Joseph P. Lash Papers | Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Collection Overview

Title: Joseph P. Lash Papers

Extent: 46.44 Cubic Feet

Arrangement: The Lash papers are divided into four series: General Correspondence 1933-1987; Youth Organizations and Activities; Diaries, Notes, Speeches and Writings; and Clippings.

Abstract

The Joseph Lash papers include material relating to Lash’s involvement in political activist groups, friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt, and journalism career. The papers range in date from 1933-1987 and the majority of the material postdates 1940.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection consist of correspondence and printed material relating to Lash’s involvement with various student political organizations. Included are reference material and drafts written by Lash for his biographies of Eleanor Roosevelt and other published works. His papers also contain transcripts of interviews with people of interest to Lash and the majority of the material relates to his interest in politics and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Collection Historical Note

Joseph Lash, political activist and journalist, was best known for his biographies of Eleanor Roosevelt, one of which, Eleanor and Franklin, won a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award in 1972. Born to Russian-Jewish immigrants in New York City, Lash received his Bachelor’s degree from City College and a Master’s from Columbia University. As a student, he actively campaigned for an American socialist revolution, the abolition of mandatory military training, and the Student League for Industrial Democracy. He also founded the Association of Unemployed College Alumni and served as an officer in the American Student Union. Lash’s anti-war, anti-fascism convictions were shaken by Hitler’s rise to power and Stalin’s Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact. He then aligned himself with the anti-communist American liberals. In 1939, Lash was subpoenaed before the House Un-American Activities Committee to testify about communist infiltration of the American Youth Congress. Lash captivated the First Lady’s attention and became a lifelong friend and trusted advisor. In November 1944, Lash married Trude Wenzel Pratt.

Administrative Information

Repository: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Access Restrictions: Material that constitutes an unwarranted invasion of privacy has been closed

Use Restrictions: Copyright interests in the material have been donated to the United States Government.

Acquisition Source: Joseph and Trude Lash

Acquisition Method: The papers were donated to the Library by Mr. and Mrs. Lash.

Related Materials: Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, OF 444, National Youth Administration, OF 3910: American Youth Congress, PPF 6881: Joseph Lash, PPF 5057: American Student Union, PPF 2282: American Youth Congress, PPF 7180: International Student Service of the United States.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: General Correspondence, 1933-1987],
[Series 2: Youth Organizations and Activities],
[Series 3: Diaries, Notes, Speeches, and Writings],
[Series 4: Clippings],
[All]

Series 2: Youth Organizations and Activities

This series contains correspondence, minutes, newsletters, publications, and clippings documenting Lash’s work in various youth organizations during the 1930’s and 1940’s. The bulk of this material relates to the American Student Union, the American Youth Congress, the International Student Service, and the Young People’s Socialist League and is arranged by organizations and chronologically thereunder.

Box 21

American Student Union: Anti -War Strikes
American Student Union: General, 1934-1938
American Student Union: Poughquag School, 1938
American Student Union: General, 1939
American Student Union: General, 1940-1941
American Student Union: General, undated
American Student Union: General Clippings
American Student Union: National Executive Committee, 1936-1937
American Student Union: National Executive Committee, 1938-1939
American Student Union: National Executive Committee, undated

Box 22

American Student Union: Internal Dispute, October 1935-December 12, 1939
American Student Union: Internal Dispute, December 14, 1939-August 1941
American Student Union: Internal Dispute, undated
American Student Union: Internal Dispute Clippings
American Student Union: Reactions to Finnish War Pact 1949
American Student Union: Student Leadership Institute - applications and unidentified reports, 1938
American Student Union: Student Leadership Institute - student reports "B"
American Student Union: Student Leadership Institute - student reports "C-D"
American Student Union: Student Leadership Institute - student reports "F- H"
American Student Union: Student Leadership Institute - student reports "J-L"
American Student Union: Student Leadership Institute - student reports "M-Q"
American Student Union: Student Leadership Institute - student reports "R-S"

Box 23

American Student Union: Student Leadership Institute - student reports "T-Y"
American Student Union: Newsletters
American Youth Congress: General Correspondence, 1935-1936
American Youth Congress: General Correspondence, 1937
American Youth Congress: General Correspondence, 1938
American Youth Congress: General Correspondence, 1939
American Youth Congress: General Correspondence, January 1940-April 1940
American Youth Congress: General Correspondence, May 1940-December 1940

Box 24

American Youth Congress: General Correspondence, 1941
American Youth Congress: General Correspondence, undated
American Youth Congress: Public Opinion The Aftermath of Feb. 1940 Institute
American Youth Congress: Sixth Youth Conference, July 1940
American Youth Congress: Minutes and Reports, 1939-1940
American Youth Congress: Clippings

Box 25

International Student Service: Correspondence, 1940-1941
International Student Service: Correspondence, 1942-1943
International Student Service: Correspondence, undated
International Student Service: Committee Minutes, 1940-1943
International Student Service: Memorandums and Reports, 1940-1941
International Student Service: Memorandums and Reports, 1942
International Student Service: Summer Student Leadership Institute - Applications: A-K, 1941

Box 26

International Student Service: Summer Student Leadership Institute - Applications: L-Z, 1941
International Student Service: Campobello School, 1941
International Student Service: Clippings
International Student Service: Publications General
International Student Service: Publications Work Camps
International Student Service: Publications ISS Bulletin
International Student Service: Publications The New Program of the United States Committee of ISS
International Student Service: Publications Threshold
International Socialist Student Federation, 1936
International Socialist Student Federation, 1937-1939

Box 27

National Committee of Independent Voters Youth Division (Acceptances)
Red Baiting
Spain and Youth: The Mood of 1937 (1)
Spain and Youth: The Mood of 1937 (2)
Spain and Youth: The Mood of 1937 Scrapbook
Spain (1), 1937-1938
Spain (2), 1937-1938

Box 28

Revolutionary Romantic
Articles on Youth Activities in the 1930's
Socialist Student Congress - Trip to Europe, July 1934-August 1934
United Student Peace Committee
Youth Organizations' Activities (1)
Youth Organizations' Activities (2)
Youth Organizations' Activities (3)
Youth Organizations' Activities (4)
Youth Organizations' Activities (5)

Box 29

Youth Organizations' Activities: Leadership Institute, 1940
Youth Organizations' Activities (1)
Youth Organizations' Activities (2)
Youth Organizations' Activities (3)
Youth Organizations' Activities: Newsletters
Youth Organizations' Activities: Printed Matter
Youth Organizations' Activities: Publications The Student Review
Youth Organizations' Activities: Publications General

Box 30

Youth Organizations' Activities: Revolt
Youth Organizations' Activities: Clippings and Miscellaneous
Youth Organizations' Activities: Clippings Scrapbook on Harlan County, KY, 1932
Young People's Socialist League, 1936-1941
Young People's Socialist League Undated
Young People's Socialist League - Controversy with the American Student Union
Young People's Socialist League - Clippings
Young People's Socialist Party

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: General Correspondence, 1933-1987],
[Series 2: Youth Organizations and Activities],
[Series 3: Diaries, Notes, Speeches, and Writings],
[Series 4: Clippings],
[All]