Converted to EAD3 : Encoded Archival Description (EAD), Version 3 : Release: 1.1.1 : Release Date: 2019-12-16. Validating against latest version of schema.
Contact information: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/mss.contact
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/mm00084743
Collection material in English
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
The papers of Henry Spira, animal welfare advocate and political activist, were given to the Library of Congress by Peter Singer between 2000 and 2011. Additional items were given by Andrew N. Rowan in 2003.
The papers of Henry Spira were arranged and described in 2017 by Colleen Benoit, Karen Linn Femia, and Nate Scheible with the assistance of Jake Bozza.
Digital files were received as part of the papers of Henry Spira on a variety of storage media, each of which was assigned a unique digital ID number. Use the digital ID number to request access copies of the files associated with each media. A description of the standard processes taken on all born digital records can be found in the Processing History Note: Born Digital Collection Material at https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.digital.
Items have been transferred from the Manuscript Division to other custodial divisions of the Library. Some periodicals have been transferred to the Serial & Government Publications Division. Audiovisual materials were transferred to the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division. All transfers are identified as part of the Henry Spira Papers.
Other papers of Henry Spira can be found in the Parks Library of Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Henry Spira is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Restrictions apply governing the use, photoduplication, or publication of items in this collection. Consult reference staff in the Manuscript Division for information concerning these restrictions. In addition, many collections are stored-off site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use. Access to digital content is available onsite only in the Manuscript Reading Room and requires advanced notice. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Container or digital ID number, Henry Spira Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
The papers of Henry Spira (1927-1998) span the years 1906 to 2002, with the bulk of the material dating between 1974 and 1998. The papers are organized into the following series: Personal File, Correspondence, Political File, Animal Rights International, Laboratory Animal Welfare, Farm Animal Welfare, Animal Welfare Organizations, Alphabetical File, Digital Files, Restricted, and Oversize.
The collection primarily focuses on Spira’s work as an activist in the animal welfare movement and as the founder and coordinator of Animal Rights International from 1974 until his death in 1998. The papers chronicle Spira’s activities and philosophies and document the strategies he employed to advance the animal welfare agenda. Represented to a lesser extent are materials reflecting Spira’s political activism as a supporter of the Socialist Workers Party and member of the National Maritime Union of America in the years before he became involved in the animal welfare movement. Evidence of Spira’s focus on the significant role of the individual and "power of one" is found throughout the collection and marks an important aspect of his personal philosophy. There is little documentation of Spira’s life before he emigrated from Europe.
Many of the file groupings and folder titles were created and maintained by Spira. As a result, the collection is highly interconnected with related topical files found in multiple locations within and across series. Cross references between related topics with differing folder titles were noted where possible.
The Personal File comprises documentation of Spira’s life and work between the years 1937 and 2000. This series includes an extensive collection of Spira’s writings and notes, material relating to speaking engagements, his education, and teaching career at Haaren High School in New York City. Copies of documents retrieved through Freedom of Information Act requests detail federal investigations of Spira in the 1950s and 1960s as a result of his socialist political views. Material regarding Spira’s service in the United States Army and United States Merchant Marines is documented in this series to a minimal extent.
The Correspondence series primarily includes Spira's outgoing letters and is organized into chronological and subject groupings. It spans the period 1950 to 1998, with the bulk of the correspondence concentrated between 1979 and 1998, when Spira was most focused on the animal welfare movement. This series includes both personal and professional correspondence, though given the grassroots nature of the animal welfare movement and the close collaboration that existed among those involved, the line dividing this distinction is often blurred.
The Political File comprises material relating to Spira’s activism outside of the animal welfare movement, from 1906 to 1998. The bulk of the material dates between 1955 and 1972. The files in this series frequently reflect Spira’s embrace of radical political views, specifically the political philosophy of Leon Trotsky and ideals of the Socialist Workers Party. A large portion of the series documents Spira’s involvement in the National Maritime Union of America, especially as editor of
The Animal Rights International series pertains to the operations and administrative functions of Animal Rights International (ARI), the non-profit animal welfare organization established by Spira in 1974 and granted tax exempt status in 1985. Spira founded the organization with the goal of reducing institutional cruelty to animals through incremental change. Spira and ARI intentionally avoided the "all or nothing" approach to improving animal welfare made popular by many other organizations operating around the same time. Instead, Spira and ARI pursued a strategy of gradual, but measurable change and relied on insight from networks of individuals and organizations representing corporate, academic, and regulatory sectors. Primarily operated by Spira alone, the bulk of this series reflects Spira’s work as ARI's coordinator and includes notes, annual reports, strategic planning documents, and calendars. The material ranges from 1976 through Spira's death in 1998 and terminates in 2002. Peter Singer served as president of the organization in the years beyond Spira's death.
The Laboratory Animal Welfare file documents Spira’s and Animal Rights International’s strategies to encourage multinational corporations, state and national institutions, and the cosmetics industry to work towards eliminating unnecessary testing on animals and funding research seeking alternatives to in vivo testing. The documents range over the period between 1956 to 1998, with the bulk concentrated between 1974 and 1989. Paramount among these files are those documenting the many campaigns and coalitions Spira organized under the auspices of Animal Rights International. The campaign against Revlon and the Draize test is heavily documented, as is the Coalition to Abolish the LD50 and Animal Rights International’s first endeavor, the campaign against the American Museum of Natural History's use of cats in research experiments.
The Farm Animal Welfare series reflects Spira’s activities in farm animal welfare. The material dates from 1973 to 1998, with the bulk focusing on the years between 1982 and 1998, when Spira began shifting his focus from the treatment of laboratory animals to that of farm animals. The series documents Spira’s conviction that large corporations evaluate their practices in order to "replace" the use of food animals, "reduce" the number of animals used, or "refine" practices to minimize the pain and suffering experienced by food animals. Spira and others referred to this tactic as the “three r’s,” and the strategy is evidenced throughout the campaigns represented in this series targeting major food animal industry corporations. The campaign against Perdue Farms, which Spira targeted as a means to raise public consciousness about modern factory farming practices, represents the most heavily documented campaign in the series.
The Animal Welfare Organizations file documents the activities, functions, fundraising campaigns, and publications of a variety of animal welfare organizations operating in the United States, Europe, and Australia during the same years as Animal Rights International. The series spans the years 1960 to 1998, with the bulk of material concentrated between 1974 and 1996. In some cases, correspondence between Spira and organization leaders is included, providing evidence of Spira’s efforts to collaborate and build coalitions between organizations and individuals active in the animal welfare community.
The Alphabetical File holds a wide range of files regarding organizations, individuals, magazines and newspapers, and a variety of topics relating to animal welfare issues, other political and environmental issues, and health. The material ranges from 1916 to 1998, with the majority of the files dating between 1980 and 1996.
The Digital Files series consists of digital files stored on floppy disks found in the collection and includes word and text files created by Spira between 1985 and 1993. Outgoing correspondence represents the majority of the files, but also included are notes, contact listings, reports documenting activities and achievements of Animal Rights International, and many of Spira's articles.
This collection is arranged in eleven series:
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/mm00084743
Material relating to Spira’s life and work. Spira’s writings and notes form a significant portion of this series and include essays, articles, and op-eds, most of which focus on topics relating to the animal welfare movement and the various campaigns in which Spira was involved. Earlier writings include many articles written under the pen name Henry Gitano for the Socialist Workers Party newspaper the
Essays, articles, op-eds, notes, contacts, clippings, tributes, biographical sketches, transcripts, correspondence, reports, book proposals, awards, and manuscripts.
Arranged alphabetically by topic.
Primarily copies of letters sent by Spira, organized into two categories: chronological file and subject file. The chronological file comprises Spira’s outgoing correspondence relating to various animal welfare campaigns in which he was involved, and it is often interspersed with related planning information, notes, and writings. Correspondents include members of Congress involved in animal welfare related legislation; representatives from other animal welfare organizations; companies and institutions who were targets of Spira’s campaigns; and a variety of television, radio, and print media outlets. Notable individuals include Pegeen Fitzgerald, Leonard Rack, Andrew Rowan, Peter Singer, and Frankie Trull. While most of the correspondence focuses on animal welfare activism and activities, early handwritten drafts of personal letters to family and friends from the 1950s detail his personal life and work as a merchant seaman. Some of these letters are addressed to Myra Tanner Weiss, a fellow Trotskyite and three-time United States Vice-Presidential candidate of the Socialist Workers Party, with whom Spira had a personal relationship. The subject file consists of copies of outgoing letters written by Spira to media outlets, thank you letters, condolences, and a “trouble” file detailing incidents and issues of concern to Spira. Researchers should note that most of the incoming correspondence is found throughout the collection in other series within the various topical, subject, and alphabetical files relating to campaigns, issues, and individuals.
Correspondence and related attachements.
Arranged chronologically by year in the chronological file and alphabetically by topic in the subject file.
Material documenting Spira's political activism, particularly his support of Leon Trotsky's political philosophy and the ideals of the Socialist Workers Party. Spira’s involvement in the National Maritime Union of America, especially as editor of
Writings, newspaper clippings, printed matter, and ephemera.
Arranged alphabetically by topic.
Material documenting to the administrative functions of Animal Rights International (ARI), the non-profit animal welfare advocacy organization founded by Spira in 1974. Annual progress reports compiled by Spira detailing ARI's significant campaigns and accomplishments are included in this series, as are annual diaries and calendars recording Spira’s daily appointments and actions. Notes, clippings, and writings chronicle Spira's ideas for organizational strategy and planning from 1980 to 1994. Also included is evidence of contributions from consultants, part-time assistants, an advisory committee he nicknamed "Troika," and regular collaborative meetings with other animal welfare activists. To a lesser extent, administrative matters such as the organization’s name registration dispute, postage privileges, various contact lists, staffing, and funding matters can also be found within this series. Researchers should note that information detailing ARI's targeted media campaigns and advertisements can be found in the Laboratory Animal Welfare File, Farm Animal Welfare File, and Alphabetical File.
Annual reports, notes, calendars, diaries, and correspondence.
Arranged alphabetically by topic.
Material documenting the strategies Spira and Animal Rights International employed to discourage institutional reliance on animals for product testing and experimentation and to encourage adoption of non-animal alternatives. Files reflecting Spira's and Animal Rights International's many campaigns and coalitions targeting specific tests and the use of animals in laboratories comprise the bulk of this series. Campaigns of note include the Coalition to Stop Draize Rabbit Blinding Tests, which targeted Revlon and its use of the Draize test on rabbits; the Coalition to Abolish the Metcalf-Hatch Act, which resulted in the repeal of New York State’s Public Health law allowing use of unclaimed dogs and cats in shelters for research experiments; and the Coalition the Abolish the LD50, which challenged the relevancy of several major corporations’ use of the acute toxicity “death test” to determine lethal dosage of household chemicals. Material documenting Spira’s demonstration against the American Museum of Natural History and its experiments using cats is also included. Files containing correspondence, printed matter, shareholder information, and notes detailing the operations and functions of multinational corporations such as Procter & Gamble Company, Bristol-Myers Company, and Colgate-Palmolive Company illustrate the ways in which Spira and Animal Rights International sought to track animal experimentation and identify targets for campaigns. Files relating to the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, Soap and Detergent Association, and the Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing document Spira's efforts to establish alternatives to animal testing.
Correspondence, notes, printed matter, newspapers clippings, advertisements, photographs, drafts, surveys, and Freedom of Information Act requests.
Arranged alphabetically by topic.
Documentation of Spira’s campaigns to encourage major food animal companies and consumers to replace, reduce, or refine their use of animals as food products. The idea of replacement and reduction of animals is evidenced most through Animal Rights International’s non-violent food campaign, including its promotion of a vegetarian lifestyle. These files contain a large number of advertisements and research regarding the health benefits of a meatless diet. The majority of the series, however, focuses on encouraging companies to refine their practices to eliminate unnecessary suffering, specifically with regard to how food animals are slaughtered, transported, and housed. The Perdue Farms campaign is the most documented of these efforts and includes files relating to the living conditions and treatment of Perdue’s chickens, advertisements emphasizing the company’s exploitation of workers, and materials relating to the company’s president and CEO, Frank Perdue. Other corporations Spira targeted as part of his farm animal welfare campaigns include McDonald’s Corporation, Kentucky Fried Chicken Corporation, PepsiCo, Inc., and John Morrell & Co. Extensive research files within the series include legislation, regulations, and standards in the farming industry, both domestically and internationally. Other topics represented throughout the series include the face branding of cattle imported from Mexico, the development of a euthenics program at Texas A & M University in collaboration with Ralston Purina, and the work of Temple Grandin.
Correspondence, notes, newspaper clippings, planning files, advertisements, drafts, surveys, reports, photographs, fact sheets, and newsletters.
Arranged alphabetically by topic.
Material relating to the activities and campaigns of a variety of national and international animal welfare organizations operating concurrently with Animal Rights International. Prominent organizations represented include American Society for the Prevention of Animal Cruelty (ASPCA), Humane Society of the United States, Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Animal Cruelty (MSPCA), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Animal Aid Society, Animal Liberation Front, and the National Anti-Vivisection Society. Many files pertaining to major national organizations include copies of newsletters, magazines, and other printed matter. The activities of many small and local animal welfare organizations are also included in this series.
Printed matter, periodicals, newspaper clippings, and correspondence.
Arranged alphabetically by organization name.
Spira’s wide range of research files, advocacy efforts, and topical interests are documented in this series. Folders with state or country names contain material on animal welfare activities and organizations in that geographic location. Spira had many connections to activists in the global animal welfare movement as well as scientists and journalists who worked on issues surrounding the use of animals in scientific research and agriculture. Files for many of these people can be found in this series. People who worked closely with Spira and have substantial material in this series include Pegeen Fitzgerald, Temple Grandin, Andrew N. Rowan, Frankie Trull, and Peter Singer. Other files of special interest include William Henry James Douglas, a Tufts University scientist working with Spira on alternatives to animal testing who was arrested and convicted of murder. Spira continued to correspond with Douglas during his prison term. Many files also relate to the case of Fran Trutt, an activist who was convicted of the attempted murder of Leon Hirsch, president of the United States Surgical Corporation, in 1988, as well as other files relating to associations between animal welfare activism and terrorism. This series also contains a variety of visual and graphic material such as printed advocacy material, mock-ups for advertisements, comics and comic books with animal rights themes, and a collection of printings of works by counter cultural poet, musician, and cartoonist Tuli Kupferberg. A substantial group of photographs is also included in this series and is organized topically.
Correspondence, notes, writings, reports, photographs and news clippings.
Arranged alphabetically by name of person, publication, or organization or by topic.
Word and text files containing Spira's outgoing correspondence, contact lists, notes, writings, and reports documenting Animal Rights International's activities and achievements. Some of the digital files may be duplicated in the paper files. Correspondence comprises the bulk of this series and is organized into two categories: correspondents and subjects. The correspondence includes electronic copies of solicitation letters and progress reports from Animal Rights International to various foundations and trusts. Request files using the Digital ID.
Arranged by material type.
Printed matter and correspondence.
Organized and described according to the series, container, and folders from which the items was removed.
Posters, protest signs, advertisements, drafts, and newspaper clippings.
Organized and described according to the series, container, and folders from which the items were removed.