The Book of the XV Brigade: Transcriptions

Dave Gordon Photo credit: David Gordon, Commissariat, August 1938. The 15th International Brigade Photographic Unit Photograph Collection; ALBA Photo 11; ALBA Photo number 11-0234. Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives. Elmer Holmes Bobst Library, 70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012, New York University Libraries.

The Book of the XV Brigade was a history of the International Brigades written by volunteers and published during the Spanish Civil War. This unique copy of The Book of the XV Brigade was signed by David Gordon's comrades, from the volunteers he fought alongside to famous figures like Dolores Ibárruri (La Pasionaria). 

Students have begun the work of transcribing these many signatures. To zoom into any page, click the image. You can view the book as a whole here.


Title page of The Book of the XV Brigade, with signatures circle and numbered in red.

1: Con un abrazo/ [signature illeg.]

2: A David Gordon con un/ abrazo de hermano/ [signature illeg.]

-Transcribed by Ned Berube

3:  A mi amigo David Gordon, en/ prueba de mi amistad y de su anti/fascismo. El pueblo español le agrade/ ce en lo que vale su ayuda a su inde/pendencia./ El Jefe de la Brigada./ 30-9-38/ [signature illeg.]

4: John Gates

-Transcribed by Bridget Pierce

 

 

 

 


Copyright page of The Book of the Brigade, with signatures circled in red.5: Malcolm Dunbar/ London, England. 

6: Jack Cooper/ Cleveland Ohio

-Transcribed by Tyler Halstead

7: RADO SMRČKA/ PÍSAROV-NORTH MORAVIA/ CZECHOSLOVAKIA

8: F. L. "Rookie" Walker / Quarter master Eng Batt./ Spain 1938.

-Transcribed by Danielle Hounam

 

 

 

 

 


Copyright page of the Book of the XV Brigade, with more signatures circled in red.9: Walter Kolowski/ Paterson, N.J. Hamtramek

-Transcribed by Kathryn Gillum

10: [G. Fletcher?]/ Manchester England

11: Howard Godard/ Los Angeles, California

-Transcribed by Robin Kelly

12: Sam Wild/ Spain 1938

13: Andalucia/ Maruja Martinez

-Transcribed by Sydney Hammond

 

 

 

 


Dedication page of the Book of the XV Brigade, with signatures circled.

14: Percy Ludwick/ England

 

15: William Matvenko/ Calgary, Alberta,/ Canada.

-Transcribed by Victoria Smolenski

16: E Cecil-Smith/ Toronto

17: [illeg.] Manuel Estevez/ California

-Transcribed by Lauren Elizabeth Romano

18: Harvey Hall/ Yarker Ont.

19: Owen J. Smith/ Montana, Iowa, N.H.

-Transcribed by Matthew W. Shamon

 


Page 8 of the Book of the XV Brigade, with signatures circled.

Page 8

20: Angel Ezarell/ Buenos Aires/ Republica Argentina

-Transcribed by Alex Terry

21: Manulo Alonso Barroso/ San Miguel 216/ Hubana/ Cuba

-Transcribed Morgan Lutz

22: Federico Villarij/ Mutualidad 130-1-1/ Barcelona

-Transcribed by Sofia Thornblad

 

 

 

 

 

 


Page 8 of the Book of the XV Brigade, with more signatures circled.

Page 8

23: Luke Hinman/ San Francisco, Calif.

-Transcribed by Alex Terry

24: Benjamin Katine/ fotografo 15th Brigade/ New York City

-Transcribed Morgan Lutz

25: Samuel H. Abramson/ Montreal, Canada

-Transcribed by Sofia Thornblad

 

 

 

 

 

 


Foreword page of the Book of the XV Brigade, with signatures circled

Page 9

26: Manuel Chacon/ de Austurias

27: Nickolas Myers/ Vancouver B.C. 

-Transcribed by Madison Strausser

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Acknowledgements page of the Book of the XV Brigade, with signatures circled

Page 10

28: Thomas Lloyd/ c/o Thos. Sanders/ 625 Grandview Ave/ Steubenville, Ohio

-Transcribed by Kathryn Gillum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Page 11, titled  "Revolt in Spain", with signatures circled.

Page 11

29: Robert Cummins/ 1420 Golden Avenue/ Ann Arbor, Michigan

30: Por ser un gran/ camarada y un buen comba/tiente en el Ejercito Popular en/ España, le dedico estos lin[e]as agradeci/disimo de su buen comportamiento y espero/ que cuando se encuentre en su pais no dejara de/ luchar en pro de la libertad./ Enrique Vicedo 

-Transcribed by Analee M. Benik

 

 

 

 

 


Page 12 of the Book of the XV Brigade with signatures circled

Page 12

31: Harry W. Randall, Jr.-- "El Fotógrafo"/ Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.

32: Our Struggle here will be continued/ where ever we be/ H [illeg.]

-Transcribed by Katherine Marren

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Page 13, titled "Revolt in Spain," with signatures circled

Page 13

33: Vaugh Love/ 742 St. nicholas ave./ new york

-Transcribed by Heather Cory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Page 23, titled "The Brigade and its Commander," with signatures circled

Page 23

34: To Dave, who I know did his best -/ Archie Brown/ San Francisco/ 27 Clay St.

35: Thanks for the smokes Danny./ Morris Stamm/ Cleveland O.

-Transcribed by Brett Lancaster

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Page 291, titled "Mackenzie Papineau Battalion in Action," with signatures circled

Page 291

36: Irving Weissman/ Born again in Spain/ from June 1936 to/ the/ end

-Transcribed by Heather Cory