I just sent a question about finding records, and I forgot one piece: I know little about my father but, I have learned that he was a 'card-carrying' Communist in the 1940s and 1950s, as were some friends of my parents. My mother lost a government job during WWII time period, and at some point was in court re communist associates. Could I learn more about this at some particular site? My family, when alive, were very secretive about such things, and I am surprised that I heard that much. Thank you. Kathryn SadieOkate3@aol.com

Kathryn wrote: > I just sent a question about finding records, and I forgot one > piece: I know little about my father but, I have learned that he > was a 'card-carrying' Communist in the 1940s and 1950s, as were > some friends of my parents. My mother lost a government job > during WWII time period, and at some point was in court re > communist associates. Could I learn more about this at some > particular site? My family, when alive, were very secretive about > such things, and I am surprised that I heard that much. Thank you. Joan replies: Communists and suspected communists were subject to intense interest by the FBI during the 1940s and 1950s. I suggest that you submit the names of your parents under the Freedom of Information Act to find out what the FBI collected on them. In those times, to get a government job, one had to swear that one was not a member of the Communist Party and swear allegiance to the US. As a young teacher in 1956 I had to sign this statement. This McCarthy period was pretty scary as it didn't take much to be labeled a Communist with some pretty horrific results if you were so labeled. "Joan Best" <joanbest1@earthlink.net>