarters for the state organizer, and YSA efforts on other UW campuses were coordinated from Madison. The formal structure of the Madison YSA was disbanded in 1980.

Related Material

For further information on the history and structure of the Young Socialist Alliance, see the records of the national YSA (Micro 726).

Scope and Content Note

The collection has been arranged in ten series, reflecting the organization and activities of the Madison YSA; these are Organizational Records; Financial Records; Conventions and Election Campaigns, Files of YSA and SWP; Publicity and Publications; YSA Activities and Reports Regarding Activities; U.W. Campus Activities with which YSA was Involved; Other Groups; General Papers and Subject File; Other Wisconsin Locals; and Other Locals. To some extent the original arrangement, as created by donor Patrick Quinn, has been retained, with modifications made for clarifying the arrangement, as necessary.

The ORGANIZATIONAL RECORDS of the Madison YSA consist of a copy of the national YSA constitution, minutes of the general and executive committee meetings, minutes of the fractions, reports to the national YSA organization; correspondence, including that of the state organizer; and contact lists. FINANCIAL RECORDS supplement the Organizational Records, and include such materials as chapter bank statements, bills and receipts, records of book and newspaper sales and subscriptions, income and expenditure records, dues, financial correspondence, and records of the Che Guevara Book Store and movie showings. Many of these records are fragmentary in nature, but together present a good picture both of the chapter's financial situation and its activities.

There is a large series of records documenting YSA and SWP cooperation during CONVENTIONS AND ELECTION CAMPAIGNS, including newspaper clippings, correspondence, press releases, endorser lists, petitions, research notes, and financial records concerning candidates supported by the two organizations. There are documents from both local (1964, 1967-1972) and national (1964, 1968, and 1976) races, with scattered material from other states, primarily dating from 1969 and 1970.

Four series, PUBLICITY AND PUBLICATIONS, YSA ACTIVITIES AND REPORTS REGARDING ACTIVITIES, U.W. CAMPUS ACTIVITIES WITH WHICH YSA WAS INVOLVED, and OTHER GROUPS WITH WHICH YSA WORKED document the activities of the Madison local and its members. Publicity and Publications files include leaflets, press releases and drafts prepared by local members; copies and drafts of the City Letter newsletter, and mailing lists. Within the Activities and Reports series are copies of the “Tasks and Perspectives” evaluations of chapter activities; and reports regarding recruitment of new members, forums, speaking and educational work, the TAA strike and Third World fractions, and visits by out-of-state YSA members. Materials documenting U.W. Campus Activities include newspaper clippings, leaflets issued by YSA and allied groups concerning particular events, and working papers, such as task sign-up sheets, and rental papers for meeting rooms. The records of Other Groups with Which YSA Worked contain materials from local and national defense committees, both those linked with YSA and those like-minded, but independent.

GENERAL PAPERS AND SUBJECT FILE consist of convention papers from regional YSA gatherings; YSA statements and notes concerning ecology and the Middle East; the Madison YSA membership term paper file; and miscellaneous clippings and leaflets (not all of which were produced by the YSA).

Two small series illustrate YSA's involvement with OTHER WISCONSIN LOCALS and OTHER NON-WISCONSIN LOCALS. These consist of correspondence, minutes, notes, and newsclippings, and are fragmentary. Other Wisconsin YSA locals were located at University of Wisconsin campuses at Oshkosh, La Crosse, and Milwaukee. Also included are correspondence and papers of the YSA Midwest Organizers.

Administrative/Restriction Information
Acquisition Information

Presented by Patrick M. Quinn, Evanston, Illinois, 1971-1978. Accession Number: M71-230, M71-276, M74-216, M78-491


Processing Information

Processed by Judy Joseph and Menzi Behrnd-Klodt; prepared for microfilming by John Wright, October 1981.


Contents List
Micro 876/Mss 578
Series: Organizational Records
Reel/Frame   1/1-8
Box/Folder   1/1
Young Socialist Alliance Constitution
Reel/Frame   1/9-486
Box/Folder   1/2-3
Minutes, 1965-1975
Reel/Frame   1/487-833
Box/Folder   1/4
Executive Committee Minutes, 1966-1973
Reel/Frame   1/834-852
Box/Folder   1/5
Minutes of Madison Local (Fractions), 1971
Reel/Frame   1/853-973
Box/Folder   1/6
Reports to National Organization, 1965-1970, undated
Correspondence
Reel/Frame   1/974-1068
Box/Folder   1/7
1965-1966
Reel/Frame   2/1-1086
Box/Folder   1/8-14
1967-1976, undated
Reel/Frame   3/1-475
Box/Folder   1/15
Correspondence of State Organizer, 1968-1970, undated
Reel/Frame   3/476-492
Box/Folder   1/16
Contacts
Series: Financial Records
⇧
Reel/Frame   3/493-537
Box/Folder   2/1
Bank Statements, 1967-1970
Reel/Frame   3/538-756
Box/Folder   2/2-3
Bills and Receipts, 1968-1969, 1973-1977
Reel/Frame   3/757-1098
Box/Folder   2/4
Book and Newspaper Orders, 1966-1967.
Reel/Frame   4/1-80
Box/Folder   2/5
Correspondence, 1967-1973, undated
Reel/Frame   4/81-183
Box/Folder   2/6
Financial Reports, 1969-1975, undated
Reel/Frame   4/184-222
Box/Folder   2/7
Fund Drive, 1968-1971
Reel/Frame   4/223-313
Box/Folder   2/8
Income and Expenditures, 1971-1976
Reel/Frame   4/314-334
Box/Folder   2/9
Lease Information and Other Papers, 1970-1972, undated
Reel/Frame   4/335-384
Box/Folder   2/10
Membership Dues, 1970-1973, undated
Reel/Frame   4/385-452
Box/Folder   2/11
The Militant - Sales and Subscriptions, 1966-1967
Reel/Frame   4/453-521
Box/Folder   2/12
Subscription Drives, 1966-1969, undated
Series: Conventions and Election Campaigns, Files of YSA and SWP
⇧
Subseries: Local
Reel/Frame   4/522-567
Box/Folder   2/13
, 1964 Campaign
Reel/Frame   4/568-598
Box/Folder   2/14
1967-1968 Campaign File - Press Releases, Articles
Reel/Frame   4/599-609
Box/Folder   2/15
, 1967-1968 Campaign File - Form Letters
Reel/Frame   4/610-633
Box/Folder   2/16
SWP Convention, 1967
Reel/Frame   4/634-656
Box/Folder   2/17
, 1967-1968 Campaign File - Endorser List
, 1968 SWP Campaign File
Reel/Frame   4/657-678
Box/Folder   2/18
Clippings, 1967-1968, undated
Reel/Frame   4/679-701
Box/Folder   2/19
Radio and TV, including League of Women Voters, 1968
Reel/Frame   4/702-717
Box/Folder   2/20
Legal Documents, Petitions, Financial Statements, 1968
Reel/Frame   4/718-731
Box/Folder   2/21
Election Results, 1968
Reel/Frame   4/732-936
Box/Folder   2/22
Correspondence, 1967-1968
Reel/Frame   4/937-940
Box/Folder   2/23
Press Contacts
1970 SWP Campaign File
Reel/Frame   4/941-989
Box/Folder   2/24
Financial Papers, 1970
Reel/Frame   4/990-997
Box/Folder   2/25
Fund Raising
Reel/Frame   4/998-1025
Box/Folder   2/26
Statewide Campaign
Reel/Frame   5/1-45
Box/Folder   2/27
Wisconsin Alliance
Reel/Frame   5/46-130
Box/Folder   2/28
Research File, Clippings, 1970, undated
Reel/Frame   5/131-267
Box/Folder   2/29
Miscellaneous Notes
Reel/Frame   5/268-430
Box/Folder   2/30
Correspondence, 1970
Reel/Frame   5/431-560
Box/Folder   2/31
Clippings, 1968, 1970, undated
Reel/Frame   5/561-597
Box/Folder   2/32
U.W. Campus Coordination
Reel/Frame   5/598-615
Box/Folder   2/33
Petitioning
Reel/Frame   5/616-617
Box/Folder   2/34
Draft Programs (prior to revision)
Reel/Frame   5/618-662
Box/Folder   2/35
News Media (Log)
Reel/Frame   5/663-793
Box/Folder   2/36
Drafts of News Releases and Statements
Reel/Frame   5/794-810
Box/Folder   2/37
Legal Materials
Reel/Frame   5/811-832
Box/Folder   2/38
League of Women Voters
Reel/Frame   5/833-952
Box/Folder   3/1
, 1972 SWP Campaign File - Madison Local Papers
Subseries: National
⇧
Reel/Frame   5/953-989
Box/Folder   3/2
, 1964 SWP Campaign File - Material re: National Candidates
, 1968 SWP Campaign File
Reel/Frame   5/990-1044
Box/Folder   3/3
Material re: National Candidates
Reel/Frame   6/1-120
Box/Folder   3/3
Material re: National Candidates
Reel/Frame   6/121-174
Box/Folder   3/4
Financial and Other Material, 1967-1968
Reel/Frame   6/175-348
Box/Folder   3/5
National Office Mailings, 1967-1968
Reel/Frame   6/349-552
Box/Folder   3/6
, 1976 SWP Campaign File - Material re National Candidates
Subseries: Other States - Material re: State Candidates
⇧
Reel/Frame   6/553-628
Box/Folder   3/7
California, 1970
Reel/Frame   6/629-631
Box/Folder   3/8
Colorado, 1970
Reel/Frame   6/632-684
Box/Folder   3/9
Georgia, 1969-1970
Reel/Frame   6/685-756
Box/Folder   3/10
Illinois, 1970, 1975-1977
Reel/Frame   6/757-780
Box/Folder   3/11
Massachusetts, 1970
Reel/Frame   6/781-849
Box/Folder   3/12
Michigan, 1969-1970
Reel/Frame   6/850-879
Box/Folder   3/13
Minnesota, 1970
Reel/Frame   6/880-974
Box/Folder   3/14
New York, 1970
Reel/Frame   6/975-1022
Box/Folder   3/15
Ohio, 1970
Reel/Frame   7/1-26
Box/Folder   3/16
Pennsylvania, 1969-1970
Reel/Frame   7/27-48
Box/Folder   3/17
Rhode Island, 1970
Reel/Frame   7/49-62
Box/Folder   3/18
Washington, 1970
Reel/Frame   7/63-212
Box/Folder   3/19
Others, 1967-1968
Series: Publicity and Publications
⇧
Reel/Frame   7/213-390
Box/Folder   3/20
YSA - U.W. Madison Publicity, 1967-1970
Reel/Frame   7/391-627
Box/Folder   3/21
Publicity, 1966-1975, undated
Reel/Frame   7/628-664
Box/Folder   3/22
Madison YSA City Letters, 1969-1971, undated
Reel/Frame   7/665-729
Box/Folder   3/23
Wisconsin Young Socialist Mailing Lists, 1969-1970
Reel/Frame   7/730-816
Box/Folder   3/24
YSA State Mailing List
Series: YSA Activities and Reports Regarding Activities
⇧
Reel/Frame   7/817-1096
Box/Folder   3/25
Task and Perspectives, 1971-1977, undated
Reel/Frame   8/1-127
Box/Folder   3/26-27
Trailblaze Reports, 1968-1970, undated
Reel/Frame   8/128-214
Box/Folder   3/28
Forums, 1967-1970, undated
Reel/Frame   8/215-347
Box/Folder   3/29
Educational and Speaking Information, 1966-1971, undated
Reel/Frame   8/348-398
Box/Folder   3/30
Anti-war Reports, 1967-1971
Reel/Frame   8/399-429
Box/Folder   4/1
TAA Strike Fraction, 1970
Reel/Frame   8/430-478
Box/Folder   4/2-3
Third World Fraction, 1970
Reel/Frame   8/479-488
Box/Folder   4/4
Sam Hunt's , October 1970 Tour
Reel/Frame   8/489-531
Box/Folder   4/5
Arie Bober Tour, 1970
Reel/Frame   8/532-598
Box/Folder   4/6-7
WSA Elections, Fall 1969 and 1970
Series: U.W. Campus Activities with Which YSA Was Involved
⇧
Reel/Frame   8/599-611
Box/Folder   4/8
Dow Demonstration, 1967
Reel/Frame   8/612-635
Box/Folder   4/9
Mifflin-Bassett Street Action, 1969
Reel/Frame   8/636-700
Box/Folder   4/10
Strike Leaflets, 1969
Reel/Frame   8/701-705
Box/Folder   4/11
Vietnam Moratorium, October 15, 1969
Reel/Frame   8/706-732
Box/Folder   4/12
GE Action and Strike, 1970
Reel/Frame   8/733-810
Box/Folder   4/13
Leaflets Issued During , May 1970 Actions
Reel/Frame   8/811-821
Box/Folder   4/14
Laos Invasion, 1971
Reel/Frame   8/822-915
Box/Folder   4/15
Worklists and Tasks, 1969
Reel/Frame   8/916-977
Box/Folder   4/16
Room Rentals, 1966-1970, undated
Series: Other Groups with Which YSA Worked
⇧
Reel/Frame   8/978-991
Box/Folder   4/17
Bloomington, Indiana Students, 1963-1965
Reel/Frame   9/1-124
Box/Folder   4/18
Committee Against Political Repression, 1969-1970, undated
Reel/Frame   9/125-168
Box/Folder   4/19
Committee to Defend the French Students, 1968
Reel/Frame   9/169-172
Box/Folder   4/20
Dow Defense, undated (circa 1967)
Reel/Frame   9/173-202
Box/Folder   4/21
Joe Johnson Case, 1965-1966
Reel/Frame   9/203-245
Box/Folder   4/22
Joint Legislative Investigative Committee - Clippings, 1969-1970, undated
Reel/Frame   9/246-288
Box/Folder   4/23
Mark Lobato Defense, 1968-1970, undated
Reel/Frame   9/289-328
Box/Folder   4/24
Madison Defense Committee, 1969, undated
Reel/Frame   9/329-358
Box/Folder   4/25
Lewis Pepper Defense Materials, 1968-1969
Reel/Frame   9/359-405
Box/Folder   4/26
Howard Petrick Case, 1966-1968, undated
Reel/Frame   9/406-587
Box/Folder   4/27
Political Rights Defense Fund, 1973-1975, undated
Reel/Frame   9/588-598
Box/Folder   4/28
Tom Tomasko Defense, 1971
Reel/Frame   9/599-677
Box/Folder   4/29
Wendell Phillips Academic Freedom Committee, 1962
Series: General Papers and Subject File
⇧
Reel/Frame   9/678-709
Box/Folder   4/30
Ann Arbor Conference, February 1971
Reel/Frame   9/710-752
Box/Folder   4/31
Miscellaneous Clippings, 1966-1972, undated
Reel/Frame   9/753-787
Box/Folder   4/32
Chicago YSA Convention, 1968
Reel/Frame   9/788-803
Box/Folder   4/33
Ecology Movement, 1970
Reel/Frame   9/804-865
Box/Folder   4/34
Middle East, 1967, 1969-1970, undated
Reel/Frame   9/866-883
Box/Folder   4/35
YSA Plenum, August 1970
Reel/Frame   9/884-1064
Box/Folder   4/36
YSA Term Paper File
Reel/Frame   10/1-143
Box/Folder   4/36
YSA Term Paper File, continued
Reel/Frame   10/144-520
Box/Folder   4/37-38
Miscellaneous Leaflets, 1963, 1966-1971, 1975, undated
Reel/Frame   10/521-538
Box/Folder   4/39
Miscellany
Series: Other Wisconsin Locals
⇧
Reel/Frame   10/539-617
Box/Folder   4/40
Oshkosh Local, 1968-1971
Reel/Frame   10/618-645
Box/Folder   4/41
La Crosse Local, 1971
Reel/Frame   10/646-684
Box/Folder   4/42
Milwaukee Local, 1969-1971
Series: Other Locals (Non-Wisconsin)
⇧
Reel/Frame   10/685-911
Box/Folder   4/43
Others, 1969-1970
Reel/Frame   10/912-993
Box/Folder   4/44
Midwest Organizers, 1972-1973