Perhaps you need an ASA distraction? A group of French researchers asked me to get a copy of C. Wright Mills’ FBI file. I did. Why not share? Here is C. Wright Mills FBI File, for your viewing pleasure.
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10 Comments
Fascinating! Thanks for posting.
Really interesting. It’s easy to be amused from a contemporary viewpoint but the degree of earnest paranoia (which has echoes these days, certainly) is also scary.
I guess that’s why we should be happy that the debate described “terminated finally in a soothing commercial” (p. 5).
“The subject told informant that MILLS had informed her that he would publish a booklet entitled, “Sociological Imagination” about 15 May, 1959. He added, however, that his work is not progressing because American foundations are not generous with their money. Subject stated MILLS claimed that since he published his book, “Power Elite,” the foundation people did not like him.”
Too bad that “booklet” never amounted to much.
Like Andy, I’m shocked at how the people reporting on Mills were either (1) his friends with whom he was clearly having frank discussions, or (2) people who just heard about him at a talk or in a newspaper. I wonder how many people today write unsolicited notes to the FBI about their fellow citizens? From Mills’ file it seems like back in the 50s and 60s it was a non-trivial number. Of course I “knew” this… but it’s interest to see it in an actual file. I might start looking for other files of sociologists. Could be fun to see what else is out there. Suggestions for other FOI requests?
Thanks for this, Shamus. Interesting stuff.
Piven and Cloward would both be interesting.
Might be interesting to even do it somewhat systematically – say, ASA presidents 1940-2000. It’s quite a list and might be a really interesting historical picture.
You can only request somebody else’s FBI file if they are deceased, so it is more like ASA presidents 1940-1980.
Herb. Gans.