New York State Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate Seditious Activities Legal Papers Relating to Searches and…

Alphabetical by folder subject heading.

During its investigation, the committee searched New York City headquarters of suspected radical organizations, collected testimony from individuals active in these organizations, and assisted in the prosecution of many individuals charged with criminal anarchy under several sections of the state's Penal Law, as part of its charge to investigate radical activity. The state's Attorney General served as the counsel to the committee and was very active during these investigations.

This series contains primarily legal papers relating to the investigations including affidavits, briefs, court orders, court stenographers' minutes, petitions, search warrants, lists of seized property, and subpoenas. The series also includes correspondence, testimony of witnesses, trial notes, legal memoranda, and other records relating to committee searches and prosecutions.

Approximately half of the material relates to searches of the Rand School of Social Science and the subsequent attempt to revoke the charter of the school's parent organization, the American Socialist Society. Other material relates to searches and prosecutions of the Communist Party of America, the Industrial Workers of the World, the Russian Soviet Bureau, and the Socialist Party Left Wing Section. The material provides information on the structure, staffing, meetings, publications, educational programs, and other aspects of the activities of these organizations.

Microfilm is available for use at the New York State Archives or through interlibrary loan.

Folder list is available at the repository.

This series was originally accessioned as box 1 of old collection #281, accessions -236 and -237.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.