A New Worker’s Stronghold: What Is the IWO and Why Every Worker Should Join It
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- Title (English):
- A New Worker’s Stronghold: What Is the IWO and Why Every Worker Should Join It
- Collection:
- International Workers’ Order (IWO) and Jewish People's Fraternal Order (JPFO)
- Set:
- Black Jewish Relations
Culture Front
Education
Exhibit and Collection Highlights
IWO and JPFO Affiliated Publications and Publishing - Creator:
- International Workers Order Executive Committee
- Organization:
- International Workers Order
- Date:
- Fall 1930
- Coordinates:
- 40.73571,-73.98932
- Latitude:
- 40.73571
- Longitude:
- -73.98932
- Location:
- New York, New York, United States
- ID Number:
- 5276b49f02_01
- File Name:
- 5276b49f02_01.pdf
- Address (creator):
- 32 Union Square, New York, New York
- Work Type:
- publications
brochures
political ideologies and attitudes
organization files
communism
insurance
political ideologies and attitudes
medicine
immigration
borders (ornament areas) - Subject:
- Culture Front
Soviet Union
Communism- Capitalism
IWO JPFO Organizational History
National Sections- Socialist Party, Communist Party, Arbeter Ring (Workmen's Circle)
Fraternal Orders- Lodges, Activities
Communist Party, USA
Immigrants
Jewish Left
Education- Shule, Ordn Schools, Worker's University, other
Labor-Unionization
Membership- Benefits, Insurance, Political Issues - Description:
- 16 pages. Translated Summary: Brochure that explains why people should join IWO lodges and obtain good benefits. It starts by explaining that "The International Workers Order is a fraternal association. Its primary purpose is to insure its membership against sickness and death. In other words, the Order is an organization of mutual aid....This matter of insurance is unusually important for the working class of the United States... American workers are entirely unprotected against fatalities and sickness." (3) Explains how the Jewish IWO started as non-capitalist alternative to the Workmen's Circle and is now expanding to include other language groups such as Hungarian and Ukrainian to make it truly international. A fair amount of space is devoted to why the IWO is better for workers than the Workmen's Circle (from which it split) and the Independent Workmen's Circle who are accused of collaborating with the "darkest elements of the clergy." (8) Also uses the term "social fascists" to refer to other immigrant fraternal groups. As to "The Field of Culture….But there is culture and culture" (14) and advocates for proletarian culture.
- Notes:
- The lack of a social safety net with insurance was especially important to immigrants at the onset of the Great Depression.
The Jewish People’s Fraternal Order was the largest ‘national’ section of the International Workers Order (IWO) which focused on cultural awareness and celebration, mutual support especially in health insurance coverage, and anti-fascist activities. The IWO also gave particular emphasis to supporting the rights and interests of African Americans. Documents include language and representations which comprise the historical record and should not be interpreted to mean that Cornell University or its staff endorse or approve of negative representations or stereotypes presented. - Cite As:
- International Workers Order (IWO) Records #5276. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
- Repository:
- Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Martin P. Catherwood Library, Cornell University
- Archival Collection:
- International Workers Order (IWO) Records, 1915-2002 (KCL05276)
- Box:
- 49
- Folder:
- 2
- Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- The copyright status and copyright owners of most of the images in the International Workers Order (IWO) Records Collection (Kheel Center #5276) are unknown. This material was digitized from physical holdings by Cornell University Library in 2016, with funding from an Arts and Sciences Grant to Jonathan Boyarin. Documents include language and representations which comprise the historical record and should not be interpreted to mean that Cornell University or its staff endorse or approve of negative representations or stereotypes presented. Cornell is providing access to the materials as a digital aggregate under an assertion of fair use for non-commercial educational use. The written permission of any copyright and other rights holders is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use that extends beyond what is authorized by fair use and other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item. Cornell would like to learn more about items in the collection and to hear from individuals or institutions that have any additional information as to rights holders. Please contact the Kheel Center at kheel_center@cornell.edu