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Collection Access

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1601 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL 60614
Access to archives and manuscripts at the Research Center.

Sidney Lens papers

Descriptive Summary

Title
Sidney Lens papers
Dates
1910-1986
Creator
Lens, Sidney
Creator
Caldwell, Max , Hickman, James Willis, 1907-1981 , Kutcher, James , Lens, Shirley , Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994 , Waller, Odell , Building Service Employees' International Union.AFL , Citizens Party , Communist League of America , Department Store Employees Union. Local 291.AFL , Goldblatt Bros , Hillman's (Chicago, Ill.) , Impeach Nixon Committee , National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam , New Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam , People's Party , Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, CIO , Revolutionary Workers League , Building Service Employees' International Union, Local 329, AFL , United Grocery and Produce Employees Union, Local 329, CIO , United Service Employees Union, Local 329, AFL , United States -- Central Intelligence Agency , United States Bureau of Investigation , United States -- Federal Bureau of Investigation , Voters for Peace , Wieboldt's (Department store chain : Chicago, Ill.) , Worker's Party
Size
72 linear ft. (179 boxes, 1 v.)
Size
2 oversize folders.
Size
45 sound recordings.
Size
54 sound cassettes.
Size
1 microfilm reel.
Language
Material is in English unless otherwise noted.

Scope and Content

Correspondence, newspaper clippings, articles, newsletters, notes, manuscripts of Lens' major books, financial records, and sound recordings from his career as a Chicago labor organizer, peace activist, political candidate, lecturer, and writer. Includes materials from the Revolutionary Workers' League; Local 329 of United Service Employees Union; National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam; and other groups. Also includes Lens' research notes, travel notes, and his FBI files (obtained through FOIA request in 1979).

Conditions for Access

For listening purposes, it is necessary to use a copy, not the original (and to have a listening copy made if one is not available).

Conditions Governing Use

Contact the archives for more information on licensing and permissions for use and reproduction.

Preferred Citation

A common citation for archives is as follows: Item, Folder number and/or title, Box number, Collection title, ID number, Repository name, location.

Custodial History

Gift of Sidney Lens and his wife, Shirley Lens, beginning in 1968 (M1968.0746; M1971.0026; M1976.0006; M1979.0002; M1985.0006; 1986.0436; 2006.0077).

Biography or History

Sidney Lens, 1912-1986; his birthname was Sidney Okun.

Other Descriptive Data

Unprocessed addition to the collection is not described in this record.

Other Descriptive Data

Photocopies of the A.J. Muste correspondence from this collection are filed as a separate collection for convenience of access.

Related Material

Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include papers of Lens' wife, Shirley Lens; a collection of motion picture films made by Lens and his wife during their extensive travels; the Sidney Lens and Shirley Lens collection of photographs (2006.0077.3-78); and books by Sidney Lens and interviews with him that are cataloged separately.

Descriptive inventory available online; does not include latest addition to collection.

Indexed Terms

Added Entry–Uniform Title

National Catholic Reporter.

Added Entry–Uniform Title

Progressive.