{"value"=>"<p>Norman Thomas' Socialist Party files contain memoranda, reports, meeting minutes, correspondence, and various types of published and unpublished printed material relating to his activities in the Party, predominantly for the years 1933 through 1938.</p> <p>The correspondence in File II: A: 1 is limited to letters and memoranda that Thomas received and sent as a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC), the Party's governing board, and other Party committees. This file represents about 15% of Thomas' letters dealing with Socialist Party affairs. The bulk of his Party correspondence, the more personal communications, can be found in Series I. In contrast, this file is dominated by communications from the Party Secretary relating details of important business, requesting votes on motions before the NEC, and circulating the committee members' views and votes on these matters. The secretary also often circulated copies of his incoming and outgoing correspondence as well. In addition, there are numerous letters from the New York State and New York City branches of the Party and their committees as well as from locals around the nation. The topics addressed in the correspondence include both the major issues of contention during the period, including relations with the Communist Party, the adoption of the Declaration of Principles, internal party discipline and factionalism, support for U. S. participation in World War II, as well as routine matters such as the drafting of an electoral platform, attempts to get on the ballot, and fundraising.</p> <p>The correspondence is complemented by Files II: A; 2 through II: A: 8 which contain supporting background material on many of the same activities and controversies addressed in the correspondence. Included are minutes and reports of party committees, public statements, electoral platform proposals, manifestos of various factions, statements and resolutions of Party branches and committees, financial statements, membership reports, and Socialist Party publications and campaign ephemera.</p>"}