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Summary
- Abstract:
- The Lawrence S. Wittner Papers document Dr. Wittner's activism in politics and his work with United University Professions, the Albany County Central Federation of Labor, the Solidarity Committee of the Capital District, the Albany Chapter of Democratic Socialists of America, Upper Hudson Peace Action, and various other social justice and peace organizations in the Capital Region.
- Extent:
- 3.16 cubic ft.
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, the Lawrence S. Wittner Papers, 1977-2020. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Wittner Papers).
Background
- Scope and Content:
The Lawrence S. Wittner Papers consist of materials pertaining to Dr. Wittner's many years of political activism within the Capital Region as well as nationally and internationally. Folders in Series 2 and 3 contain many different political issues or events led or attended by Dr. Wittner. Series 1 consists of a large amount of correspondence, agendas, and flyers for Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC) and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
- Biographical / Historical:
Dr. Lawrence S. Wittner joined the History Department at the University at Albany in 1974 and retired as Professor of History in 2010. He is currently Professor of History Emeritus. He has held various positions in the leadership of United University Professions, the Albany County Central Federation of Labor (ACCFL), the Solidarity Committee of the Capital District, the Capital District Chapter of the World Federalist Association, Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), and Upper Hudson Peace Action. In 1979 he was first elected a member of the Albany UUP Executive Committee, and he continued serving in this capacity until 2017, including four years (1983 to 1987) as Vice-President for Academics. He also chaired the statewide UUP Solidarity Committee and, since 1979, has been an Albany UUP delegate to the ACCFL, serving as ACCFL executive secretary from 2011 to 2016 and as a member of the ACCFL executive committee since 2011.
Dr. Wittner was one of the founders of Albany DSOC/DSA. From 1981 to 1984 he was secretary of the organization, serving as a DSA National Board delegate in 1983. He also co-chaired the Capital District Labor-Religion Coalition from 1982 to 1984 and served as vice president of the Capital District chapter of the World Federalist Association from 1990 to 1995.
Over the years, he was also active in local and national election campaigns, including the campaigns of Ed Bloch (1984 and 1986), Nancy Burton (1985), Michael Dukakis (1988), Leon Van Dyke (1989 and 1993), Doug Bullock (2015 and 2019), and Alfredo Balarin (2016 and 2020). In 2015-2016, he was a leader in the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign in New York's 20th congressional district, and the voters in the 2016 Democratic primary elected him as a Sanders delegate to the Democratic National Convention.
Dr. Wittner received his A.B. from Columbia College, his M.A. in History from the University of Wisconsin and his Ph.D. in History from Columbia University. He is the author of numerous books, articles, reviews, and other scholarly works, and is a recipient of many scholarly grants and awards. He served numerous terms on the board of the Peace History Society (an affiliate of the American Historical Association) from 1970 to 2007, including two years as president (1977-1979), as a board member of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations (1982-1984) and as chair of the Peace History Commission of the International Peace Research Association (1998-2001). He has delivered lectures in dozens of countries, including lectures at the Norwegian Nobel Institute and at the United Nations.
- Acquisition information:
- Dr. Lawrence Wittner donated all of the materials in this collection to the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives in 2000, 2011 and 2022.
- Processing information:
Initially processed in 2000 by Rosann Santos. 2011 accession arranged in 2014 by Jamie Brinkman. 2022 accession arranged in 2022 by Jodi Boyle.
- Arrangement:
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1 - Democratic Socialist of America/Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSA/SOC), 1980-1987, Undated
- Series 2 - United University Professions (UUP) Solidarity Committee, 1986-2001, Undated
- Series 3 - Other Activism, 1977-2020, Undated
Series 1 is arranged chronologically while Series 2 and 3 are arranged alphabetically.
- Physical location:
- The materials are located onsite in the department.
Subjects
- Subjects:
- Social Activists and Public Advocates
Labor
Albany, New York
Political activists--United States
Labor unions--United States
Articles
Correspondence
Memorandums - Names:
- University at Albany, State University of New York
United University Professions (Association : N.Y.)
Democratic Socialists of America
Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (U.S.)
Wittner, Lawrence S. - Places:
- New York (State)--Politics and government
Contents
Access
Using These Materials
- ACCESS:
- The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Access to this record group is unrestricted.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, the Lawrence S. Wittner Papers, 1977-2020. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Wittner Papers).