Woody Guthrie FBI Profile

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Form No. 1
This Case Originated at Los Angeles
File No. 100-32263

Report Made at Los Angeles

Date When Made: 8/3/50

Period for Which Made: 1/25; 4/11,14,15,18,22,23,29,30; 5/2-6,8,18;6/2,14; 7/19, 20/50

Title: WOODROE WILSON GUTHRIE, was. Woodrow Wilson Guthrie, Woody Guthrie, Woodie Guthrie

Character of Case: SECURITY MATTER - C

Synopsis of Facts: Subject, a folk singer, musician and author reported to reside at 3520 Mermaid Avenue, Brooklyn, New York. Reported to have been a writer for the Daily People's World in Los Angeles in late 1930's and to have received his mail in care of aforementioned paper. During 1949 was active in Los Angeles as a folk singer at various functions advertised in the Daily People's World. Latter publication in October 5, 1949 issue states that GUTHRIE is "an old friend of the Daily People's World". During 1950 subject was associated with group of individuals in Los Angeles who have organized to sabotage against the United States in event of war with Russia; they allege they have a direct contact with the "Comintern" and have a headquarters in Mexico.

- P -

DETAILS

PERSONAL HISTORY

Name

T-1, of known reliability, advised that the correct name of the subject is WOODROE WILSON GUTHRIE and that he is also known as WOODROW WILSON GUTHRIE, WOODY GUTHRIE and WOODIE GUTHRIE.

LA 100-32263

Residence

T-2, of known reliability, advised that prior to his departure from Los Angeles on May 15, 1950, GUTHRIE's last residence was at the home of [...] Los Angeles, California.

T-3, of known reliability, advised in April, 1943, that [...] a former member of the Communist Party, had been expelled from the Communist Party in New Jersey for "irresponsibility, inactivity and financial irrepsonsibility in a mass organization."

The Communist Party, USA, has been declared to be within the purview of Executive Order 9835.

T-2 advised that on May 18, 1950, it was announced over Radio Station KGIL, 1260 kilocycles, Los Angeles, California, on a folk song program, that GUTHRIE had left the Los Angeles area for El Paso, Texas, and that he would subsequently go to New Orleans, Louisiana and then to New York City.

T-1, in July, 1950, advised that he had ascertained that the subject is presently residing at 3520 Mermaid Avenue, Brooklyn, New York.

Employment

T-1 and T-2 advised that GUTHRIE is employed as a free-lance folk singer, song writer and has acted in various plays and has authored the book "Bound for Glory".

Citizenship

A review of the autobiography by WOODY GUTHRIE entitled "Bound for Glory", published by E. P. Dutton and Company, Incorporated, New York, in 1943, reflects that GUTHRIE was born in Okemah, Oklahoma, in 1912.

Background

In the March, 1943 issue of the magazine "New Yorker," on Page 60, there is a book review of the subject's book, which is a chronicle of his youth and his subsequent trips into western United States, "Riding the Rods". This review stated that GUTHRIE "did not get along with California fruit growers who exploit itinerant labor, or with the fascist Americans who were all set to beat up our native Japanese the day following Pearl Harbor, or with the impresarios of the Rainbow Room who tried to hire him and his guitar, or with his freight train companions who drew the 'color line', stuffed white shirts and highly moral folk in general".

ACTIVITIES

T-4, of known reliability, advised that "WOODY GUTHRIE" received mail in care of the Daily People's World, 323 West Third Street, Los Angeles, California, during a portion of 1941. T-4 advised that he was not personally acquainted with GUTHRIE and could furnish no information relative to him.

The Daily People's World is a West Coast Communist newspaper.

The 1948 report of "Un-American Activities in California", the report of the Joint Fact Finding Committee to the 1948 regular California Legislature, Sacramento, California, on Pages 342 and 343, under the heading of "Daily People's World", lists 128 names of individuals who are present or past writers for the Daily People's World. Included in this list is the name of "WOODY GUTHRIE".

The Daily People's World of March 3, 1949, Page 4, Column 3, advertises a "Cradle Will Rock" Hootenany which would welcome back WOODY GUTHRIE.

The Daily People's World issue of March 14, 1949, Page 3, Column 3, contains an advertisement that WOODY GUTHRIE, noted folk balladist, would be among the entertainers at the Independent Progressive Party first birthday party, to be held March 25, 1949 at the Park Manor, 607 South Western Avenue, Los Angeles, California.

T-5, of known reliability, advised that the Independent Progressive Party in Los Angeles COunty, California, is under the complete control of the Communist Party. The Communist Party sets the organizational goals of the Independent Progressive Party, lays down its perspectives, organizes its forces, proposes its levels of organization and assigns its leadership.

The Daily People's World issue of March 25, 1949, on Page 19, Column 1, states that WOODY GUTHRIE, ballad singer and composer of "songs to grow on", would perform at the Dance Center, 462 North Western Avenue, Los Angeles, California, on March 26, 1949.

The Daily People's World issue of October 5, 1949, Page 5, Columns 1 to 6, contains an article by WOODY GUTHRIE date lined New York and entitled "Charter Records Sing for the People". An editor's note accompanying this article described WOODY GUTHRIE as an old friend of the Daily People's World and stated that the article announced the formation of a progressive record company, Charter Records. The article states that GUTHRIE is an individual who stays close to the troubles, fights and ups and downs of the trade union workers and he is most apt, therefore, to turn out the best "stuff" and to have the finest, highest type of an audience.

An accompanying photograph of GUTHRIE with the above article was exhibited to T-1, who identified the subject as an individual who has been closely associated with a group of expelled Communist Party members and veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade who are currently meeting in Los Angeles, California. T-1 advised that this group is organized for sabotage against the United States during war with Russia. They allege they have a direct contact with the "Comintern" and that they have a headquarters in the Mexico City, Mexico area.

The veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade have been declared to be within the purview of Executive Order 9835.

T-1 advised that GUTHRIE has attended a number of meetings of the aforementioned sabotage group but he is unable to recall the exact dates and places of all of the meetings that GUTHRIE has attended; however, T-1 advised that he specifically recalls GUTHRIE having attended the following:

DATE OF MEETING PLACE OF MEETING

March 26, 1950 932 North Lucile Avenue, Los Angeles, California
April 23, 1950 93 1/2 North Lucile Avenue, Los Angeles, California
April 29, 1950 "
April 30, 1950 "
May 2, 1950 "
May 6, 1950 "

DESCRIPTION

T-1 and T-2 furnished the following description of the subject:

Name: WOODROE WILSON GUTHRIE
Aliases: Woodrow Wilson Guthrie, Woody Guthrie, Woodie Guthrie
Age: 38 (1950)
Sex: Male
Race: White
Nationality: American
Height: 5' 5"
Weight: 135 lbs.
Hair: Reddish brown - close cropped
Eyes: Blue
Complexion: Ruddy
Marital Status: Divorced
Occupation: Musician, author
Peculiarities: Weather-beaten face
Residence: 3520 Mermaid Avenue, Brooklyn, New York
Former Residence: 93 1/2 North Lucile, Los Angeles, California
Wife (divorced): Mrs. PERCY D. BAILEY, 4002 Bliss Street, El Paso, Texas
Children: GWENDOLYN GAIL GUTHRIE, Age 14, 4002 Bliss Street, El Paso, Texas; Two other children, names and ages unknown.
Photograph: Available Los Angeles and New York.

PENDING

ADMINISTRATIVE PAGE

For the information of the Bureau and Offices receiving a copy of this report, T-1 and T-2, [...] GUTHRIE [...], advised taht he personally has never, [...] made any statement relative to sabotage; they added however that he was very close to [...] and [...] both of whom have definitely outlined potential sabotage plans and who are considered by T-1 and T-2 to be the leaders of the sabotage group.

The Bureau, by teletype dated July 14, 1950, directed the Los Angeles Office to institute immediate individual investigations of those persons identified with the sabotage group and to recommend Security Index cards at the earliest possible date.

For the information of the New York Office, no specific leads have been set out relative to the background of the subject inasmuch as from information available to this Office it appears that GUTHRIE has been active in New York and in all probability is known to that Office.

LEAD PAGE

NEW YORK OFFICE

At New York City, New York: Will verify the subject's residence at 3520 Mermaid Avenue, Brooklyn, New York; will ascertain his employment and recommend a Security Index card at the earliest possible date.

Will furnish available background information regarding the subject in order that it may be included in a subsequent report of the case entitled "FACTIONALIST SABOTAGE GROUP, INTERNAL SECURITY - C".

EL PASO OFFICE

At El, Paso, Texas: Will recontact [...] El Paso County Courthouse, El Paso, Texas, for additional information regarding the Communist Party activities of the subject in Los Angeles, it being noted that the only reported information identifiable with the subject's activities in Los Angeles during 1939-40 was that he was a former writer for the Daily People's World and received his mail in care of them.

Will furnish any information available regarding GUTHRIE'S visit to El Paso subsequent to May 15, 1950.

LOS ANGELES OFFICE

At Los Angeles, California: Will, upon receipt of the above information, submit an RUC report.

Back to Index