The Ralph Muncy collection consists primarily of papers relating to his interest in socialist political activities. A smaller portion of the collection documents the involvement of his wife, Lydia B. Muncy, in the socialist cause. Together they also collected materials relating to the history of their families (Muncy-Baird). Included is much original family material dating back into the nineteenth century. The Ralph Muncy papers have been arranged into the following series: Correspondence; Topical Files; and Ralph Muncy and Lydia Baird Muncy Personal.
Ralph Muncy, socialist, educator, forester, civil engineer, and avid genealogist, was born April 26, 1902 in Cedar, Michigan, the son of John Irvin and Maud Ackley Muncy. After graduating from Ann Arbor High School in 1919, Muncy received a bachelor's degree in forestry from the University of Michigan in 1923. In 1930, Muncy received a teaching certificate from the University's School of Education. Best known for his ardent activities, Muncy was a member of the Socialist Labor Party (1930-1970) and later as a member of an offshoot party known as the Industrial Union Party (1970-1992). Muncy's sympathies for the working class were planted early. In the 1920s, his father, an automotive engineer, took young Ralph into the Studebaker plant in Detroit where he worked. While normally a soft spoken man, his father shouted and cursed at the workers, explaining to Ralph that this was the only way to treat the men. This episode made a lasting impression on Muncy.
Muncy, between 1952 and 1970, served as both secretary and chair of the Socialist Labor Party (SLP). Eventually disillusioned with the SLP because he believed that the party was diluting its program and 'cozying up' to capitalism, Muncy left the party in 1970 and was instrumental in the founding conference, in Ann Arbor, of Socialist Reconstruction (reorganized in 1981 as the Industrial Union Party). The membership of this new party consisted of former members of the S.L.P. and others who subscribed to Socialist Industrial Unionism as the foundation of a new society and form of government based upon public ownership of the means of production.
During his tenure as a member of each party, Muncy ran unsuccessfully for various state offices including Governor (1956 and 1982), Attorney General (1954 and 1960), Secretary of State, Highway Commissioner (1957), and Superintendent of Public Education. Muncy also ran for the U.S. Senate in 1966 and the U.S. Congress in 1968. Muncy wrote extensively on socialism and contributed to various socialist publications, as well as to a number of Michigan and national newspapers. He also lectured on socialism in CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) camps during the 1930s.
Muncy's wife, Lydia Baird Muncy, born February 10, 1902 in Marine City, Michigan was the daughter of William Baird and Grace Low Baird. She shared her husband's interest in the socialist cause. Besides running on the party ticket for a position on the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan in 1968, Lydia Muncy was an active speaker appearing as a guest lecturer for such groups as the League of Women Voters on several occasions.
In addition to his activities with the Socialist Labor Party and the Industrial Union Party, Muncy practiced forestry as a private consultant and as an employee of the United States Forest Service until 1940. Subsequently, he was engaged as a civil engineer, in which capacity he was employed by General Motors, the Great Lakes Steel Corporation, and McNamee, Porter & Seeley Civil Engineering of Ann Arbor.
Muncy was also an avid genealogist and researched his own family genealogy extensively. He belonged to a number of historical societies including the Washtenaw County Historical Society (Mich.), the Historical Society of Michigan, and the Thomas Minor Society. Muncy was in charge of the newsletter for the Washtenaw County Historical Society and gave some lectures at the Society. Muncy also served as the historian for his Ann Arbor High School class and edited an alumni newsletter. Ralph Muncy died in March 1992, at the age of 89.
