ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan’s Special Collections Library will feature the works of Mike Gold, considered the “dean of American proletarian writers.”

In its symposium Nov. 30, 4-6 p.m., the Library will recognize the literary and political contributions of Gold, editor of the New Masses in the 1920s and 1930s.

The symposium celebrates the University’s acquisition of the Mike Gold and Michael Folsom papers that include transcripts of interviews with Gold along with his autobiographical and other writings, correspondence, photographs, and other documents. The papers, part of the Library’s Labadie Collection, one of the world’s leading research collections of social protest materials, are available for use.

“The Gold and Folsom papers offer insight into Gold’s life and work not found in any published resources,” says Julie Herrada, curator of the Labadie Collection. “They are a valuable source of information not only on Gold, but on other prominent figures with whom he was involved during his lifetime.”

Under Gold’s leadership, New Masses featured left wing writers and artists of the day, ranging from Richard Wright to Ernest Hemingway. Gold was also a noted playwright and helped found several radical theater groups in the 1920s. His most popular work, “Jews Without Money,” is based on his childhood on New York’s lower east side in the early 1900s. He was a political activist throughout his life in addition to his work as a writer, participation in protests and demonstrations and being a sought-after speaker throughout the progressive community for decades.

Featured speakers at the symposium will include Daniel Aaron, Harvard University; David Roessel, Gold’s biographer; Paula Rabinowitz, University of Minnesota; and Alan Wald, director of the Program in American Culture at the U-M. History of art Prof. Rebecca Zurier of U-M will chair the event.

A discussion and reception will follow. All events will be held in the Special Collections Library on the seventh floor of the Hatcher Graduate Library on U-M’s Central Campus. The event is free and open to the public.

[Central Campus map, Hatcher Library lower left center]

For more information about the symposium, contact Julie Herrada at (734) 936-2314 or via e-mail at jherrada@umich.edu. For information about the Labadie Collection, contact Herrada or visit the Collection’s Web site at www.lib.umich.edu/spec-coll/labadie/.

Special Collections LibraryLabadie CollectionPaula RabinowitzHatcher Graduate LibraryCentral Campus mapjherrada@umich.edu