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Published in New York City between 1911 and 1917, The Masses was a Socialist, monthly magazine focusing on labor journalism, feminism, race relations, immigration, and censorship. The Masses featured the work of important leftist activists including writers Emma Goldman and John Reed; illustrators Stuart Davis and Maurice Sterne; and political cartoonists Cornelia Barnes and Boardman Robinson. According to the masthead (retaining the original, emphatic capitalization): This magazine is Owned and Published Cooperatively by its Editors. It has no Dividends to Pay and nobody is trying to make Money out of it. A Revolutionary and not a Reform magazine; a Magazine with a sense of Humor and no Respect for the Respectable; Frank, Arrogant, Impertinent; Searching for the True Causes; a Magazine Directed against Rigidity and Dogma wherever it is found; Printing what is too Naked or True for a Money-Making Press; a Magazine whose final Policy is to do as it Pleases and Conciliate Nobody, Not even its Readers—a Free Magazine.
Following the passing of the Espionage Act in June 1917, The Masses was forced to suspend publication when the U.S. Postmaster revoked its mailing license. Its last issue was Vol. X, no.1 & 2 (November–December 1917). In 1918, several of The Masses' editors launched The Liberator (1918–1924) which was succeeded by New Masses (1926–1948); its title a nod to The Masses. All covers are lithographs. In 1916 the trim size was 10 1/2 x 13 1/2”
(25.4 x 34.3 cm); in 1917 it was reduced to 8 5/8 x 11” (21.9 x 27.9 cm).
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