20. [Together, A Rare Run of 50 Issues of this Important Antifascist Newsletter] Simmons, Anne, Birkhead, L. M. , Hoke, Henry’; editors

THE PROPAGANDA BATTLEFRONT, VOL. I, 1943. NOS. 3-7, 9-10, 12 (March 15- Dec 1, 1943) [8 ISSUES]

New York: Friends of Democracy, Inc. 1943. Item #36685

4to. Stapled, 4to, 4 pages each issue. Antifascist newsletter. Began with vol. 1, no. 1 (Jan. 15, 1943); ceased with vol. 4, no. 21 (Nov. 15, 1946).
"Friends of Democracy, Inc. (FOD) was organized in Kansas City, Missouri in 1937 by Unitarian minister Leon M. Birkhead. The group described itself as 'a non-partisan, non-sectarian, non-profit, anti-totalitarian propaganda agency.' In 1939 their offices were moved to New York City, an early branch of the group. In 1942 propagandist Rex Stout later became chairman of Friends of Democracy. John Dewey, Thomas Mann, Van Wyck Brooks, and Will Durant were also prominent members.
By 1939 the Friends of Democracy had files on over 800 pro-NS Germany organizations in America. The group issued a journal called The Propaganda Battlefront and Democracy’s Battle....
The group was the forerunner of today’s 'watchdog' organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center" that track hate groups (Wikipedia). SUBJECT (S): Propaganda – periodicals; World War, 1939-1945. OCLC: 12289250. Most holdings are extremely fragmentary; issues from Vol. I (1943) seem to be especially scarce. Good condition with tears to margins of paper wrappers. (B) (MX-2-30-RD'CC-'emma).

Price: $800.00