Search collections

Twentieth Century Radicalism in Minnesota Oral History Project: Interview with Joseph Swan and Bernice Fossum

Titles: Twentieth Century Radicalism in Minnesota Oral History Project: Interview with Joseph Swan and Bernice Fossum (Supplied title)

Description: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Joe Swan was born at the family homestead near Galva, North Dakota, in 1914. He spent part of his childhood in Freeborn, Minnesota, but graduated from high school in Madison, South Dakota. He went to college at the University of Iowa and studied art. In 1937 he moved to Minneapolis (without having earned his degree) to further his study of art. Having been radicalized by the Spanish Civil War, Swan joined the Communist Party in Minneapolis. He worked for the Works Progress Administration's Federal Art Project, and was a member of the Artists' Union. When the United States entered the Second World War, he enlisted in the Air Force in order to learn how to fly airplanes. He left Minnesota at that point (1942) and did not return. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Swan tells of his activities in support of labor union struggles through benefits, free artwork, and strike support. He discusses the grievances which led to the formation of the Artists' Union; his participation in the Minneapolis Theatre Union's productions; tension with the Socialist Workers' Party; and the personalities and politics of various artists he knew. Fossum and Swan reminisce about their lives as struggling artists in Minneapolis in the 1930s, and reflect on some of the Communist Party lines and activities. The interview is rich in personal information about many artists in the leftist/WPA circle. COMMENTS ON INTERVIEW: Swan and Fossum paint an appealing and humorous picture of their lives during this time. This interview took place after a longer interview between Salerno and Fossum, and she refers to people and incidents which were covered in the earlier interview. There is a lot of background noise on the tape. Not all of the spellings of the names could be verified.

Dates

  • 02/16/1988 (Creation)

Creation

Identifiers

Holding Type: Oral History - Interview

Project

Quantity: 1.5 hours sound cassette 31 pages transcript

Format

  • Content Category: sound recordings
  • Content Category: text

Measurements

  • 01:28:17 running time

Subjects

How can we help?

Documents

Audio:

Audio Part 1

Collections items are not for sale.
A reproduction can be purchased.

Audio Part 2

Collections items are not for sale.
A reproduction can be purchased.