Activism and Radicalism
With well over 50,000 items, the Radicalism and Activism collections at Stephen O. Murray and Keelung Hong Special Collections provide a sweeping narrative of the history of radical movements and groups, predominately in the United States but also in other parts of the globe, from the late 19th century to the present. Books, periodicals, posters, and other ephemeral materials from both the left-of-center and right-of-center radical groups document social ideologies, political, and economic spectrums. The collection is strongest in its holdings from the 20th-century American Left, most notably materials documenting communist movements, labor history, and 1960s student protest materials. Over the years, the collection has grown to include significant holdings on the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazi organizations, and the Christian Right. Collections continue to grow with the addition of national and international collections, including materials on local radical movements throughout the Lansing and mid-Michigan region, such as the East Lansing Food Co-op, the Peace Education Center, and Lansing Area Human Rights. The incredible diversity of coverage demonstrates a broad spectrum of thought that shaped the political, economic, and social landscape over the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.
For more information, please contact Garrett Sumner.
Resources
SIRO (Studies in American Radicalism)