Fowler Vincent Harper papers

The Fowler V. Harper Papers consist of materials related to several legal cases in which Harper was involved as a party or attorney. The cases all concern, directly or indirectly, controversies provoked through the widespread government prosecution and public condemnation of alleged Communists during the "McCarthy Era" of the late 1940s and 1950s.

A substantial portion of the materials (1946-1953) consists of legal papers and newspaper clippings pertaining to Harper's own libel suit against several Hearst newspapers for their coverage of an investigation of Harper's loyalty in 1946. (Harper v. Hearst Consolidated Publications). The investigation was provoked when Harper signed a petition asking that the Communist Party be given a place on a 1947 Indiana election ballot. In response, the American Legion demanded an investigation, which was eventually ordered by the Governor of Indiana. Harper and several others were questioned. Harper's libel suit concerning press coverage of this investigation was finally settled out of court, and Harper received damages and retractions in most of the newspapers.

The papers also contain materials for another suit in which Harper represented Lyman R. Bradley's claim against New York University for back pay, Bradley, a teacher at Washington Square College, was suspended when he received a jail sentence for contempt in connection with accusations of "un-American activities." The legal papers and materials indicate that Harper's claim on behalf of Bradley was that the suspension was invalid, since it was for reasons unrelated to Bradley's professional abilities.

Materials are also found in the collection concerning Harper's representation of Dr. J.P. Peters of the Yale Medical School in a loyalty investigation ordered by the Loyalty Review Board of the Civil Service Commission. Correspondence, clippings and accounts indicate that active support and monetary contributions were given by numerous individuals to Harper's representation of Peters. Copies of legal arguments, proceedings, and memoranda for the hearing reveal the procedures followed in such investigations.

In addition to the above materials, the collection includes a small amount of personal correspondence, speeches and memorabilia.