Connecting with young members meant creating an English-language newsletter
Born out of a wave of immigration, the Workmen's Circle was founded to help Yiddish-speaking Jews adapt to American life while preserving their cultural identity. For decades, its Yiddish publications kept members connected. But as a new, English-speaking generation emerged, the organization launched an English-language newsletter, the Call, to bridge old and new.
First appearing as the Young Circle League News Bulletin in 1929, in 1933 it evolved into the Call of Youth. By 1938 became known as The Workmen's Circle Call. For over half a century, its pages served as a hub for political advocacy, labor organizing, and Jewish culture—featuring contributors from Eleanor Roosevelt to Upton Sinclair, alongside the organization's own leading voices.
This digital archive preserves fifty years of the Call. These bound volumes—once stored in the New York headquarters—now offer an unfiltered look into the heart of the Jewish labor movement and the evolving American experience. Here, the defining conversations of the twentieth century unfold in real time.
The Editors and Writers
In-house
This archive features the legendary columnists of the Call—writers and editors who were also leaders of the organization. In their columns, they engaged in vigorous debate on the most pressing and controversial issues of their time. Their diverse perspectives fueled discussions on the fight for democracy, Jewish immigration, and rising antisemitism. Regular columns like Daniel E. Ifshin's "The Month in the Workmen’s Circle," William Stern’s "Tipping the Scales", Israel Knox’s "In the Jewish World," Herschel Seidman's "Fraternally Yours," and Walter K. Lewis's "Behind the Fronts" reflect the breadth of the discourse throughout the decades.
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![Daniel E. Ifshin Portrait]()
Daniel E. Ifshin
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![Israel Knox Portrait]()
Israel Knox
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Walter K. Lewis
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![Herschel Seidman Portrait]()
Herschel Seidman
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![William Stern Portrait]()
William Stern
Famous and Notable People
The influence of the Call extended well beyond the Workmen's Circle, drawing in a remarkable range of thinkers and activists. Its pages featured essential voices of the era—from Golda Meir and Fiorello La Guardia to Pearl S. Buck and Bayard Rustin. These contributors provided critical outside perspectives, linking the organization's mission to the defining political and social battles of the twentieth century.
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![Eleanor Roosevelt portrait]()
Eleanor Roosevelt
“In Unity There is Strength,” July 1944
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![Upton Sinclair Portrait]()
Upton Sinclair
“Comrade Upton Sinclair Protests,” July 1933
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![Pearl S. Buck Portrait]()
Pearl S. Buck
“Insecurity Breeds Hatred,” March 1945
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![A. Philip Randolph Portrait]()
A. Philip Randolph
“A. Philip Randolph,” November 1945
Letters to the Editors
Through the Letters section, readers contributed to a robust exchange of ideas. Members and intellectuals alike debated fiercely in its pages, challenging articles, arguing over ideology, and refining the movement’s stance on everything from Zionism and secular identity to class struggle and cultural preservation. These letters reveal a readership that was deeply engaged and unafraid to voice their dissent.
Graphics
The powerful visuals in The Call were as essential as its words. Featuring both original illustrations and reprinted works from leading artists, its art provided a bold, graphic voice for the Jewish labor movement. This unique visual identity transformed complex political ideas into striking, memorable images for its readers.
Shown here are the works of: Bernard Seaman, Shale Kaminsky, Ralph Levine, Mitchell Loeb, Art Young.
Distributed Nationwide, published in New York
From its advertisements and editorials to its coverage of local cultural, political and social events, the publication was deeply influenced by its city of origin. The people, politics, and places of New York shaped the paper’s identity, even as its focus turned to national issues for a growing national membership and audience.
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