People's Observer, 1939

The Russell G. Benedict Polemical Literature Collection spans the years 1920 to 1980 and documents Benedict's efforts to collect and disseminate materials on controversial social and political issues. The collection includes research notes, speeches, and indices related to the publication "Top Secret," which examined both liberal and conservative extremist groups. Of particular interest is a hand printing press, gifted to Benedict by Clark Smith from the Berkeley Department of Rhetoric, which was advertised in the GI military newspaper "The Ally" to encourage newsletter production among stationed GIs.

The collection also features a "People" magazine article from 1975, which highlights Benedict's work in expanding the Contemporary Issues Collection at the University of Nevada, Reno. The materials are arranged by format, including letter-sized, legal-sized, and newspaper archival boxes, as well as oversize items and flat files. The collection offers a comprehensive view of Benedict's contributions to the study of free speech, civil rights, and political activism, as well as his correspondence with various groups and individuals involved in these movements.