Guide to the James R. Cox Papers, 1904-1950, (bulk 1923-1950) AIS.1969.05

Arrangement

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
James R. Cox Papers
Creator
Cox, James R.
Collection Number
AIS.1969.05
Extent
4.38 Linear Feet
Date
1904-1950
Abstract
James R. Cox, a son of a Pittsburgh millworker, was a Pittsburgh Catholic priest and a political and social activist. The collection contains Father Cox's diary (1904), scrapbooks of newspaper clippings (1923-1951), 426 photographs, and 28 audio cassettes of radio broadcasts, sermons, and hymns (1944-50). Digital reproductions of the collection are available online.
Language
English .
Author
Archives Service Center Staff. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process on September 29, 1999 and May 20, 2004.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Biography

James R. Cox was born in 1886. He was a Pittsburgh Catholic priest, political and social activist, and the son of a millworker. During the Depression he organized a food-relief program and helped the homeless and unemployed find shelter. In January 1932 Cox led a march of 15,000-20,000 unemployed Pennsylvanians to Washington, D.C. He hoped that a demonstration of the unemployed in Washington would stir Congress to start a public works program. This did not happen at the time, but the march sparked the formation of the Jobless Party in Pittsburgh. The Jobless Party supported government public works and labor unions, and spread to other major cities. James Cox became the Jobless Party's first presidential candidate but in September 1932 Cox pulled out of the election giving his support to the Democratic ticket and Franklin Roosevelt. This effectively led to the demise of the Jobless Party.

After the presidential election of 1932 Cox continued his relief work and was a member of the Pennsylvania Commission for the Unemployed. In the mid-thirties Roosevelt appointed him to the state recovery board of the National Recovery Administration. James Cox became known as Pittsburgh's "Pastor of the Poor."

For information on Cox's presidential campaign see Andrew I. Krupnick's "Father Cox's Campaign for the Presidency of the United States [in 1932; a diary]." (ais MS 5)

Scope and Content Notes

The James R. Cox Papers include a diary (1904), scrapbooks of newspaper clippings (1923-1951), 426 photographs, and 28 audiocassettes of radio broadcasts, sermons, and hymns (1944-50).

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mrs. Earl J. Cox, sister-in-law of Father James Cox, February 21, 1969.

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital reproductions from this collection are available at http://historicpittsburgh.org/collection/father-cox-papers.

Previous Citation

James R. Cox Papers, 1923-1950, AIS.1969.05, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Preferred Citation

James R. Cox Papers, 1923-1950, AIS.1969.05, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Archives Service Center Staff in 1969.

Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Kate Colligan on September 29, 1999 and Dan Horvath on May 20, 2004. Information about the collection title and the controlled access terms was extracted from the MARC record in the University of Pittsburgh catalog Voyager ID number: 1403450

Copyright

Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Jobless Party (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

    Personal Names

    • Cox, James R.

    Geographic Names

    • Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Economic conditions
    • United States -- Politics and government -- 1929-1933

    Other Subjects

    • Priests -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Depressions -- 1929 -- United States
    • Unemployed -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Unemployed -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny County
    • Personal papers
    • Social action
    • Labor

Container List