Bloch, Edward J. :
- Author:
- Bloch, Edward J., 1924-
- Call Number:
- MSS APAP-115 local
- Abstract:
- The collected papers of Edward James Bloch detail his early life, his military service in the Marine Corps during World War II, his three years in Turkey teaching biology, leadership in the UE (United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America), the Labor Action Coalition, the Capital Labor Religion Coalition, Interfaith Impact, Interfaith Alliance, three unsuccessful campaigns for Congress, and personal papers and correspondence. Correspondence and creative writing makes up the majority of Bloch's papers. His letters are particularly voluminous between 1944 and 1946, when he served in World War II in Okinawa and China. During this time span, he wrote mostly to his parents and brother, Henry, concerning the war, his current positions in Asia, and on other personal matters. His father replied specifically with news from the home front concerning the war and politics. Other letters in the collection span his career in the UE, Congressional campaign runs, and varied personal subjects. Beside correspondence, Bloch wrote poetry, plays, essays, and other literature. These writings begin in the published version of his very early poetry, Verses (1931).
- Historical Note:
- Edward James Bloch (Block) was born to Henry, a New York attorney, and Sylvia Bloch, in New York City on April 17, 1924. As of 2002, he is a devout Presbyterian living in a rural town in upstate New York, with his second wife, Naomi Finkelstein. At the age of seventeen, Bloch entered the US Marine Corps V-12 program, encouraging college students to train for military service. Simultaneously attending Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Private Bloch rose to Lieutenant Bloch in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. Leaving Williams College between 1942 and 1943, he entered Dartmouth in Hanover, New Hampshire, to continue the V-12 program. Bloch went into military service between 1943 and 1946 and was stationed in San Francisco, California, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Okinawa, and North China. As a first Lieutenant, Bloch became Rifle Platoon Leader in the "L" Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines. While in Okinawa in 1945, he was shot in the right arm and leg. Months later, on September 30, Bloch's new assignment was the post-war occupation of North China. After the war, Bloch finished his B.A. and received his M.A. From 1947 to 1949 he taught biology in Istanbul, Turkey. From 1950 to 1984, Bloch was a field organizer and international representative for the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) labor union. Other organizations Bloch has been involved with include Labor Action Coalition of New York, Labor/Religion Coalition of the Capital District, Interfaith Impact, and the Interfaith Alliance. Bloch also ran unsuccessfully for a Congressional seat in 1984, 1986, and 1996.
- Physical Description:
- 5.41 cu. ft
- Access Terms:
- Access to the collection is unrestricted.
- Notes:
- Part of the Archives of Public Affairs and Policy Collection. local
- Subjects:
- World War, 1939-1945, Political campaigns New York (State), Elections New York (State), Religious institutions New York (State), Labor unions New York (State) Albany, Elections, Labor unions, Political campaigns, and Religious institutions
- Genres/Forms:
- Minutes. aat, Correspondence. aat, Poetry. aat, Essays. aat, and Short Stories. aat
- Corporate Names:
- Labor Action Coalition of New York, Capital District Labor Religion Coalition, United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, Interfaith Impact, Interfaith Alliance, and United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America
- Chronological Terms:
- 1939-1945 fast
- Geographic Terms:
- New York (State) and New York (State) Albany
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