New World Resource Center (Chicago, Ill.) records, ca. 1965-1980, bulk 1971-1976

Processed with funding provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

This collection is open for research use.

Copyright may be retained by the creators of items, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.

Materials were a gift of the New World Resource Center (accession #: M1983.0062, 2010.0050).

New World Resource Center records (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/folder number of a specific item.

Correspondence, financial records, mailing lists, newspaper clippings, newsletter, pamphlets, book lists for prisoners, and other administrative records of the New World Resource Center, a non-profit, left-wing bookstore and meeting space in Chicago. The majority of the collection consists of bulletins, newspapers, newsletters, journals, reports, fliers, and other printed material collected by the NWRC from organizations promoting minority and women’s rights, nuclear disarmament, anti-war sentiment, anti-Vietnam War movement, human rights in Latin America, and other humanitarian, social, racial, and political causes.

The New World Resource Center (NWRC) was established in 1972 as a non-profit organization to promote the collaboration and exchange of ideas among left-wing, labor, and progressive individuals and groups. NWRC was not associated with any single political party or ideology. NWRC operated a volunteer-run bookstore and meeting space, located originally at 2546 North Halsted Street and then at various locations in Chicago, and disseminated progressive information through publications and by hosting events such as lectures and performances. The Prisoner Support Group, affiliated with NWRC, distributed literature to prisoners. NWRC closed in 2008.

Related materials at the Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include publications of the New World Resource Center, cataloged separately.

• NamesNew World Resource Center (Chicago, Ill.)--Archives
• Subject
  • Anti-imperialist movements--Illinois--Chicago
  • Bookstores--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
  • New Left
  • New Left--United States--20th century
  • Political participation
  • Prisoners--Education
  • Radicalism--United States
  • Radicalism--United States--20th century
  • Social action
  • Social movements--20th century
  • Social movements--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
  • Underground press publications
• Geographic Coverage
  • 2546 North Halstead Street (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Chicago (Ill.)--Politics and governments--1951
  • Chicago (Ill.)--Social conditions--20th century
  • Lincoln Park (Chicago, Ill.: Community Area)

The collection is arranged physically into four series by subject

Series 1. Research material, 1965-1980 (box 1-8)

Series 1 consists of bulletins, newspapers, newsletters, journals, press releases, reports, working papers, and other printed material collected by the NWRC. Materials were likely used for research and available for free to the public in the NWRC library. Materials were published by organizations located across the United States and internationally, and pertain to topics such as women's rights, racial equality, the Vietnam War, and humanitarian and political issues in Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. Includes publications in Spanish and French.

Series 2. Chicago publications, 1970-1978 (box 8-11)

Series 2 consists of bulletins, newspapers, newsletters, and other publications collected by the NWRC and produced by organizations located primarily in Chicago. Includes numerous issues of "The Call" (1977-1978), published by the Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist).

Series 3. Correspondence with prisoners, 1971-1974 (box 11-13)

Series 3 contains correspondence from prisoners requesting literature from the NWRC; the Prisoner Support Group affiliated with NWRC; and the Africa Research Group in Cambridge (Mass.). NWRC advocated for prisoners' right to education and sent literature to correctional institutions free of charge. Folders are arranged alphabetically by city and state; includes also correspondence from Germany.

Series 4. Administrative records, ca. 1975 (box 13-14)

Series 4 contains correspondence, fundraising and financial reports, conference material, mailing lists, newspaper clippings, book lists for prisoners, pamphlets, newsletters, drafts, and other administrative records of the NWRC. Also present is correspondence with prisoner aid organizations and material produced by other left-wing organizations and related to topics such as racism and repression.