American Committee for Cultural Freedom.

Committee of prominent artists and intellectuals organized as the U.S. affiliate of the Congress for Cultural Freedom in 1950, but with roots in a long dormant domestic organization, the Committee for Cultural Freedom (1939-1940). Activities and programs on behalf of cultural freedom were generally informed by the staunch anti-communist orientation associated with the height of the Cold War period. Variant responses to the mid-1950's waning of these Cold War tensions led first to disaffiliation with the international organization and finally to formal dissolution in 1957. At the height of its activities, scores of artists and intellectuals across a surprisingly broad political spectrum were involved with the Committee either as invited members, as participants in its numerous campaigns and programs, or as correspondents. In leadership roles and among the most significant correspondents were Daniel Bell, James T. Farrell, Sidney Hook, Irving Kristol, and Diana Trilling. Less actively involved but well represented by letters are Robert Oppenheimer, David Reisman, Arthur Schlesinger Jr., and Norman Thomas. Negative responses to membership invitations include Hannah Arendt and James Conant.

From the guide to the American Committee for Cultural Freedom Records, 1939-1957, (Tamiment Library / Wagner Archives)