Series 4: World War (WW), 1916-1920, 1926

Our fourth series, World War (W.W.), arranged chronologically, contains correspondence, reports, and newspaper clippings dealing with many facets of United States participation in World War I. Numerous letters are from relatives, friends, and acquaintances, requesting Brandeis' help in obtaining a military commission or a home front occupation. There are reports defining the problems of transportation, labor, taxation, and agriculture relative to the war effort; a daily digest of news items pertaining to the war effort as found in trade, labor and general papers; and correspondence and reports on the political and military situation in Russia. Of special interest is a translation of an article from Pravda dated April 28, 1918, of a piece by N. Lenin entitled "The Urgent Problems of the Soviet Rule."

Reel 58 World War 1917

The reel ends with an introduction to Series 4, World War, and one folder of general correspondence from this series for 1917. (Boxes WW 1-1a)

Reel 59 World War 1917-1918

Matters concerning the war effort on the home front and letters of recommendation for military commissions and government assignments are found on reel 59. General correspondence includes material sent to Brandeis for comment, from the Advisory Commission of the Council of National Defense, especially in the area of production costs; on Brandeis' role as informal advisor to Col. E. M. House in the peace negotiations; and from his brother, Alfred Brandeis, discussing a position as special assistant to Herbert Hoover, handling wheat problems. Reports from Russia on the use of relief funds for Polish and Russian Jewish refugees, and on the railroads in Russia; and proposals for the nationalization of the nation's railroad system, plus discussion of an administrator for the proposed program are also found. Correspondents include Robert Szold, Louis B. Wehle, Felix Frankfurter, Herbert White, Florence Kelley, Medill McCormick, Harold Laski, Lincoln Filene, Norman Hapgood, and Robert W. Woolley. (Boxes WW 1-1b/1h, 2, 3-1a)

Reel 60 World War 1918

Incoming correspondence and reports from wartime agencies such as the Shipping Board and the War Industries Board, and from various relief agencies begin reel 60. Restrictions on freedom of speech is the subject of incoming letters, two of the correspondents being Amos Pinchot and Samuel Eliot Morison; also found are several folders containing peace plans and correspondence discussing Brandeis as a possible peace commissioner. Topics like agricultural reconstruction and irrigation, as well as labor unrest during a national emergency conclude this reel. Correspondents include William B. McAdoo, Norman Hapgood, Charles Zueblen, Herbert Croly, Norman H. White, Herbert White, Philip LaFollette, Charles Phalen Hall, Walter Lippmann, Felix Frankfurter, George Rublee, Harold F. McCormick, Learned Hand, Robert Bruere, and Paul W. Kellogg. (Boxes WW 3-1b/1h, 4)

Reel 61 World War 1918-1919

Reel 61 begins with a series of reports and letters on a wide variety of war related subjects. These include War Risk Insurance legislation; the nationalistic aspirations of the peoples forming the Austro-Hungarian Empire; world conditions and their effect on commerce; the plight of the Jewish population in Poland; and diplomatic relations between the United States and Turkey. Contingency plans to reduce domestic fuel consumption; a daily digest of war-related news from the trade, labor and general press; and correspondence concerning peace proposals end this reel. Correspondents of note include W. H. Marsh, Edward W. Hurley, Morris L. Cooke, George W. Anderson, Louis Marshall, and Norman Hapgood. (Boxes WW 5, 6, 7, 8-1a/1b)

Reel 62 World War 1919-1920

Reel 62 continues letters and reports on the peace effort to end World War I. Additional correspondence discusses government take-over of the nation's railroads, together with the ensuing labor unrest. Several folders contain U.S. Treasury Department regulations for enforcement of the Volstead Act and national prohibition. Series 4 ends on this reel with correspondence and observers reports on the situation in Russia, plus a translation of N. Lenin's article in Pravda entitled:"The Urgent Problems of Soviet Rule." Correspondents include Felix Frankfurter, Harold Laski, Mary Kenney O'Sullivan, George W. Anderson, Herbert Croly, George Rublee, and Norman Hapgood. (Boxes WW 8-1c/4, 9)