Movement for a New Society Records

Movement for a New Society began in 1971 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a national network of activists committed to building a nonviolent revolution. Movement for a New Society grew to be a community, based in several areas around the United States. While Movement for a New Society was always an activist organization, it was also a co-housing and/or communal society. Movement for a New Society provided training in nonviolent direct action; was committed to decentralized organization and decision-making. It grew out of an earlier gathering of peace activists, A Quaker Action Group. For the first ten years, Movement for a New Society collectives in Philadelphia encouraged the formation of regional groups, including collectives in the Boston/Northeast Region, the Mid-Atlantic Region, Tucson, Seattle, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Chicago, etc. After 1981 efforts were made to strengthen communication and coordination among the various collectives. Movement for a New Society published at least three newsletters for internal communication: Dandelion Wine, Wine, and Grapevine; and one external newsletter, The Dandelion. Movement for a New Society ceased operation in 1988. Members of Movement for a New Society formed a collective publishing business, based in Philadelphia, New Society Publishers, which published books and pamphlets on peace, social justice, and ecological issues. New Society Publishers was in existence from 1988-1996.