Document Group: CDGA

Size: l0 linear inches

Provenance: Unknown

Restrictions: None

Microfilm: None

Finding Aid: Checklist prepared by Anne Yoder, January 2000

This checklist is the property of the Swarthmore College Peace Collection.

Introduction

In Sept. 1933, the American League Against War and Fascism was organized at a United States Congress Against War and Fascism. It was a coalition of liberal and left-wing organizations united to oppose war and the fascist governments in Europe that threatened peace. It had a paper membership of several million, but because it included such disparate groups as the American Communist Party and pacifist groups (as well as individual pacifists such as Devere Allen, A.J. Muste and Ray Newton), it was difficult to secure cooperation within the organization. Within a year of its founding, members of the American Communist Party broke up a Socialist demonstration at a League meeting in New York City. After that, several important groups left the League, including the Socialist groups, most pacifists, the League for Industrial Democracy, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Nevertheless, the League remained fairly vigorous through the 1930s, periodically sponsoring huge demonstrations, and sending out newsletters to both farm and labor groups. It changed its name to the American League for Peace and Democracy in November 1937 and adopted the slogan "Keep America Out of the War by Keeping War Out of the World." It promoted collective security until the German-Russian nonaggression pact of 1939, after which it was disbanded.

[Sources: "Rebels Against War"; "The ABC-CLIO Companion to the American Peace Movement in the 20th Century"; "For Peace and Justice: Pacifism in America, 1914-1941"]

Box 1

American League Against War and Fascism, 1933-1934

American League Against War and Fascism: 2nd U.S. Congress Against War and Fascism, Chicago (IL),

Sept. 28-30, 1934

American League Against War and Fascism, 1935-1936

American League Against War and Fascism: 3rd U.S. Congress Against War and Fascism, Cleveland

(OH), Jan. 03-05, 1936

American League Against War and Fascism: Anti-War Parade, New York (NY), Aug. 15, 1936

American League Against War and Fascism: 1st National Conference of American League Secretaries,

Pittsburgh (PA), Aug. 28-30, 1936

American League Against War and Fascism: Critique of ALAWF by Hillman Bishop, 1936

American League Against War and Fascism, 1937

American League Against War and Fascism: Washington Legislative Conference, Washington (DC),

March 06-07, 1937

American League Against War and Fascism: 4th National Congress, Pittsburgh (PA), Nov. 26-28, 1937

American League Against War and Fascism: Critique (revised) of ALAWF by Hillman Bishop, 1937

[catalogued]

American League Against War and Fascism, n.d.

American League Against War and Fascism: Anti-Nazi Committee / Citizens' Anti-Nazi Committee,

Philadelphia / Anti-Nazi Dept., NYC Division

American League Against War and Fascism: National Youth Committee / Youth Section

American League Against War and Fascism: United Citizens Committee

American League Against War and Fascism: California -- events

American League Against War and Fascism: D.C. Chapter

American League Against War and Fascism: Illinois -- Chicago Committee

American League Against War and Fascism: Maryland League Against War and Fascism

American League Against War and Fascism: Massachusetts -- Worcester Branch

American League Against War and Fascism: Michigan -- Detroit Committee Against War and Fascism

American League Against War and Fascism: New York -- New York City Committee / Hudson Committee

American League Against War and Fascism: New York - New York City Division

American League Against War and Fascism: Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia League Against War and

Fascism / Philadelphia Branch / Philadelphia Chapter / Philadelphia Section

American League Against War and Fascism: Wisconsin -- Milwaukee Chapter / Madison Council for

Freedom and Peace

American League Against War and Fascism: [Unknown State] -- Dorcester Chapter

 

Box 2

American League for Peace and Democracy, 1937 (Dec.)

American League for Peace and Democracy, 1938-1939

American League for Peace and Democracy: 5th National Congress (American Congress for Peace and

Democracy), Washington (DC), Jan. 06-08, 1939

American League for Peace and Democracy, n.d.

American League for Peace and Democracy: Citizens' Anti-Nazi Committee, Philadelphia, 1938-1939

American League for Peace and Democracy: China Aid Council

American League for Peace and Democracy: Religious Committee

American League for Peace and Democracy: Connecticut -- Connecticut League for Peace and Democracy /

New Haven Chapter / New Haven Branch

American League for Peace and Democracy: District of Columbia -- Washington Branch

American League for Peace and Democracy: New York -- New York City Division

American League for Peace and Democracy: New York -- New York City Division "Peace Year Book,"

1938-1939

American League for Peace and Democracy: Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Office / Philadelphia Committee /

Delaware County Branch

American League Against War & Fascism periodical "Educational Bulletin" #1-4 (Feb. 1938) [catalogued]

American League Against War & Fascism/American League for Peace and Democracy periodical "The

Anti-Nazi News," 1937-1939 (4 issues) [catalogued]

American League Against War & Fascism/American League for Peace and Democracy misc. periodicals

See Also:
Comite Mondial Contre la Guerre et la Fascisme (CDGB France) 

Swarthmore College Peace Collection

For more information, contact Wendy Chmielewski, Curator, at
wchmiel1@ swarthmore.edu or call 610-328-8557.

For other resources, see the college's online library catalog (Tripod).
 

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