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Archives discrete item collection Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (British Columbia)
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Syd Thompson interview

CALL NUMBER: T3529:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Syd Thompson : recollections of years as a labour organizer : part 1 PERIOD COVERED: 1930-1939 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-06-12 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: In an interview with Colleen Bostwick, Syd Thompson discusses his personal background. Recollections of first working experiences. Life in a relief camp in Ontario during the Depression. Coming to Vancouver in the 1930s. Experiences with the relief camp workers' union. Comments on the relief system in Vancouver. TRACK 2: Comments on the differences between the CCF and the Communist Party of Canada. Attitudes and political ideas of single unemployed men in Vancouver during the Depression of the 1930s. Organized labour and political action. Anecdotes about life in various relief camps in western Canada. Comments on the effects of the relief camp system. (Cont'd on T3529:0002) CALL NUMBER: T3529:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Syd Thompson : recollections of years as a labour organizer : part 2 PERIOD COVERED: 1935-1935 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: (Continues interview of 1978-06-12) Syd Thompson comments on the effect of the Depression of the 1930s on the labour movement in Canada. The inadequacies of the capitalist system. Organizing in the relief camps in Alberta. Anecdotes and stories related to experiences in prison. TRACK 2: (Continuation of interview, 1978-08-21) Further comments on organizing in relief camps. Description of conditions in relief camps in B.C. Social life and conditions during the Depression. Leaving the Communist party. Other experiences during the Depression. CALL NUMBER: T3529:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Syd Thompson : recollections of years as a labour organizer : part 3 PERIOD COVERED: 1935-1940 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Syd Thompson describes his experiences in the army during the Second World War. Memories of movies he went to during the 1930s. General comments on class divisions in society and the lack of a proper division of wealth. The effect of the Depression of the 1930s on Thompson's later life. Recollection of the On-To-Ottawa Trek. TRACK 2: Recollections of experiences while organizing in a relief camp at Banff. Other memories of organizing on the prairies. Hobo jungles in B.C. during the Depression. Comments on his children and expectations for their lives. (End of interview)