Background
She was born as Mary R. Stalcup to Maria and Benjamin Stalcup on February 10, 1922. Benjamin Stalcup worked as a government bookbinder. Mary lived inCareer
Markward was working in a beauty shop on Massachusetts Avenue. She may have been approached to spy because several of her clients were thought to be Communists by the FBI. Her daughter believed that her mother's essay written about her pride in being an American brought her to the attention of the FBI. The essay was published in a local Virginia paper. Markward worked undercover for almost seven years, a time that was stressful for her because she was shunned by friends and family because of her activities with the Party. After consulting earlier in the year with HUAC, the Party heard and expelled her in February 1951. Markward testified before theMr. Velde: As to the Communist Party connection with the Progressive Party, could you describe that briefly?Her accusation of Annie Lee Moss is the most remembered; Moss categorically denied membership or collusion with communists. Moss claimed that she was a victim of mistaken identity; that she was not the only person in Washington named Annie Lee Moss, and the communist Markward identified was a different Annie Lee Moss. However, files declassified years later confirmed Markward's identification as accurate.
Mrs. Markward: The Progressive Party?
Mr. Velde: Yes. Was the Progressive Party infiltrated by the Communist Party after it was organized, or was the Communist Party responsible for the beginning of the Progressive Party organization?
Mrs. Markward: I don't believe the Progressive Party could have been organized without the energy and activity of various Communists in Maryland and the District of Columbia. They decided it was a desirable organization, and put everything they had to see that it was organized. Several committees, known as political action committees, were set up on city and district levels, and the people on those committees were to see that the Progressive Party did function.
Mr. Velde: Did any of the funds of the Communist Party go into the campaign of the Progressive Party?
Mrs. Markward: I don't know one way or another.
Mr. Velde: In Maryland?
Mrs. Markward: I don't know.
Later life
Mary Stalcup Markward contracted multiple sclerosis early in her life, which caused her to retire from the FBI. Later, FBI officials refused to acknowledge her, and retroactively taxed the income she received as an undercover agent. She died on November 23, 1972 inPeople named by Markward
On the stand on July 11, 1951, Markward would name or confirm names mentioned by HUAC, as follows:Mr. Tavenner: Will you give us the names of those who served with you from time to time as members of the district board?She also named Sheppard Carl Thierman and Annie Lee Moss.
Mrs. Markward: Al Lannon was the chairman while he was here. He was replaced by Phil Frankfeld ... * Elizabeth Searle ... * Dorothy Strange ... * William Johnson ... * William S. Johnson, from Washington ... * Henry Thomas ... * Elsie Smith ... * Sam Gordon ... * Dorothy Rose Blumberg ... *Albert Blumberg Albert E. Blumberg (August 10, 1906 – October 8, 1997) was an American philosopher and political activist. He was an official of the Communist Party for several years before joining the Democratic Party as a district leader. Early life Al ...was a member after he got active in the district, but he was assigned to a national activity and did not participate on a local level so much. *Maurice Braverman Maurice Braverman (1916–2002) was a 20th-century American civil rights lawyer and some-time Communist Party member (and Party lawyer) who was convicted in 1952 under the Smith Act, served 28 of 36 months, then immediately faced disbarment, again ...often attended the meetings of the board, particularly during election campaigns. He was particularly active with the political-action committee of the organization. * Roy Wood was a member of the district board ... * Pete Forrest ... * Isidore Schwartz ... was a delegate to the national convention in 1944, either a delegate or an alternate. * Florence Schwartz ... * Levy Williamson ... attended meetings of the district committee ... * Robert W. Lee ... * Irving Winkler ... * Sally Winkler ... * Herbert J. Nichol ... also called Herb Silver ... * Irving Kandel ... attended district committee meetings ... * Sam Fox ... * Ruth Fox ... employed by theUnited Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America The United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), is an independent democratic rank-and-file labor union representing workers in both the private and public sectors across the United States. UE was one of the first unions to be c ...? * Louis Pearlman ... running a grocery store in Wahshington ... * Chase Isaacs ... also known as "Mama" Isaacs ... * Julia Kotelchuck ... elected to the district committee in 1945 ... * Lou Gilbert ... leadership nomination committee ... functionary in the Furniture Workers Union in Baltimore * Herb Kransdorf ... * Jack Zucker ... international organizer in Baltimore of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America * Anne Zucker ... * Esvand Jones ... * Mary Roberts ... * Eve Lannon * Jean Frankfeld
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Markward, Mary 1922 births 1972 deaths McCarthyism Federal Bureau of Investigation informants Double agents American communists of the Stalin era Members of the Communist Party USA Burials at Baltimore National Cemetery People from Fairfax County, Virginia American anti-communists