Federal Bureau of Investigation, Commonwealth College Files

Collection

Identifier: MC 1323

Staff Only
Not requestable

Scope and Content Note

Files comprise 182 copies of documents from FBI records pertaining to Commonwealth College, Mena, Polk County, Arkansas, ca. 1920s-1930s. Contains correspondence and memoranda from the United States Department of Justice, United States Senate, Arkansas House of Representatives, Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, Mena, Arkansas, Arkansas Federation of Women's Clubs, and private citizens from Mena and neighboring communities, regarding the college's allegedly anti-American and immoral practices; transcripts of testimonies against Commonwealth College; Arkansas Legislature report; Arkansas House of Representatives Hearings, H.Res. 220 Investigation of Communist Propaganda, 1930 and H.Res. 282 Investigation of Un-American Propaganda Activities in the United States, 1938; pamphlet, Communism and Commonwealth College Unmasked, by L.D. Summers, Mena, Arkansas; and newspaper clippings.

Dates

ca. 1920s-1930s

Creator

United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation (Corporate Entity)

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Access Information

Please call (479) 575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of the materials.

Use Information

No Use Restrictions Apply. No Interlibrary Loan. Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Biographical Note

Commonwealth College was a radical labor school operating in Mena, Arkansas, from 1923 until 1940. It was a center for controversy even years after its closing.

Extent

0.209 Linear Feet (1 box)

Additional Description

Arrangement of the Papers

The original order of the files was preserved. The information highlighted in black has been deleted by FBI pursuant to Title 5, U.S. Code 552 of the Freedom of Information Act.