Vigo County Public Library

Inventory

Eugene V. Debs Collection
Dates: 1832-1973
Donors: Ned A. Bush, Sr. and Marguerite Debs Cooper
Accession Number: 780605
Description: One record storage box, one document case,
and one phonograph record

Biography

Eugene V. Debs was a five-time presidential candidate on the Socialist Party ticket, an advocate of industrial unionism, and a champion of the working class. Born in 1855 in Terre Haute, Indiana, Debs was introduced to the plight of the working man as a fireman on the railroad. He organized the first local lodge of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen in 1875, later becoming secretary-treasurer of the national organization and editor of its magazine. He was elected city clerk of Terre Haute in 1883 and member of the Indiana House in 1885.

Dissatisfied with the parochial nature of the established trade unions, Debs formed the American Railway Union in 1893. Although the A. R. U. led a successful strike against the Great Northern Railway in 1894, they were less successful later that year in their confrontation with the Pullman Car Company, a strike that earned Debs both national recognition and a jail sentence.

In 1897 Debs transformed the moribund American Railway Union into the Social Democratic Party of America (later the Socialist Party of America) and ran unsuccessfully for President on its ticket in 1900 and 1904. After helping found the International Workers of the World in 1905, Debs ran for President again in 1908 and 1912. Declining to run in 1916, he spent much of his time lecturing and writing for numerous Socialist publications. Debs' vehement opposition to U. S. entry into World War I secured him another jail term, imprisoned for violation of the Espionage Act. In 1920 from his Atlanta prison cell, Debs ran for President for the last time. Released in 1921 by President Warren Harding, Debs spent the rest of his life lecturing and writing. He died in Elmhurst, Illinois, in 1926.

Content and Scope of Collection

The miscellaneous materials that constitute this collection include three original documents concerning Debs' ancestry; pamphlets, booklets, newspaper clippings and other articles about Debs; booklets and articles about socialism; writings by Debs; and several photographs.

Some of the items in the collection are originals; others are photocopies of originals which are located at the Debs Museum in Terre Haute.

Series I: Material about Eugene V, Debs

Document Case

Folder 1	Marriage certificate of Sebastian Bettrich and Francoise Wagner (Manuscript in French)							1860

	Genealogy of Bettrich-Wagner family(Manuscript in French)							n.d.

	Death certificate of Victoire Mueller (Manuscript in French)							1832

Record Storage Box

Folder 2	Souvenir volume: Golden Wedding Anniversary of Jean Daniel Debs and Marguerite Marie Bettrich (Debs' parents), Terre Haute, IN							Sept. 13, 1899

Folder 3	Article: Hankins, John Erskine. "Katherine Metzel Debs: A Reminiscence," The Kansas Magazine.							1949

Folder 4	Biographical essay on Debs by Anna Sherwood who attended Debs' funeral in 1926							Nov. 1926

	Article: Morris, Charles R. "The Life Story of Eugene V. Debs," Terre Haute Advocate.							Dec. 19, 1969

Folder 5A	Pamphlets, booklets, leaflets:

	Debs, Theodore. "Sidelights: Incidents in the Life of Eugene V. Debs."							1973

	"Eugene Victor Debs (1855-1955) The Centennial Year." Published by the Debs Centennial Committee							1956

	Condo, Rev. Samuel S. "Memorial Lecture on Eugene Victor Debs."							n.d.

Folder 5B	Booklet: Kopelin, Louis. "The Life of Debs." People's Pocket Series No. 69							n.d.

	Booklet: Hurt, Walter. "Eugene V. Debs: An Introduction."							n.d.

		Booklet: Claessens, August. "Eugene Victor Debs: A Tribute."						1946

Folder 5C		Le Prade, Ruth, ed. "Debs and the Poets." (Introduction by Upton Sinclair)						1920

		Hollingsworth, J. H. "Eugene V. Debs: What His Neighbors Say of Him." (2 copies)						n.d.

Folder 5D		"The Heritage of Debs: The Fight Against War." Socialist Party National Headquarters						1935

		"Eugene V. Debs: The Man and His Work" (2 copies)						n.d.

		Welcome News: A Journal of A New Day (issue devoted to Debs)						n.d.

		Envelope:
				Lake, H.S. Genevra. "Poems of Justice, inscribed to Eugene V. Debs and the Social Democrats of the World"				1900

				Swinton, John. "1860-Lincoln; Debs-1895."				1895

				Riley, James Whitcomb. "Two Hoosier Poems: 'Terry Hut' and 'Them Flowers' "				n.d.

				Cooke, Edmund Vance. "Eugene"				n.d.

Folder 6		Robert Hunter letter to Lincoln Steffens (copy) and script of Hunter's article about Debs - from Lincoln Steffens Collection, Columbia University Libraries						July 6, 1908

Folder 7		Federal Bureau of Investigation files concerning Debs - requested from the U.S. Department of Justice by Ned Bush, Sr. (originals at Debs Museum)						1921-1954

Document Case

Series I: Materials about Eugene V. Debs (continued)

Folder 8		Newspaper clippings about Debs' activities and his funeral (copies)


Record Storage Box (continued)

Folder 9		WTHI-TV tape (30 minutes) on Debs taped at the Debs House. Broadcast on "Face to Face" television program January 24, 1976. (Interviewer and narrator, Harry Frey; interviews with Shubert Sebree and Ned A. Bush, Sr.)						1976

Folder 10		"The Man from Terre Haute and His Cause" (audiotape, 55 minutes in length)

Folder 11		Biographical information from the clippings scrapbook of Theodore Debs:						1894-1897; 1932

		p. 1					�Mr. Debs' Reception�	May 4, 1894

		p. 2					�Mr. Debs's Stirring Speech�	May 4, 1894

		p. 3					�President Eugene Debs, President of the American Railway Union�	n.d.

		p. 4					�The Central Figure of the Great Railroad Strike as Viewed by Nym Crinkle�	July 1, 1894

		p. 5					�Man about Town�	July 7, 1894

		p. 6					�Debs and Sovereign Send a Joint Protest against Interference of Federal Troops�	July 8, 1894

		p. 7					�Debs Deplores the Riots�	July 8, 1894

							�Debs Proclamation�	July 8, 1894

							�Movement will Render 100,000 Work Benches in Chicago Idle�	July 11, 1894

		p. 8					�Letters and Papers Seized at Union's Headquarters�	July 11, 1894

Folder 11		Scrapbook (continued)

		p. 9					�Prison Life is Still His Choice�	July 19, 1894

							�Pres. Debs Appeals for Order�	July 10, 1894

							�Meeting at Ogden's Grove�	July 21, 1894

		p. 10					�As Debs Tells The Story�	July 21, 1894

		p. 11					�His Views on Political Issues�	Nov. 1, 1894

		p. 12					�Debs and Erwin�	Jan. 6, 1895

		p. 13					�Strike Leader Compelled to do His Organizing on the Quiet�	n.d.

		p. 13- 14					�Experience Has Convinced Him That a Strike Can Not Win Against U.S.�	n.d.

		pp. 14- 15					�He Believes There Will Not Be Another Strike, Although the Cause is Strong�	March 15, 1895

		pp. 15- 16					�Debs Still Here [in Spokane]	March 16, 1895

		pp.16- 17					�[Ownership} by the Government Advocated by the ARU Leader�	March 16, 1895

		p. 17					�Labor Agitators Are Improving Their Minds by Study and Debate During Their Imprisonment at Woodstock [, Illinois]	July 1, 1895

		p. 18					�The Coming Working Man�	July 13, 1895

		p. 19					�Prison and Pardon�	Aug. 15, 1895

		p. 20					�Received with Enthusiasm, Welcome to Debs�	Nov. 23, 1895

							�A Tribute to E. V. Debs from Woodstock�	Jan. 1, 1896

							Reception in Birmingham, Alabama	March 16, 1896

		p. 21					Articles on Debs lecture, personality and his visit to the South	n.d.

		p. 22					Articles on Debs lecture, personality and his visit to the South	n.d.

		p. 23					�Debs in New Orleans�	May 26, 1896

		p. 26					�Mr. Debs at Springfield�	n.d.

		p. 27					�Incidents, Sidelights in Life of Debs	Dec. 29, 1932

Folder 12		Biographical information - Newspaper clippings						1894-1965

Folder 13		Publications about Debs and his work:

					"Debs at Canton - Extracts from his speech." Labor Defender. p. 205			Dec. 1926

					"The Revolutionary Heritage of Eugene Victor Debs." James P. Cannon. Labor Defender. p. 210			Dec. 1926

					"Debs - Lover of Men." John Haynes Holmes. Unity. p. 165			Nov. 15, 1926

					"Gene Debs: The Life of a Man Unafraid." The Call, Debs Supplement. p. 1			Nov. 1942

					"What Labor's Battle Taught Me." Eugene V. Debs. The Call. p. 2			Nov. 1942

					"Who Was This Man Debs?" Norman Thomas. The Call. p. 3			n.d.

					"Gene Debs' Heritage to Us All." Harry Fleischman. The Call. p. 3			Nov. 1942

					"Gene Debs: One of America's Greatest." Oswald Garrison Villard. The Call. p. 4			Nov. 1942

					"As I Remember Gene Debs." Jessie Wallace Hughan. The Call. p. 4			Nov. 1942

Folder 14A			Articles about Debs by Bernard J. Brommel:

					"Advocate of Industrial Unionism"			1968

					"Debs and Negro Rights"			n.d.

					"Debs's Cooperative Commonwealth Plan for Workers"			n.d.

					"Eugene V. Debs: The Agitator as Speaker" (published)			1969

					"Eugene V. Debs: The Agitator as Speaker" (unpublished)			1969

					"Eugene V. Debs: Blue-Denim Spokesman"

Folder 14B			Speeches, articles, brochures:

					"1855 - Eugene V. Debs - 1926." (Speech by Ned A. Bush, Sr.)

					"A Short Course on the Life of Eugene Victor Debs" (brochure)			1975

					"Debs the Socialist" (paper for Short Course by Shubert Sebree)

					"Debs, The Unpurchasable" (Speech by Ned A. Bush, Sr.)

					"I Remember Gene." (Remarks of Martin H. Miller)

					"Anniversary Memorial Service." Ned A. Bush, Sr.			1976

					"Betrayal in the West Virginia Coal Fields: Eugene V. Debs and the Socialist Party of America, 1912-1914." David A. Corbin			1976

Folder 15			Synopsis of play: 'Gene Debs: Victor! by Charles B. Millholland (play available at Debs Museum)					1939

Folder 16			Script: "Conscience of America - The Years Between" by Arthur Holch, presented by DIRECTIONS as broadcast on ABC Television Network (copy)					Feb. 1, 1976

			Publicity materials and reviews regarding broadcast:
					Letter to Ned Bush from Arthur Holch			1976

					Feature entitled "The American Spirit" concerning the importance of Debs in "Conscience of America - The Years Between"			1976

					Letter from a viewer			1976

					Review article - Christian Science Monitor			Jan. 29, 1976

					Letter about jail house doors in Woodstock, IL			1976

					" 'Directions' Looks at Dissent, Debs." Review article from Terre Haute Tribune-Star, TV Entertainment Preview section			Jan. 31, 1976


Series II: Correspondence

Record Storage Box

Folder 1			Includes: Letters to Debs from Theodore Dreiser (copies)					1922

			Letters from Debs to James Whitcomb Riley (copies)					1892-1898

Letters from Debs to Samuel Huston (copies)								1890s

Letters from Theodore Debs								1940-1941


Series III: Materials Written by Eugene V. Debs

Record Storage Box

Folder 1			�More Park� (Response to the toast �More Park� by Debs at the park's dedication)					June 1888

			"Riley the Hoosier Poet and Interpreter," Pearson's Magazine					March 1917

			"Recollections of Ingersoll," Pearson's Magazine					April 1917

			"The Old Umbrella Mender," The Coming Nation					March 1, 1913

Folder 2			Political and social tracts:

						National Platform Socialist Party (party literature)

						"To the Woman Voter" (party literature)

						"Woman"

						"Watch Your Leaders, Says Debs to Workers"

						"Eugene V. Debs - The Voice of Labor: Extracts from his Address to the Jury at his Trial in Cleveland, Ohio."

Folder 3 Envelope 1			Booklets, pamphlets:

						"Tribute of Love to His Father and Mother"		1899

						"Woman"

						"Childhood" (2 copies)

						Comments by Eugene V. Debs on: "The Catholic Church and Socialism by Father Thomas McGrady." Wayland's Monthly.		Dec. 1907

Folder 3 Envelope 2						"The Negro Workers"		1923

						"Debs and the War: His Canton Speech and His Trial in the Federal Court at Cleveland."		Sept. 1918

Folder 4 Envelope 1			Booklets, pamphlets: "Debs' Address to the Jury and Statement to the Court"

						"Riley, Nye & Field - Personal Notes and Recollections" (2 copies)

Folder 4 Scrapbook pages						Loose sheets with "Sacco and Vanzetti, An Appeal to American Labor"; reviews of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle and The Brass Check with statements by Debs



Series IV: Photographs

Record Storage Box

Folder 1 Envelope 1			Portrait of Eugene V. Debs as a young man (H. T. Biel, photographer)					n.d.

Folder 1 Envelope 2			Debs home					n.d.

Folder 1 Envelope 3			The Bedford (locomotive)					n.d.


Series V: The Eugene V. Debs Foundation

Record Storage Box

Folder 1			Newspaper clippings from Terre Haute newspapers that chronicle the historic background of the Foundation and record special occasions					1962-1963

Folder 2			Newspapers clippings					1964-1971

Folder 3			Flyers and brochures about Debs home from the Debs Foundation


Series VI: Materials About Organized Labor and Socialism

Record Storage Box

Folder 1			The Bulletin					March 20, 1920

Folder 2			Clippings - "Review of Labor's Efforts in State for Betterment of Conditions" (Debs is not mentioned in these clippings)					Oct. 25, 1925

Folder 3			Campaign literature (copies)					1912

Folder 4			Article about Norman Thomas in SR (Debs is mentioned in this article)					April 12, 1969

Folder 5			Descriptions of phonograph records featuring Joe Glazer (copies)

Phonograph Record Box

Folder 6			Phonograph record "C" - Union Train, Joe Glazer, Collector Records (LP record album)


Series VI: Materials About Organized Labor and Socialism (continued)

Record Storage Box

Folder 7 Envelope 1			Leaflets, booklets: "Mother Jones"

			"Socialism"

			"Social Democracy"

			"Socialist Party Platform"

Folder 7 Envelope 2			"Constitution of the American Railway Union"

			"A Quarter-Century of Solidarity - A History of Local 662, United Auto Workers" (AFL-CIO; Anderson, Indiana)

Document Case

Folder 8			"The Voice of Debs." Library Bulletin (of the Tamiment Institute Library)						Nov. 1961

			"The Personal Library of Eugene V. Debs." Library Bulletin (of the Tamiment Institute Library)						Dec. 1961

			Labor songs (words only)

Series VII: Newspapers

Map Drawer 10			American Appeal (Commemorative edition on 1-year anniversary of Debs' death)						Oct. 15, 1927

			Journal de Colmar (French newspaper mentions Debs' role in 1894 Pullman strike)						July ?, 1894

			The New World: Lincoln Phifer's Paper-Magazine (Has �Woman� essay by Debs)						August 1916

			Protest						June 1919

Vigo County Public Library One Library Square Terre Haute, IN 47807 (812) 232-1113 Map	Mon-Thurs: Friday: Saturday: Sunday: Labor Day to Special Collections is	9am - 9pm 9am - 6pm 9am - 5pm 1pm - 5pm Memorial Day only closed on Sundays	Email: questions@vigo.lib.in.us Phone: (812) 232-1113
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