Ross Winn

Ross Winn

Infobox Person



image_size=200px
name=Ross Winn
caption=Ross Winn, circa 1901
birth_date=birth date|1871|8|25|mf=y
birth_place=Texas [1880 U.S. Census. District 106, Denton County, Texas.]
death_date=death date|1912|8|8|mf=y
death_place=Mount Juliet, Tennessee

Ross Winn (August 25, 1871–August 8, 1912) was an anarchist writer and publisher who was best known for publishing several radical political journals and trying to promote anarchism within the historically conservative southern United States.

Prior to beginning his own publishing efforts, Winn frequently wrote articles for other radical papers. Winn's earliest known published writing appears in the January, 1894 issue of "Twentieth Century". He was 23 when he wrote the piece, a plea for cooperation between socialists and anarchists. [cite journal|first=Ross|last=Winn|title=Let Us Unite|journal=Twentieth Century|date=January 18, 1894|url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Let_Us_Unite] In a later piece, appearing in "Free Society" in December, 1900, Winn mentions becoming a "young convert" in realizing his own radical political notions twelve years earlier, when he was only 17 years old. It is likely that Winn, like many other anarchists of the time, became politicized by the execution of the Haymarket martyrs. Winn also wrote articles for "The Firebrand", a short-lived, but renowned weekly out of Portland, Oregon; "The Rebel", an anarchist journal published in Boston; and Emma Goldman's "Mother Earth".Slifer, Shaun and Ally Reeves (Summer 2004). "Ross Winn: Digging Up a Tennessee Anarchist". "Fifth Estate", pp. 55-57.]

Sometime in 1894, Winn began his first paper, known as "Co-operative Commonwealth". He then edited and published "Coming Era" for a brief time in 1898 and then "Winn's Freelance" in 1899. In 1902, he announced a new paper called "Winn's Firebrand". It's likely he fancied the name of the then-defunct weekly. His vision was for a paper that would appeal to people of all classes. According to Winn, it would be "just the kind of literature for missionary work among the masses". Winn considered the printed word as the most effective tool for social awakening, and saw the dissemination of anti-authoritarian ideals, especially in the conservative South, as his distinct calling. Tennessee became his base of operation: "In establishing the magazine (in Mount Juliet), as an independent publication, the flag of revolutionary thought is planted on Southern soil, and a residence of a lifetime in this section convinces me that it will be a fruitful field for libertarian ideas, if the right methods are used to present them."

In 1901, Winn met Emma Goldman in Chicago, and found in her a lasting ally. As she wrote in his obituary, Emma "was deeply impressed with his fervor and complete abandonment to the cause, so unlike most American revolutionists, who love their ease and comfort too well to risk them for their ideals." [cite journal |last=Goldman |first=Emma |authorlink=Emma Goldman |year=1912 |month=September |title=Obituary for Ross Winn |journal=The Anarchist |issue=27 |url=http://libcom.org/library/obituary-for-ross-winn-1871-1912-emma-goldman |accessdate=2007-09-02] Winn kept up a correspondence with Goldman throughout his life, as he did with other prominent anarchist writers at the time. Joseph Labadie, a prominent writer and organizer in Michigan, was another friend to Winn, and contributed several pieces to "Winn's Firebrand" in its later years.

Sometime in 1909, Ross Winn contracted tuberculosis (then known as "consumption"), but continued his work on "Firebrand" despite his failing health. In 1910, he moved briefly to Texas with his wife, Augusta (known as "Gussie"), in search of work. Unable to find work, and having gotten himself deeper into debt, Winn sold his printing setup and moved back to Mount Juliet.

In July 1911, Gussie wrote a letter, in secret, to Emma Goldman asking for any possible financial assistance from their allies, knowing that her husband "would rather starve than to beg". [Winn, Augusta. [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
] . July 12, 1911. Emma Goldman Papers. Special Collections Library - Labadie Collection, University of Michigan.
] Word was sent out around the country and, all told, some $60 was raised, quite a sum for a small family at that time. Rather than spending the money on himself or his family, however, Winn spent the majority of the money on a new printing setup and began what was to be his last paper, known as "The Advance". On August 8, 1912, the degenerative infection of tuberculosis finally took Winn's life. He was still setting type on the August issue of "The Advance" the day before he died.

References

External links

* [http://www.thefirebrand.org/winn/writings/ Writings of Ross Winn]

Persondata
NAME=Winn, Ross
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Anarchist writer and publisher
DATE OF BIRTH=August 25, 1871
PLACE OF BIRTH=Texas
DATE OF DEATH=August 8, 1912
PLACE OF DEATH=Mount Juliet, Tennessee


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Winn — may refer to:People* Amanda Winn Lee, American voice actress who works mainly on anime dubs * Courtland Winn, American politician * Craig Winn * Edward Winn * Godfrey Winn, British journalist, writer and actor * Jim Winn * Kitty Winn, American… …   Wikipedia

  • W. D. Ross — William David (W. D.) Ross Full name William David (W. D.) Ross Born 15 April 1877 Thurso, Scotland Died 5 May 1971 Oxford, United Kingdom Era 20th century philosophy Region Western Philosophy …   Wikipedia

  • Anona Winn — (born Anona Edna Wilkins, 1904 2 February 1994) was an Australian born actress, broadcaster and singer, who spent most of her career in the UK. Trained at Sydney Conservatory, Winn made her debut at age 18 in Australia. But after playing parts… …   Wikipedia

  • RPGnet — is one of the oldest and largest role playing game websites on the Internet. It was founded in 1996 by Emma and Sandy Antunes, Shawn Althouse (etrigan) and Brian David Phillips, as a way to unify a number of transient game sites. In 2001 it was… …   Wikipedia

  • 1912 — This article is about the year 1912. Millennium: 2nd millennium Centuries: 19th century – 20th century – 21st century Decades: 1880s  1890s  1900s  – 1910s –  1920s   …   Wikipedia

  • 1871 — Year 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12 day slower Julian calendar). Events of 1871January March * January 2 Amadeus …   Wikipedia

  • Wilson County, Tennessee — Infobox U.S. County county = Wilson County state = Tennessee founded = 1799 seat = Lebanon | area total sq mi =583 area water sq mi =13 area percentage = 2.17% census yr = 2000 pop = 88809 density km2 =60 web = www.wilsoncountytn.com ex ex image… …   Wikipedia

  • Mount Juliet, Tennessee — Infobox Settlement official name = Mount Juliet, Tennessee website = http://www.cityofmtjuliet.org/ settlement type = City imagesize = image caption = image mapsize = 250x200px map caption = Location in Wilson County and the state of Tennessee… …   Wikipedia

  • Mother Earth (magazine) — Mother Earth Mother Earth Vol 7 No. 4, cover dated June 1912 Proprietor Emma Goldman Staff writers Alexander Berkman Categories …   Wikipedia

  • Free Society — (1895 1897 as The Firebrand ; 1897 1904 as Free Society ) was a major anarchist newspaper in the United States at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries. Free Society was the principal English language forum for… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”