Prynce Hopkins
Encyclopedia
Prynce Hopkins who was born Prince Charles Hopkins, was an American Socialist, pacifist and author of numerous psychology books and periodicals. He was jailed and fined for his strident anti-war views, pro-union activities, and investigated for his associations with such social reformers as Upton Sinclair
and Emma Goldman
.
He graduated from Stanford University with a Master’s degree and the University of Wisconsin with a doctorate in psychology. Hopkins also lectured at the University of Wisconsin. In Europe, he studied pathology at the University Hospital in Nancy, France, and La Salpetiere Hospital in Paris.
Hopkins was known for his unorthodox approach to social reform. He advocated theories that gangsters can be reformed by hypnotism. His interests in mixing psychology, social reform and theology resulted in several books, including Father or Sons? (1927),
The Psychology of Social Movements; a Psycho-Analytic View of Society (1938) and From Gods to Dictators: Psychology of Religions and their Totalitarian Substitutes (1944).
Hopkins lived in Santa Barbara
, Calif., and in 1912 opened a progressive boys' boarding school, Boyland, on a 32 acres (129,499.5 m²) estate. The school employed a number of social programs for his students who were considered incorrigible. The school, however, was short-lived. When the United States entered World War I
in 1917, Hopkins became a vocal anti-war protester. He also worked with anarchists Emma Goldman
and Alexander Berkman
for the anti-war organization League for Amnesty of Political Prisoners. When Goldman was imprisoned for her anti-war activities, Hopkins became chairman of the League.
Hopkins closed Boyland and founded a similar institution in France. On January 12, 1921, while still in exile in Europe, Hopkins married Eileen Thomas of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom, at St. Peter’s Church in London before embarking on a six-month honeymoon around the world.
By 1922, he returned to the United States to edit Labor Age
magazine, which was associated with the Socialist League for Industrial Democracy
. He also worked with Upton Sinclair and the Industrial Workers of the World
labor organization. At the same time he renewed his friendship with fellow Socialist Rob Wagner, later editor and publisher of Script, a literary film magazine. Wagner had sent his two sons to Boyland. Wagner also introduced Hopkins to other leftists such as writers William B. DeMille and Max Eastman
.
Attending a rally for 600 striking dockworkers in San Pedro, California, in 1923, Hopkins was arrested with Sinclair. who was addressing the strikers in a speech. Sinclair’s crime was attempting to recite the First Amendment of the Constitution.
, Hopkins, who by then was 57 years old, returned to his anti-war activities and founded Freedom magazine in Pasadena
, Calif. Freedom, published quarterly, was a vocal political publication that offered an assortment of medical, social, psychological and pacifist reports to its small, but supportive, circle of readers.
Freedom's contributors included an eclectic group of writers. Dr. Daniel H. Kress, one of the first physicians to recognize the health dangers of tobacco. Harold F. Bing, who was imprisoned during World War I as a conscientious objector and was active in War Resisters' International, wrote regularly for the magazine. Among other contributors were Dr. Abraham H. Maslow, considered the father of Humanism in psychology; Ada Farris, a writer for Script and the Saturday Evening Post; and Gilean Douglas, who wrote for New Mexico Quarterly. Los Angeles artist Leo Politi
contributed regular artwork.
Father or Sons? (K.Paul, Trench, Trubner, 1927)
The Psychology of Social Movements; a Psycho-Analytic View of Society (London, G. Allen & Unwin, 1938)
Aids to Successful Study (London, G. Allen & Unwin, 1941)
From Gods to Dictators: Psychology of Religions and their Totalitarian Substitutes (Girard, Kan., Haldeman-Julius Publications, 1944)
A Westerner Looks East (Los Angeles, W. F. Lewis, 1951)
Both Hands Before The Fire (Penobscot, Me., Traversity Press, 1962)
The Social Psychology of Religious Experience (New York, Paine-Whitman, 1962)
World Invisible (Penobscot, Me., Traversity Press, 1963)
Orientation, Socialization and Individuation (Asia Publishing House, 1963)
Boyland History
/ Prynce Hopkins' unionist activities
/ Hopkins' anti-war activities
Upton Sinclair
Upton Beall Sinclair Jr. , was an American author who wrote close to one hundred books in many genres. He achieved popularity in the first half of the twentieth century, acquiring particular fame for his classic muckraking novel, The Jungle . It exposed conditions in the U.S...
and Emma Goldman
Emma Goldman
Emma Goldman was an anarchist known for her political activism, writing and speeches. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europe in the first half of the twentieth century....
.
Background
Prynce Hopkins, who also spelled his name Prince or Pryns, was a wealthy Californian described by the New York Times as the "Socialist Millionaire." One of his publishers described Hopkins as an “eccentric, queer English duck," an indication of his affectation in speech and manner that he carried throughout his life. He had inherited a sewing machine manufacturing empire and used his money to fund leftist causes and self-publish books on psychoanalysis, social reform and religion.He graduated from Stanford University with a Master’s degree and the University of Wisconsin with a doctorate in psychology. Hopkins also lectured at the University of Wisconsin. In Europe, he studied pathology at the University Hospital in Nancy, France, and La Salpetiere Hospital in Paris.
Hopkins was known for his unorthodox approach to social reform. He advocated theories that gangsters can be reformed by hypnotism. His interests in mixing psychology, social reform and theology resulted in several books, including Father or Sons? (1927),
The Psychology of Social Movements; a Psycho-Analytic View of Society (1938) and From Gods to Dictators: Psychology of Religions and their Totalitarian Substitutes (1944).
Hopkins lived in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, Calif., and in 1912 opened a progressive boys' boarding school, Boyland, on a 32 acres (129,499.5 m²) estate. The school employed a number of social programs for his students who were considered incorrigible. The school, however, was short-lived. When the United States entered World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in 1917, Hopkins became a vocal anti-war protester. He also worked with anarchists Emma Goldman
Emma Goldman
Emma Goldman was an anarchist known for her political activism, writing and speeches. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europe in the first half of the twentieth century....
and Alexander Berkman
Alexander Berkman
Alexander Berkman was an anarchist known for his political activism and writing. He was a leading member of the anarchist movement in the early 20th century....
for the anti-war organization League for Amnesty of Political Prisoners. When Goldman was imprisoned for her anti-war activities, Hopkins became chairman of the League.
Arrests
During the same period, he was indicted by a federal Grand Jury on charges of violating the Espionage Act and arrested. His arrest was based less on spying and more for impeding Army recruiting. The U.S. Department of Justice raided Boyland and seized anti-war literature and other material as evidence. On August 30, 1918, he pleaded guilty and was fined $27,000.Hopkins closed Boyland and founded a similar institution in France. On January 12, 1921, while still in exile in Europe, Hopkins married Eileen Thomas of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom, at St. Peter’s Church in London before embarking on a six-month honeymoon around the world.
By 1922, he returned to the United States to edit Labor Age
Labor Age
Labor Age was a left-labor monthly magazine published by the Labor Publication Society from 1921-1933. It succeeded the Socialist Review, journal of the Intercollegiate Socialist Society. Labor Age aligned with the League for Industrial Democracy, and during 1929-33 the magazine was affiliated...
magazine, which was associated with the Socialist League for Industrial Democracy
League for Industrial Democracy
The League for Industrial Democracy , from 1960-1965 known as the Students for a Democratic Society , was founded in 1905 by a group of notable socialists including Harry W. Laidler, Jack London, Norman Thomas, Upton Sinclair, and J.G. Phelps Stokes...
. He also worked with Upton Sinclair and the Industrial Workers of the World
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...
labor organization. At the same time he renewed his friendship with fellow Socialist Rob Wagner, later editor and publisher of Script, a literary film magazine. Wagner had sent his two sons to Boyland. Wagner also introduced Hopkins to other leftists such as writers William B. DeMille and Max Eastman
Max Eastman
Max Forrester Eastman was an American writer on literature, philosophy and society, a poet, and a prominent political activist. For many years, Eastman was a supporter of socialism, a leading patron of the Harlem Renaissance and an activist for a number of liberal and radical causes...
.
Attending a rally for 600 striking dockworkers in San Pedro, California, in 1923, Hopkins was arrested with Sinclair. who was addressing the strikers in a speech. Sinclair’s crime was attempting to recite the First Amendment of the Constitution.
Freedom magazine
At the outbreak of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Hopkins, who by then was 57 years old, returned to his anti-war activities and founded Freedom magazine in Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, Calif. Freedom, published quarterly, was a vocal political publication that offered an assortment of medical, social, psychological and pacifist reports to its small, but supportive, circle of readers.
Freedom's contributors included an eclectic group of writers. Dr. Daniel H. Kress, one of the first physicians to recognize the health dangers of tobacco. Harold F. Bing, who was imprisoned during World War I as a conscientious objector and was active in War Resisters' International, wrote regularly for the magazine. Among other contributors were Dr. Abraham H. Maslow, considered the father of Humanism in psychology; Ada Farris, a writer for Script and the Saturday Evening Post; and Gilean Douglas, who wrote for New Mexico Quarterly. Los Angeles artist Leo Politi
Leo Politi
Leo Politi was an Italian-American artist and author who wrote and illustrated some 20 children's books, as well as Bunker Hill, Los Angeles , intended for adults...
contributed regular artwork.
Published work
Published Works by Prynce Hopkins listed in the Library of Congress:Father or Sons? (K.Paul, Trench, Trubner, 1927)
The Psychology of Social Movements; a Psycho-Analytic View of Society (London, G. Allen & Unwin, 1938)
Aids to Successful Study (London, G. Allen & Unwin, 1941)
From Gods to Dictators: Psychology of Religions and their Totalitarian Substitutes (Girard, Kan., Haldeman-Julius Publications, 1944)
A Westerner Looks East (Los Angeles, W. F. Lewis, 1951)
Both Hands Before The Fire (Penobscot, Me., Traversity Press, 1962)
The Social Psychology of Religious Experience (New York, Paine-Whitman, 1962)
World Invisible (Penobscot, Me., Traversity Press, 1963)
Orientation, Socialization and Individuation (Asia Publishing House, 1963)
Sources
/ The Archives of the History of American PsychologyBoyland History
/ Prynce Hopkins' unionist activities
/ Hopkins' anti-war activities