◆ SpookStack

* SrasAD roms wo. TO |: : Director, FEI et S. J. DRAYTON, SAC, Chicago SUBJECT: PAUL, ROBESON COMI -¢ IRTERIAL SECURITY & brief summary of PAUL ROBESON's activities in Chicago during ‘Apri, May, and June of this year is being forwarded for the information ot the Bureau and the New York Field Division. ROBESON began an engagement of his play "Othelio" on April 9, 1945 at the Erlanger Theater and closed a six-weeks engagement on Kay io, 1945. His return to Chiago in June was for the purpose of fulfilling a commitment made for an affair on dune 17, 1945 which was sponsored by Du Sable Lodge 751, International Workers “rder, / The information contained in this letter was reported by-Confi- 1°77 ES ~~ {dential Informants less specifically — ef V 3 ‘attributed to ano urce « U M The confidentisl informants advised agents of this office that * throughout the subject's stay in Chicago during April and May, WILLIAM L. --PATIEFSON, Assistant Director, Abraham Lincoln School, and Alternate Men- ; ber, National Committee, Communist Political Association, handled all the { subject's engagements which had any social or political significance. the amma ' 4nfluence and interest of the CPA was evident in numerous activities in aa \ Which the subject participated and according to informants ROBESON's appearances were scheduled with the view in mind of enhancing the pres—- \ tdge of the Abraham Lincoln School, and were usually scheduled for the \ financial benefit of communist front organizations or for groups known ; . to contain mexbers or sympathizers of the CPA. 44: \ mH Preliminary arrangements for appearances of the subject at major affairs were made by MAX TERSAN, of New York, Director, National Council f 10 Affairs. af 1, in. prior to ROBESON's coming to chi- b| >» pal he warned RAY HANSBROUGH, Member of the National Committee, CPA, J and Second Vice-President, District No. 8, CPA, that the association should not be brought too far to the front in a big afvair planned for ihe enefit of the Abraham Lincoln School. EX? 25 - RECORD bag, geo 30 A number of party functionaries bisteict noDBEXBE > ancliding™— VORRIS-CHILDS, President, and PHIL-BART, Secretary, contacted PASTERSON tot ae on a mumber of occasions regarding a ffairs being planned for ROBESON. ; . BART was reported very interested in original plans for a birthday cele- be bration the School promoted on May 15, 1945, On April 11, 1945 informants, i pacers caer that PATTERSON was contacted ‘by a representa~ Jy tive of the Hears -owned *Herald-Amerigan” newspaper asking that ROBESON _, bl KD eit ae hol CLASS. & Ext. py $2 56 JUL 26 1945 tte UOTE REAsoN-FCIN 11, BP: re < Kelekelh ( DATE OF REVIEW 1 zo) $74 FE SORA EO P. sue i. TN RECORDED COPY FILED mwittASL.. aD “ORE HOM EYcCrIryT * THEKWISR 2 ~N a wy te, ene Bee mn eee ata a he Ser be at PS eo gecettaet a