Lovestone, Jay

General secretary, Communist Party, U.S.A., 1927-1929, and Communist Party (Opposition), 1929-1940; executive secretary, Free Trade Union Committee, American Federation of Labor, 1944-1955; assistant director and director, International Affairs Department, American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations, 1955-1974.

From the description of Jay Lovestone papers, 1904-1989. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 754870674

Biographical Note

• 1907 or 1908: Moved to the United States
• 1913 - 1915 : Early teens became interested in DeLeonite Socialist Labor Party and shortly thereafter joined Socialist Party
• 1914 - 1918 : Attended City College of New York and became a member of the Socialist Study Club which was affiliated with the Intercollegiate Socialist Society. In 1917, became president of the society's branch at C.C.N.Y.
• 1918: Graduated, City College of New York
• 1918 - 1920 : Held a number of jobs and at various times attended classes at the City College of Accounting, New York University Law School, and Columbia University
• 1919: Helped to organize the left wing sections of the pro-Communists in New York. Later became delegate to the founding convention of the American Communist Party.* [*The American Communist Party underwent several reorganizations and name changes during the time Jay Lovestone was a member. Please see Series Description for further information]. He was elected to the Program Committee and the First Central Executive Committee
• 1921: Assistant Secretary, Communist Party
• 1922: National Secretary, Communist Party
• 1923: Author of The Government -Strikebreaker, a study of government intervention in the strikes of 1921-1922
• 1925: Organization Secretary, Communist Party
• 1927: General Secretary, Communist Party
• 1929: Ousted from Communist Party by Iosip Stalin
• 1929 - 1940 : Founder and head of Communist Party Opposition known as Lovestoneites or Lovestone Group.* [*The Communist Party Opposition underwent several name changes during the time Jay Lovestone headed the group. Please see Series Description for further information].
• 1942 - 1944 : Committee to Defend America -Citizens for Victory
• 1944 - 1956 : Director, International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU), Political Department Director, International Affairs Department Executive Secretary, American Federation of Labor (AF of L), Free Trade Union Committee
• 1956 - 1963 : Director of International Publications, American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) Assistant Director of International Affairs Department, AFL-CIO
• 1963 - 1974 : Director of International Affairs Department, AFL-CIO
• 1974 - 1990 : Consultant on International Affairs, ILGWU and AFL-CIO
• 1990, March 7: Died, New York City

From the guide to the Jay Lovestone Papers, 1906-1989, (Hoover Institution Archives)