This collection contains documents of journalist and left-wing political activist Paul Novick, consisting mainly of correspondence, subject files, manuscripts, photographs, and newspaper clippings. These materials relate to Novick’s career as long-time editor of the Morning Freiheit (Morning Freedom), his important role in the worldwide Communist movement, the history of the Freiheit itself, and Jewish and general politics. These materials demonstrate Novick’s important, and changing, role in the history of Communism, as well as his career as a Yiddish journalist and author.

The collection consists for the most part of records of the national administrative offices of the Workmen's Circle but also includes some internal records of local branches. Workmen's Circle constitutions and early documents, 1893-1911. Minutes of the National Executive Committee, NEC circulars, publicity materials. Minutes of the National Organization Committee and the National Administration Committee. Files of Executive Secretaries Joseph Baskin and Nathan Chanin and of Benjamin Gebiner, Assistant Executive Secretary. Correspondence and other materials of the Cemetery Department, Education Department, Workmen's Circle School Committee, Sanatorium Department, Benefit Committee, Grievance Committee. Membership records. Materials relating to Workmen's Circle annual conventions. Financial records. Records of Workmen's Circle Schools in New York, New Jersey, California, Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts, Michigan, Washington D.C., Texas, Pennsylvania. Minutes, school programs, some class records, lists of students. Correspondence of the Folksbiene Theater. Materials on Workmen's Circle Home for the Eastern Zone. Some fragmentary materials on camps. Samples of Workmen's Circle publications. Internal records of local W.C. branches throughout the U.S., including minutes, financial records, correspondence.