Commonwealth College, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
Commonwealth College was started in 1923 to recruit and train people to take the lead in socio-economic reform and prepare them for unconventional roles in a new and different society. Although in the 1930s commonwealth was essentially orieneted towards training organizers for the rapidly growing labor movement. An outgrowth of Job Harriman
's Newllano Cooperative Colony in Louisiana
, in 1923, William Edward Zeuch, A. James McDonald, and Kate Richards O'Hare
joined with Newllano to found the institute in 1923.
Tensions within cooperative community led to a split and Commonwealth’s founders moved to Mena, Arkansas
in December, 1924 where the institution re-opened the next year.
, long-time director of the American Civil Liberties Union
, was an active member of the advisory board.
The focus of Commonwealth’s founders was initially on self-support to insure independence from outside influence and a mission to educate idealistic leaders for the labor movement. Zeuch served as director until 1931, when after a student led revolt, he accepted a Guggenheim Fellowship to study in Europe for a year and did not return.
For the next six years, leadership of Commonwealth passed to Lucian Koch and an increasing emphasis was placed in activism for farm and labor causes. During this period there was a high level of politics among the students resulting in sharp divisions. At one point the communist group of students asked the administration to bring a black student into the school immediately. This was refused and a strike was called by the communist group. The strike lasted for a short time until the communist students and a few others left the school in a body for Chicago. This strike resulted in a fatal blow to Commonwealth College from which it never really recovered. Many students then at Commonwealth believed that bringing a black student into the school would result in serious trouble, if not a lynching, in the then all-white Polk county in which the school was located. Supposedly a black person had not stayed overnight for years.
Christian socialist the Reverend Claude Williams, "the preaching hillbilly", then served as director from 1937 until 1940. Several people identified with Commonwealth were actively involved during this period in organizing the Southern Tenant Farmers’ Union, which aimed to unite the economic interests of tenant farmers, both black and white, and with the Congress of Industrial Organizations
(CIO). Education for racial tolerance was a key element of this campaign and Commonwealth developed theater and puppet programs for this purpose.
Critics in the state argued that the institution was under Communist influence. Weakened ties with traditional supporters and shaky finances led to proposals for merger with the Highlander Folk School or the operation of a drama center affiliated with the New Theatre League of New York City. Ultimately the property was sold at a Polk County auction to satisfy fines levied against the institution.
Notable alumni include: Gordon McIntire and Reuben Cole, two of the leaders of the Louisiana Farmers' Union Agnes "Sis" Cunningham and Lee Hays, founders with Pete Seeger
of the Almanac Singers
and The Weavers
in New York City (Cunningham also later founded and helped edit Broadside Magazine
); Kenneth Patchen
, a well-known poet and artist; and Orval E. Faubus, six-term governor of Arkansas.
Other labor schools of the time: Denver Labor College, Work People's College
, Brookwood Labor College
(NY), Seattle Labor College and Highlander Folk School (TN). Commonwealth differed by offering a college-level curriculum.
, Bill Cunningham (journalism), John E. Kirkpatrick (author of the American College and Its Rulers, taught labor economics one term), Charlotte Koch (typing, executive secretary), Clay Fulks (law and agricultural problems), E.C. Wilson, Earl C. Hamilton (comparative religions), George Yeisley Rusk, and Lucien Koch.
Job Harriman
Job Harriman was an ordained minister who later became an agnostic and a socialist. In 1900 he ran for Vice President of the United States along with Eugene Debs on the ticket of the Socialist Party of America. He later twice ran for mayor of Los Angeles, drawing considerable attention and support...
's Newllano Cooperative Colony in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, in 1923, William Edward Zeuch, A. James McDonald, and Kate Richards O'Hare
Kate Richards O'Hare
Kate Richards O'Hare was an American Socialist Party activist, editor, and orator best known for her controversial imprisonment during World War I.-Biography:...
joined with Newllano to found the institute in 1923.
Tensions within cooperative community led to a split and Commonwealth’s founders moved to Mena, Arkansas
Mena, Arkansas
Mena is a city in Polk County, Arkansas, United States. It is also the county seat of Polk County.It was founded by Arthur Edward Stilwell during the building of the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad . It was Stilwell who decided Mena would be the name of this new town along the route to...
in December, 1924 where the institution re-opened the next year.
History and approach
Commonwealth College aimed to recruit and train people to take the lead in socio-economic reform and prepare them for unconventional roles in a new and different society. Students, staff, and faculty all worked together in the operation of the institution, from growing and preparing food to the construction and maintenance of buildings, each student was required to donate 20 hours of labor per week either in the carpenter shop or in the fields sometimes even driving a team of giant white Arkansas mules. There was a lot of curiosity nationally in Commonwealth. As an example, Roger Nash BaldwinRoger Nash Baldwin
Roger Nash Baldwin was one of the founders of the American Civil Liberties Union . He served as executive director of the ACLU until 1950....
, long-time director of the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
, was an active member of the advisory board.
The focus of Commonwealth’s founders was initially on self-support to insure independence from outside influence and a mission to educate idealistic leaders for the labor movement. Zeuch served as director until 1931, when after a student led revolt, he accepted a Guggenheim Fellowship to study in Europe for a year and did not return.
For the next six years, leadership of Commonwealth passed to Lucian Koch and an increasing emphasis was placed in activism for farm and labor causes. During this period there was a high level of politics among the students resulting in sharp divisions. At one point the communist group of students asked the administration to bring a black student into the school immediately. This was refused and a strike was called by the communist group. The strike lasted for a short time until the communist students and a few others left the school in a body for Chicago. This strike resulted in a fatal blow to Commonwealth College from which it never really recovered. Many students then at Commonwealth believed that bringing a black student into the school would result in serious trouble, if not a lynching, in the then all-white Polk county in which the school was located. Supposedly a black person had not stayed overnight for years.
Christian socialist the Reverend Claude Williams, "the preaching hillbilly", then served as director from 1937 until 1940. Several people identified with Commonwealth were actively involved during this period in organizing the Southern Tenant Farmers’ Union, which aimed to unite the economic interests of tenant farmers, both black and white, and with the Congress of Industrial Organizations
Congress of Industrial Organizations
The Congress of Industrial Organizations, or CIO, proposed by John L. Lewis in 1932, was a federation of unions that organized workers in industrial unions in the United States and Canada from 1935 to 1955. The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 required union leaders to swear that they were not...
(CIO). Education for racial tolerance was a key element of this campaign and Commonwealth developed theater and puppet programs for this purpose.
Critics in the state argued that the institution was under Communist influence. Weakened ties with traditional supporters and shaky finances led to proposals for merger with the Highlander Folk School or the operation of a drama center affiliated with the New Theatre League of New York City. Ultimately the property was sold at a Polk County auction to satisfy fines levied against the institution.
Notable alumni include: Gordon McIntire and Reuben Cole, two of the leaders of the Louisiana Farmers' Union Agnes "Sis" Cunningham and Lee Hays, founders with Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger
Peter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
of the Almanac Singers
Almanac Singers
The Almanac Singers were a group of folk musicians who, as their name indicates, specialized in topical songs, especially songs connected with the labor movement...
and The Weavers
The Weavers
The Weavers were an American folk music quartet based in the Greenwich Village area of New York City. They sang traditional folk songs from around the world, as well as blues, gospel music, children's songs, labor songs, and American ballads, and selling millions of records at the height of their...
in New York City (Cunningham also later founded and helped edit Broadside Magazine
Broadside Magazine
Broadside Magazine was a small mimeographed publication founded in 1962 by Agnes "Sis" Cunningham and her husband, Gordon Friesen. Hugely influential in the folk-revival, it was often controversial. Issues of what is folk music, what is folk rock, and who is folk were roundly discussed and debated...
); Kenneth Patchen
Kenneth Patchen
Kenneth Patchen was an American poet and novelist. Though he denied any direct connection, Patchen's work and ideas regarding the role of artists paralleled those of the Dadaists, the Beats, and Surrealists...
, a well-known poet and artist; and Orval E. Faubus, six-term governor of Arkansas.
Other labor schools of the time: Denver Labor College, Work People's College
Work People's College
A Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church of America folk school founded, September 1903, in Minneapolis, Minnesota served as a predecessor for Work People's College...
, Brookwood Labor College
Brookwood Labor College
Brookwood Labor College was the first residential labor college in the United States. The school was established in 1921 near Katonah, New York. The school was closely supported by affiliate unions of the American Federation of Labor until 1928, when pressure began to be exerted by the AF of L's...
(NY), Seattle Labor College and Highlander Folk School (TN). Commonwealth differed by offering a college-level curriculum.
Faculty
Faculty at Commonwealth included: F.M. Goodhue (mathematics and statistics), Covington Hall (labor history), William Clark Benton (history and law), Kate Richards O'HareKate Richards O'Hare
Kate Richards O'Hare was an American Socialist Party activist, editor, and orator best known for her controversial imprisonment during World War I.-Biography:...
, Bill Cunningham (journalism), John E. Kirkpatrick (author of the American College and Its Rulers, taught labor economics one term), Charlotte Koch (typing, executive secretary), Clay Fulks (law and agricultural problems), E.C. Wilson, Earl C. Hamilton (comparative religions), George Yeisley Rusk, and Lucien Koch.
See also
- Almanac SingersAlmanac SingersThe Almanac Singers were a group of folk musicians who, as their name indicates, specialized in topical songs, especially songs connected with the labor movement...
- Congress of Industrial OrganizationsCongress of Industrial OrganizationsThe Congress of Industrial Organizations, or CIO, proposed by John L. Lewis in 1932, was a federation of unions that organized workers in industrial unions in the United States and Canada from 1935 to 1955. The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 required union leaders to swear that they were not...
- Folk High SchoolFolk high schoolFolk high schools are institutions for adult education that generally do not grant academic degrees, though certain courses might exist leading to that goal...
- Nikolaj Frederik Severin GrundtvigNikolaj Frederik Severin GrundtvigNikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig , most often referred to as simply N. F. S. Grundtvig, was a Danish pastor, author, poet, philosopher, historian, teacher, and politician. He was one of the most influential people in Danish history, as his philosophy gave rise to a new form of nationalism in...
- Lee Hays
- Highlander Folk School
- The WeaversThe WeaversThe Weavers were an American folk music quartet based in the Greenwich Village area of New York City. They sang traditional folk songs from around the world, as well as blues, gospel music, children's songs, labor songs, and American ballads, and selling millions of records at the height of their...