Summary Information
Kutcher Civil Rights Committee Records
1948-1973
- Kutcher Civil Rights Committee
Micro 810
4 reels of microfilm (35mm)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Records of a committee formed in 1948 which successfully fought James Kutcher's dismissal from government employment because of his membership in the Socialist Workers Party. Included are correspondence, form letters, press releases, speeches, financial records, clippings, legal briefs, hearing transcripts, and a copy of Kutcher's book, The Case of the Legless Veteran (1953). The correspondence relates chiefly to Kutcher's legal defense and to enlistment of union support. Prominent correspondents include Farrell Dobbs, James T. Farrell, Alfred Kazin, Carey McWilliams, Alexander Meiklejohn, Lewis Mumford, Joseph L. Rauh, Jr., I. F. Stone, and Norman Thomas.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-micr0810 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The Kutcher Civil Rights Committee was organized in August 1948 by George E. Novack, secretary of the Civil Rights Defense Committee, to win justice for James Kutcher. Kutcher, a Purple Heart veteran and a double amputee, was dismissed from his position as a clerk in the Veterans Administration because of his membership in the Socialist Workers Party, one of several hundred groups included in the Attorney General's list of subversive organizations. Kutcher's case became the first real challenge to the government's loyalty program, giving rise to numerous court actions before Kutcher won a victory on procedural grounds in 1952. However, not until 1958 was he finally awarded a substantive victory and returned to his former position without prejudice. Two related cases involved the attempt by the government to revoke Kutcher's veteran's pensions and to evict him from a federal housing unit. In its initial phases the committee was headed by Novack, but during the early 1950s, leadership passed to George Breitman, editor of The Militant. The activities of the committee consisted of fund-raising for the legal defense and enlistment of non-partisan support from labor unions, religious organizations, educators, and civil libertarians.
Scope and Content Note
The collection is made up of Kutcher's own papers and the files of George L. Weissman, treasurer of the committee from 1955 to 1958, and it consists of correspondence, financial and legal records, publicity, and miscellany. The CORRESPONDENCE includes many exchanges with defense counsels Michael Myer and Joseph L. Rauh, Jr., representatives of organized labor, and other members of the SWP. There are also many exchanges between committee head George Breitman and Kutcher during the latter's public relations tour in 1954. Prominent correspondents included are Farrell Dobbs, James T. Farrell, Alfred Kazin, Carey McWilliams, Alexander Meiklejohn, Lewis Mumford, I. F. Stone, and Norman Thomas. There is also a file of form letters issued by the committee.
PUBLICITY consists of a copy of the first edition of Kutcher's book, The Case of the Legless Veteran, (the 1973 edition is available in the Society library), press releases, handbills, speeches, and souvenir programs. The FINANCIAL RECORDS are rather complete and consist of income and disbursement books; check book stubs which serve as a balancing ledger; reports; and two receipt books, which may relate to the New York Kutcher Civil Rights Committee. LEGAL RECORDS consist chiefly of court briefs and summaries and some hearing transcripts. The MISCELLANY consists of reports of Kutcher's national tour, form resolutions submitted by various organizations, lists of supporters, notes, and clippings. Because much of the collection was in a highly deteriorated condition, the originals were destroyed after microfilming.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by George L. Weissman, New York, New York, 1968, and James Kutcher, New York, New York, 1978-1979. Accession Number: M68-108, M78-488, and M79-358
Processed by Carolyn Mattern, 1970, March, and 1980, April.
Contents List
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Series: Correspondence
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Correspondence
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Reel
1
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1948-1955
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Reel
2
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1956-1958, 1971-1973
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Reel
2
Frame
255
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Form letters, 1948-1958
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Series: Publicity
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Reel
2
Frame
434
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The Case of the Legless Veteran, 1953
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Reel
2
Frame
528
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Book publicity, 1953-1955
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Reel
2
Frame
547
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Souvenir programs, 1949-1950
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Reel
2
Frame
608
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Handbills, 1949-1954
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Reel
2
Frame
644
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Press releases, 1948-1956
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Reel
2
Frame
769
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Miscellaneous publicity, undated
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Series: Financial Records
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Income books
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Reel
2
Frame
941
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1948-1953
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Reel
3
Frame
1
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1954-1957
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Reel
3
Frame
16
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Disbursement book, 1948-1957
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Reel
3
Frame
45
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Check book balance stubs (2), 1948-1958
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Reel
3
Frame
255
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Reports, 1948-1958
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Reel
3
Frame
277
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Unidentified receipt books (2), 1949-1950
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Series: Legal Records
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Reel
3
Frame
395
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Civil Service Commission Loyal Review Board appeal, 1953
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Reel
3
Frame
414
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Kutcher v. Gray
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Reel
3
Frame
529
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Kutcher v. Higley
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Reel
3
Frame
649
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Kutcher v. U.S.
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Reel
3
Frame
664
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Veterans Administration Committee's hearings, 1948, 1955
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Reel
3
Frame
825
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Notes, undated
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Series: Miscellany
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Reel
3
Frame
849
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Reports, 1949-1954
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Reel
3
Frame
894
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Organization support resolutions, undated
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Reel
3
Frame
1036
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Miscellaneous lists of supporters, undated
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Reel
3
Frame
1126
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Notes and miscellany, undated
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Reel
4
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Clippings, 1948-1958
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