Items

• Student Government Organization Bilingual Newsletter: Student Government Office Vandalism

  The Student Government Organization published this bilingual newsletter in 1975 to publicize that their offices and the offices of fellow student groups had been searched and robbed in the wake of the occupation of Hostos Community College. The occupation of the school was an act of protest to prevent the school from being shut down by the Board of Higher Education. When police finally ended the occupation and arrested 40 activists, the administration regained control of the building and had access to the offices where student groups were housed. In 1975, in response to the New York City fiscal crisis, Hostos Community College was slated to merge with Bronx Community College in order to dramatically cut spending. It was this threat that led to the second iteration of organizing to save Hostos. Determined to preserve Hostos for the South Bronx as a place for students to pursue a bilingual higher education, students, faculty, and community groups joined forces to keep Hostos open for the community.
• "Save Hostos Now!"

  In March of 1975, the Community Coalition to Save Hostos took over the school in protest over the Board of Higher Education’s decision to close Hostos Community College. This flier announces the occupation of the school and articulates the demands of the students, faculty, and community groups. In 1975, in response to the New York City fiscal crisis, Hostos Community College was slated to merge with Bronx Community College in order to dramatically cut spending. It was this threat that led to the second iteration of organizing to save Hostos. Determined to preserve Hostos for the South Bronx as a place for students to pursue a bilingual higher education, students, faculty, and community groups joined forces to keep the college open for the community.
• El Machete Rojo: The Administration of Hostos

  El Machete Rojo was a leaflet produced by the Puerto Rican Socialist Party. This leaflet shows fracturing between the students at Hostos and the administration over the firing of some faculty members who were involved in activist efforts dedicated to keeping Hostos open and preventing its merge with Bronx Community College. In this leaflet, students framed the struggle to save Hostos as an overtly class issue. In 1975, in response to the New York City fiscal crisis, Hostos Community College was slated to merge with Bronx Community College in order to dramatically cut spending. It was this threat that led to the second iteration of organizing to save Hostos. Determined to preserve Hostos for the South Bronx as a place for students to pursue a bilingual higher education, students, faculty, and community groups joined forces to keep Hostos open for the community.
• Dorothy Harris in Protest Over Space at Hostos

  This clipping of the May 2,1974 issue of The Clarion shows an image of student Dorothy Harris alongside an article on the campaign to secure more space for Hostos Community College. The Clarion was a widely read newspaper issued by the Professional Staff Congress, the union representing City University of New York faculty and non-teaching instructional staff. The newspaper consistently published stories that narrated student, faculty, and community efforts to improve the conditions and expand the space of Hostos Community College. This campaign was the first iteration of organizing on behalf of the school. In 1974, students, faculty, the Professional Staff Congress, and community members came together to acquire the 500 Grand Concourse building for Hostos—the first of three distinct efforts to support the school in securing needed resources and keeping its doors open for the South Bronx community.
• Letter from Wilfred A. Callender to Alfred Giardino: Concerns About Limited Space at Hostos

  In this letter to the chairman of the Board of Higher Education in 1974, Hostos English professor, and Chapter Grievance Counselor, Wilfred Callender describes the inadequacy of the facilities at Hostos, pointing out how poor infrastructure has damaging effects on the quality of education a student can receive under such conditions. Professor Callender copied major newspapers on his letter to Chairman Alfred Giardino in an effort to draw attention to what he claimed was a clear expression of discrimination in how CUNY campuses were funded. This letter was part of the first iteration of organizing on behalf of the school. In 1974, students, faculty, the Professional Staff Congress, and community members came together to acquire the 500 Grand Concourse building for Hostos—the first of three distinct efforts to support the school in securing needed resources and keeping its doors open for the South Bronx community.
• Nine Police Surveillance Photographs — 1941 May Day Parade

  These surveillance photographs were taken by the New York City Police Department on May Day 1941. The images show participants from multiple City College student and faculty organizations including a chapter of the American Student Union. Marchers can be seen carrying signs in reference to the ongoing Rapp-Coudert hearings. The parade started from 56th Street at 2PM with participants working their way towards Union Square for addresses later in the day. The New York Times reported that the May Day festivities of 1941 were significantly smaller than years past. In fact, the parade faced "denunciations by labor unions and labor leaders who said it was wholly communistic." As a result, the participant count of 18,788 was one-third less from the previous year's figure.
• "Reinstate Schappes" Rally

  This photograph comes from a 1941 student rally in support of City College English instructor Morris Schappes, a self-avowed communist sentenced to prison for failing to divulge the names of his fellow party members on the faculty at CCNY. At a March 1941 hearing before the Rapp-Coudert Committee, a New York State organized communist-hunt group, Schappes freely admitted his communist ties. When state officials demanded he name other party members at CCNY, Schappes claimed there were only ever four others: three of whom had been killed in the Spanish Civil War and another that had already left the school. Testimony from a friendly, ex-communist witness contradicted Schappes' claims and so the English instructor was tried for perjury, convicted and sentenced to up to two years in prison. He would ultimately serve thirteen and a half months before his release. Following his conviction, activists protested for his release with many viewing his imprisonment as punishment for his political opinions. This was not the first time that CCNY students rallied in support of Schappes. In 1936, after the English department attempted to fire him for his political leanings, student protests forced school officials to reverse their decision.
• Twin Effigy of President Robinson and Italian Premier Mussolini at Protest

  This photograph from a November 20, 1934 rally at City College (CCNY), features a student-made, two-headed effigy of CCNY President Frederick B. Robinson and Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini. After being paraded around campus throughout the morning's demonstration, the seven-foot-tall cardboard piece was burned amidst student cries of "Smoke Robby out." The event was held to demand the reinstatement of twenty-one expelled students as well as the removal of Robinson. The twenty-one were expelled following an anti-fascist rally on October 9th. The expulsions were not the first issued by Robinson who regularly faced accusations of stifling free expression from left-leaning student groups and organizations. Robinson's effigy depicts him in academic regalia grasping the umbrella with which he struck students at a rally in the prior year.
• Anti-War & Anti-ROTC Rally, May 1933

  This photograph captures student demonstrators on "Jingo Day" at City College (CCNY) on May 29, 1933. Their march, in protest of an ROTC review scheduled on campus at Lewisohn Stadium, would escalate with the arrival of police officers who had been called in by CCNY President Frederick B. Robinson. By protest's end, several left-leaning student organizations and publications would be shut down, and Robinson would be accused of attacking students with his umbrella. Leftist activism was particularly active on CCNY's campus during this period with the college's ROTC program just one target of protest. At CCNY, courses in military science were mandated for those enrolled in ROTC.
• "Strike Today," 1933

  One day after an anti-war/anti-ROTC demonstration that led to the suspensions of students, clubs, and campus publications, student activists assembled again, only this time to protest their treatment at (and the consequences of) the prior day's demonstration. Many of the student grievances are expressed in this flier which calls for a strike in effort to "force the administration to reinstitute suspended and expelled students" from the May 29, 1933 protest. That protest, which took place during an ROTC review on campus, escalated with the arrival of police officers who had been called in by CCNY President Frederick B. Robinson. By protest's end, several left-leaning student organizations and publications would be shut down, and Robinson would be accused of attacking students with his umbrella. Leftist activism was particularly active on CCNY's campus during this period with the college's ROTC program just one target of protest.
• Rally on CCNY Quad, November, 20, 1934

  This photograph was taken at the November 20, 1934 rally at CCNY. The demonstration was held to demand the reinstatement of twenty-one expelled students as well as the removal of college president, Frederick B. Robinson. The twenty-one were expelled following an anti-fascist rally on October 9th. At the far left side of this photograph, the students are standing atop the pedestal of the campus' main flagpole. The demonstration pictured had commenced with students hoisting a banner emblazoned with the word "STRIKE" up the fifty-foot pole. The protest began at 11am and lasted approximately two hours, attracting a crowd in upwards of 1,500 students. Due to its size, the event ultimately moved out of the area seen in the photo to the nearby Jasper Oval. By event's end, three students were reported to have been arrested during a clash with police and a two-headed effigy of CCNY President Robinson and Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini was burned.
• "Strike Today for: Reinstatement of 21 Expelled Students - Ousting of Pres. Robinson"

  This flier, from November 20, 1934, advertises a demonstration calling for the reinstatement of twenty-one expelled City College (CCNY) students as well as the removal of college president, Frederick B. Robinson. The twenty-one were expelled following an anti-fascist rally on October 9th.Commencing at 11am and lasting approximately two hours, upwards of 1,500 students participated in the demonstration with three students reported to have been arrested during a clash with police attempting to move the event off campus grounds. Following squabbles with police and organized speeches, the strike's main (and concluding) event was the burning of a two-headed effigy of CCNY President Robinson and Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini. Robinson is depicted in his academic regalia grasping the umbrella with which he struck students at a rally in the prior year.
• "Strike at 11am To-Day," April 12, 1935

  This flier advertises an April 12, 1935 anti-war demonstration at the City College of New York (CCNY). The 11am rally was part of a nationwide day of protest and attracted front-page coverage from the New York Times the following day with the headline: "Nation's Students 'Strike' for Peace." Other demonstrations took place in New York City at Columbia University and Hunter College. In all, some 60,000 students participated in the day's events across the country. At CCNY, around 2,000 students gathered in the Great Hall to protest against war and fascism. The Times reported students carrying placards reading: "Down With Hearst!," "Oust President Robinson!," "Abolish the R.O.T.C.!," and "Build Schools — Not Battleships!"
• Cartoon of President Robinson Stomping on Protest Signs

  This illustration depicts City College President Frederick B. Robinson stomping on anti-war protest signs from an April 22, 1937 CCNY student rally. During his time at City College, Robinson drew extraordinary criticism from left-leaning student organizations who frequently accused him of attempting to stifle free expression on campus. Following one anti-war/anti-ROTC rally in May 1933, Robinson was alleged to have struck multiple students with his umbrella prior to his calling for the police. For student protestors, the umbrella quickly became a symbol of his presidency and he can be seen grasping it in this illustration. The April 22nd protest was part of a nationwide series of anti-war demonstrations that saw 1,000,000 student participants. At City College, the New York Times stated that 3,500 students assembled at college's Great Hall. Following the meeting, a large group was reported to have marched to the Italian consulate to protest Premier Benito Mussolini.
• Advertisement for "Mock Trial of President Robinson"

  This clipping from The Student Advocate advertises a student-run mock trial of City College President Frederick B. Robinson at Irving Plaza on May 16, 1936. The trial centered on the recent firing of CCNY Professor Morris Schappes. Schappes, an English instructor, was dismissed on April 22nd after speaking on behalf of the faculty-organized Anti-fascist Association at an anti-war rally on campus.CCNY's undergraduate paper, The Campus, reported several days after the mock trial that a student jury acquitted Schappes after deliberation of "one one-hundredth of a second." The event saw several students appear as witnesses on behalf of Schappes, with others speaking against President Robinson. The student paper reported 1,500 students in attendance at the event which was sponsored by CCNY's chapter of the American Student Union, a national left-wing organization of students.
• "Section of 1937 May Day Parade of 250,000"

  This clipping from the April 1938 edition of the Daily Worker shows marchers from a local chapter of the Teachers Union, affiliated with the A.F.L., taking part in the May Day parade of 1937. The paraders marched down 8th, 9th, and 10th Avenues in Manhattan as they worked their way towards Union Square in a show of support for organized labor unions and, in particular that year, against fascism in Spain. The Daily Worker was a newspaper published the Communist Party USA. Though they cite 250,000 participants in the day's events, a New York Times' article from May 2nd placed the figure at a more modest 70,000.
• Charles Hendley Protesting the Rapp-Coudert Committee

  This photograph shows Charles Hendley, president of the Teachers Union, addressing over 2,000 to protest the Rapp-Coudert Committee at the Manhattan Center on November 10, 1940. The Rapp-Coudert Committee, a New York State initiative, was organized in June 1940 to investigate and identify "subversive activities" and persons in New York's public schools and colleges. Various teachers' unions, including the one led by Hendley, were especially targeted in the initial stages of the investigation as their membership rolls were comprised in no small part by far left sympathizers who had previously worked to reform education in the city and state. The committee's creation was driven largely by rising anti-communist sentiment following the Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939; as a consequence, state officials sought to rid publicly funded schools of undesired "red" influence. Holding private hearings from September 1940 through December 1941, the group issued subpoenas to and interrogated more than 500 faculty, staff, and students. City College, in particular, became a target of the committee with dozens of faculty and staff called to public hearings. The committee demanded that they name other Communist sympathizers in the schools. By the close of the committee, more than fifty faculty and staff at CCNY were without jobs.
• AFT Meeting: "Free Schools - Free People"

  This photograph shows Dr. Bella Dodd, legislative director of the New York Teachers Union and an organizer for the Communist Party, addressing a crowd in protest of the Rapp-Coudert hearings on December 11, 1940, at the Manhattan Center. The Rapp-Coudert Committee, a New York State initiative, was organized in June 1940 to investigate and identify "subversive activities" and persons in New York City's public schools and colleges. Various teachers' unions, including the one led by Dodd, were especially targeted in the initial stages of the investigation as their membership rolls provided state officials with a ready-made list of many union activists who had previously worked to reform education in the city and state. The committee's creation was driven largely by rising anti-communist sentiment following the Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939; state officials sought to rid publicly funded schools of undesired "red" influence. Holding private hearings from September 1940 through December 1941, the group issued subpoenaed and interrogated more than 500 faculty, staff, and students. City College, in particular, became a target of the committee with dozens of faculty and staff called to public hearings, pressured to identify themselves as communists, and demanded to name names of other communist sympathizers. By the close of the committee, more than fifty faculty and staff at CCNY were left without jobs because of their refusal to cooperate with the committee.
• "Rapp-Coudert Committee Subpoenas Schappes-Edel"

  This cover of an issue of The CCNY Student features an especially critical reaction to the ongoing Rapp-Coudert hearings of 1940-41. Produced by the American Student Union, a national left-wing student organization, the cover's illustration depicts covert surveillance, interrogation, silencing, and book burning. While the images may not be entirely reflective of reality on campus at City College during they period, it was meant to evoke what many felt was the college's concerted effort to supress free expression on campus. The headline beneath the image mentions the names of two City College instructors Morris Schappes and Abraham Edel who were required to appear at the hearings.The Rapp-Coudert Committee, a New York State initiative, was organized in June 1940 to investigate and identify "subversive activities" and persons in New York's public schools and colleges. Holding private hearings from September 1940 through December 1941, the group issued subpoenas to and interrogated more than 500 faculty, staff, and students suspected of Communist ties. City College, in particular, became a target of the committee with dozens of faculty and staff called to public and private hearings. By hearing's end, more than fifty CCNY faculty and staff would be dismissed from their jobs.
• "In the Case of Morris U. Schappes"

  This page from a mid-1941 pamphlet was created to support recently fired and sentenced City College English instructor Morris Schappes. A self-confessed Communist, Schappes had appeared before the Rapp-Coudert Committee, a N.Y. State organized communist-hunt group, on March 6, 1941. At his hearing, Schappes admitted to prior membership in the Communist Party. When the committee demanded he name other party members at CCNY, Schappes claimed there were only ever four in addition to himself: three of whom had been killed in the Spanish Civil War and another that had already left the school. Unfortunately for Schappes, officials had previously received testimony to the contrary from an ex-communist history instructor turned friendly witness. Soon thereafter, the committee recommended to the Manhattan district attorney that Schappes be tried for perjury. As this pamphlet shows, he was convicted and sentenced for up to two years in prison. Ultimately, he would serve thirteen and a half months, all the while collecting support from activists on campus.
• "Strike Against War"

  This undated flier, likely from the mid-to-late 1930s, advertises just one of many similar anti-war and anti-fascism demonstrations on the City College campus. The left-leaning groups at CCNY scheduled such protests regularly, in conjunction with larger nationwide efforts led by the American Student Union. They continually met with resistance from college administration, particularly CCNY President Frederick B. Robinson, who saw fit to expel protestors and call for police presence on campus during demonstrations. Student and faculty activism grew on campus throughout the decade as many observed the rise of fascism in Europe and foresaw an inevitable war on the continent which they wished for the United States to avoid. The scheduling of this demonstration in April marked the anniversary of the month United States entered World War I in 1917.
• Morris Schappes at Desk

  This is an undated photograph of City College English instructor Morris Schappes. Schappes, a self-confessed communist, was himself twice a cause célèbre at CCNY. In April 1936, Schappes was fired after speaking on behalf of the faculty organized Anti-Fascist Association at a student-led peace protest on campus. Announcement of his dismissal was met with strong pushback from students, however, and the decision was eventually overturned. In March 1941, Schappes' political leanings would again be the source of controversy. Appearing before the Rapp-Coudert Committee, a N.Y. State organized communist-hunt group, Schappes admitted his prior membership in the Communist Party. When it was demanded that he name other party members at CCNY, Schappes claimed there were only ever four in addition to himself: three of whom had been killed in the Spanish Civil War and another that had already left the school and whose party membership was already known. Unfortunately for Schappes, officials had previously received testimony to the contrary from William Canning, an ex-communist history instructor turned friendly witness. Knowing that he was lying, Schappes was soon after tried for perjury, convicted and sentenced for up to two years in prison. Ultimately, he would serve thirteen and a half months, all the while collecting support from activists on campus.
• "Free Morris Schappes"

  This is the logo of the Schappes Defense Committee. The group was formed shortly after City College English instructor Morris Schappes was sentenced to prison for failing to divulge the names of his fellow communists on the faculty at CCNY. At a March 1941 hearing before the Rapp-Coudert Committee, a New York State organized communist-hunt group, Schappes freely admitted his communist ties. However, when state officials demanded he name other party members at CCNY, Schappes claimed there were only ever four others: three of whom had been killed in the Spanish Civil War and another that had already left the school. Testimony from an ex-communist, turned friendly witness, contradicted Schappes' claims and so the English instructor was tried for perjury, convicted and sentenced for up to two years in prison. He would ultimately serve thirteen and a half months before his release. Following his conviction, activists protested with many viewing his imprisonment as punishment for his political opinions.
• Rally against the Rapp-Coudert Committee: "Defend our Right to Freedom of Thought and Action"

  Taken during the Rapp-Coudert Committee hearings sometime between 1940 and 1942, this photograph shows demonstrators protesting against the statewide hunt for "subversive activities" and persons in New York's public schools and colleges. Supporters came from other colleges as indicated by one placard signed "Politics Club Brooklyn College." Holding private hearings from September 1940 through December 1941, the Rapp-Coudert Committee subpoenaed and interrogated more than 500 faculty, staff, and students, particularly those involved in any alleged Communist related organizations. City College, especially, became a target of the committee with dozens of faculty and staff called to public hearings and demanded to name names of other communist sympathizers in the school. By the close of the committee, more than fifty faculty and staff at CCNY were left without jobs after they were identified as communists by two friendly witnesses at the school.
• "Coudert Victims Suffer Tragic Fate in Witch-Hunt"

  This article and accompanying photo from The Daily Worker, the official newspaper of the Communist Party, features comments from labor leader Bella Dodd highlighting the plight faced by many of City College's instructors whose futures were in limbo due to the Rapp-Coudert hearings. Each was accused of having communist ties and, as a result of their suspension and ultimate firing, many instructors would indeed struggle to find work. The majority were unable to re-enter academia following their dismissal from City College. Dodd spoke before a crowd of students in front of CCNY's flagpole on May 27, 1941.The Rapp-Coudert Committee, a New York State initiative, was organized in June 1940 to investigate and identify "subversive activities" and persons in New York City's public schools and colleges. State officials sought to rid publicly funded schools and colleges of undesired "red" influence. They did so by holding private then public hearings from September 1940 through December 1941, issuing subpoenas and interrogating more than 500 faculty, staff, and students. City College, in particular, became a target of the committee with dozens of faculty and staff appearing before the committee and ultimately being suspended or fired because of their refusal to cooperate with the committee.