The Workers' Defense League (WDL) is an American socialist organization devoted to promoting labor rights.
The group was founded on August 29, 1936 with the endorsement of Norman Thomas, six-time presidential candidate of the Socialist Party of America.
[8] In the 1960s, the organization worked to integrate minorities and women into traditionally white male labor unions, though with little success.
The collection spans from 1936-1965 and consists of correspondence, news clippings, speeches, trial briefs and transcripts, press releases, and pamphlets and leaflets.
The collection documents the Worker's Defense League's efforts to secure justice for labor organizers, victims of racial and economic discrimination, conscientious objectors, and government critics through established, legal processes.