IWO/JPFO Organization and History

The International Workers Order (IWO) was founded in 1930 as a leftist immigrant fraternal order that provided high-quality, low-cost health and burial insurance and other benefits for members. The origins of the IWO/JPFO arose 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 [Workmen's Circle] groups associated with Eugene V. Debs' Socialist Party. For those familiar with Yiddish-speaking immigrants, this grouping was often referred to as Di Linke or the Left. The IWO expanded in 1932 to become the sole U.S. interracial and interethnic fraternal order, eventually encompassing 16 "national" sections. 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 (CPUSA), the IWO's politics and leadership were largely aligned with those of the Party. The IWO was legally disbanded in 1954 due to the Cold War "Red Scare." This closure followed on a famous and unprecedented court case, in connection with which the solvent organization's insurance funds and records were seized by New York State's Insurance Department.

Adopted at the Third National Convention of the IWO, May, 1935.

"The International Workers Order is a workers' fraternal organization. It provides its members with sick, disability, and death benefits, as well as with medical aid and other forms of help. It accepts members irrespective of sex, nationality, color, creed, or political beliefs. Workers' fraternal mutual benefits serve the purpose of meeting the problems of the economic insecurity of the workers. But they cannot solve the problem. The I.W.O. therefore considers it its duty as a workers' organization to aid all other of the workers' efforts to liquidate their economic insecurity."

—Manual of the International Workers Order, 1936

Marked up draft of document listing the practical and financial services that an independent fraternal society should provide such as cemetery, accident and medical benefits, loans, as well as attendance at weddings, anniversaries, funerals and unveilings, and visits to sick members. Indicates it should look to provide homes for aged members, recreational camps, and other needed but less common items.

Fraternal Obligation of an Independent Society

Another version of Purpose of Order 03-240144 IWO 5276b49f16_09 (1) Explains that the purpose of the Order is as follows: "*The International Workers Order is a labor fraternal benefit society. Its principles and practices embody the experience and progressive tradìtions of American fraternalism. The Order provides sick, disability and death benefits. it organizes for its members medical aid and other forms of fraternal services. It pledges aid and comfort to its members in case of need. The doors of the international Workers Order are open to all regardless of sex, nationality, race, color, creed or political affiliation. The cultural heritage of everyone of the many national and racial groups which make up the American people has contributed to and enriched the life and the traditions of our country. Through the fraternal life of its lodges our order endeavors to make these cultural traditions a source of Americanization, of education, recreation and happiness for all of its members and their families

Purpose of the Order 2

The Jewish Peoples Fraternal Order (JPFO) ~50,000 members at its height - was the largest of the many "national" or "language" sections of the IWO. The Kheel Center's IWO Records #5276, directly record the activities of the JPFO, in English as well as Yiddish. These documents provide a rare window into the politics and culture of the Yiddish-speaking immigrant Left during World War II. They contain the seeds of a fascinating history of competing, overlapping and complementary loyalties and priorities: to the Soviet Union and the international left-wing movement; to the United States; and to the Jewish people and the propagation of secular Yiddish culture. Politics, patriotism, and activism were intertwined.

Signed statement by June Gordon and the Emma Lazarus Division (press release) July 9, 1945, "Statement of the Jewish People's Fraternal Order in Behalf of the F.E.P.C." Explains that the perception that the F.E.P.C. (Federal Employment Protection Committee) solely provides protection for Black Americans at the expense of whites is incorrect and ties Aryanism to racism and the Holocaust. "We are white; but we are Jews and we also suffer the effects of this policy of discrimination...Without fair employment practices it will be just as impossible to rout anti-Semitism as it is to put an end to anti-Negro and anti-Catholic prejudices." This text uses the term ‘Negro’ and/or 'Negro Labor' to refer to the concerted efforts made primarily in the 1920s-1940s to fight racial discrimination so as to ensure the fair employment of Black people, in union and other jobs including those in the private sector, civil service, as well as advocacy for the full integration of Black people into the armed services. Black unemployment and under employment were extremely high due to racial barriers. While the term ‘Negro’ might be read as pejorative today, the term was then used in a positive regard, including by Black leftists.

June Gordon, Statement of The Jewish People’s Fraternal Order in Behalf of The F. E. P. C. July 9, 1945, signed press release

Translated Summary: Sixth Convention was held July 2-7, 1944. Highlight was the 4th of July rally at Madison Square Garden, with other meetings at the Manhattan Center (311 West 34th Street, New York, New York) and the Capitol Hotel. Shows the official use of the Jewish Peoples Fraternal Order (JPFO) name starting in July 1944. The protocol includes texts of speeches and reports from the directorate, from heads of divisions and of regional branches. These speeches and reports to the convention include those of: George Starr, Rubin Saltzman; August Maymudes; H. Shiler; H. B. Ritman; Y. Mann; Sh. Lifshitz; A. Kalb; M. Jenkins; Itche Goldberg: Paul Novick; D. Shlossberg; Vayns (sp?); Gedaliah Sandler; Alexander Bittelman; A. Grossfeld; J. Gordon; Dora Rich; Ch. Melamud; Eysenshtark; Interladen in the Protocol are greetings from abroad, from other organizations [e.g., Toronto Labor League; United Jewish Appeal; H. Vein from Montreal and from celebrities and guests [Edward G. Robinson, Marc Chagall, etc]. In addition to records of speeches and reports submitted to the Convention are specific resolutions proposed and adopted. Among these are: General resolutions; Resolutions regarding YKUF (IKUF); Resolutions concerning adoption of the JPFO name for the organization, and other matters of internal structure; Resolutions concerning civil rights, and concerning Palestine, refugees, and Birodbizhan, and others. Also of note. A discussion of bilingualism and the Order; See also George Starr's report on English and the JPFO, and related resolutions. Report of the sixth and final session, contains fewer speeches and reports and is mainly taken up by declarations and then resolutions on a great variety of subjects. Election of officials of the organization is reported.

Protocol of the Sixth National Convention of the Jewish Peoples Fraternal Order of the I.W.O. (formerly Jewish-American Section): Copy 1

During the Popular Front and most especially World War II, many IWO "fellow travelers" trod partially or fully on the same path as Party members, however temporarily. During these years, as knowledge of Nazi policies and atrocities increased, aligning with policies that supported the U.S.S.R. could be viewed as equivalent to fighting Hitler's Germany. Although they kept their distance from Stalinist politics, as seen in these archives, notable fellow travelers included Marc Chagall, Albert Einstein, Sholem Asch, Langston Hughes, William Gropper, Howard da Silva, and Vito Marcantonio. Figures such as Pete Seeger, Paul Robeson, Earl Robinson, and Howard Fast, were more directly connected to the Party. Most dropped out as more was understood about Stalin’s crimes; following the “Party Line” was also less wise as the Cold War took its toll.

Attending: Saltzman, Sandler, Doroshkin, Mann, Rich, Schechter, Hamburger, Greene, Pevzner, Denn, Schiller, Kamenetzky, Field, Youkelson, Davidowitz, Goldberg, Blum, Goldman, Gukovsky. Translated Summary: Preparations for Rubin Saltzman's trip to Poland, including an evening send-off gathering. Most of the rest of the document concerns membership drives, the 1946-1947 Million Dollar Campaign for the Rehabilitation of European Jews (Relief and Rehabilitation), and the upcoming National Board meeting. The minutes lay out the structure of the National Board Meeting, including Saltzman's report, invited guests from Poland, discussion of Saltzman's report and reports from elsewhere in the country, and the resolutions that will be offered regarding membership and the next pre-convention membership campaign, regarding the Emma Lazarus Division, youth work and veterans outreach.

Meeting of the National Executive, May 28, 1946

Minutes of Semi-Annual Plenary Session of the General Executive Board September 6-7, 1941 by Sam Pevzner with input and approval of Louise Thompson. Once the Soviet Union was invaded, the IWO's post Operation Barbarossa resolutions focus on immediately obtaining needed "Unity in the struggle against Hitler," support for World War II to include the UK and USSR, approval to buy $50,000 of US War bonds, and for the full integration of the armed forces and defense industry. Resolutions are also passed for internal support for the Women's Division, the Young Fraternalists, and the Junior Division. Attendees: Members Bedacht, Benjamin, Derevnuk, Feher, Greene, Haracz, Middleton, Nikolauk, Pevzner, Riback, Rymer, Saltzman, Sandler, Schiffel, Shipka, Vail, Vocila, Vrabel, Vukcevich, Brodsky, Colon, Dicker, Eiseman, Eisner, Jankovic, Katz, Kelner, Landy, Laws, Patterson, Peterson, Pilutik, Shaffer, Gardner, Gordon, Krchmarek, Levin, Lawry, Thompson, Trauber, Schiffer, Melus, Hellman. This text uses the term ‘Negro’ and/or 'Negro Labor' to refer to the concerted efforts made primarily in the 1920s-1940s to fight racial discrimination so as to ensure the fair employment of Black people, in union and other jobs including those in the private sector, civil service, as well as advocacy for the full integration of Black people into the armed services. Black unemployment and under employment were extremely high due to racial barriers. While the term ‘Negro’ might be read as pejorative today, the term was then used in a positive regard, including by Black leftists.

Minutes of Semi-Annual Plenary Session of the General Executive Board (G.E.B) September 6-7, 1941 by Sam Pezvner, with input and approval of Louise Thompson, on IWO support for entry into World War II

Minutes of the plenary session of the General Executive Board for the dates February 22 to February 24, 1941. Two guests introduced: Paul Robeson and Earl Robinson with Robeson receving a standing ovation. Denounces Supreme Courts' dismissal of the appeals of William Weiner and Earl Browder and passes a resolution attributing it to forces of militarism, and Weiner's and Browder's commitment to "combat facism and war." Reverend B.W. Harris of Norfolk, VA addressed the Board, and discussion followed on focussing on "Negro problems" with resolutions proposed by Louise Thompson passed. Draft resolution on "Work Among the National Groups" is passed with significant amendments. Member Attendees: "Bedacht, Benjamin, Derevnuk, Feher, Greene, Haracz, Middleton, Nikolauk, Pevzner, Riback, Rymer, Saltzman, Sandler, Schiffel, Shipka, Vail, Vocila, Vrabel, Vukcevich, Brodsky, Colon, Dicker, Eiseman, Jankovic, Kelner, Landy, Laws, Menscher, Peterson, Pilutik, Salerno, Steinberg, Tkach, Wojkowska, Gardner, Gordon, Kent, Krchmarek, Levin, Lawry, Thompson, Trauber, Schiffer, Melus, Heilman."

Minutes of the Plenary Session of the General Executive Board with Paul Robeson

Hence, the broader archives’ holdings touch deeply on topics of interest to scholars, students and prospective researchers of labor, Jewish life and education, Black leftist politics, international relations, the Cold War, McCarthyism, race relations, Yiddish poetry, ethnicity, the New York State Insurance Department, the McCarran Act, American Jewish-Black Relations, the poll tax, immigrant acculturation, American Jewish identity, the Jewish Federation of Socialists, the Workmen’s (Workers) Circle, the Soviet Union, the Communist Party (CPUSA), the Black Book, Stalin, and the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee. Scholars of Soviet oriented communism will be interested in this archive, as will scholars of immigration and immigrant acculturation. Other pertinent topics include Palestine/Israel, folk music, summer camps such as Camp Kinderland and JPFO schools [shule], health insurance, burial insurance, unemployment insurance, social security, fraternal societies, and mutual aid. Scholars of immigration, fraternal societies and the left will find a small number of materials that pertain to the IWO’s other national affiliates which included the Hungarian, Slovak, Garibaldi, Ukrainian, Polish, Romanian, Cervantes, Greek, Finnish, Carpatho-Russian, Russian, Czech, Croatian, Serbian, Hellenic, and Douglas-Lincoln fraternal lodge sections (its “general” lodges were interracial). Of note, tensions can be seen regarding the role of national linguistic sections, and the promotion of English as necessary for the retention of the IWO’s next generation as well for the recruitment of African-American native speakers.

May 1935, 5th Anniversary book, modernist design with the IWO's fraternal history from its 1930 founding with 5,000 Yiddish-speaking members to over 67,000 members by 1935. New "National "societies were invited to join during the Depression, which meant the growth of membership, benefits and assets under insurance. National Section histories explain how pre-existing Hungarian, Slovak and Russian societies joined the IWO followed by Italian, Romanian, Ukranian, Polish, Croatian-Serbian and Spanish-speakers who were organized into Sections. Photos show the medical and dental departments' affordable coverage. Articles by General Secretary Max Bedacht, and Rubin Saltzman, the IWO's founder and head of its Yiddish speaking Jewish Section, explain how the IWO split off from the Workmen's Circle (Arbeter Ring) in 1930 to promote a "proletarian fraternalism" that provides better benefits and politics at lesser cost. The volume includes an important essay "Fraternalism and the Negro People" by Louise Thompson that outlines the history of commercial companies denying and/or overcharging Blacks for insufficient insurance coverage. Thompson also explains that the IWO does not discriminate or profit from its insurance coverage or rates. Bedacht writes: "[Workers] are able to solve their common problems only by making their solution their common cause. But the unity required for this is prevented by bourgeois teachings of racial, religious, national and other prejudices. As a result, instead of unitedly hating and fighting against the capitalists and capitalism, the workers hate and fight each other because of differences in color of their skin, differences in the country of their birth, differences in their language, or differences in their religion...[the IWO] has in the first five years of its existence built itself from a group of Jewish workers into an international body. Negroes and whites are organized together; many branches and nine national language sections speak different tongues within the Order." Doodles on front cover. This text uses the term ‘Negro’ to refer to Black people in the context of the concerted efforts made primarily in the 1920s-1940s to fight racial discrimination. While the term ‘Negro’ might be read as pejorative today, the term was then used in a positive regard, including by Black leftists.

May 1935, 5th Anniversary book, modernist design with IWO fraternal history

Beautiful copy of Almanac (Almanakh) 10th Jubillee Aniversary of the I.W.O. with gold embossing. Translated Summary: A comprehensive depiction of the Ordn at its tenth year, with numerous subjects and people. From the table of contents, nearly every important figure in the Ordn contributes. The first dozen or so authors include Bedacht, Saltzman, Sandler, Grossfeld, Goldberg, Novick, Bailin, Rontsh, Burgin, Katz, Almazov, Marmor, and Olgin. Other authors include Pomerantz, Greene, and Rich. The last hundred plus pages are devoted to lists of leaders and important members, with photos of the leadership of the branches, and memorial lists of deceased leaders. Printed by Prompt Press: 113 Fourth Avenue, New York, New York

Almanac (Almanakh): Ten Year Anniversary of the International Workers Order

Security with FDR

Invitation to attend the JPFO July 4th celebration gala at Madison Square Garden--tied to D-Day--that coincides with the Sixth National Convention of the Jewish American Section and of the IWO. The JPFO evening starts with a Salute to America with opera singers including Alexander Kipnis. The gift of four heavy bombers bought with funds from the JPFO's successful $1 Million War Bond campaign will be presented to the U.S. Air Force. "This is a history making event in the life of our organization, in the lives of the Jews of America, and in the civic affairs of the nation." Notes that American Jewish leaders and government officials will be attending.

Rubin Saltzman Invitation to Members for Independence Day in Madison Square Garden, June 1944

About 10,000 pages of documents from the Kheel Center’s collection of International Workers’ Order records have been digitized. You can find more of these documents here along with the full version of documents provided here.

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Fellow Travelers From Popular Front to Cold War