The Communist Party of the United States (CPUSA) steadily gained membership through the 1930s, largely because of its success in organizing labor unions and its early opposition to fascism.

In early 1936, the American Legion exposed a burgeoning "Communist College" set up in an office in the Burke Building at Second Avenue and Marion Street. Upon discovery, the office was hastily vacated. This photo of men in a hallway likely shows the aftermath of the discovery of the "college."

Written on sleeve: Communist, Seattle and American Legion
Handwritten on image: C. C & A. L.
Date photograph was filed at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (date of photograph and file date may differ by a month or more): May 2, 1936

Caption information source: The Seattle Daily Times; Date: 01-02-1936; page: 3