wlrp Inventory of the Workers League for a Revolutionary Party papers, 1936-1947 (bulk 1945-1947) Processed by: Josh Larkin Rowley; machine-readable finding aid created by: Josh Larkin Rowley David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, N.C., USA

(C) 2012 Duke University. All Rights Reserved.

Aleph Number: 004033528

 Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: April 2012Processed by Josh Larkin Rowley, April 2012; finding aid encoded by Josh Larkin Rowley, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, April 2012 Description is in English Finding aid was prepared using DACS and local Style Guide Workers League for a Revolutionary Party papers, 1936-1947 (bulk 1945-1947) David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, North Carolina 27708-0185 USA

(C) 2012 Duke University. All Rights Reserved.

 Descriptive Summary David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University Workers League for a Revolutionary Party. Workers League for a Revolutionary Party papers, 1936-1947 (bulk 1945-1946) Material in English 0.25 Linear Feet 85 Items For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. The Workers League for a Revolutionary Party was formed by George Spiro in 1938 as the Leninist League. In the mid-1940s the party became critical of Leninism and Marxism and changed its name to the Workers League for a Revoluionary Party. The Party was a splinter group of the Trotskyist party, the Revolutionary Workers League (RWL). Collection contains letters, memoranda, meeting minutes, and other documents relating to the activities of the Workers League for a Revolutionary Party. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.

Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

 Copyright Notice

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

 Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Workers League for a Revolutionary Party papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

 Provenance

Workers League for a Revolutionary Party papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a purchase in October 2011.

 Processing Information

Processed by Josh Larkin Rowley, April 2012

Encoded by Josh Larkin Rowley, April 2012

Accession(s) described in this finding aid: 2011-0217

Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

 Historical Note

The Workers League for a Revolutionary Party, originally the Leninist League of the United States, was founded by George Spiro in 1938. Spiro, known as George Marlin (a portmanteau of Marx and Lenin), formed the party after an ideological conflict with the Revolutionary Workers League (RWL), formed by Hugo Oehler as a Trotskyist movement within the Workers Party of the United States. The conflict arose after RWL's rejection of Trotskyism. Spiro and his followers, known as Marlenites, felt that the Leninsit League did not go far enough in vocalizing its rejection of Trotskyism and Trotsky himself. The party published a newspaper, In Defense of Bolshevism. Interpreteing the Second World War as a war on the proletariat, the party became critical of both Leninism and Marxism, and in 1946, changed its name to the Workers League for a Revlutionary Party. Amidst internal dissent, the party dissolved around 1950.

 Collection Overview

Collection contains correspondence, memoranda, meeting minutes, and other assorted documents relating to the activites of the Workers League for a Revolutionary Party and their publications, In Defense of Bolshevism and, later, the Bulletin. Topics discussed are mainly ideological in nature and include the break with the Revolutionary Workers League (RWL), Stalinism, Trotskyism, World War II, Unionism, and various party platforms. Political developments in Poland, Bulgaria, China, and Czechoslovakia are also discussed.

 Subject Headings

These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.

Spiro, George, 1892- Marlen, George, 1892- Workers League for a Revolutionary Party (U.S.). Leninist League USA. Revolutionary Workers League. Workers Party of the United States. Socialism--United States--History--20th century. Communism--United States--History--20th century. Leninism. Trotskyism. Related Material Revolutionary Workers League papers, 1935-1945 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Duke University Communist League of America papers, 1929-1935 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Duke University Contents of Collection Workers League for a Revolutionary Party papers, 1936-1947 (bulk 1945-1946) (1 box) 1Papers, 1936-1946 (3 folders)