Letter from Gardner Jackson to Margaret S. Huntley, December 17, 1929

Jackson, Gardner, 1896-1965 · 1929

Gardner Jackson was a reporter for the Boston Globe during the 1920s. While working as a reporter, his wife Dorothy urged him to look into the trial of Sacco-Vanzetti that was taking place in Dedham, MA. Jackson believed they were on trial for their beliefs rather than the crime. By 1926, he left the Globe to become the Secretary of the Sacco-Vanzetti Defense Committee. Margaret S. Huntley served as Secretary for the Sacco-Vanzetti National League for several years. In this letter from Jackson to Huntley, he informs her that the Sacco-Vanzetti Memorial House project has been suspended. He further states there is an immediate project which is the purchase of films of the funeral of Sacco and Vanzetti. Jackson makes a note that all motion pictures of the case were ordered to be destroyed by Will Mays immediately after the execution. Yet, some films escaped the destruction sanctioned by the Department of Justice. The last major item Jackson mentions is securing two well-known artists to do drawings of Sacco and Vanzetti's heads for an art show. Jackson makes it a point to have this show since former Governor Fuller is on the board of the Art Club that will host the show. Even after their execution, Jackson still advocated for justice for Sacco and Vanzetti. This letter and others found in the collection offer scholars an insight into the efforts taken by prominent figures and everyday citizens for justice for Sacco and Vanzetti.