From Harvard to the Ranks of Labor

From Harvard to the Ranks of Labor, Volume 1, provides a detailed biography of Powers Hapgood, a Harvard graduate who dedicated his life to the American working class. This history explores the intersection of intellectual reform and the labor movement during the first half of the twentieth century. Hapgood served as a prominent American Socialist and labor organizer, holding key roles within the Socialist Party and the Congress of Industrial Organizations.

The narrative examines Hapgood's involvement in pivotal events, including the coal miners' strike in Pennsylvania and the sit-down strikes in Ohio and Michigan. As a study of social reformers and labor leaders, the book analyzes his commitment to civil liberties and racial justice. This biography uses Hapgood's personal journals to chronicle the evolution of radical politics and the industrial union movement in the United States.