Sing, America
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- Title (English):
- Sing, America
- Collection:
- International Workers’ Order (IWO) and Jewish People's Fraternal Order (JPFO)
- Set:
- Black Jewish Relations
Conferences, Conventions, Meetings
Culture Front
Education
Women's Work - Creator:
- Allen, Anne
- Organization:
- Workers Bookshop (New York, N.Y.)
- Date:
- 1944
- Coordinates:
- 40.73413,-73.99193
- Latitude:
- 40.73413
- Longitude:
- -73.99193
- Location:
- New York, New York, United States
- ID Number:
- 5276b35f07_23
- File Name:
- 5276b35f07_23.pdf
- Address (recipient):
- 80 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York
- Address (creator):
- 50 East 13th Street, New York 3, New York
- Work Type:
- historical figures
proceedings
world wars
songs (document genre)
songbooks
political campaigns
booklets
educating
political ideologies and attitudes
world wars
music - Subject:
- Culture Front- Music, Folk Music
Black Jewish Relations- Civil Rights, African Americans
Political
World War II Homefront
Americanization
Nazism and Fascism
Soviet Union
Communism
Fellow Travellers
Labor-Unionization - Description:
- Translated Summary: 64 page songbook with World War II patriotic songs, union songs, the song 'End Jim Crow', the Anthem of the Soviet Union, along with songs associated with women working in factories. Published by the "Workers Bookshop," it contains little distinctly Jewish content. The lyrics place the date as 1944; FDR has not yet been reelected to his last term but the Teheran Conference has taken place. The songbook's international flavor is made evident with the inclusion of songs from World War II allies including stalwarts like "Waltzing Matilda," La Marseillaise, the Star Spangled Banner, as well as "Oh Freedom," and the "United Nations" (Shostakovich). Woody Guthrie and the Spanish Civil War get their due as does the Soviet Union. A less well known American wartime song is "Quiet Girl," from Lunchtime Follies by playwright Mark Blitzstein (page 40): "I used to be a QUIET GIRL..." Its rousing chorus continues: Because I wanna make the bullet that gets Hitler! I wanna make the bullet that gets Hitler! Oh, let me make the bullet that gets Hitler! And then I’ll be a QUIET GIRL again." Several songs in the booklet are credited to Lewis Allan, pseudonym of Abel Meeropol, most famous for having written the song "Strange Fruit" most famously sung by Billy Holiday. "Anne Allan" could be Lewis Allan's wife, Anne Meeropol. The couple adopted the two sons of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg after their execution. The Communist Party USA's Workers' Bookshop was located on 50 East 13th Street, New York.
- Notes:
- 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:
- 35
- Folder:
- 7
- Format:
- Image
- 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