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97sc159 Guide to the Report on the observation of Dreiser Investigating Committee in Harlan and Bell Counties, November 5-10, 1931 Staff Special Collections Special Collections Kentucky History Center Kentucky Historical Society 100 W. Broadway Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-1931 USA Phone: (502) 564-1792, ext.4470 Fax: (502) 564-4701 URL: http://history.ky.gov/ Kentucky Historical Society n.d. Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, March 2000. ENG Guide to the Report on the Observation of Dreiser Investigating Committee in Harlan and Bell Counties, November 5-10, 1931 Collection number:97SC159 Contact Information Special Collections Kentucky History Center Kentucky Historical Society 100 W. Broadway Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-1931 USA Phone: (502) 564-1792, ext.4470 Fax: (502) 564-4701 URL: http://history.ky.gov/ Processed by: Staff Date Completed: n.d. Encoded by: Thomas Enneking Copyright 1999 Kentucky Historical Society. All rights reserved. Report on the observation of Dreiser Investigating Committee in Harlan and Bell Counties, November 5-10, 1931 97SC159 Dreiser Investigating Committee 3 items Fair --> Kentucky Historical Society. Special Collections & Archives. Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-1931 Access at KHS only. Use microfilm, transcriptions or images when available. Permission for commercial use must be requested from the Kentucky Historical Society. Special Collections. [Identification of item], Report on the observation of Dreiser Investigating Committee in Harlan and Bell Counties, 1931, 97SC159,Library Special Collections and Archives, Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort. The Dreiser Committee was formed by the novelist Theodore Dreiser in 1931 as a reaction to the working conditions and labor situations of the eastern Kentucky coal miners. Alarmed by the shooting of Bruce Crawford, a member of the National Committee for the Defense of Political Prisoners (NCDPP), and concerned over the allegations of the United Mine Workers of America, the Industrial Workers of the World, and the International Labor Defense (ILD) contention that Harlan County, Kentucky, coal mine operators, in conjunction with county officials, were inflicting a "reign of terror" over mine workers, Dreiser convened a two investigation of the alleged abuses. Dreiser, who at the time of the investigation was also the chairman of the NCDPP, appointed ten persons to this unofficial committee. The other committee members were: John Dos Passos, Samuel Ornitz, Lester Cohen, Bruce Crawford, Charles and Adelaiade Walker, Harry Gannes, Melvin P. Levy, George Maurer, and Celia Kuhn. An eleventh person, Marie Pergain, attended but did not participate. Both the NCDPP and ILD had strong ties to the American Communist Party. Therefore, in his own reaction to the committee, Governor Sampson of Kentucky asked Major George M. Chescheir of the state's National Guard, to escort the members around the region, and report on the activities of this private and unofficial, but highly visible and vocal committee's investigation. A collection that consists of three documents concerning the 1930s American Communist Party activities in eastern Kentucky's coal fields. The first document is a printed copy of the 71st Congress, 3d Session, United States House of Representatives Report, No. 2290. This copy belonged to Major George M. Cheschier and has notes written in the margins and inserted tabs marking the testimonies and opinions of Communist Party leaders. The second document is an edited, typescript copy of the Cheschier's reprt to Governor Flem D. Sampson concerning the activities of the Dreiser Committee. This document reports the daily agenda of the Committee, gives a synopsis of conversations and testimonies, and provides insights and opinions. The third document continues the report of daily activities, but includes typescript copies of statements given by Dreiser Committee members. Arrangement: Original order maintained for the collection. Provenance Geroge M. Chescheir; Louiville, Ky., gift Dreiser Committee Communist Party of the United States of America National Committee for the Defense of Political Prisoners International Labor Defense United Mine Workers of America Industrial Workers of the World Dreiser, Theodore, 1871-1945 Dos Passos, John, 1896-1970 Ornitz, Samuel, 1890-1957 Cohen, Lester, 1901-1963 Crawford, Bruce Walker, Charles Rumford, 1893- Maurer, George Walker, Adelaide Levy, Melvin P. Kuhn, Celia Pergain, Marie Coal mines and mining--Kentucky Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Kentucky Trade unions--Coal miners--Kentucky Sampson, Flem D.