Joseph Vanzler
Encyclopedia
Joseph "Usick" Vanzler best known by the pseudonym
"John G. Wright," was a Jewish-American radical political activist and translator. Vanzler is best known as the translator of a number of the important works of Leon Trotsky
— materials which helped to establish to expand the influence of the Trotskyist movement in the English-speaking world.
, then part of the Russian empire
and today part of Uzbekistan
. An ethnic Jew, Joseph was the son of an old rabbi
and a 14-year old girl.
As he was one of few Jewish children in his hometown, Vanzler was permitted to attend Russian-language school, institutions which strictly limited Jewish enrollment as part of a policy of official anti-semitism
under the Tsarist regime. In school, Vanzler studied a variety of languages, including Russian, Latin, Greek, and French. He developed a proficiency for language study which served him throughout his life as a multi-lingual translator.
Following World War I
, Vanzler and his mother emigrated to the United States, settling in Boston, Massachusetts. Vanzler attended Harvard University
(then Harvard College), where he studied Chemistry
for an extensive period. Although he left without a degree, Vanzler developed a formula for spermicidal jelly
for use as a birth control
measure and he became engaged in its manufacture and sale.
In the 1920s Vanzler married Edith Rose Konikow, the daughter of birth control activist Dr. Antoinette Konikow
, a Boston physician
and founding member of the Communist Party of America. Under the influence of his wife and mother-in-law, Vanzler was initiated into the world of radical politics.
, the main American Trotskyist political organization of the day, in 1933. He began using the pseudonym "John G. Wright" at this time and began to produce a vast array of translations from Russian and French to English on behalf of the political movement to which he gave his allegiance.
Vanzler was a founding member of the Socialist Workers Party
in 1938. He was a member of its governing National Committee from 1938 until his death in 1956.
Vanzler was a prolific writer for the Trotskyist press, contributing several hundred articles to its weekly newspaper, The Militant
, and to its monthly theoretical magazine, The New International (later Fourth International).
Vanzler was survived by his first wife, Edith Konikow Vanzler, and their son, Tyl, and by his second wife, Doris Vanzler, and their son who was born in 1952.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
"John G. Wright," was a Jewish-American radical political activist and translator. Vanzler is best known as the translator of a number of the important works of Leon Trotsky
Leon Trotsky
Leon Trotsky , born Lev Davidovich Bronshtein, was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and theorist, Soviet politician, and the founder and first leader of the Red Army....
— materials which helped to establish to expand the influence of the Trotskyist movement in the English-speaking world.
Early years
Joseph Vanzler, known to all who knew him by the nickname "Usick," was born in 1902 in SamarkandSamarkand
Although a Persian-speaking region, it was not united politically with Iran most of the times between the disintegration of the Seleucid Empire and the Arab conquest . In the 6th century it was within the domain of the Turkic kingdom of the Göktürks.At the start of the 8th century Samarkand came...
, then part of the Russian empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
and today part of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
. An ethnic Jew, Joseph was the son of an old rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
and a 14-year old girl.
As he was one of few Jewish children in his hometown, Vanzler was permitted to attend Russian-language school, institutions which strictly limited Jewish enrollment as part of a policy of official anti-semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
under the Tsarist regime. In school, Vanzler studied a variety of languages, including Russian, Latin, Greek, and French. He developed a proficiency for language study which served him throughout his life as a multi-lingual translator.
Following World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Vanzler and his mother emigrated to the United States, settling in Boston, Massachusetts. Vanzler attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(then Harvard College), where he studied Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
for an extensive period. Although he left without a degree, Vanzler developed a formula for spermicidal jelly
Spermicide
Spermicide is a contraceptive substance that eradicates sperm, inserted vaginally prior to intercourse to prevent pregnancy. As a contraceptive, spermicide may be used alone. However, the pregnancy rate experienced by couples using only spermicide is higher than that of couples using other methods...
for use as a birth control
Birth control
Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...
measure and he became engaged in its manufacture and sale.
In the 1920s Vanzler married Edith Rose Konikow, the daughter of birth control activist Dr. Antoinette Konikow
Antoinette Konikow
Antoinette F. Buchholz Konikow was an American physician, feminist, and radical political activist. Konikow is best remembered as one of the pioneers of the American birth control movement and as a founding member of the Communist Party of America, forerunner of the Communist Party, USA...
, a Boston physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and founding member of the Communist Party of America. Under the influence of his wife and mother-in-law, Vanzler was initiated into the world of radical politics.
Political career
Vanzler joined the Communist League of AmericaCommunist League of America
The Communist League of America was founded by James P. Cannon, Max Shachtman and Martin Abern late in 1928 after their expulsion from the Communist Party USA for Trotskyism. The CLA was the United States section of Leon Trotsky's International Left Opposition and initially positioned itself as...
, the main American Trotskyist political organization of the day, in 1933. He began using the pseudonym "John G. Wright" at this time and began to produce a vast array of translations from Russian and French to English on behalf of the political movement to which he gave his allegiance.
Vanzler was a founding member of the Socialist Workers Party
Socialist Workers Party (United States)
The Socialist Workers Party is a far-left political organization in the United States. The group places a priority on "solidarity work" to aid strikes and is strongly supportive of Cuba...
in 1938. He was a member of its governing National Committee from 1938 until his death in 1956.
Vanzler was a prolific writer for the Trotskyist press, contributing several hundred articles to its weekly newspaper, The Militant
The Militant
The Militant is an international Socialist newsweekly connected to the Socialist Workers Party and the Pathfinder Tendency. It is published in the United States and distributed in other countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Sweden, Iceland, and New...
, and to its monthly theoretical magazine, The New International (later Fourth International).
Death and legacy
Joseph Vanzler died of a heart attack on June 21, 1956 in New York City. He was 52 years old at the time of his death.Vanzler was survived by his first wife, Edith Konikow Vanzler, and their son, Tyl, and by his second wife, Doris Vanzler, and their son who was born in 1952.
Writings
- The Truth About Kronstadt. New York: Socialist Workers Party National Educational Department, n.d. [c. 1938].
- Outline History of Russian Bolshevism. With Joe Hansen. New York: Educational Department, Socialist Workers Party, 1940.
Translations
- Leon Trotsky, The Kirov Assassination. New York: Pioneer Publishers, 1935.
- Leon Trotsky, The Third International After Lenin. New York: Pioneer Publishers, 1936.
- Leon Trotsky, Whither France? New York: Pioneer Publishers, 1936.
- Leon Trotsky, Lessons of October. New York: Pioneer Publishers, 1937.
- Leon Trotsky, The Stalin School of Falsification. New York: Pioneer Publishers, 1937.
- Leon Trotsky, The First Five Years of the Communist International. In two volumes. New York: Pioneer Publishers, 1945.
External links
- John G. Wright (Joseph Vanzler) Internet Archive. Marxists Internet ArchiveMarxists Internet ArchiveMarxists Internet Archive is a volunteer based non-profit organization that maintains a multi-lingual Internet archive of Marxist writers and other similar authors...
, Marxists.org. Retrieved April 8, 2010.