Norman Mattoon Thomas (1884 - 1968)

Born 20 Nov 1884 in Marion, Ohio

Ancestors

Husband of Frances Violet (Stewart) Thomas — married 1 Sep 1910 in Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States

Descendants

Died 19 Dec 1968 at age 84 in Huntington, Suffolk, New York, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Pat Miller [send private message] and David Arefaine [send private message]

Biography

Norman Thomas was the son of a Presbyterian minister. He was born in Marion, Ohio, on 20th November, 1884, and was raised there.

Thomas studied political science under Woodrow Wilson at Princeton University and graduated in 1905.

He went to school at Union Theological Seminary, New York City and graduated in 1911.

He was the founder of The World Tomorrow, was an associate editor of the Nation, and then later became codirector of the League for Industrial Democracy.

One of Norman Thomas's quotes were Dissent is a right essential to any concept of the dignity and freedom of the individual; it is essential to the search for truth in a world wherein no authority is infallible.

Norman Thomas was a minister, antiwar and civil rights activist, leader of the Socialist Party of America, and social critic during the 20th century. In 1917, Thomas joined the National Civil Liberties Union to oppose the wartime measures of President Woodrow Wilson's administration. In 1920, Thomas was a founding member of a similar organization, the American Civil Liberties Union. One thing he was remembered for help form the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy in 1957. In 1924, while he was a member of the Socialist Party, He lost 6 straight times but he continued to seek political office. In 1928, 1932, 1936, 1940, 1944, and 1948, he ran for president as a Socialist. Thomas did support American entry into World War II. With the beginning of the Cold War in the late 1940's he was against communism while encouraging the United States to return to isolationism.

Then he passed away in Huntington, NY in December 1968. He was one of the most respected critics of American capitalist society history.

Sources

• Pat Miller, firsthand knowledge. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Pat and others.

• "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24ZH-3YV : 10 February 2018), Norman Mattoon Thomas and Frances Violet Stewart, 01 Sep 1910; citing Marriage, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,503,752.
• "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JKGB-4ZX : 20 May 2014), Norman Thomas, Jan 1969; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing)