Sacco and Vanzetti collections: Francis Russell collection 1921-1965, 1921-1965 | Brandeis University

The Francis Russell Collection composes one portion of the Brandeis University Special Collections' extensive holdings related to the murder trial of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, thus making the university one of the most important sources for material in North America. The importance of this collection lies in the sometimes controversial interpretation of events by Russell as articulated in his book about the trial, Tragedy in Dedham, and in the volume of material the author collected in his lifetime related to the case.

While little of the material in the collection attest to Russell's own life history, these documents do provide detailed information about two organizations active during and after the trial of Sacco and Vanzetti: the Boston-based Citizens National Committee for Sacco and Vanzetti, and the New York-based Sacco and Vanzetti National League. Additionally, this collection holds drafts of Russell's writings, correspondence he accumulating while researching the case, and miscellaneous documents, photographs and videotapes about the trial.