Erik Bert Papers

Collection

Identifier: MsC0426

Staff Only
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Scope and Contents

The papers include subject files, correspondence, notebooks, typescripts, and published writings. A linkage between agriculture and communism in the United States is one of the major subjects.

Dates

Creation: 1930-1979
Creation: Majority of material found within 1960-1969

Creator

Bert, Erik (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research. This collection is stored at an offsite location. When requesting materials, please allow two business days for items to arrive at the Special Collections reading room.

Conditions Governing Use

Biographical / Historical

Herbert Joseph Putz (Erik Bert) was born on November 25, 1904, in the Bronx, the son of Jakob Putz, a machinist, and Anna Marie Uzelmeier. The young Herbert went to public school in the Yorkville section and attended German socialist Sunday school. Later he attended Stuyvesant High School, Columbia University, and the University of Berlin.

In 1929 or 1930 Herbert Putz became active in the Communist Party and adopted the name Erik Bert. In November 1931 he became editor of The Producers News: National Edition, the official weekly organ of the United Farmers League. From 1934 until 1936 he edited the Farmers National Weekly, the official paper of the Farmers National Committee for Action. In 1941 he joined the staff of the Daily World, a position he occupied for the rest of his life. He died on June 11, 1981, in Brooklyn, New York.

Extent

12.00 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Born Herbert Joseph Putz. Communist journalist and editor in the 1930s of The Producers News and Farmers National Weekly; his career after 1941 was with the Daily World. Subject files, correspondence, notebooks, typescripts, and published writings regarding the link between communism and agriculture.