| Description | The majority of this material consists of correspondence written to Cynthia and Oswald Mosley relating to their tour of the USA in early 1926 to study labour conditions. Much of the correspondence is addressed to Cynthia Mosley and is from representatives and officers of Labour and social and community organisations, print media and commercial enterprises, but there are also a small number of personal letters from friends. Other formal or official correspondence is addressed to Oswald Mosley, or to the Mosleys as a couple.
The file also includes copy letters of introduction for the Mosleys, addressed to individuals in New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago, asking for help in planning their tour; calling cards of individuals or businesses based in the USA, many of which the Mosleys visited during their tour; printed booklet issued by the Canadian Club of Ottawa for the season 1925-1926 containing names of the officers of the club and lists of the guests the club had received since 1903; printed 'Program of Action' produced by the Chicago Federation of Men Teachers and Chicago Federation of Women Teachers; notes, some in Cynthia Mosley's handwriting, containing the addresses of other personal and professional contacts whom the couple presumably met while travelling.
There are also some earlier letters addressed to Cynthia which relate to the Mosleys American tour, consisting of correspondence from American undergraduates, members of the English Speaking Union, who visited England in 1925.
Correspondence comprises:
/1-/3 letters of thanks from American undergraduates visiting England on a trip organised by the English Speaking Union in the summer of 1925 to Cynthia Mosley. These are from Graham Mattison, Walter M. Rankin and Edward Duffy. The correspondents mention the Mosleys proposed visit to the USA in the winter of 1925 and offer their hospitality in return
/4 from James Atkins, Assistant Secretary of the English Speaking Union, London, to Cynthia Mosley, Upper Ifold, Dunsfold, Surrey, 4 Aug 1925, containing the address of Harold I. Pratt in New York, presumably a member of the English Speaking Union in America
/5-/12 copy letters of introduction dated 22 Dec 1925 from unidentified member of the Labour movement to: Ivy L. Lee, 111, Broadway, New York; Paul D. Cravath, 52 William Street, New York; William J. Tully, 1 Madison Avenue, New York; Henry Goddard Leach, 'The Forum', 247 Park Avenue, New York; Hon John W. Davis, Messrs Stetson, Jennings & Russell, Mills Building, 15 Broad Street, New York City; Allan Forbes, State Street Trust Co, 33, State Street, Boston; Edward W. Bok, Philadelphia; Colonel Robert McCormick, 'The Tribune', Chicago
/13 from Edyth Copeland, Los Angeles, to Cynthia Mosley, 23 Dec 1925, discussing Cynthia's visit to the USA and offering her hospitality. The content of the remainder of the letter indicates that Edyth was a childhood friend of Cynthia's mother Mary Curzon (nee Leiter)
/14 from S. Clowes, 5a Hill Street, Hanley, to Oswald Mosley, 31 Dec 1925, giving contact details of the Secretary of the American Pottery Workers Federation in East Liverpool, Ohio, and the President in Trenton, New Jersey
/15 from Aaron Sapiro, Law Office, Straus Building, Chicago, to Oswald Mosley, 5 Jan 1926, offering times for a meeting in New York or Chicago to discuss the cooperative handling of wheat crops in North America
/16 from Helena Mills John, Secretary of the Common Interests Committee of the English Speaking Union, to Cynthia Mosley, 6 Jan 1926, containing the addresses of the American undergraduates whom the Mosleys met in England during the summer of 1925. See OMN/A/4/6/1-4 for letters relating to this visit
/17 from William B. Feakins, Inc, Times Building, New York, to Cynthia Mosley, 9 Jan 1926, discussing the possibility that Cynthia might engage his services as an agent to arrange for her to deliver some lectures during her stay in America
/18 from John L. Jones, Executive Secretary, Kansas City Open Forum, 1122 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, to Oswald and Cynthia Mosley, 9 Jan, inviting them to address a meeting of the 'Open Forum' and giving details of his previous work for the Independent Labour Party in Britain
/19 from S. K. Ratcliffe, The City Club of New York, to Oswald Mosley, 10 Jan 1926, encouraging him to attend a dinner at the Town Hall Club, a derivative of the League for Political Education
/20 from Sara D. Roosevelt, mother of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 47 East Sixty-Fifth Street, [New York], to Cynthia Mosley, 13 Jan 1926, inviting her to lunch
/21 from James D. Landauer, Douglas L. Elliman & Co, Inc, Real Estate & Insurance, 15 East 49th Street, New York, to Oswald Mosley MP, Hotel St Regis, New York, 14 Jan 1926, inviting him and Cynthia for lunch, to repay the hospitality shown to him and other American students by the Mosleys in London
/22 from Laura Hughes Lunde, Director, Progressive Party, 6708 Olympia Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, to Cynthia Mosley, 14 Jan 1926, inviting her to speak for the Progressive Party on a subject of her choice while she is in Chicago
/23 from Florence Kelley, General Secretary, National Consumers League, 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City, to Cynthia Mosley, 14 Jan 1926, inviting her to address a luncheon arranged by the organisation at the Town Hall
/24 from Herbert Pell, Democratic State Committee, State of New York, 15 East 40th Street, New York City, to Cynthia Mosley, 14 Jan 1926, complimenting her on her recent statements on the concentration of capital and offering his assistance in the methods of American politics and political organisation and inviting her to political meetings convened by his organisation
/25 from William Floyd, editor, 'The Arbitrator', 114 East 31st Street, New York City, to Oswald Mosley, 14 Jan 1926 inviting him and Cynthia to meet 'a group of sympathetic friends, among them Bishop William Montgomery Brown who was recently deposed from the Protestant Episcopal Church on account of his authorship of 'Communism and Christianism''. This letter includes a draft reply written in pencil in an unidentified hand
/26 from Robert Wilberforce, 12 West Fifty-Third Street [New York] to Oswald Mosley, 15 Jan 1926, arranging meetings between the Mosleys and Governor Strong of the Federal Reserve Bank, and 'two editors'
/27 from George H. Cartlidge, Vice President, National Brotherhood of Operative Potters, Trenton, N[ew] J[ersey], to Cynthia Mosley, 15 Jan 1926, arranging a visit to potteries in Trenton
/28 from Morris Hillquit, 214 Riverside Drive, New York City, to Oswald Mosley, 15 Jan 1926, making arrangements to meet him and Cynthia in New York
/29 from F. Wire, S.S. Majestic, to Oswald Mosley, 16 Jan 1926, containing contact details for Aaron Sapiro
/30 from William M. Feigenbaum, 1532 East 10th St, Brooklyn, New York, to Oswald Mosley, 18 Jan 1926, discussing arrangements for the Mosleys to be the guests of Congressman Victor L. Berger in Washington, and a proposed tour of a public school
/31 from Bebe Panetta, Springfield, Mass[achusetts], to Cynthia Mosley, 19 Jan 1926 expressing her admiration for her after reading about her in a newspaper. She emphasises the differences in their fortunes, working for $10 per week she writes 'it's just a life of drudgery for me', and asks for a photograph of Cynthia
/32 from H. B. Brougham, The Century Association, 7 West Forty-Third Street, New York, to Oswald Mosley, 17th Jan 1926, enclosing a letter of introduction to 'Catchings'
/33 from Wallace Clark, Industrial Engineer, 50 West 12th Street, New York, to Oswald Mosley, Hotel St Regis, New York, 19 Jan, enclosing letters of introduction to Mr Weld of Swift & Company and Mr Wood of Sears, Roebuck & Company, and offering to show Mosley some of the chain stores in New York to give him an idea about recent tendencies in methods of distribution
/34 from Algernon Lee, Acting Executive Director, The Rand School of Social Science, Seven East Fifteenth Street, New York City, to Cynthia Mosley, 19 Jan 1926, making arrangements for her and Oswald Mosley to address a public meeting of the Socialist Party, and a dinner organised by the Rand School
/35 from John Daniels, National Secretary, English Speaking Union of the United States, to Cynthia Mosley, 19 Jan 1926, containing contact details for members of the Union in Chicago and California
/36 from Mr and Mrs Frank O'Healy, Saybrook Comm to Cynthia Mosley, 20 Jan 1926, congratulating her on her recent radio speech
/37 from Robert Halpern, Chairman, Committee on Speakers, Social Problems Club, Earl Hall, Columbia University, New York, to Cynthia Mosley, 20 Jan 1926, inviting her and Oswald Mosley to address the student body
/38-/39 from Harry W. Laidler, Executive Director, League for Industrial Democracy, 70 Fifth Avenue, New York City, to Oswald and Cynthia Mosley, St Regis Hotel, 5 Avenue and 55 Street, New York. /38 is dated 20 Jan 1926, containing detailed information about members of various Labour organisations in Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Cleveland and Pittsburgh, together with their contact details. /39 is dated 21 Jan 1926 and recommends that the Mosleys speak at the Columbia University Social Problems Club. It also suggests that they might speak at the University of Chicago Liberal Club
/40 from Edward Levinson, Assistant editor, 'The New Leader', New York, to Cynthia Mosley, 23 Jan 1926, enclosing a newspaper cutting from 'The New York Times' and encouraging her to publish a reply through the columns of 'The New Leader'
/41 from Louis Levine, Institute of Economics, 26 Jackson Place, Washington D.C, to Oswald Mosley, New Willard Hotel, Washington D.C, 23 Jan 1926, inviting him and Cynthia to lunch at the Brookings School of Economics and Government, in order for them to meet the members of this school and of the Institute of Economics. The back of this letter contains pencilled notes in Cynthia Mosley's handwriting on the Labour Movement, possibly intended as memory aids for a speech she was to give
/42 typescript draft of a letter from Thomas Barker, New York Ave & Pacific Street, Jamaica, L.I, to the editor of 'The New York Times', 25 Jan 1926, in reply to an article critical of the Mosleys written by Gerard Maxwell-Willshire. The content of Barker's reply suggests that the criticism was based apparent inconsistencies between their social status and political ideologies
/43 from William J. Tully, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co, New York City, to Oswald Mosley, The New Willard, Washington D.C, 25 Jan 1926, informing him about the welfare work done by his company among its employees and inviting him and Cynthia to view the sanatorium and rest house for employees and meet the company president in New York
/44 from R. F. De George, 400 West 19th Street, New York City, to Cynthia Mosley, The New Willard, Washington D.C, 27 Jan 1926, thanking her for her concern and stating commitment to the [Labour] Movement
/45 from Peggy Mosley Williams, Hotel Adams, Phoenix, Arizona, to Cynthia Mosley, 27 Jan 1926, offering her support and giving an account of her work during the war, her involvement in politics in Albania and her work with American Indians for the American Red Cross. She invites Cynthia and Oswald Mosley to come to New Mexico and view some of the government projects in progress there
/46 from Eugene Debs, office of Theodore Debs, Terre Haute, Ind, to Florence [Hall], 2 Feb 1926, concerning arrangements for a banquet to be held in Chicago for Oswald and Cynthia Mosley
/47 from Jeanette Marks, Head of the Department of English Literature, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts, to Cynthia Mosley, c/o Mr James Oneal, 7 East 15th Street, New York City, 4 Feb 1926, inviting Cynthia to speak on socialism at the college as the guest of the Progressive Reading Club
/48 from Hugh A. Studdert Kennedy, 234-6 Holbrook Building, 58 Sutter Street, San Francisco, California, to Cynthia Mosley c/o American Express Company, New York City, 5 Feb 1926, enclosing a copy of 'The Argonaut' which contains an article about Cynthia and Oswald Mosley
/49 from L. P. Sherwood, The Canadian Club, Ottawa, to Oswald Mosley, c/o American Express Company, 65 Broadway, New York, 9 Feb 1926, asking him to confirm his engagement with the club for 6 Mar
/50 from Ethel W. Thomas, The Womens Canadian Club, Ottawa, to Cynthia Mosley, c/o American Express Company, 65 Broadway, New York City, 12 Feb 1926, inviting her to a luncheon arranged in her honour on the same day that Oswald Mosley is to address the Men's Canadian Club
/51 from Harry W. Laidler, Executive Director, League for Industrial Democracy, 70 Fifth Avenue, New York City, 15 Feb 1926, to Oswald and Cynthia Mosley, American Express Company, 65 Broadway, New York, 15 Feb 1926, asking them to contact him to set a date for a dinner engagement in New York
/52 from Florence S. Hall, 30 E.Ontario Street, Chicago, Ill, to Oswald Mosley, 23 Feb 1926, discussing a proposed banquet to be held in Chicago in his honour, to which Eugene Debs has been invited. The letter also discusses arrangements for Mosley to meet Robert Mons Lovett and Jane Adams, and possibly other members of the Socialist Party
/53 from George R. Kirkpatrick, Acting Executive Secretary, The Socialist Party, 2653 Washington Blvd, Chicago, Ill, to Cynthia Mosley, 2350 Lincoln Park West, Chicago, Ill, 24 Feb 1926, concerning Cynthia's desire to meet Eugene Debs, Jane Adams and Dr Robert Lovett, and Oswald Mosley's wish to see industrial Chicago, and discussing arrangements for meetings and trips through the city. The reverse of this letter contains pencilled notes in Cynthia Mosley's handwriting giving details of the times of meetings arranged with Aaron Sapiro, Jane Adams, Sears Roebuck and others
/54 from Harry W. Laidler, Executive Director, League for Industrial Democracy, 70 Fifth Avenue, New York City, to Oswald Mosley, 2350 Lincoln Park West, Chicago Ill, 1 Mar, 1926, inviting him to dinner in order to meet a group of officers and friends of the League in his house in Brooklyn or elsewhere in New York
/55 telegram from Eugene Debs, Terrehaute, Ind, to Florence S. Hall, 30 East Ontario St, Chicago Ill, with regards and greetings to Oswald and Cynthia Mosley and regrets that he will not be able to attend the banquet given in their honour at the Morrison Hotel
/56 from Genevieve Forbes Herrick, Chicago Tribune, to Cynthia Mosley, 2 Mar 1926, expressing her pleasure at being able to meet her, and commenting on Cynthia's popularity with Chicago journalists
/57 from William M. Feigenbaum, Jewish Daily Forward, 175 East Broadway, New York, to Oswald Mosley, 3 Mar 1926, making arrangements to have lunch with him before he sails from New York. The reverse of this letter contains pencilled notes in Cynthia Mosley's handwriting recording the names of people she met at a lunch appointment arranged for her at the Madison Hotel. Attendees included Morris Hillquit and his wife, Harry Laidler, and William Feigenbaum
/58 from H. B. Barth, Secretary, East Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, East Liverpool, Ohio, to Cynthia Mosley, New York, 8 Mar, informing her that he is sending her some photographs taken during her visit to East Liverpool, together with copies of East Liverpool, Pittsburgh and Cleveland newspapers containing articles of interest to her. He also asks for an autographed photograph of Cynthia for the Chamber of Commerce headquarters
/59 from Haley Fiske, President, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co, New York City, to Cynthia Mosley, Madison Hotel, 15 East 58th Street, New York City, 9 Mar 1926, making arrangements for her and Oswald Mosley to view the company offices and operations
/60 from Harry W. Laidler, Executive Director, League for Industrial Democracy, 70 Fifth Avenue, New York City, to Oswald Mosley, Madison Hotel, 15 East 58 Street, New York City, 10 Mar 1926, thanking him for the opportunity to dine with him and Cynthia and enclosing an article on the Labour banking movement
/61 from Eugene Debs, office of Theodore Debs, Terre Haute, Ind, to Cynthia Mosley, New York City, 10 Mar 1926, congratulating her on the success of her visit to Chicago, and commenting that she has won the hearts of all the comrades. He expresses his hope that the Mosleys visit will benefit the revival of socialist spirit and the reorganisation of the Socialist party which was persecuted during the war
/62 from M. Campbell, Chicago, Ill, to Cynthia Mosley, 14 May, discussing the court case concerning payments from the Leiter Estate Trust
/63 from Julia Ellsworth Ford, 43 West 74th Street, to Oswald Mosley, 19 Aug 1926, enclosing a letter of introduction to Senator Borah and a card for Cynthia Mosley for the privileges of the Cosmopolitan Club for use on their return to America
/64 from Meta Berger, 980 First Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Cynthia and Oswald Mosley, 8 Smith Square, London, 8 Sept, thanking them for their hospitality towards her children and making reference to an unidentified election campaign that she and her husband are involved with.
/65 undated letter from Alice Griswold, to Cynthia Mosley, thanking her and Oswald Mosley for their hospitality in London, and giving her contact details in Pennsylvania in the hope that they will visit her there |