Juliet Stuart Poyntz

Juliet Stuart Poyntz (originally 'Points') (25 November 1886 – c. 1937) was an American suffragist, trade unionist and communist spy. As a student and university teacher, Poyntz espoused many radical causes and went on to become a co-founder of the Communist Party of the United States (CPUSA). Later she began working as an intelligence agent for the Soviet Union, travelling secretly to Moscow just as some of her comrades were being executed in Joseph Stalin's Great Purge, after which she resigned from the party. This is widely assumed to have led to her unexplained disappearance in New York City in June 1937 as the likely victim of an assassination squad, possibly because she had been associating with Trotskyists.

Juliet Poyntz was born on November 25, 1886, in Omaha, Nebraska. Her family moved to Jersey City, New Jersey, not long before she entered Barnard College. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Poyntz moved to New York City as a young adult, where she earned degrees at Barnard College in 1907. She was class treasurer as a freshman, class president as a sophomore, secretary of the Barnard Union, and finally, president of the Undergraduate Association and chair of the student council as a senior. She served as editor-in-chief of Barnard's Mortarboard yearbook, and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, the Philosophy Club, the Classical Club, the Athletic Association, the Christian Association, and the Sophomore Dance Committee. In 1904, she acted "Casting the Boomerang," at the Brinckerhoff Theatre (now Minor Latham Playhouse). In 1905, Poyntz took part in Barnard's third annual Greek Games, where she recited the "Invocation to the Gods" and tied first place in wrestling. She partook in the Interclass Debate (class of 1906 versus class of 1907). In her senior year, she was voted most popular both in the college and for 1907. She was valedictorian of her class and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. By graduation in June 1907, her interests had expanded from suffragism and feminism to trade unionism, labor rights, and socialism.

She received her A.M. degree from Columbia University.

From 1907 to 1909, Poyntz was "Special Agent for the U.S. Immigration Commission," working in Chicago, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Utica (New York), Lawrence (Massachusetts), and other cities. She joined the Socialist Party of America in 1909.

She taught at Barnard College for the 1909–1910 academic year, when she was an assistant to history professor James T. Shotwell, who was well known for his liberal and pacifist views.

In 1912, she wrote in Barnard's Class Book, "I am still a woman's suffragist or worse still a Feminist and also a Socialist (also of the worst brand)." She began working in the labor reform movement in 1913. She was instrumental in labor-Left reform organizations such as the U.S. Immigration Commission, the American Association for Labor Legislation, and the Rand School of Social Science.

During the 1910s, Poyntz worked with the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU). At Local 25, she met Elias Lieberman, later her attorney. When Poyntz became education director of the ILGWU's Worker's University, she reported to Lieberman as chair of Local 25's Educational Committee. In 1918, she left the ILGWU. She continued to work within the Socialist Party-oriented ILGWU after siding with the fledgling Communist Party USA. During the 1920s, Poyntz was on the staff of the Friends of the Soviet Union and International Labor Defense.