Max Geldman

Released
Date of birth:08. 05. 1905
Date of death:02. 12. 1988
Age:83† Deceased
Gender:Male
Race:White
Era:1940s
State:Minnesota
Time Imprisoned:
3 Years 1 Month 7 Days
Support
Communism
Max Geldman

Biography

Max Geldman was a Polish-Jewish-born Trotskyist organizer of WPA workers in Minneapolis. Born in Warsaw and brought to America as a child. Joined the Trotskyist movement in 1931. Led the July 1939 WPA workers' strike. Notably, had previously been imprisoned at Sandstone for that 1939 strike — his second time there in 1944 was for the Smith Act. Remained in SWP for over 50 years.

The December 30, 1988 Militant obituary reports Max Geldman’s death on December 2, correcting the later year in the legacy record.

Source report, PDF 1281, pages 13.

Cases

FCI Sandstone
Charges: Smith Act conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 2385).
Arrested: Jul 14, 1941
Sentenced: Dec 7, 1941
Incarcerated: Dec 7, 1941
Released: Jan 14, 1945
Sentence: 12-16 months federal prison
Judge: Hon. Matthew M. Joyce
Convicted: Yes
Institution State: Minnesota
Charges: Prosecution for leading the 1939 federal Works Projects Administration workers strike
Sentence: The obituary reports actual imprisonment following the 1939 WPA strike, with a nominal year-and-a-day term. Separate from Smith Act imprisonment; exact custody endpoints and duration unknown.
Judge: M. M. Joyce
Convicted: Yes

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