Hede Massing papers, 1918-1980

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Summary

Creators:
Massing, Hede
Abstract:
Correspondence, writings, police reports, clippings, and photographs, relating to Soviet espionage activities in the United States.
Extent:
2 manuscript boxes (0.8 Linear Feet)
Language:
In English and German
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Hede Massing papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

Correspondence, writings, police reports, clippings, and photographs, relating to Soviet espionage activities in the United States.

Copies of French and Swiss police reports, detailing the investigation of the Ignace Reiss murder in 1937.

Biographical / historical:

Massing was born in 1900 in Austria. She joined the Communist Party around 1920 when she met Gerhart Eisler, her first husband, and prominent member of the German Communist Party.

Between 1933-1937, Massing served as a Soviet espionage agent in the United States. Later she renounced her allegiance to the Soviet Union, after becoming, as she described it, disenchanted with the direction of the Communist movement under Stalin. Following this decision, she became an outspoken anti-Communist.

In 1949, Massing testified in the Alger Hiss espionage trial, where she maintained that Hiss had been involved in Soviet espionage activities.

In 1951, Massing published an account of her work as a Soviet espionage agent in her book, "This Deception." Massing continued to write and speak publicly about her role in Soviet espionage as well as other subjects for the rest of her life.

Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1983.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Espionage, Russian -- United States

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Hede Massing papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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