Cornell University Library Digital Collections

FDR "I am an American Day" Proclamation

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Title:
FDR "I am an American Day" Proclamation
Collection:
International Workers’ Order (IWO) and Jewish People's Fraternal Order (JPFO)
Set:
Black Jewish Relations
Conferences, Conventions, Meetings
Creator:
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945
Date:
1945-05-20
Site:
New York, New York, United States
Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Address (Creator):
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C.
Identifier:
5276b17f05_14a
Recipient:
International Workers Order
Language:
English
Work Type:
citizenship
presidents
naturalization
historical figures
proclamations
political campaigns
immigration
political ideologies and attitudes
world wars
Subject:
Campaigns
Political
Americanization
Black Jewish Relations- Civil Rights
Culture Front
Postwar Order and Social Contract
Immigration
Naturalization
Membership- Organizing
Fraternal Orders- Lodges, Activities
Youth
World War II Homefront
Description:
Proclamation by the President of the United States to be read at all IWO lodge meetings for "I am an American Day" national celebration on May 20, 1945. The FDR proclamation was used in an IWO lodge based program meant to instill pride in ethnic immigrant and black contributions to the US. in the War and post-War years. This includes a renewed focus on Negro History Week and the introduction of Jewish History Week as part of an emphasis on citizenship.
Note:
The Jewish People’s Fraternal Order was the largest ‘national’ section of the International Workers Order (IWO) which focused on cultural awareness and celebration, mutual support especially in health insurance coverage, and anti-fascist activities. The IWO also gave particular emphasis to supporting the rights and interests of African Americans. Documents include language and representations which comprise the historical record and should not be interpreted to mean that Cornell University or its staff endorse or approve of negative representations or stereotypes presented.
Cite As:
International Workers Order (IWO) Records #5276. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Martin P. Catherwood Library, Cornell University
Archival Collection:
International Workers Order (IWO) Records, 1915-2002 (KCL05276)
Box:
17
Folder:
5
Rights:
The copyright status and copyright owners of most of the images in the International Workers Order (IWO) Records Collection (Kheel Center #5276) are unknown. This material was digitized from physical holdings by Cornell University Library in 2016, with funding from an Arts and Sciences Grant to Jonathan Boyarin. Documents include language and representations which comprise the historical record and should not be interpreted to mean that Cornell University or its staff endorse or approve of negative representations or stereotypes presented. Cornell is providing access to the materials as a digital aggregate under an assertion of fair use for non-commercial educational use. The written permission of any copyright and other rights holders is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use that extends beyond what is authorized by fair use and other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item. Cornell would like to learn more about items in the collection and to hear from individuals or institutions that have any additional information as to rights holders. Please contact the Kheel Center at kheel_center@cornell.edu

About the collection

This bilingual project conserves, digitizes, and curates a portion of Cornell's International Workers Order (IWO) archives and most especially those of its Jewish division, known as the Jewish People's Fraternal Order (JPFO). The IWO was founded in 1930 as an immigrant fraternal order that provided high-quality, low-cost health and burial insurance and other benefits for members. The origins of the IWO / JPFO arise from a decade of splits (1920-1930) concerning the U.S.S.R., the Bolshevik Revolution and Communism that consumed the Jewish Federation of Socialists and the Arbeter Ring (Workmens' Circle) groups associated with Eugene V. Debs' Socialist Party. While the vast majority of the IWO's members--200,000 at its peak right after World War II--did not belong to the Communist Party of the United States of America, the IWO's politics and leadership were largely aligned with those of the Party. The IWO was legally disbanded in 1953 due to the Cold War "Red Scare." This closure followed on a famous and unprecedented court case: its insurance funds and records were seized by New York State's Insurance Department. The presence of a goodly portion of the IWO's archives in the Kheel Center's 5276 Catherwood Library collection at Cornell's Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) School is a direct result of that seizure.