Research Catalog

Louis Waldman papers

Title
Louis Waldman papers, 1917-1971.
Author
Waldman, Louis, 1892-
Supplementary Content
Finding Aid

Available Online

NYPL Digital Collections

Details

Description
  • 34 linear feet (34 boxes).
  • 7 microfilm reels.
Summary
Papers reflect Waldman's career as labor lawyer, politician, civic reformer, lecturer and author.
Subject
  • Waldman, Louis, 1892-
  • American Bar Association
  • Brooklyn Bar Association
  • Social Democratic Federation
  • Socialist Party (U.S.)
  • Bar associations > New York
  • Law > Cases
  • Lawyers > Political activity > New York
  • Practice of law > New York
  • Socialist parties > New York (State)
  • Socialists > New York
  • Labor unions > New York
  • New York (N.Y.) > Politics and government > 1898-1951
  • New York (State) > Politics and government > 1865-1950
Genre/Form
Scrapbooks.
Access (note)
  • Restricted access;
  • restricted until 2013.
Additional Formats (note)
  • available only on microfilm;
Biography (note)
  • Louis Waldman (1892-1982), a prominent labor lawyer of New York City , was born in the Ukraine.
Processing Action (note)
  • Accessioned.
  • Microfilmed
  • Cataloging updated
Call Number
MssCol 3202
Author
Waldman, Louis, 1892-
Title
Louis Waldman papers, 1917-1971.
Restricted Access
Restricted access; Manuscripts and Archives Division; Permit must be requested at the division indicated.
Access
Five items of correspondence (in Box 9) restricted until 2013.
Additional Formats
Scrapbooks available only on microfilm; New York Public Library.
Biography
Louis Waldman (1892-1982), a prominent labor lawyer of New York City , was born in the Ukraine. Following his emigration to America in 1909 he became a garment cutter, attended evening school and earned a civil engineering degree from Cooper Union and a law degree from New York Law School. Elected as a Socialist to the New York State Assembly, he was illegally expelled (1920) by a Republican majority. While in the Assembly he sponsored a social insurance bill which foreshadowed the social welfare legislation of the 1930s. He served as state chairman (1930-1936) of the Socialist Party and was three times (1928, 1930, 1932) its candidate for governor. In 1936 he broke with the Party over the issue of communist infiltration and became state chairman of its right-wing offshoot, the Social Democratic Federation, and founder of the American Labor Party. During this period Waldman became known as an indomitable fighter for social welfare legislation and civic reform. As a lawyer in private practice he acquired great distinction as counsel for many powerful trade unions including the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, the United Hatters, Cap and Millinery International, and the International Longshoremen's Association. He was also known as an able defense attorney in criminal cases. In what was characterized as the "American Dreyfus case" he secured the acquittal of Cpl. Robert Osman. Waldman's autobiography, Labor Lawyer, was published in 1944.
Finding Aids
Collection guide available in repository and on internet.
Connect to:
NYPL Digital Collections
Finding Aid
Occupation
Lawyers.
LCCN
ms 71000359
Research Call Number
MssCol 3202
View in Legacy Catalog