Herbert Zam
American socialist activist and trade unionist
About Herbert Zam
Lived 1900 – 1992.
Herbert Zam (October 21, 1900 – January 14, 1992) was an American socialist activist and trade unionist. Biography Zam was born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and joined the Young People's Socialist League while in high school. Zam became a follower of Jay Lovestone, joining the Communist Party (Opposition) in 1929 after Lovestone's expulsion from the Communist Party. In 1935, Zam broke with the Lovestoneites and joined the Socialist Party.
Within the Socialist Party, Zam was a member of the Clarity faction, which opposed collaboration with the American Labor Party. He became the main editor of Socialist Review, the Party's official journal. In 1936, following discussions with members of the Communist Party, Zam helped to merge a Socialist union with a Communist supporting labor union, resulting in the creation of the United Office and Professional Workers Union. In the late 1930s, Zam left the Socialist Party. Zam later worked for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, managing its Retirement Fund.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Herbert Zam's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Herbert Zam's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Herbert Zam?
American socialist activist and trade unionist
When was Herbert Zam born?
Herbert Zam was born in 1900.
When did Herbert Zam die?
Herbert Zam died in 1992.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Herbert Zam. https://biography.guide/herbert-zam/
MLA: "Herbert Zam." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/herbert-zam/.
Chicago: "Herbert Zam." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/herbert-zam/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 04:57 UTC