The papers in this collection range from 1959 to 2001, 2005, with the bulk of the collection covering the 1970s and 1980s. Weinstein was the founding editor or co-editor of several left wing publications, including: Studies on the Left, Socialist Revolution (later renamed Socialist Review), Common Sense, and In These Times. Earlier material covers his school days, correspondence related to a trip to England (1974-1975) where he taught at the University of Warwick, and general correspondence with book publishers and others who asked his opinion about socialism and the Left in general. In particular the collection documents James Weinstein's role as founding editor and publisher of the newspaper/news magazine In These Times. The papers are divided into five series arranged chronologically.
The SCHOOL MATERIAL series consists of material from Weinstein's years as a university student. The notebooks and binder notes date to the period between the late 1940s and early 1960s and include fragmentary class and book notes on subjects including history and government, and some class syllabi. Also included are two different sets of notes from Weinstein's visits to different archival repositories, perhaps as part of the research for his books.
Included in the GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE AND SUBJECT FILES series is correspondence from friends and acquaintances involved with the many publications for which Weinstein was a founding editor, co-editor, and/or contributor. Also included is correspondence with book publishers and others interested in Weinstein's opinion about the history of socialism in the U.S. and the Left in general. Material in this series relates to his involvement in the New American Movement (NAM) and the New Interim Committee, the NAM governing body.
The ENGLAND CORRESPONDENCE series documents the year that Weinstein spent in England teaching the American component of a labor history course at the University of Warwick. The correspondence documents his preparations for the trip including communication with university administrative staff. Of particular importance are letters to friends while he is in England asking their opinion about his plan to start publishing the newspaper In These Times.
The material in the series IN THESE TIMES CORRESPONDENCE AND SUBJECT FILES, 1975-1992, relates to Weinstein's duties as editor and publisher of In These Times (ITT). He received correspondence from people who wanted to contribute to ITT, sometimes asking specific individuals to contribute articles, as free-lance reporters, especially if they were traveling outside of the U.S. The correspondence is mostly about article suggestions and often include an article draft, some with corrections. As part of the correspondence, Weinstein's response to possible contributors is also found in parts of the collection; in it he explains why he was or was not interested in the suggested article topic, oftentimes because ITT had already published something on the topic. There are several folders with reader correspondence, particularly from the first decade of publication of In These Times. In these letters readers express their opinions about In These Times, including criticizing the perceived biased coverage, as well as praising ITT, and asking questions about subscriptions. Included in this series is correspondence from foundations which Weinstein solicited for monetary aid to keep the publication running. Of importance are the article drafts with corrections of the first issue of In These Times.
The IN THESE TIMES CORRESPONDENCE AND SUBJECT FILES, 1989-1999 series includes correspondence with contributors and staff at other publications, article drafts and clippings, and some financial records related to In These Times. Weinstein's role as publisher is emphasized in this series. Included in this series is material about Weinstein's plan for a television commercial promoting In These Times. Also included is correspondence with the National Writers Union about free-lance writers not getting paid on time which is representative of the financial troubles In These Times faced since it began publication in 1976. Of importance is the correspondence from Tim Wohlforth, including a copy of Wohlforth's FBI file which Weinstein helped him obtain.
