C.L.R. James letters, 1939-1986

Item

Title of collection or material

C.L.R. James letters, 1939-1986

Finding aid

Significant contributors

Creation dates

1939-1986 (bulk 1939-1946)

Source institution

General notes

Collection consists mainly of letters written by James to his former wife and political associate, Constance Webb. James' letters discuss a wide variety of subjects including love, politics, especially Marxism, art, history, sports, literature, and popular culture. Also included are miscellaneous letters and organizational materials documenting James' political activities in the United States, 1938-1953; and letters written to Webb regarding her writings on Richard Wright from Arna Bontemps, Lawrence Reddick, and Ellen Wright. Numerous letters also discuss the Johnson-Forest Tendency, a faction led by C.L.R. James under the pseudonym of J.R. Johnson and Raya Dunayevskaya (also known as Freddie Forest) within the Socialist Workers Party, which later evolved into the group Facing Reality.

Type

Extent

3 1/2 a.b. (1.4 lin. ft.).

Language

Call number

Sc MG 132

Item sets