Prominent socialist, champion of civil liberties and six time U.S. Presidential candidate, Norman Thomas was a forceful and effective crusader for social and economic justice battling against corrupt politicians in New York and New Jersey, publicizing the plight of sharecroppers in Arkansas and supporting striking workers across the nation. He was also a tireless anti-war campaigner in a long and active career that stretched from World War I to Vietnam.

The Norman Thomas Papers held in the Rare Books and Manuscripts Division of the New York Public Library provide a rich source for the study of modern American political and intellectual history offering a unique insight into the politics of dissent.