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| 1 manuscript box plus permanent exhibit case and 1 framed (36" x 24") photograph and 1 wall plaque (38" x 54") |
| Biographical Sketch |
| Scope and Contents Note |
| Series Listing |
| Series Description |
| Container List |
: The papers were donated by Dorothy Jackson and the Gardner Jackson Committee between 1967-1978.
Access: Access to the collection is in accordance with the policies of Brandeis University Library Special Collections, consult the Head of Special Collections for further information.
Copyright: Requests to publish materials from the collection should be directed to the Head of Special Collections.
Gardner "Pat" Jackson (1896-1965) was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, son of a wealthy railroad magnate. He came East to attend Amherst College, where he was strongly influenced by the political ideals of the college president, Alexander Meikeljohn. After two-and-a-half years at Amherst he entered the Army, and remained there until the end of World War I. Then he spent a year at Columbia University before coming, with his wife Dorothy, to Boston as a reporter for The Boston Globe.
It was in 1921, while a reporter for The Boston Globe, that Gardner Jackson became involved with the Sacco-Vanzetti case and launched his career in civil rights. Sacco and Vanzetti, two Italian anarchists, were accused of a robbery and murder that had happened a year earlier. Gardner Jackson investigated the supposed evidence against the two men and soon became convinced of their innocence, believing that they were being put on trial for their political beliefs. He finally left The Boston Globe in 1926 to work full time as secretary for the Sacco- Vanzetti Defense Committee. In 1927 after Sacco and Vanzetti were executed, Gardner Jackson returned to The Boston Globe for a few years, then moved to Washington in 1930 to become a correspondent for several Canadian newspapers.
In 1933 he joined Roosevelt's New Deal administration at the Agricultural Adjustment Administration, helping farmers hurt by the Depression. Due to his uncompromising stances and willingness to push for what he believed in, over the years Gardner Jackson was twice hired and fired by the Agriculture Secretary.
During the 1930s and 1940s, Gardner Jackson worked for the CIO, helping to eliminate Communist influences from the labor movement. In 1944 he was attacked in Greenwich Village and severely beaten, permanently losing the sight in one eye. His anti-Communist labor work appeared to be the motive.
In the late 1940s and 1950s Gardner Jackson was a freelance writer and labor consultant. In the early 1950s he championed the Bolivian tin miners, helping them work for reforms. He always remained active in the Sacco-Vanzetti case and its aftermath, writing and talking about it, convinced of their innocence.
Gardner Jackson died suddenly on April 17, 1965 at the age of 68, leaving behind a wife, a daughter, and three sons.
Clopton, Willard, "Stormy Career Ends for Gardner Jackson", Washington Post, April 18, 1965.
Wechsler, James A., "The Passionate Spirit of Gardner Jackson". The Boston Globe, April 21, 1965.
This collection of Gardner Jackson's papers is important due to his close involvement with the Sacco-Vanzetti case. Brandeis University Special Collections has several collections dealing with the Sacco-Vanzetti case, thus making the university one of the most important sources for material in the country.
The bulk of papers in this collection are related to the Sacco-Vanzetti case, writings by and about Gardner Jackson, his involvement in the establishment of the case as one of the supreme examples of American injustice in this century. The papers and letters show that while others involved in the case later rethought and changed their positions on Sacco and Vanzetti's innocence, Gardner Jackson never did.
Another major part of the collection, the letters to Dorothy Jackson, give an overview to Gardner Jackson's life and career. It details his involvement with labor organizations, political elections, Bolivian reform, and other liberal causes of the day. These letters portray a man in the midst of some of the most important political and social movements of the first half of the twentieth century.
I. Biographical
II. Correspondence to Dorothy Jackson
III. Sacco-Vanzetti Case
IV. Gardner Jackson Exhibit Collection
Folders 1-30
This series is divided in four parts: correspondence to Gardner Jackson, writings by Gardner Jackson, activities and awards, photographs, and obituary notices, thus providing an overview of his life.
The correspondence chiefly portrays Gardner Jackson's continued involvement with the Sacco-Vanzetti case and the people on the Sacco-Vanzetti Defense Committee. This correspondence is arranged alphabetically by the author of the letter. The writings of Gardner Jackson, arranged chronologically, display his unswerving belief in the innocence of Sacco and Vanzetti and his willingness to engage in debate decades after their trial and execution.
Gardner Jackson's other interests are detailed in the activities and awards that honored him; his medal for helping the Bolivian tin miners, his work with Roosevelt's New Deal government, and the honor of having his portrait painted and displayed in exhibits. The obituary notices on the event of his death capture his role and importance in American history and document how he was regarded by his peers and colleagues.
Series II. Dorothy Jackson's Correspondence
Folders 31-67
This correspondence consists solely of the letters Dorothy Jackson, Gardner Jackson's wife, received at the time of his death. It gives an understanding of how varied Gardner Jackson's career was, and how involved he was in most of the liberal causes of his time. It is arranged alphabetically by author.
Series III. Sacco-Vanzetti Case
Folders 68-78
This series was collected by Gardner Jackson himself, detailing his continued interest in the Sacco-Vanzetti case. It is arranged by type of writing; articles, book reviews, and letters to the editor, which are then arranged alphabetically.
Series IV. Gardner Jackson Exhibit Collection
This collection is on permanent display in the Gardner Jackson Memorial Room, located in Brandeis University's Goldfarb Library. Given to commemorate Gardner Jackson and Sacco and Vanzetti, it has a mixture of objects to illustrate the permanent mark the Sacco-Vanzetti case made on American history and how it continues to stand for a symbol of injustice.
Box 1
Folder
Series I. Biographical
1. Correspondence
1 Felicani, Aldino to Gardner Jackson. 1 p., TLS, April 25, 1960
2 Felicani, Aldino to Gardner Jackson. 1 p., TLS, July 1, 1960
3 Galerza, Ernesto to Gardner Jackson. 1 p., TLS, Dec. 12, 1960
4 Lewis, Boyd to Gardner Jackson. 1 p., TLS, May 11, 1960: Attachment: Vanzetti, Bartolomeo. 4 p., TL, August 12, 1927
2. Writings
5 Letter to the Editor "Jacksonian Retort of Sen. Kennedy's `McCarthyism' Stand" Washington Daily News, January 13, 1960, 1 p.
6 Letter to the Editor "This Last Hour of Agony" Washington, [June 1960?], 1 p.
7 "Still not Guilty" The New York Post, January 8, 1961, 1 p.
3. Activities and Awards
8 "18th Annual Roosevelt Day Dinner: New Directions in Foreign Policy, March 19, 1966." In Memoriam: Gardner Jackson. 1 program (12 p.)
9 Exhibit brochure - Paintings by Madeleine Sharrer, February 22 -March 7, 1970
10 "Commemoration del Primer Aniversario de la Revolution National, April 1953 - dinner menu
"La Union es la Fuerza - MCMXXV" - medal, located at end of box
4. Photographs
11-15 Gardner Jackson - 5 photographs and 1 negative
16-21 Gardner Jackson and unidentified man with Washington Post cartoon, November, 22, 1949 - 6 photographs
22 Gardner Jackson and unidentified man "Commemoration del Primer Aniversario de la Revolution National, April 1953 - 1 photograph
23 La Paz, Bolivia, celebration, April, 1953 - 1 photograph
24-25 House, unidentified [n.d.] - 2 photographs
5. Obituaries
26 Clopton, Willard, "Stormy Career Ends for Gardner Jackson" Washington Post, April 18, 1965, 1 p.
27 "Gardner Jackson" Washington Post, April 22, 1965, 1 p.
28 "Gardner Jackson" The Rocky Mountain Herald, May 29, 1965, 2 p.
29 Hamburger, Ludwig, Letter to the Editor "Gardner Jackson" Washington Post, May 18, 1965, 1 p.
30 Wechsler, James A. "The Passionate Spirit of Gardner Jackson" Boston Globe, April 21, 1965, 1 p.
II. Correspondence to Dorothy Jackson
31 Aberle, Sophie to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., ALS, May 21, 1965
32 Acheson, Alice to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., ALS, May 3, 1965
33 Aiken, George D. to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, April 21, 1965
34 Bailin[?], Isaiah to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., ALS, April 19, 1965
35 Baldwin, Roger N. to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, May 3, 1965
36 Ball, Robert M. to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, April 23, 1965
37 Bendiner, Robert to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, August 20, 1965
38 Blatnick, John A. to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, April 20, 1965
39 Childs, Mrs. Marquis W. (Biddy) to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., ALS, April 28, 1965
40 Cohen, Benjamin V. to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., ALS, April 20, 1965
41 Davis, Watson to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., ALS, April 19, 1965
42 Dos Passos, John to Dorothy Jackson. 2 p., ALS, June 11, 1965
43 Douglas, Paul H. to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, May 17, 1965
44 Ehrmann, Herbert B. to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., ALS, April 19, 1965
45 Erwin, John D. to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, May 11, 1965
46 Felicani, Aldino to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, April, 23, 1965
47 Galerza, Ernesto to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, May 15, 1965
48 Garst, Roswell to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, April 19, 1965
49 Gellhorn, Walter to Dorothy Jackson. 2 p., ALS, Sept. 1, 1965
50 Grubbs, Don to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, June 22 1968 Attachment: Agricultural History v. 42 no. 2, April 1968, reprint from. "Gardner Jackson that `Socialist' tenant Farmers' Union, and the New Deal"--p. 125-137.
51 Gruening, Ernest to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, April 20, 1965 Attachment: Congressional Record - Senate, 2 p. [8497-8500] April 28, 1965
52 Halstead, Anna R. to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., ALS, May 13, 1965
53 Hays, Brooke to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., ALS, April 18, 1965
54 Higgins, George G. to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, April 19, 1965
55 Jim, Robert D. to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, May 14, 1965
56 Keyserling, Leon H. to Dorothy Jackson, 1 p., TLS, April 23, 1965
57 Lever, E. J. to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, April 19, 1965
58 Lindley, Ernest K. to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, April, 19, 1965
59 McCarthy, Gene to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., ALS, April 20, 1965
60 McGovern, George to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, April, 27, 1965
61 McMurray, Joseph P. to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, April 20, 1965
62 Meikeljohn, Helen to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., ALS, April, 22, 1965
63 Schweinitz, D. de to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, May 27, 1965 Attachment: Cervi's Rocky Mountain Journal, 1 p., May 19, 1965
64 Segal, Ben D. and Les Finnegan to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, April 20, 1965
65 Sevareid, Eric to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., ALS, April 22, 1965
66 Sorenson, Theodore C. to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, May 3, 1965
67 Thomas, Norman to Dorothy Jackson. 1 p., TLS, April 21, 1965
III. Sacco-Vanzetti Case
1. Articles and Writings 68 Felix, David "Apothesis in Boston" Columbia University Forum. vol. 6, no. 4 (Fall 1963) - 6 p.
69 Musmanno, Michael "The Sacco-Vanzetti Case: a Miscarriage of Justice" American Bar Association Journal. v. 27, no. 1 (January 1961) - 8 p.
70 Ross, Don. "Opera Being Done on Sacco-Vanzetti" New York Herald Tribune, February 26, 1960 - 1 p.
71 "The Sacco-Vanzetti Case: Twenty Years Later" August 23, 1947 - 1 pamphlet (12 p.)
72 "Television: An Angry Epitaph for a Doomed Pair" [1950?] - 3 p.
73 Webster, Bethuel Matthew, Jr. "Peddlar" [n.d.] - 1 p.
2. Book Reviews
74 Ehrman, Herbert B. The Untried Case. Book review in the New York Post, January, 8, 1961
75 Montgomery, Robert. Sacco-Vanzetti: the Murder and the Myth. Book review in the Sunday Star, July 24, 1960
76 Russell, Frank. Tragedy in Dedham. Book reviews (1962-1963)
3. Letters to the Editor
77 Noah, Robert. Letter to the Editor "Sacco-Vanzetti" The New Leader, October 31, 1960 - 2 p. Attachment: Schlesinger, Arthur, Jr. to Gardner Jackson. 1 p., TLS, November 18, 1960
78 Sinclair, Upton. Letter to the Editor "Sacco-Vanzetti" The New Leader, September 26, 1960 - 2 p.
IV. Gardner Jackson Exhibit Collection
Sacco-Vanzetti Plaque on wall (38" x 54")
Gardner Jackson Photograph on wall (36" x 24")
Display case:
Bush, Martin H., Ben Shahn: The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti. 1st ed. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University, 1968.
Marcantonio, Vito. "Labor's Martyrs: Haymarket 1887, Sacco and Vanzetti 1927". New York: Workers Library Press, 1937.
Harrison, Henry, editor. "The Sacco-Vanzetti Anthology of Verse". New York: H. Harrison Pub., 1927.
Massachusetts. Office of the Governor's Legal Counsel. "Report to the Governor in the Matter of Sacco and Vanzetti", 1927.
"The Sacco-Vanzetti Case: Twenty Years Later" August 23, 1947.
Rose, Reginald. "NBC Presents `The Sacco-Vanzetti Story'" - typescript of television play
"Ballads of Sacco & Vanzetti" commissioned by Moses Asch - 1945, composed & sung by Woody Guthrie 1946-47; "Sacco's Letter to his Son" sung by Pete Seeger. Folkway Records, 1960.
