Illinois vs. August Spies et al. Haymarket Affair trial transcript collection

  • Creator Names Spies, August Vincent Theodore, 1855-1887.
  • Title Illinois vs. August Spies et al. Haymarket Affair trial transcript collection [manuscript], 1886-1887.
  • Physical description 5.25 linear ft. (13 boxes)
  • Collection summary
    • Trial transcript (17 v. of ca. 8,100 p.) and duplicates, abstracts, copy of the true bill voted by the grand jury to indict the defendants for murder, exhibits volume (with photographs of bombs), and other materials relating to Chicago court proceedings, including testimony and exhibits, of the trial of August Spies et al. for their roles in the Haymarket Square Riot of May 4, 1886. The presiding judge was Joseph E. Gary. The defendants were George Engel, Samuel Fielden, Adolph Fischer, Louis Lingg, Oscar Neebe, Albert R. Parsons, Michael Schwab, and August Spies. Collection includes articles of agreement forming an Anarchist Publishing Association or labor press association, with William Jackson as secretary (1886 Oct. 21), signed by the defendants in the trial. Also present are a telegram to Albert R. Parsons from four citizens of San Francisco, signed by Parsons on verso (1887 Nov. 11); and a set of autograph cards by Fischer, Spies, Parsons, and Engel mounted on cardboard with newsclipping.
    • Boxes: (1) Miscellaneous items; Index to examination of jurors; Transcript vols.: O, 1, A; (2) v. B, C; (3) v. D, E, F; (4) v. G, H, I; (5) v. J, K (6) v. L, M, N; (7) Exhibits vol., Inspector Bonfield's report; (8) Transcript--set 2: June 21-July 6; (9) July 7-31; (10) July 31-Aug. 11; (11) Duplicate of set 2: July 8-15 & printed transcript; (12) June 21-July 7; (13) Printed transcript.
    • These transcripts do not include the text of the opening and closing arguments by the defense and the prosecutor.
  • Acquisition information Most of these materials were a gift from the estate of Ernst Schmidt in 1900 (M1900.16153). Dr. Ernst Schmidt was treasurer of the Defense Fund and collected these records. A purchase from the Gunther estate was the source for the Anarchist Publishing Association document (1923.1000).
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note Illinois State Archives (Springfield, IL) holds a similar copy of the trial transcript in Record Series 901.1, Case #22781, which relates to the appeal of the case and proceedings of the Illinois Supreme Court. Those state records are available on microfilm (reels 30-1830 to 30-1836) from the Illinois State Archives in Springfield. A copy of that microfilm is held by the Archives of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County (Ill.), in Chicago.
  • Names
    • Spies, August Vincent Theodore, 1855-1887 Archives.
    • Spies, August Vincent Theodore, 1855-1887 Trials, litigation, etc.
    • Engel, George, 1839-1887 Trials, litigation, etc.
    • Fielden, Samuel, 1847-1922 Trials, litigation, etc.
    • Fischer, Adolph, 1860-1887 Trials, litigation, etc.
    • Lingg, Louis, 1864-1887 Trials, litigation, etc.
    • Neebe, Oscar W., 1850-1916 Trials, litigation, etc.
    • Parsons, Albert Richard, 1848-1887 Trials, litigation, etc.
    • Schwab, Michael, 1853-1898 Trials, litigation, etc.
    • Bonfield, John, 1836-1898 Trials, litigation, etc.
    • Gary, Joseph E. (Joseph Easton), 1821-1906.
    • Anarchist Publishing Association (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Chicago (Ill.). Police Department.
    • Engel, George, 1839-1887.
    • Fielden, Samuel, 1847-
    • Fischer, Adolph, 1860-1887.
    • Lingg, Louis, 1864-1887.
    • Neebe, Oscar W., 1850-
    • Parsons, Albert Richard, 1848-1887.
    • Schwab, Michael, 1853-
    • Bonfield, John, 1836-1898.
    • Gary, Joseph E. (Joseph Easton), 1821-1906.
    • Schmidt, Ernst, 1830-1900, former owner.
    • Illinois. Criminal Court (Cook County)
  • Subjects
    • Actions and defenses Illinois Chicago 19th century.
    • Anarchists Illinois Chicago 19th century.
    • Haymarket Square Riot, Chicago, Ill., 1886.
    • Haymarket Anarchists Trial, Chicago, Ill., 1886.
    • Riots Illinois Chicago 19th century.
    • Trials (Conspiracy) Illinois Chicago.
  • Geographic coverage Chicago (Ill.) Politics and government To 1950.
  • Genre
    • Photographic prints. aat
    • Transcripts. aat
  • Geographic name United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.
  • Finding aid URL http://www.chicagohistoryresources.org/hadc/index.html Copy in Haymarket Affair Digital Collection