Irish American Unity

The papers, collected or created by Stephen Thornton, consist of alternative newspapers, flyers, pamphlets, notes, correspondence, writings, and campaign or political buttons. Topics among the materials are those that were of personal interest or were part of Mr. Thornton's labor organizing and social activist activities. These include the Peoples Bicentennial Commission (a populist alternative to the 1976 Bicentennial celebration), the Anti-Racist Coalition of Connecticut, anti-apartheid work (in particular the push to divest the pension funds of the city of Hartford from investing in South African corporations in the 1980s), anti-Ku Klux Klan rallies, training in non-violent protests, organizing against nuclear power, strikes in Connecticut including the Colt strike from 1985-1989, anti-racist publications, tenant issues in Hartford, and worker health and safety, among many other topics. The collection also includes local organizing buttons collected by Mr. Thornton during rallies and protests he organized or in which he participated.

The information about strikes represents support work Mr. Thornton and ad-hoc community committees performed on behalf of the strikers. Many of the flyers and leaflets found in the collection for the strikes were created by Mr. Thornton.

All information on Ku Klux Klan materials has been consolidated into box 1.

Of special interest are arrest citations Mr. Thornton received. Materials relating to the Hartford Unit of Irish Northern Aid were collected from Richard Lawlor of Hartford.