Jefferson School of Social Science (New York, N.Y.)

The Jefferson School of Social Science (1943-1956) was a Marxist adult education institute in New York City. Like its predecessor, the Workers School (1923-1943), it was associated with the Communist Party, USA. The school occupied a nine story building at 575 Sixth Avenue, offered hundreds of courses to as many as 5000 students each term, and published course-related pamphlets. Librarian Henry Black accumulated a 30,000 volume library, and compiled course-related bibliographies. Among the faculty were a number of leftist academics dismissed from the City University of New York, including the school's director, Howard Selsam. The courses ranged from the year-long Institute of Marxist Studies to cultural and self-improvement offerings. The Subversive Activities Control Board's designation of the school as a Communist-controlled organization, led to the closing of the school in the fall of 1956.

From the description of Records and indexes, 1931-1958 (bulk 1944-1955). (New York University). WorldCat record id: 478461279

From the guide to the Jefferson School of Social Science Records and Indexes, Bulk, 1944-1955, 1931-1958, (Bulk 1944-1955), (Tamiment Library / Wagner Archives)

The Jefferson School of Social Science (1943-1956) was a Marxist adult education institute in New York City associated with the Communist Party, USA. At its height it had as many as 5000 students.

From the guide to the Jefferson School of Social Science Collection, 1950-1956, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)