The papers of the Y.P.S.L. are duplicates of materials held at Duke University. The collection is arranged in seven categories: circular letters; minutes; conventions and constitution; publications; press releases; memoranda, reports, statements, and resolutions; and miscellaneous materials. Unless noted otherwise, the papers within each category are arranged either chronologically or by issuing body.
Circular letters: Included in this category are letters (1938-1962), which were mimeographed and circulated both to the general membership and to key individuals. They are generally concerned with the more practical aspects of party life such as meetings, membership, and fund raising.
Minutes: This category contains minutes of the National Executive Committee, 1935-1962; National Organization Committee, 1940-1943, 1951-1953; and National Action Committee, 1958-1962.
Conventions and constitution: Proceedings of four national conventions are included in this category. These are the 17th, 1950; the 18th, 1951; the 19th, 1953; and the 20th, 1957. An undated copy of the Y.P.S.L. constitution is also included.
Publications: This category consists of publications, primarily in mimeograph form. It comprises almost half of the collection, and is probably its most valuable feature. Included are thirteen issues of Challenge, a Y.P.S.L. newspaper, 1943-1946. In addition, single numbers of specialized publications, such as Revolutionary Religion (1947), High School Socialist (1941), and Avanti!, a high school radical bulletin (1942), may be of interest to researchers. The eighteen titles represented in this category are arranged alphabetically.
Press releases: This category includes only seven Y.P.S.L. press releases. Two of these deal with opposition to the draft prior to World War II, two others with the rights of students. The eighth release, perhaps issued by the American Student Union, concerns a student anti-war strike at Wayne University (circa 1939).
Memoranda, reports, statements, and resolutions: Memoranda are statements of opinion by party members, and were evidently circulated, either to the entire membership or to the N.F.C. Reports served as a means of communication between committees and between the Y.P.S.L. and the Socialist Party. Two reports by S.P. members on Y.P.S.L. affairs are included. One of these (1953 July 18) contains a rather scathing account of Y.P.S.L. disorganization and gives the total membership as 145. Statements and resolutions are expressions of Y.P.S.L. positions on various topics. The collection includes a resolution on Socialism and the war (1940) and statements on Cuba (circa 1961). Material in this category covers the period 1939-1962.
Miscellaneous materials: Two folders comprise this category. 1) Miscellaneous correspondence and minutes includes three pieces of correspondence and five copies of minutes from locals in Los Angeles, Newark, New York, and Chicago, 1936-1957. 2) Miscellaneous printed material and ephemera includes brochures, pamphlets, flyers, and programs, as well as two financial reports, a copy of the Young Socialist Handbook (1950?), and other materials, covering the years 1926-1961.
