Definition
Esther Shemitz (1900 – 1979) was an American artist and journalist, known for her participation in left‑wing political circles in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s and as the spouse of former Communist Party member and later anti‑Communist witness Whittaker Chambers.
Overview
Born in New York City to a family of Eastern European Jewish immigrants, Shemitz pursued a career in the visual arts, studying at institutions such as the Art Students League of New York. In the late 1920s she worked as an illustrator and graphic‑designer for progressive publications, including the New Masses, a Marxist‑oriented literary magazine.
During this period she became involved with the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) and was associated with the covert “Ware Group,” a network of CPUSA members who gathered under the patronage of Harold Ware. She met Whittaker Chambers, then a CPUSA operative, through these circles; the two married in 1931.
Following the dissolution of the Ware Group and the onset of the Red Scare, Shemitz withdrew from active Communist involvement. She continued to work in artistic and editorial capacities, contributing illustrations and occasional articles to mainstream publications. After Chambers’ public testimony against Alger Hiss in 1948, Shemitz largely remained out of the public eye.
Etymology / Origin
The surname Shemitz is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, likely derived from a variation of the Hebrew personal name “Shimon” (Simon) or from the Yiddish patronymic formation indicating “son of Shmuel” (Samuel).
Characteristics
- Artistic career: Trained in drawing and design; produced political cartoons, book illustrations, and magazine artwork during the 1920s–1930s.
- Journalistic activity: Authored occasional articles and contributed visual material to left‑leaning periodicals; later provided editorial assistance to mainstream publications.
- Political involvement: Member of the CPUSA and participant in the Ware Group; later distanced herself from Communist activities after the group’s exposure.
- Personal life: Married Whittaker Chambers in 1931; the couple remained together until her death in 1979.
- Later years: Lived a relatively private life after the high‑profile Hiss–Chambers hearings; no public political activity is documented.
Related Topics
- Whittaker Chambers
- Ware Group
- Communist Party USA
- New Masses (magazine)
- Alger Hiss case
- McCarthyism and the Red Scare in the United States
- Jewish American artists of the early 20th century