Every research historian charts his or her own path, revels in the discovery of the new amidst the written remnants of the old. Paul Avrich literally forged a new field and legitimized it with spectacular, prolific scholarship that became the basis of all work on the history of anarchism, thereafter. Avrich described the evolution of his transnational research on anarchism, "the vision of a stateless society without coercion or exploitation which dates back to ancient times": 1
| My work on the history of American anarchism, begun in 1971, will form part of a still larger investigation of libertarian movements with which have been occupied since my graduate years at Columbia University from 1957 to 1961. My research at Columbia began with a study of the factory- committee movement during the Russian Revolution, a form of revolutionary syndicalism in which rank-and-file workers assumed control of their factories and shops. This led, in turn to a general history of Russian anarchism (published in 1967) and to related histories of the Kronstadt rebellion of 1921 and of popular risings in Russa during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
I have not, in the intervening years, changed the direction of my research, but have broadened its scope to include the United States and other countries. When the American volumes are completed, I hope to return to anarchism in Europe and Asia, and also to a history of the French Revolution. With regard to the United States, my training in Russian and European history while it represents a number of difficulties may also have certain advantages. For it has been necessary to delve into the European roots of American anarchism, especially of the numerous immigrant groups that were formed during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Such an approach one hopes, will contribute not only to our knowledge of American anarchism itself, but of anarchism as a worldwide phenomenon between the French Revolution and the Spanish Civil War, and beyond. 2 |
By necessity, he became a master of difficult-to-find primary sources, written in many languages, gathered from collections in archives and basements across the globe (and with tremendous respect and appreciation, gave due credit to the archivists and anarchists who helped him along the way). He grounded his work in the life stories of the individuals whose actions and ideas were part of the colorful and complex mix of the history of anarchism. Although he was never able to complete his vision, Avrich left aweighty bookshelf of remarkable historical works, including The Russian Anarchists (1967), 3 a nuanced examination of the points of unity and tension within the anarchist ranks in Russia, which grew out of his graduate work at Columbia University 4 a with Professor Geroid Tanquary Robinson: Kronstadt 1921 (1970), 5 a careful narrative of a brutal chapter in Bolshevik history, the crushing of those who stood against centralization and the excesses of the revolution; Russian Rebels 1600-1800 (1972), 6 honoring the revolutionary legacy of Russia through its "rebels"; American Anarchist: The Life of Voltairine de Cleyre (1978), 7 a gripping narrative of the complex life of a great anarchist thinker; The Modern School Movement: Anarchism and Education in the United States(1980), 8 a multi-faceted account of the activities, actors, and impact of an early stage of the "free school movement" in the U.S.; The Haymarket Tragedy(1984), 9 a remarkable blend of scholarly research and elegant narrative skills, the book documents pivotal event in the history of anarchism in America that resonated across the globe; Bakunin and Nechaev(1987), 10 a study which revealed their complex relationship to revolutionary violence; Anarchist Portraits(1988) 11 a collection of essays honoring the individuals and the history of the anarchist movement, a written record of those life and work who might otherwise have been erased from historical memory; Sacco and Vanzetti: The Anarchist Background(1991), 12 a fascinating study of the context, particularly of the anarchist milieu of the events leading to the trial that played upon anti- immigrant and anti-anarchist sentiment, enhanced by Avrich's use of Italian language sources for the back story and insight into the people and the times; Anarchist Voices: Oral History of Anarchism in America (1995), 13 an essential sourcebook of first person accounts, full of insight and detail, that only a scholar like Paul, who had earned their trust, could retrieve. (He later contributed the transcripts of these interviews, and expansive collection of memorabilia also entrusted to him, to the Library of Congress, others to share.) These, along with two edited volumes on Kropotkin (1970.1972) and one on the Anarchists of the Russian Revolution (1973), and a cascade of articles in both scholarly and anarchist journals, are testimony to his dedication to the written legacy of those who he considered "the finest people" and to his belief in the importance of their contribution, and to his underlying assumption that "every good person deep down is an anarchist." In the years before he died, he was writing a definitive biography of Alexander Berkman, whom he so admired and wished to emblazon into the historical record in new ways.
In keeping with his affection for the people whose lives he honored in his work, he befriended his "subjects" and enhanced his scholarly life with what evolved into a lively almost familial engagement across generations. His students came not only from Queens College in New York City where he had taught for over thirty years and where he was named a distinguished professor of history, or from CUNY Graduate Center, or from his earlier years on the faculty of Wesleyan University and Columbia University, but from many universities and mutual aid societies across the world. Filmmakers, playwrights, novelists, biographers, a variety of scholars and research historians sent him a steady flow of queries. His home was a pilgrimage destination for all those seeking accurate information about anarchism. Paul's responses were always diligently prepared, respectful, and remarkably generous. His patience with all entry level points, opened doors to further research in the field. He acted as ad hoc advisor to the Emma Goldman Papers Project-shepherding us as we harvest the pasture he sowed.
Paul Avrich, the foremost historian of anarchism in the world, was a humble scholar, a spell-binding speaker, a welcoming mentor. He was quick-witted and gentle. Respect, integrity, and the quest to document the undocumented rebels of the past, were the touchstones of his life. His presence will be missed, but not forgotten.
Candace Falk
Editor/Director
The Emma Goldman Papers
University of California, Berkeley