The California Labor School


Black and white photograph of California Labor School mural class with students parents painting and children painting

Outdoor mural class with children, 1947


Cover of the Spring 1943 catalog for the Tom Mooney Labor school, later called the California Labor School.

Cover Spring 1943 Catalog


Overview

The Tom Mooney Labor School opened in August 1942 in a few rooms over an auto salesroom at 678 Turk Street in San Francisco. Under the heading of "Education for Victory," the School promised to analyze social, economic, and political questions in light of the world struggle against fascism. During this period unions and industry worked together to achieve maximum production for the war effort. There was a strong spirit of friendship with the USSR, a wartime ally, prominent citizens from industry and government sponsored the school, and unions sent thousands of members to classes.  

California Labor School Catalog Fall 1946. Class listed is "Recent Strike Struggles"

Pg. 16 Fall 1946 Catalog

From 1945 to 1947, The California Labor School was accredited by the California State Department of Education for veterans' education under the G.I. Bill of Rights. By 1946, the school conducted 135 classes for 1800 students, offering extension classes in Oakland and other Northern California sites. By 1947, there were 220 full-time students and the School bought its own building at 240 Golden Gate Avenue. It offered a wide variety of classes, including English, citizenship, union organizing, imperialism, ceramics, dance, bookkeeping, and many others.

Class from catalog entitled "Labor Conference for Women Workers"

Pg. 17 Fall 1946 Catalog

In 1948, the U.S. Attorney-General placed the School on the subversive list, initiating a ten-year attack by the Subversive Activities Control Board and other government agencies. Once on the Subversive List, students could no longer be employed by the federal government or any institution requiring a "loyalty oath." Support and attendance declined, and union support was reduced to a few CIO locals who were themselves targeted for being "Communist-dominated." The California Labor School survived as a center of resistance during the Cold war-McCarthy years until it was padlocked by the IRS for alleged non-payment of taxes. The school closed in 1957.

California Labor School Catalog Fall 1947. Class listed is "The Social History of Art" taught by Giacomo Patri and others

Pg. 28 Fall 1947 Catalog

Giacomo Patri taught art at the California Labor School in the 1940s and was shaped by their focus on arts education for working men and women. His fellow teachers included sculptor Claire Falkenstein Links to an external site., jewelry designer Margaret de Patta Links to an external site., illustrator and muralist Pablo O'Higgins Links to an external site., dancer Mimi Kagan Links to an external site., and fellow journalist and illustrator Pele de Lappe Links to an external site., among others. Patri went on to form his own art school in 1948.


Questions

  • Giacomo Patri believed that "creativity is present in everyone, that its expression is a basic human need..." ("Giacomo Patri").  How was his involvement in the California Labor School an expression of this belief?
  • How might art be used to support worker's concerns?  Can you think of examples of other artists who use their work to support workers?

California Labor School Catalog Fall 1946. Labor classes for day students.

Pg. 20 Fall 1946 Catalog

California Labor School Catalog Fall 1946. Negro History and Culture and other classes listed.

Pg. 27 Fall 1946 Catalog


Outdoor mural class with children, California Labor School Links to an external site. .  11 Sept. 1947.  California Labor School Negative Collection, larc.pho.0013, Labor Archives and Research Center, San Francisco State University.

California Labor School. Spring 1943 Catalog Links to an external site.. California Labor School Collection, larc.ms.042, Labor Archives and Research Center, San Francisco State University.

California Labor School. Spring 1946 Catalog Links to an external site.. California Labor School Collection, larc.ms.042, Labor Archives and Research Center, San Francisco State University.

California Labor School. Fall 1946 Catalog Links to an external site.. California Labor School Collection, larc.ms.042, Labor Archives and Research Center, San Francisco State University.

California Labor School. Fall 1947 Catalog Links to an external site.. California Labor School Collection, larc.ms.042, Labor Archives and Research Center, San Francisco State University.