Utopian Society of America
| Abbreviation | USA |
|---|---|
| Formation | September 20, 1933 |
| Dissolved | 1936 |
| Type | Social movement; fraternal and educational organization |
| Purpose | Economic reform; "production for consumption"; public ownership of production |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California |
Key people | Merritt T. Kennedy; Eugene J. Reed; John G. Wenk; J. Frank Glendon |
Publication | Utopian News |
The Utopian Society of America was a Great Depression-era organization based in California that promoted an economic planning, public ownership of major industries, and a "production for consumption" monetary system. The Society was inspired by Technocracy and Edward Bellamy's utopian socialism.
Founded in 1933, the Society combined fraternal rituals with political education and recruited members through "chain letter" house meetings. The Society claimed over 500,000 members at its peak in 1934, the vast majority in Los Angeles, California.
The Society's membership collapsed in 1935 as members blamed the undemocratic leadership for financial management. The Society became defunct by 1936.
Notable Society members include Gavin Arthur and J. Frank Glendon.