Paul Moussault Collection of Radical Leftist Organizations, circa late 1960s to 2019 (mostly 1970-1999)

C1767

Contents and Arrangement

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Collection Overview

Collector:

Moussault, Paul

Title:

Paul Moussault Collection of Radical Leftist Organizations

Repository:

Manuscripts Division

Permanent URL:

http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/dcbz60d906p

Dates:

circa late 1960s to 2019 (mostly 1970-1999)

Size:

100.56 linear feet, in 187 boxes and one oversize folder, 80 digital files, 0.61 GB

Storage Note:

This is stored in multiple locations.

ReCAP - Remote Storage (scarcpxm): Boxes 1-187
Firestone Library (scamss): Folder 1

Language:

Dutch; Flemish, German, English, Spanish; Castilian, and Italian

Abstract: Consists of periodicals, articles, research files, ephemera, and other materials documenting radical leftist organizations and guerrilla factions from Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, and other areas around the globe.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

Consists primarily of periodicals, bulletins, and other documents published by and about armed left-wing groups and guerilla factions, both in major European centers – such as Belfast, Berlin, Brussels, Paris, and Amsterdam – and abroad, such as in Southeast Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and Latin America. Each of these groups is also represented through research files that consist of photocopies, scans, and printouts of articles, along with other documentation, such as brochures, flyers, handouts, and pamphlets. The collection also includes some original correspondence and other ephemera such as stickers and reproductions of artwork.

Due to the collector's direct involvement with the group, the Dutch group Rode Verzetsfront (Rote Widerstandsfront, RVF) is more thoroughly documented. The largest group of materials in the collection is on the Red Army Faction (Rote Armee Fraktion, RAF).

The bulk of the collection is in Dutch, German, and English, with a significant amount of materials in Italian, Spanish, and French. Even with the international scope of materials represented in the collection, much of the materials related to other countries are in Dutch, German, and English, with some materials in the language of the various groups and organizations.

Content Warning

There are some graphic images of violence in the collection, including bodily injury, execution, dead bodies, and starvation. The collection also contains textual and graphic depictions of war, political persecution, and political unrest.

Arrangement

The materials are arranged in the creator's original order – in geographical groups with some exceptions where materials are grouped by format (posters or other oversize material) and by organizational group. Oversize materials remain in their original groups but have been housed separately due to their size.

Collection Creator Biography:

Moussault, Paul

Paul Moussault was a leading member of Rood Verzetsfront (Rote Widerstandsfront, RVF, 1977-1985) in the Netherlands, which published bulletins supporting and covering various armed movements in Europe, and compiled information on imprisoned members. He served as editor of the radical left-wing publication Knipselkrant,, based in Groningen, the Netherlands. Part of his involvement in radical movements included documenting international armed leftist groups and guerilla factions by collecting bulletins, newspaper clippings, articles, periodicals, ephemera, and other materials. Using this collection, he has published several works on radical leftist organizations, including books on the history of Rood Verzetsfront and the Armenian Secret Army (ASALA).

Collection History

Acquisition:: Purchased from Bernett Rare Books (now Bernett Rare Books) in February 2024 (AM 2024-045).
Custodial History: Bernett Penka purchased the collection from its compiler, Paul Moussault.
Appraisal: The book "RVF: Het Rood Verzetsfront, in het vizier van de geheime dienst" was separated from the collection during 2024 processing.
Processing Information: Processed and described by Amy C. Vo and Lauren C. Williams in 2024-2025. Finding aid adapted from the description and inventory provided by the dealer.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

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