This version of ''Mother Earth'' was an

anarchist Anarchism is a political philosophy and movement that is skeptical of all justifications for authority and seeks to abolish the institutions it claims maintain unnecessary coercion and hierarchy, typically including, though not necessar ...

periodical A periodical literature (also called a periodical publication or simply a periodical) is a published work that appears in a new edition on a regular schedule. The most familiar example is a newspaper, but a magazine or a journal are also example ...

aimed at the discussion of progressive issues. It was in circulation among people in the

radical Radical may refer to: Politics and ideology Politics * Radical politics, the political intent of fundamental societal change *Radicalism (historical), the Radical Movement that began in late 18th century Britain and spread to continental Europe an ...

community in the United States from 1933–1934. The first issue of ''Mother Earth'' journal was published in 1933. It borrowed its title from the original magazine of that name by

Emma Goldman Emma Goldman (June 27, 1869 – May 14, 1940) was a Russian-born anarchist political activist and writer. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europe in the first half of the ...

and others, which was published from 1906 to 1917. The couple John G. Scott and Jo Ann Wheeler were the editors of all seventeen issues of ''Mother Earth'' journal, which they published until 1934. The first sixteen issues were printed in

Craryville, New York Craryville is a hamlet located within the town of Copake in Columbia County, New York, United States. The hamlet is named after the hotelier Peter Crary, who purchased the town's hotel in 1870. Its ZIP code is 12521. Education The Taconic Hills ...

. Scott and Wheeler printed the final issue after leaving Craryville to live and teach in the Ferrer Colony and Ferrer Modern School, where their two children attended school. Scott was a teacher of nature studies for about five years. Wheeler was an art and reading teacher in the Modern Schools for seventeen years. In addition to teaching and publishing the journal ''Mother Earth'', the couple farmed a small piece of land in East Taghkanic, New York, following the guidelines of Thoreau's ''Walden''. The Ferrer Colony and Modern School of

Stelton, New Jersey Stelton is an unincorporated community located within Edison Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. Established in 1689, the Stelton Baptist Church is the state's second oldest baptist congregation. The present-day NJ Transit ...

, a free school to which Scott and Wheeler moved, were established following the assassination of Francisco Ferrer, founder of the original

Escuela Moderna The Ferrer school was an early 20th century libertarian school inspired by the anarchist pedagogy of Francisco Ferrer. He was a proponent of rationalist, secular education that emphasized reason, dignity, self-reliance, and scientific observatio ...

in Spain (1909) Avrich, Paul (1980). ''The Modern School Movement: Anarchism and Education in the United States,'' New York: AK Press. The Francisco Ferrer Association, established in the east coast of the United States by

Alexander Berkman Alexander Berkman (November 21, 1870June 28, 1936) was a Russian-American anarchist and author. He was a leading member of the anarchist movement in the early 20th century, famous for both his political activism and his writing. Be ...

and other anarchists, led to the formation of Modern Schools in many parts of the United States. These anarchist leaders published the original ''Mother Earth'' magazine until August 1917, after Goldman was jailed for speaking against

the draft Conscription (also called the draft in the United States) is the state-mandated enlistment of people in a national service, mainly a military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it continues in some countries to the present day un ...

and against the participation of the United States in the First World War. Wheeler stated to her son, Jon Thoreau Scott, and granddaughter, Nina Scott Frisch, that her journal was named after Goldman's to honour the original ''Mother Earth'' and the work of earlier anarchists. During its publication, the original ''Mother Earth'' magazine was a major periodical of the anarchist movement. The Craryville version ''Mother Earth'' was primarily written and edited by Scott and Wheeler, with illustrations by Wheeler. It included contributions from leading anarchists of the time, including Tom Bell,

Laurance Labadie Laurance Labadie (June 4, 1898 – August 12, 1975) was an American individualist anarchist and author. Career Labadie worked in the car industry in Detroit, Michigan. Labadie became an anarchist author, at first mainly republishing articles ...

and Carl Nold. Articles debated political issues of the time, including

Marxism Marxism is a Left-wing politics, left-wing to Far-left politics, far-left method of socioeconomic analysis that uses a Materialism, materialist interpretation of historical development, better known as historical materialism, to understand S ...

versus

Anarchism Anarchism is a political philosophy and movement that is skeptical of all justifications for authority and seeks to abolish the institutions it claims maintain unnecessary coercion and hierarchy, typically including, though not neces ...

, free schools,

freedom of speech Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction. The right to freedom of expression has been recogni ...

, and workplace organizing through the

Industrial Workers of the World The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), members of which are commonly termed "Wobblies", is an international labor union that was founded in Chicago in 1905. The origin of the nickname "Wobblies" is uncertain. IWW ideology combines general ...

(IWW) and other unions. Other topics included

organic Organic may refer to: * Organic, of or relating to an organism, a living entity * Organic, of or relating to an anatomical organ Chemistry * Organic matter, matter that has come from a once-living organism, is capable of decay or is the product ...

and

collective farm Collective farming and communal farming are various types of, "agricultural production in which multiple farmers run their holdings as a joint enterprise". There are two broad types of communal farms: agricultural cooperatives, in which member- ...

ing. The journal described the methods of farming used and way of life in rural upstate New York during the 1930s, and includes discussions from meetings of the United Farmers Protective Association, the National Farmers Holiday Association, and similar organizations.

References

External links

The Modern School Collection at Rutgers University Library

Friends of the Modern School

The Emma Goldman Papers
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mother Earth (Journal) Anarchist periodicals published in the United States Defunct political magazines published in the United States Industrial Workers of the World culture Magazines established in 1933 Magazines disestablished in 1934 Magazines published in New York (state)