American Student Union papers

Assorted printed materials of the American Student Union and other student and youth organizations of the 1930s and 1940s make up these papers. The American Student Union, founded in 1935 in Columbus, Ohio, was a left-leaning organization of high school and college students. The literature of the organization contained in this collection stresses pacifism, human rights, equality, unionism, and the dissemination of education. Also stressed are anti-fascism and support for the Spanish Republic. Among the materials in the papers are a constitution, newsletters, minutes of meetings, convention proceedings, guides for chapters, programs, financial statements, resolutions and position statements, several pamphlets by Joseph P. Lash, clippings, ephemera, and related items. Also included in these papers are similar materials relating to the American Youth Congress, founded in 1834 in New York. This was another left-oriented youth group made up of college, church, trade union, and other organizations, and concerned with unemployment, education, public health, and social legislation to benefit youth. Finally, there are a few papers from several other youth groups, including the Campaign for Youth's Needs and Work Camps for America. Scattered throughout the papers are several pieces of correspondence of Robert E. Lane, a Harvard graduate who entered Yale Graduate School with the class of 1942 but never finished his degree. A portion of these papers belonged to Lane, who appears to have been a member of several of the organizations represented here.

Materials relating to the Yale University Chapter of the American Student Union may be found under call numbers Yeg 8 / +Am 3n and Yeg 8 / Am 3.