Benjamin, Herbert, 1900-1983

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Political activist.

From the description of Reminiscences of Herbert Benjamin : oral history, 1977. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 309727212

Communist Party official.

From the description of Herbert Benjamin papers, 1915-2004 (bulk 1923-1982). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 84163123

Biographical Note

  • 1900, Dec. 17: Born Benjamin Grefenson, Effingham, Ill.
  • 1919: Joined Industrial Workers of the World
  • 1920: Married Jennie Cooperman
  • 1921: Joined Communist Party of America, Erie, Pa.
  • 1923 - 1931 : Held positions in Communist Party districts in New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania
  • 1928: Became national committee member, Communist Party of the United States of America (CPUSA)
  • 1931: Named national organizer of unemployed for the CPUSA Led National Hunger March to Washington, D.C.
  • 1931 - 1935 : National secretary, Unemployed Councils
  • 1932: Led second National Hunger March to Washington, D.C.
  • 1935 - 1940 : General secretary-treasurer, Workers Alliance of America
  • 193?: Married Lillian Gerber
  • 1940: Conducted a national “party building tour” to promote the CPUSA
  • 1940 - 1942 : General executive board member and national executive secretary, International Workers Order
  • 1942 - 1944 : Head of Communist Party in Missouri
  • 194[?] - 195[?] : Owner and operator, Metropolitan News Agency, Washington, D.C. Manager, Trenton Terrace Apartments, Washington, D.C.
  • 1953 - 1978 : Merchant, Pottery Fair, Washington, D.C.
  • 1983, May 10: Died, Rockville, Md.

From the guide to the Herbert Benjamin Papers, 1915-2004, (bulk 1923-1982), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Benjamin, Herbert, 1900-1983. Reminiscences of Herbert Benjamin : oral history, 1977. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Draper, Theodore, 1912-2006. Theodore Draper research files, 1919-1970. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
creatorOf Herbert Benjamin Papers, 1915-2004, (bulk 1923-1982) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Communist Party of the United States of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Draper, Theodore, 1912-2006. person
associatedWith Goodman, Roger, person
associatedWith Industrial Workers of the World. corporateBody
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith National Hunger March 1931 : Washington, D.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith National Hunger March 1932 : Washington, D.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith National Hunger March (1st : 1931 : Washington, D.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith National Hunger March (2nd : 1932 : Washington, D.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith National Unemployment Council. corporateBody
associatedWith Workers Alliance of America. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Michigan
Pennsylvania
United States
Ohio
United States
New York (State)
United States
Subject
African American communists
Communism
Communism
Communism
Communism
Communism
Communism
Communism
Communist parties
Depressions
Depressions
New Deal, 1933-1939
Political parties
Unemployed
Unemployed
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1900

Death 1983

Information

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