Vern Davidson, Venice, California, March 14, 1954. David first met Vern Davidson (1929-2012) at UCLA when they were students. Vern was the intellectual leader of the Socialist Party group when David got involved. (54-7)
"Peace is the only defense." Armed Forces Day march in downtown Los Angeles, May 15, 1954. (54-8)
"H-Bomb knows no politics," and Vern Davidson carrying "Outlaw hydrogen bombs." Armed Forces Day march in downtown Los Angeles, May 15, 1954. (54-8)
Marchers and police at 2nd and Hill in downtown Los Angeles. Armed Forces Day march in downtown Los Angeles, May 15, 1954. (54-8)
Event honoring the centennial of Eugene Debs birth. Matilda Robbins at right. (55-24)
Some of the crowd at the centennial event in Los Angeles (before David moved to NYC). (55-24)
Matilda Robbins at the centennial event. (55-24)
Rex Backus, SP comrade and lifelong friend, 1955.
Barbara Backus, SP comrade and lifelong friend, 1955.
A party for Vern before he was sent to prison for refusing to fight in the Korean War. Socialist Party office, Los Angeles, November 1955. (55-27)
Charles Curtis (1908 - 1993) at Vern's going away party. (55-27)
Harry Siitonen (1926-1990) at Vern's going away party. (55-27)
Fred Hildebrant at Vern's going away party. (55-27)
Picket line protesting Vern Davidson’s imprisonment for refusing induction. December 1955. Davidson served two years in prison for his draft resistance. He remained a pacifist throughout his life. (55-29)
Protest at the French Embassy in Los Angeles, November 1955. (55-26)
Interested journalists talking with group spokesperson Arlon Tussing during the protest at the French Embassy, November 1955. (55-26)
Marching to the French Embassy in Los Angeles, November 1955. (55-26)
Mission of the USSR, New York City, Nov. 3, 1956. Socialist groups support the push for autonomy in Poland and of the Hungarian uprising against Soviet control. Groups protesting include the Young Socialist League (YSL) and the Independent Socialist League (ISL). (56-36)
Mission of the USSR, New York City, November 3, 1956. (56-36)
Mission of the USSR, New York City, November 3, 1956. (56-36)
Mission of the USSR, New York City, November 3, 1956. (56-36)
Held in New York City, the Socialist Party (SP) and the Social Democratic Federation (SDF) reached a unification agreement after a 20-year split. (57-3)
Norman Thomas (SP) speaking at the convention. (57-3)
Gus Gerber (left) and Louis Waldman of the SDF between sessions. 1957. (57-3)
Herman Singer (seated), Darlington Hoopes at microphone, Robin Myers (right). Singer was Executive Secretary of the SPA from 1954-1957. Darlington Hoopes was the party’s presidential candidate in 1952 and 1956. Myers was Executive Secretary from 1950-1954. (57-3)
Members of the Social Democratic Federation (SDF), which merged with the Socialist Party in 1957 to form the Socialist Party-Social Democratic Federation (SP-SDF). (57-11)
National Executive Committee meeting, Socialist Party, May 25, 1957, New York City. (57-11)
National Executive Committee meeting, Socialist Party, May 25, 1957, New York City. Gus Gerbee on the right, Robin Myers center. (57-11)
National Executive Committee meeting, Socialist Party, May 25, 1957, New York City. Herman Singer speaking, editor of the Socialist Call. (57-11)
Sam Friedman (1897 - 1990), journalist, labor union activist, and vice presidential candidate for Socialist Party of America. He ran on the ticket with the presidential candidate Darlington Hoopes in 1952 and 1956. March 2, 1958
McReynolds for President, July 1980
Anne Rosenhaft, a former Party National Secretary and close associate of David, October. 1981
SP contingent at the second Special Session on Disarmament march, June 12, 1982, NYC.
Bob Auberbach, left, helps carry the socialist banner at the Special Session on Disarmament (SSDIII) march. NYC, 1988.
SP at the Special Session on Disarmament (SSDIII) march. NYC, 1988.