The John Reed Clubs (1929–1935), often referred to as John Reed Club (JRC), were an American federation of local organizations targeted towards Marxist writers, artists, and intellectuals, named after the American journalist and activist John Reed. Established in the fall of 1929, the John Reed Clubs were a mass organization of the Communist Party USA which sought to expand its influence among radical and liberal intellectuals. The organization was terminated in 1935.
John Reed c. 1917 namesake of the John Reed Club
New Masses cover by Hugo Gellert (May 1926)
Mike Gold (here, 1930s before crowd in New York City) was a prominent JRC co-founder
John Dos Passos was a prominent writer and JRC member
New Masses (1926–1948) was an American Marxist magazine closely associated with the Communist Party USA. It succeeded both The Masses (1912–1917) and The Liberator (1918–1924). New Masses was later merged into Masses & Mainstream (1948–1963). With the coming of the Great Depression in 1929 America became more receptive to ideas from the political Left and New Masses became highly influential in intellectual circles. The magazine has been called “the principal organ of the American cultural left from 1926 onwards."
New Masses cover by Hugo Gellert, May 1926
The New Masses featured the political art of a number of prominent radical cartoonists, including William Gropper.
Mike Gold was among the most widely recognized radical literary figures associated with The New Masses.
