Established in the fall of 1929, the John Reed Clubs were a mass organization of the Communist Party USA which sought to expand its influence among radical and liberal intellectuals.

[1][2][3][4] In October 1929, the John Reed Club was founded by eight staff members of the New Masses magazine to support leftist and Marxist artists and writers.

[6]In January 1930, Mike Gold described the JRC in the New Masses as a "small group" comprising writers, artists, sculptors, musicians, and dancers "of revolutionary tendencies".

He cited as example Ed Falkowski (miner), Martin Russak (textile worker), H. H. Lewis (farmer), and Joe Kalar (lumberman).

On May 19, 1930, the New York Times published "A protest against the imprisonment of men and women for expressing their political opinions, coupled with a warning that "Red-baiting" is rapidly becoming a permanent condition, was voiced in a statement issued yesterday by the John Reed Club.

[8] The headlines of the article ran: 'RED SCARE' PROTEST ISSUED BY LIBERALS100 Writers, Educators and Artists Warn of Dangers in 'Hysteria' and 'Persecution'SEE CIVIL RIGHTS AT STAKEStatement Says 1,600 Have Been Wrongfully Arrested In 2 Months-Aid of Press AskedSignatories included: In July 1930, Harry Alan Potemkin, JRC secretary, reported in the New Masses that the JRC had supported May Day as well as signed a petition for the International Labor Defense for prisoners of war.

Books published by member writers included: Charles Yale Harrison's Generals Die in Bed and Mike Gold's children's story Charlie Chaplin's Parde.

[10] Conference ("presidium") members elected included: Joseph Freeman, Jan Wittenber, Conrad Komorowski, Kenneth Rexroth, Charles Natterstad, Harry Carlisle, George Gay, Carl Carlsen, and Jack Walters.

Honorary members included Maxim Gorki, Romain Rolland, John Dos Passos, Seikichi Fujimori, Lo Hsun, Johannes Becher, Vallant-Couturier, and Langston Hughes, with Maurice Sugar as chairman and Oakley C. Johnson as secretary.

"[1][10] The July 1932 issue of the New Masses included the "John Reed Club Resolution Against War", stating its stance against "imminent imperial war", noting that the Soviet Union "stands for peace", and calling on all writers, artists, and professionals to unite "in defense of the first workers' republic, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Foster and James W. Ford) included: EmJo Basshe, Robert Cantwell, Orrick Johns, Grace Lumpkin, Langston Hughes, Mike Gold, and Louis Lozowick.

Attendees include: Jack Conroy, Meridel Le Sueur, Alan Calmer, Orrick Johns, Joe Jones, Nelsen Algren, William Phillips, Philip Rahv, Alfred Hayes, Gilbert Rocke, Jan Wittenber, Mike Gold, Richard Wright, Alexander Trachtenberg, A.B.

[13] During the 1932 national convention, the JRCs announced the opening of a "John Reed Club School of Art" in New York City at 450 Sixth Avenue.

Prominent women writers who were JRC members include: Jan Wittenber, Grace Lumpkin, Tillie Lerner, Meridel Le Sueur, Josephine Herbst, and Clara Weatherwax.

[1] Prominent African-American writers who were JRC members include: Eugene Gordon, Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, and Joe Jones.

[1] Books published by JRC members during JRC years include (novels unless otherwise noted): Artistic members of the John Reed Club of New York began holding art exhibitions in late 1929, shortly after the club's formation: The last known exhibition occurred at the ACA Gallery: its theme was "The Capitalist Crisis" and gained little notice outside of Communist press organs.