Librarian Resigns Amid Philbrick’s Communist Allegations
NORWOOD, MA — The fervor of the Senate’s anti-Communist crusade struck home yesterday as Mrs. Mary Knowles, head of the South Norwood branch of the Morrill Public Library, tendered her resignation following bombshell testimony labeling her a member of the Communist Party.
The accusation came from Herbert Philbrick, the famed former FBI undercover agent, during a subcommittee hearing. Philbrick testified that he knew Mrs. Knowles to be a Communist during her tenure as secretary to Professor Harrison Harley at the Samuel Adams School.
A Resignation to “Spare the Library”
In a statement issued last night, the 42-year-old librarian expressed a desire to protect the community from the fallout of the investigation.
“I have offered to resign to spare the library and the people involved there any unpleasantness,” Mrs. Knowles stated.
The Norwood Board of Library Trustees is scheduled to meet at 8:00 PM tonight to formally consider her resignation. The board consists of several prominent local residents, chaired by Maude Shattuck.
📰 Local History
- In 1953, Norwood’s population was just over 20,000, yet national Cold War fears reached even small towns like this one.
- The Norwood Messenger and other local papers often echoed national headlines about communism, showing how deeply the Red Scare permeated everyday news.
- Town meetings occasionally debated loyalty oaths for public employees—a reflection of the era’s anxiety.
The “A-Bomb” Connection: Investigation Widens
While the local focus remains on Mrs. Knowles, the Senate subcommittee, led by Senator William E. Jenner (R-Ind.), is pursuing a much larger quarry: Communist infiltration of the Manhattan Project.
The committee has shifted its focus to Washington to investigate why security officials failed to vet the political affiliations of top-secret atomic researchers. Key figures in this expanding probe include:
- Dr. David Hawkins: A Harvard instructor and former Los Alamos historian. Hawkins admitted to past Party membership but refused to name associates, stating, “I did not regard the Communist Party as a subversive organization.”
- Dr. Philip Morrison: A visiting professor at M.I.T. who admitted he was a Communist prior to his work on the atomic bomb during World War II.
- Paul Martineau: A Williams College librarian and former OSS agent who invoked his right to silence, fearing his answers could be used as a “link in a chain” against him.
🏛️ National Context
- Senator Joseph McCarthy’s hearings dominated U.S. television that same spring, making “communist infiltration” a household phrase.
- The FBI’s “loyalty program” had screened more than 3 million federal workers by 1953.
- The term Red Scare actually refers to two distinct periods—after World War I and during the early Cold War.
Philbrick’s “List” Grows
Philbrick’s testimony has cast a wide net across the Boston intellectual scene. Beyond Mrs. Knowles, he identified over a dozen individuals linked to the now-defunct Samuel Adams School.
Notable names mentioned by Philbrick include:
- Angus Cameron: Former Boston publisher. Cameron blasted the testimony as “hearsay,” calling the proceedings “inquisitional.”
- Sarah Gordon: Accused of hosting Communist elite, including singer Paul Robeson, in her Boston apartment.
- Ella Winter: Former secretary to Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter and widow of Lincoln Steffens.
The committee has not yet disclosed if they will return to Boston for further hearings, but Senator Jenner emphasized that the investigation into the “A-Project” is far from over.
Well‑Known Americans Accused During the Red Scare
- Lucille Ball — Investigated after it was revealed she had once registered to vote as a Communist in the 1930s at her grandfather’s urging. She was cleared and continued her career without interruption.
- Charlie Chaplin — Targeted for his political views and humanitarian activism; he was denied re‑entry to the United States in 1952 and lived in exile for two decades.
- Arthur Miller — The playwright was questioned by the House Un‑American Activities Committee (HUAC) in 1956 after refusing to name others; his experience inspired The Crucible.
- Pete Seeger — The folk singer was subpoenaed by HUAC and later convicted of contempt of Congress (the conviction was overturned on appeal).
- Lena Horne — Faced scrutiny due to her civil‑rights activism and was informally blacklisted from some Hollywood opportunities.
- Orson Welles — His outspoken political commentary and support for progressive causes led to FBI surveillance and accusations of subversive activity.
- Langston Hughes — Questioned by HUAC in 1953 about poems and essays he had written in the 1930s; he distanced himself from earlier political themes.
- J. Robert Oppenheimer — The physicist who led the Manhattan Project, lost his security clearance in 1954 after being accused of having Communist associations.
- Dalton Trumbo — One of the “Hollywood Ten,” he was jailed for contempt of Congress and blacklisted for years before returning to credited screenwriting.
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.