Title: James P. O'Brien Interviews
Inclusive Dates: 1969-1970

Creator:

• O'Brien, James P.

Call Number: Tape 873A

Quantity: 46 tape recordings

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:

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.

Note:

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.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-tape00873a

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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.

Access Restrictions

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.

Acquisition Information

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

Processing Information

Processed by Lynne Goldman and Tris Sieb, August 20, 1982.

No.   1	Kenneth Calkins Scope and Content Note: Concerns the origins and early development of the Student Peace Union and political activism on campuses.
No.   2	Philip Altbach Scope and Content Note: 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.
No.   3	James B. Gilbert Scope and Content Note: 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.
No.   4	Robb K. Burlage Scope and Content Note: Concerns student politics at the University of Texas, 1955-1959, and Students for a Democratic Society in the Boston area, 1961-1963.
No.   5	Eric Foner Scope and Content Note: Concerns student politics at Columbia University, 1959-1963.
No.   6	Dan Georgakas Scope and Content Note: Discusses the development of his radical political philosophy, his skepticism on a policy of non-violence, the importance of underground newspapers, and other topics.
No.   7	Frederick Heinze Scope and Content Note: 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.
No.   8	Richard Flacks Scope and Content Note: Concerns his involvement in Students for a Democratic Society, 1962-1963, and the civil rights movement.
No.   9	George Brosi Scope and Content Note: Tells of Carleton College student politics, 1960-1965, and Students for a Democratic Society.
No.   10	Peter Wiley Scope and Content Note: Describes his experiences as a political activist.
No.   11	David Eakins Scope and Content Note: Talks about his beginnings in the campus political scene, political writers he studied, and the journal Studies on the Left.
No.   12	James Hawley Scope and Content Note: Discusses student politics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1962-1966.
No.   13	Robert L. and Pamela P. Allen Scope and Content Note: Discuss their involvement in the civil rights movement at Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia, and at Carleton College, 1960-1965.
No.   14	Eugene Dennis, Jr. Scope and Content Note: Speaks of political activity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1960-1965, including mention of Socialist Party work, election activities, and anti-war activities.
No.   15	Paul Breines Scope and Content Note: Discusses student life and politics at the University of Wisconsin, 1959-1963, and at Cornell University, 1963-1965.
No.   16	Michael J. Miller Scope and Content Note: Discusses the development of the political party S.L.A.T.E. and the Bay Area Friends of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
No.   17-18	Joel S. Geier Scope and Content Note: 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.
No.   19	Steve Johnson Scope and Content Note: Talks of student politics at Harvard, 1960-1965, and of political leaders and scientists working for the government.
No.   20	Terence Cannon Scope and Content Note: Concerns student life at Cornell, 1957-1961, the 1963 March on Washington, and the origins of The Movement newspaper.
No.   21	Jesse Lemisch Scope and Content Note: Describes student life and politics at Yale University in the late 1950s and the Student League for Industrial Democracy.
No.   22	Arthur MacEwan Scope and Content Note: Discusses student life and politics at the University of Chicago, 1959-1963.
No.   23	Mark Naison Scope and Content Note: Discusses student politics at Columbia University.
No.   24	John Thomas Condit Scope and Content Note: Concerns Young People's Socialist League activities in the late 1950s and early 1960s and civil rights work.
No.   25	Robert S. Gabriner Scope and Content Note: Discusses political activities at Cornell University during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
No.   26	David Steinberg Scope and Content Note: Talks about the influences on his politics.
No.   27	Miriam Feingold Scope and Content Note: Discusses her political activities at Swarthmore College, 1959-1963.
No.   28	Tim Wohlforth Scope and Content Note: Discusses his involvement with the Young People's Socialist League, the Socialist Workers Party, the Socialist Party, and S.D.A.
No.   29	Michael D. Nolan Scope and Content Note: Talks about student life and politics at Columbia University, 1960-1964.
No.   30	Michael Parker Scope and Content Note: Discusses the Student Peace Union, 1959-1961.
No.   31	Michael Ferber Scope and Content Note: Describes his political activities at Cornell, participation in Freedom Rides, and other experiences.
No.   32	Donald Bluestone Scope and Content Note: Discusses his parents' influence on his political ideas and his activities at Cornell University, 1957-1961, and at the University of Wisconsin, 1961-1965.
No.   33	Joe Griffith Scope and Content Note: Discusses his activities at Cornell, participation in Freedom Rides, organizing a Congressional campaign, and anti-war activities.
No.   34	Paul Buhle Scope and Content Note: Talks about his political and civil rights activities in Champaign, Illinois, 1962-1966.
No.   35	Paul Richards Scope and Content Note: 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.
No.   36	Larry Faulkner Scope and Content Note: Discusses his political activities at Cornell University and elsewhere.
No.   37	Michael Meeropol Scope and Content Note: Speaks of politics during the early 1960s at Cornell University.
No.   38	James W. Russell Scope and Content Note: Describes his opinions on civil rights, his involvement in Students for a Democratic Society, and publishing a series of leaflets.
No.   39	Brian Peterson Scope and Content Note: Discusses politics at the University of Iowa, 1960-1962, and Drake University, 1962-1964, and civil rights activities.
No.   40	Jack Weinberg Scope and Content Note: Concerns the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Congress of Racial Equality at the University of California, Berkeley.
No.   41	David Wellman Scope and Content Note: 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.
No.   42	Heather Tobis Booth Scope and Content Note: Talks about her teaching at Freedom Schools and her feelings about women's positions in the social movement and in universities.
No.   43	Paul G. and Karen Bigelow Faler Scope and Content Note: Discuss political activities at Southern Methodist University and civil rights work there.
No.   44	Evan Metcalf Scope and Content Note: Discusses his political work at Swarthmore College, 1963-1965, and the Cleveland Community Project, 1965.
No.   45	Joel Shufro Scope and Content Note: 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.
No.   46	David McReynolds Scope and Content Note: 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.