Agricultural laborers

Agricultural Workers History Collection

drice — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 09:16:17 -0400

The United Farm Workers of America (predecessor name, United Farm Workers Organizing Committee) is a 20th Century union, created when the National Farm Workers Association and Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee merged to form UFWOC, to further the rights of farm workers. As the union developed, it led strikes and organizing campaigns to advance their efforts.

Parts 1 and 2 of the Agricultural Workers History Collection are comprised of articles, publications, crop and migrant studies, farm wage rates, UFW grape and lettuce boycott newsletters, legislative reports and other materials documenting the history of agricultural labor in California and a few other states.

Al Barnes Photograph Collection

eclemens — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 17:33:48 -0500

The Al Barnes Photographs consist of 17 black and white negatives that document life in Northern Michigan during the late 19th-century. The negatives include scenes of local landmarks, both man-made and natural, agricultural labors at work in the farms of the Old Mission Peninsula, and portraits of children. Of particular note are negatives concerning the activities of local Native Americans.

Richard Alatorre Papers

drice — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 14:34:58 -0500

Richard Alatorre was born and raised in Los Angeles, graduating from James A. Garfield High
School in 1961. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Los
Angeles, in 1965. He later went on to earn a Master of Public Administration degree from the
University of Southern California. Alatorre taught in several California universities before
becoming an aide to California Assemblyman Walter Karabian and State Senator Alfred Song in 1968. Before this he was Western Regional Director of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, where he successfully initiated lawsuits on behalf of children, many of whom were Spanish speaking, that were assigned to classes for intellectual disabilities. Alatorre has also served as a consultant to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

The files in this collection are related to his work as a California Assemblyman, specifically to
his duties as the Chairman on the Select Committee on Farm Labor Violence. That committee
began work in 1973 and issued its final report in early 1974. The work this committee did led to the first UFW / AFL-CIO sponsored farm labor relations bill in the California legislature. One of the authors of that measure (AB 3370) was Richard Alatorre. AB 3370 was never ratified, but served as the forerunner of the 1975 Agricultural Relations Act, also co-authored by Alatorre.

Anna Andreini-Brophy Papers

kschmeling — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:30:13 -0400

This collection contains the papers of Anna Andreini-Brophy. It covers her time working with Stewart Mott at Spectemur Agendo, Inc., to assisting Cesar Chavez and working for the United Farm Workers movement, and then to her later life as a real estate agent.

Ken Barger Papers

drice — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 16:46:10 -0400

Ken Barger (1941-), who was raised in east Tennessee, became active in social change after his experiences serving in the Vietnam War. He was a professor of Anthropology for thirty years at Indiana University Indianapolis, focusing professionally on social change. Through these professional interests, he got involved with the farm labor movement and the immigrant rights movement. Barger has been an active member of the FLOC movement since 1979. He participated in many activities, such as building boycotts, farm labor education, immigrant rights, and public education about migrant worker justice. He was the vice president of the Farm Labor Research Project and the community organizer for FLOC. As of 2011, he serves on the board of directors for the Campaign for Migrant Worker Justice as secretary.

The Ken Barger Papers are predominantly FLOC materials. Included are packets from the FLOC Constitutional Conventions and collective bargaining agreements between workers and companies like Vlasic Foods, Heinz U.S.A. and Campbell Soup. Several campaigns are covered with an abundance of material relating to the Campbell Soup Campaign and Mt. Olive Campaign. There are also copies of FLOC publications and Nuestra Lucha.

David Burciaga Papers

kschmeling — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 09:10:42 -0500

David Burciaga worked with many farm worker movement leaders, including Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta and Gilbert Padilla in various capacities, from the 1950s to the 1980s. He served as the United Farm Workers’ top contract negotiator, working with both farm workers and growers. Prior to his involvement with the UFW, Burciaga worked with the American Friends Service Committee as the El Porvenir community development advisor from 1964 to 1970 and for the Community Service Organization (CSO). David Burciaga died in 2011.

The files of David Burciaga mainly consist of his activities with the American Friends Service Committee, the Community Service Organization and The United Farm Workers of America.

Don Watson Papers

kschmeling — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 12:12:57 -0400

Don Watson was active in community organizations, politics and labor unions most of his life. Before retiring, Watson was an active member of the ILWU Local 34 from 1955 to 1993 serving in a variety of capacities. In the mid-1960s he joined the Five-Dollar-a-Month Club in support of the farm workers organizing drive that was founded by members from ILWU Local 10. Later Watson became head of the organization and continued to collect funds for the striking farm workers from the clerks and longshoremen until the mid 1970s. During this time he became very involved with the farm worker movement, working closely with the San Francisco boycott office and many UFW officials.

The papers of Don Watson reflect his activities with the ILWU Local 34, and specifically with the United Farm Workers Union’s strikes and boycotts of the 1960s and 1970s.

Marshall Ganz Papers

drice — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:47:35 -0400

Subjects include: United Farm Workers; Cesar Chavez; organizing farm workers; agricultural labor relations cases; boycott in Canada; UFW National Executive Board; Jessica Govea; medical programs

Marc Grossman Papers

kschmeling — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 16:47:30 -0500

Marc Grossman became involved with the United Farm Workers in 1969 while an undergraduate student at the University of California, Irvine; where he graduated with a B.A. degree in American History in 1972. During that time he helped organize the Grape Boycott. From there he went on to obtain a Master’s degree in journalism at UCLA in 1973.

Grossman knew Cesar Chavez the last 24 years of his life, serving most of that time as his press secretary, speechwriter, and personal aide. Among his duties were, responsibility for the UAW’s press relations, writing public statements, crafting press releases, commentary pieces, and public relations and publicity material. Although he resigned from this position in 1981, he continued working closely with the legendary civil rights and farm labor leader on all his major speeches, writings, and news events until Chavez’s death in 1993.

In 1981 Grossman joined the staff of California State Senator Richard Alatorre. In that same year he transitioned from the staff of the Assembly Majority Consultants to the position of Legislative Aide for the Capitol Office. His duties included legislative research and political analysis for Democratic Assemblymen. By 1984 he was writing over 300 pieces of mail for every Democratic campaign in California by himself; and he advanced on to schedule nationwide and statewide media tours and news events, prepared press packets for numerous legislative candidates, created direct mail fundraising and political campaign packages, was a copywriter for TV commercials and brochures, and ghosted numerous speeches and Op Ed pieces all for major labor and political leaders.

In 1987, he became associated with Ross Communications as a writer and publicist. Over his career, he has written more than a dozen books and has worked on other projects such as being the technical advisor for Diego Luna’s major motion picture, Cesar Chavez, in 2014. Today Grossman still serves as spokesman for the Cesar Chavez Foundation and the United Farm Workers of America.

Dolores Huerta Papers

drice — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:04:27 -0400

Dolores Huerta champions the rights of farm workers and Latinos. As a young teacher her experiences in classrooms filled with hungry children of migrant farm workers led her to believe that an even greater need was organizing farm workers. Dolores first met Cesar Chavez in the late 1950s while organizing farm workers under the name of the Agricultural Workers Association. In 1962 they founded the National Farm Workers Association in Delano, California. Today, Dolores Huerta continues to place La Causa first. She remains a boundlessly energetic and charismatic leader for the United Farm Workers union as an executive board member, union negotiator and lecturer. In addition, Huerta has been honored with numerous awards across the country for her work as an advocate for the rights of women, immigrants and people of color.

The papers of Dolores Huerta primarily deal with boycotts, strikes, and the ongoing struggle for workers’ rights and organizations involved in such matters.

Larry Itliong Papers

drice — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:31:37 -0400

In 1956 Larry Itliong founded the Filipino Farm Labor Union in California. With the formation in 1967 of UFWOC (United Farm Workers Organizing Committee) Larry Itliong became Assistant Director to Cesar Chavez in the union that would eventually become the UFW. In January, 1970 he was appointed National Boycott Coordinator of the UFWOC. Itliong resigned from the Union on October 15, 1971. He devoted the rest of his life to improving the lives of retired Filipino farm workers, and to a wide variety of community and civic projects, many of which were Filipino related. The collection consists of a small amount of materials from the early days of farm worker organizing. The bulk of the collection is Mr. Itliong's records of his post-UFW endeavors.

Industrial Workers of the World Records

drice — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 16:44:51 -0400

The Industrial Workers of the World was founded in 1905 and is a member-run union for all workers. The IWW organizes all workers producing the same goods or services into one union instead of pooling them by skill or trade. Numbered among its members (known popularly as Wobblies) are lumberjacks, miners, farmhands (especially migrant workers), sailors, and workers in textile mills. Since their founding, the IWW has made significant contributions to labor struggles around the world. The union is proud of its long-standing tradition of fierce defense of the first amendment and breaking down barriers of race, ethnicity, and gender. Since it's founding in Chicago, the IWW has moved its headquarters around the country.

Part 1 includes minutes and proceedings, trial records and evidence, newspapers, pamphlets, poems, cartoons, songs, and correspondence. Subjects of interest include the Centralia Conspiracy; criminal syndicalism; the Everett Massacre; Free Speech fights; organization of farm workers; labor conditions; the controversy between craft and industrial unionism; government raids and seizures; trials of various members; foreign IWW administrations; political prisoners; GEB 1960's-1970's; conventions 1970's; Junior Wobblies; Houston Branch; and information on such figures as Vincent St. John. Correspondents include T.J. Bogard, Arthur Boose, Richard Brazier, Frank Cederval, A.S. Embree, William D. Haywood, Claude Irwin, Joyce Kornbluh, John A. Law, George Lucas, Albert Prashner, Rudolf Rocker, Vincent St. John, Nicolaas Steelink, Fred W. Thompson, William Unger, Walt Westman, and Claire Whitaker.

Part 2 of the Industrial Workers of the World Collection contains General Executive Board correspondence from the 1960s and 1970s and minutes, newsletters and correspondence from several branch locations and foreign administrations covering the same time period. Also included are Constitutional General Convention minutes from the 1970s, membership dues booklets, songs, cartoons, poetry, articles, legal case files, and a large assortment of English and foreign-language pamphlets and leaflets. Of particular interest are the reports of undercover private detectives posing as IWW members who investigated IWW organizing among Arizona miners in 1923.

Part 3 include mainly correspondence, reports, and photographs that document the union’s activities and goals primarily during the time they were headquartered in Ypsilanti. Since the organization is global, some reports come from places as far as Sweden and Germany. Of particular note are copies of Junior Wobblies cards dating from the 1930s.

Content of Box 158, Folder "Cigar Makers Meeting" is unavailable.

Michigan Farm Worker Ministry Coalition Photographs and Audio-Visual and Other Materials

drice — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 17:09:18 -0400

The Michigan Farm Worker Ministry Coalition, active from 1978 through the 1990s, worked to assist farm workers’ organizing efforts and to improve their access to health care and education. This collection consists of photographs documenting their activities and the activities of related organizations, as well as audio recordings, posters, banners, and other ephemera.

National Farm Worker Ministry Records

kschmeling — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 09:26:14 -0500

The National Farm Worker Ministry (predecessor name California Migrant Ministry) is an agency of the Southern and Northern California Councils of Churches and is affiliated with the Migrant Ministry of the National Council of Churches. It carries on a direct and active ministry of service to farm workers and their families in the following areas: Education, health services, worship, recreation, literacy classes, voter registration, community development, and vocational counseling and training. The NFWM also assists local clergy and congregations in their relationships with farm workers.

In addition, the National Farm Worker Ministry has played an active role in the organization of farm workers, in promoting national and state legislation, and in lending support to striking farm workers.

National Farm Worker Ministry: Florida Office Records

kschmeling — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 13:50:43 -0400

The National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM)—original name Migrant Ministry— has been administering to the nation’s farm workers since the 1920’s. It originally operated in southeastern United States and by the early 1940s expanded to aid migrant workers in fifteen states. It was during the strikes and boycotts of the 1960s and 1970s initiated by Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers Union (UFW) that brought the California Migrant Ministry and other state migrant ministries to form a national organization to better assist the UFW cause. The Florida office supported the UFW from the early years of the boycott campaigns.

The files of the NFWM Florida office consist of documents relating to a number of UFW strikes and boycotts of the 1970s and 1980s as well as correspondence, organizing and fundraising reports from member migrant support organizations.

National Sharecroppers Fund Photographs

drice — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 16:19:03 -0400

The National Sharecroppers Fund (NSF) was incorporated in 1943 and grew out of “National Sharecroppers Week,” an annual event intended to rally support for the Southern Tenant Farmers Union. NSF was founded to provide financial assistance and information on government aid programs to organizations dedicated to improving living conditions for the rural poor. The photograph collection consists of images documenting NSF activities and the lives of sharecroppers and their families from the 1940s through to the mid 1970s.

National Sharecroppers Fund Records

drice — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:07:34 -0400

The National Sharecroppers Fund grew out of the "National Sharecroppers Week," an annual event to rally support for the fledgling Southern Tenant Farmers Union. It was founded to provide financial assistance and information on government aid programs to organizations dedicated to improving living conditions for the rural poor. Their records include the papers of Fay Bennett and her work with the NSF, the National Advisory committee on Farm Labor, the Migrant Children's Fund, the National Council on Agricultural Life and Labor, and the Citizens' Crusade Against Poverty; material documenting NSF's efforts to provide technical and organizational assistance to the rural poor; and personal experience of sharecroppers in the southern United States.

Orange County Interfaith Committee to Aid the Farm Workers Records

drice — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 12:01:52 -0400

The Orange County Interfaith Committee to Aid Farm Workers was a branch of the National Farm Workers Ministry. NFWM began in 1920 as a ministry of charity and service, providing food, clothing and day care to the farm workers. When United Farm Workers founder César Chávez began organizing in the 1960's, he called on the religious community to change its emphasis from charity to justice. NFWM became the vehicle for people of faith to respond to that call.

The collection consists of newspaper clippings and pamphlets detailing the struggles of the UFW during much of the 1980s.

SEIU International Affairs Records

aorchard — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 10:30:15 -0500

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was founded in 1921 as a union of flat janitors. Over the years it has grown in size and scope, now comprising three divisions: healthcare, property services, and public services. While most of SEIU’s members reside in the United States, the SEIU is an international union with members and affiliates in countries all over the world. The records of SEIU’s International Affairs Department document the SEIU’s relationships with companies, unions, organizations, and labor activists in other countries, as well as detail departmental operations. Document formats found within the records primarily include correspondence, meeting minutes and agenda, booklets, and reports.

Mark Sharwood Papers

drice — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:43:51 -0400

Mark Sharwood was as a full time volunteer for the United Farm Workers from 1976 until 1982. He worked towards passing Proposition 14, for which he traveled through California, Texas, Mid-west states and New York, assisting with various boycotts and campaigns. Beginning in 1978, Sharwood handled the propaganda for the Imperial Valley election. He created graphic fliers in order to communicate ideas that did not translate into words.

Sharwood’s records consist of leaflets, pamphlets and flyers used in organizing campaigns from 1977 through 1979. The material pertains largely to organizing efforts from Lamont-Delano, Coachella Valley, Imperial Valley, Oxnard, Santa Maria, and Salinas-Watsonville UFW field offices. Additional materials regarding the 1978-1978 Lettuce/Vegetable strike and the Texas, Rio Grande Valley are included. The collection also includes Anti-UFW leaflets from the same areas in California.

Robert Thomas Papers

drice — Tue, 10 May 2011 11:00:01 -0400

Robert J. Thomas is a professor at Brandeis University and Executive Director at the Accenture Institute for High Performance. He was formerly a professor of Organizational Studies at MIT. Thomas’ area of interest lies in leadership and transformational change. He has written books, such as Citizenship, Gender, and Work: Social Organization of Industrial Agriculture, with the UFW as subject matter.

The Robert Thomas collection reflects his previous research for his book in organizational structure in the agricultural industry. The Robert Thomas Records is a collection of newspaper clippings with some duplicated and secondhand UFW correspondence included. The majority of the clippings refer to the Lettuce Strike in 1979 and the Delano Grape Strike with clippings from 1966 and 1972. Complete editions of the El Malcriado and Tulare Tenant News are also included. The collection includes various clippings and correspondence from agricultural organizations and related farms.

UFW Administration Department Records

drice — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:05:34 -0500

United Farm Workers grew out of several farm workers organizations of the 1960s and was led by Cesar Chavez for over thirty years. The Administration Department records reflect the wide range of people and groups with whom the UFW corresponded. The work of the union itself is well represented, including U.S., Canada, and Europe boycott files, El Malcriado files, and negotiations with southern California grape growers.

Part 3 of the records represent the second decade of the union’s progress toward the goals of improving wages and working conditions for farm workers. Included are major legal cases, including UFW vs. Teamsters, UFW vs. DiGeorgio, and the Blythe Massacre; boycotts, including the Lettuce Boycott and Grape Boycott; and correspondence, including Cesar Chavez personal correspondence.

UFW Arizona State Office Records

drice — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:41:58 -0400

Subjects include: strikes - grapes, lettuce, sugar

UFW Boycott Central Records

kschmeling — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 09:40:18 -0400

The UFW grape and lettuce boycotts of the late 1960s and early 1970s were the outgrowth of The Delano Grape Strike, which occurred in September 1965 in California. In 1967 the idea of boycotting a product was fostered by Cesar Chavez, head of the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC). Chavez’s intent was to alert the nation that farm workers were looking for civil rights, as well as fairer wages and thus used the tactic of boycotting as a non-violent means of furthering his goal.

Materials in this collection consist of state boycott flyers, correspondence by boycott coordinators and volunteers, clippings, and reports, from 1967 to 1976. In addition, there are files relating to wine and lettuce market studies, and court documents on landmark cases such as Englund vs Chavez and Bruce Church, Inc. vs Chavez.

UFW Michigan Boycott Records

drice — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:36:34 -0400

The UFW Michigan Boycott collection contains materials specific to the state, and the activities of the UFW within the state. The largest boycott in Michigan was of California grapes, and this is reflected in the numerous store surveys which the UFW conducted in an attempt to ascertain the amount of non-UFW wine available. In addition, the collection contains a small amount of material about the lettuce boycott.

It must also be noted that here are a large quantity of materials which focus on agriculture and migrants, and their living and working conditions in the state. (In the 1970s Michigan had the third largest migrant population in the nation.) Additionally, staff activities (other than the boycott) such as fundraising are documented. There is a significant amount of correspondence to Michigan businesses about UFW concerns, and correspondence which shows support for UFW by a wide range of groups including Michigan colleges and universities, churches, and unions, notably the UAW.

UFW Washington State Boycott Records

drice — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:35:16 -0400

The National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) was founded in 1962. In 1966 it affiliated with the Agricultural Workers Committee to form the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC). In 1973 the UFWOC became the United Farm Workers, AFL-CIO. Cesar Chavez led the farm workers from 1962 until his death in 1993. The papers of the Washington State Boycott Office of the United Farm Workers primarily record the 1970s activities of the UFW's Seattle support groups. These activities included the office's involvement in the UFW's lettuce and grape boycotts. The Seattle group also compiled information on growers and legislation pertaining to farm workers in the state of Washington.

UFW Canadian Boycott: Montreal Office Records

drice — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:36:16 -0500

The UFW Montreal Boycott Office Records contains materials specific to the activities
surrounding the grape and lettuce boycotts in Montreal and other cities in Canada during
the late 1960s and early 1970s. Much of the material is from the tenure of Jessica Govea,
a close associate of Cesar Chavez. Her work directing boycotts in Canada helped the
union win one of its first contracts with a California grape grower and ultimately settle
with the entire industry. The records include correspondence, memos, flyers and
advertisements, press releases, clippings and newsletters. There is a significant amount of
correspondence with the UFW’s Salinas and Delano, California, headquarters.

UFW Canadian Boycott: Toronto Office Audio-Visual Collection

kschmeling — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 15:42:19 -0400

One of the largest boycott offices in Canada was located in Toronto. Coordinated by Bill Masterson, Jessica Govea, Marshall Ganz and others, the Toronto boycott staff and volunteers, including religious and student groups, led a successful campaign against the sale and shipment of non-union grapes in Canada.

The audio-visual collection consists of a number of posters, bumper stickers, audio tapes and a few photographs that document UFW activities in Toronto during the time of the UFW Grape Boycott in the 1970s.

UFW Canadian Boycott: Winnipeg Office Records

kschmeling — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 16:18:34 -0500

The UFW Canadian Boycott documents the operations and activities of the Winnipeg branch of the United Farm Workers boycott operations between the years of 1970 and 1974. The two major boycotts of that era were, grapes and grape-products produced by employers of non-union labor, and another concerning non-union lettuce, as well as other smaller campaigns. Fred Schumacher headed the Winnipeg office.

Material found in this collection reflects the work of Fred Schumacher and office’s goal to organize the greater Winnipeg area and other Canadian regions to participate in larger boycotts against agricultural growers that employed non-union labor and engaged in what the UFW deemed “unfair practices.” Those the office tried to organize include local grocery and liquor stores, political figures, religious organizations and churches, as well as the general public.

UFW Florida Division Records

kschmeling — Mon, 14 May 2018 11:43:36 -0400

The Florida Division offices were created by the United Farm Workers union to handle the boycott of designated products in the state of Florida, and to function as the union representative between the Coca-Cola Company Foods Division and the migrant workers.

Files consist of boycott and contract correspondence, reports, newsletters, printed matter, research materials and negotiations with the Coca-Cola Company.

UFW Hawaii Boycott Committee Records

drice — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:31:46 -0500

The Hawaii Boycott Committee of the United Farm Workers was formed in the latter part of 1968 under the auspices, and with the support, of the Hawaii AFL-CIO. The collection documents its function to promote the boycott of California table grapes throughout the state of Hawaii.

UFW Illinois Boycott: Chicago Office Records

kschmeling — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 16:07:35 -0400

The UFW Illinois Boycott was a part of the nationwide boycotts that the United Farm Workers of America (UFW) spearheaded during the mid 1960s and 1970s. These boycotts aimed to end the sale of non-union grapes and lettuce. The main duty of the Chicago office, which was led by Eliseo Medina, was to enlist support for the striking farm workers by soliciting donations, spreading information, and directing the boycott of specific stores within Illinois.

This collection contains flyers, correspondence, newspaper clippings, meeting minutes, legislative reports, newsletters, rosters, and field organizing notes. Additionally, this collection contains some material about the Teamsters.

UFW Information and Research Department Records

drice — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 10:56:32 -0400

The UFW grew out of several farm workers organizations in the 1960s and was led for over thirty years by Cesar Chavez. The Information and Research Department serves as the research center for the union, collecting materials of interest in many areas importantin to the organization. Their records reflect the range of services which the union provided for its members, including legal and immigration assistance, workman's compensation claims, healthcare, and grievance mediation. Other subjects include: boycotts; contract negotiations; strikes; Teamsters dispute.

UFW Louisiana Boycott: New Orleans Office Records

drice — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:54:33 -0500

The records of the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee Boycott New Orleans Office (successor name United Farm Workers) highlight their efforts to gain support from area affiliates, such as religious groups and New Orleans labor union leaders, for the boycott. The collection consists mainly of correspondence.

UFW Maryland Boycott Records

kschmeling — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 16:31:11 -0400

The Maryland Boycott office was set up in Baltimore by the UFW to handle the organization of boycotted products and establishments in the state of Maryland and its surrounding region. The office, headed by Pete Velasco, dealt mainly with the boycotting of stores, which sold non-union products or were involved in anti-union activities. As well, the office involved itself with other UFW interests including migrant workers, pesticide abuse and the lobbying for or against specific legislation being proposed at the state and federal levels.

The records of the Maryland Boycott office relate to the grape and lettuce strikes that were initiated by the United Farm Workers Union and the national boycott efforts that followed.

UFW Massachusetts Boycott: Boston Office Records

drice — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 12:41:26 -0400

The United Farm Workers Organizing Committee’s Boston Boycott Office (UFWOC) opened in 1967, one of several regional branch offices of the UFW formed to organize communities to participate in a consumer boycott of lettuce, grapes, wines, and other agricultural products. UFWOC was the predecessor name of the UFW. The primary activity of the office involved outreach efforts (mailing letters, hosting rallies and events) aimed at prominent members of the greater Boston area, including political leaders, church leaders, and business leaders, as well as college campuses and the general public, urging them to refrain from buying non-union products. Employees and volunteers also performed routine visits to grocery stores and other places where produce was sold to investigate whether or not they were carrying boycotted products. Additionally, the office was also responsible for the distribution of fliers, pamphlets, and posters in support of the boycott and to promote farm worker events and fundraisers.

The records of the Boston Boycott Office chronicle the activities of the office, which were primarily concerned with organizing the national consumer boycott of California table grapes and non-union lettuce. Materials found in this collection reflect the office’s goal to organize the greater Boston area to participate in larger nationwide boycotts against agricultural growers that employed non-union labor, ill gotten Teamster union representation or engaged in what the UFW deemed “unfair practices.” Targets of the UFW Boston Boycott Office include local grocery and liquor stores, political figures, local universities, religious organizations and churches, as well as the general public

UFW Minnesota Boycott: Minneapolis Office Records

kschmeling — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 14:40:54 -0500

The UFW Minneapolis Boycott Office (a.k.a. Twin Cities Boycott Office) was part of a nationwide series of boycotts that the United Farm Workers of America spearheaded during the mid 1960s and 1970s. These boycotts alerted the national consumer of the grape and lettuce strikes that had erupted in California, Texas, Arizona and other states. The main duties of the Minneapolis office were to enlist support for the striking farm workers by soliciting donations, spreading information and organizing marches and rallies. Boycott activities were focused in the Twin Cities area with the main office in Minneapolis.

The materials in this collection represent the efforts of the Twin Cities Boycott Office to aid the migrant workers and to promote the work of the UFW. They contain fliers, correspondence, contact lists, newsletters, and publications.

UFW New Jersey Boycott: Jersey City Office Records

drice — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:51:04 -0500

The records of the United Farm Workers Jersey City Boycott Office describe their attempts to limit the shipment and sale of on-union grapes through the coordination of an effective national boycott campaign.

UFW Office of the President: Arturo Rodriguez Records

drice — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:28:09 -0400

Arturo Rodriguez became president of the United Farm Workers (UFW) in 1993 upon the death of Cesar Chavez, co-founder and president of the UFW from its start and Rodriguez’s father-in-law and mentor. Rodriguez was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1949 and attended Catholic schools there. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio in 1971 and a Masters degree in social work from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1973.

Rodriguez learned of Cesar Chavez’s work for farm workers from his parish priest in 1966 and became involved in the UFW’s grape boycott while in college. Thereafter, Rodriguez worked with the UFW and, after graduating from the University of Michigan, Rodriguez went to work full time for the UFW, initially organizing boycotts. His work with the UFW has included organizing boycott efforts, organizing union representation elections, teaching classes on union organizing, negotiating and administering union contracts, working on providing union services and settling worker grievances, campaigning for ballot propositions and political candidates, and serving on the UFW’s executive board.

Upon becoming president of the UFW, Rodriguez led a significant new field organizing and contract negotiating drive, adding substantial numbers of members to the UFW. During his presidency the UFW has also campaigned for new laws and regulations protecting farm workers, including immigrant workers, and sought to provide representation to farm workers by providing them with benefits and services through the UFW.

The UFW Office of the President: Arturo Rodriguez Records consists of files maintained by the UFW president’s office while both Cesar Chavez and Arturo Rodriguez served as president and includes files of collective bargaining agreements, events attended by the president and other UFW officials, public actions undertaken by the UFW, the president’s correspondence, the UFW’s constitutional conventions, the operations of the UFW’s benefit and service organizations, and UFW organizing and boycott efforts, as well as general office correspondence and phone logs for a number of UFW officers. There are also research publications. Files from Arturo Rodriguez, predating his election as president of the UFW are included.

UFW Office of the President: Cesar Chavez Records

drice — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:34:57 -0400

Cesar Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association, later known as the United Farm Workers, in 1962 at a convention he called. Growing up a migrant farm worker he honed his skills as an organizer with the Community Services Organization in California before splitting with them to form the NFWA. He would serve as president of the UFW until his death in 1993. These records reflect Chavez's beginnings with the CSO and the formative years of the NFWA, United Farm Workers Organizing Committee, and the UFW as well as some milestones in his personal life.

UFW Ohio Boycott Records

kschmeling — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 14:12:15 -0500

The UFW Ohio Boycott was part of a nationwide series of boycotts that the United Farm Workers of America (UFW) spearheaded during the mid 1960s and 1970s. These boycotts alerted the national consumer of the grape and lettuce strikes that had erupted in California and other states. The main duty of all of the Ohio offices was to enlist support for the striking farm workers by soliciting donations, spreading information, and directing the boycott of certain agricultural crops within the state of Ohio. The Boycott had main offices in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland, with offices in other cities such as Toledo and Dayton.

The materials in this collection represent the efforts of the Ohio Boycott Office to aid the migrant workers and to promote the work of the UFW. They contain numerous fliers, correspondences, minutes, newsletters, and field organizing reports. In addition, one scrapbook from the Cincinnati boycott office has been microfilmed.

UFW Organizing Committee (UFWOC) Records

drice — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:23:47 -0400

The United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC) was formed in 1966 with the merger of the National Farm Workers Association and the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, and was the precursor to the United Farm Workers. Their records center mainly on their activities on behalf of California farm workers. Sometimes referred to by its initials UFWOC.

UFW Pennsylvania Boycott: Pittsburgh Office Records

kschmeling — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 16:02:46 -0500

The Pittsburgh boycott office was set up and coordinated by the United Farm Workers Union to handle the organization of boycotted products and establishments in the state of Pennsylvania and its surrounding region. The office, headed by Frank Ortiz, Sr. Carol Dougherty, Barbara Macri and a number of others, dealt mainly with the boycotting of stores, which sold non-union products, or were involved in anti-union activities. As well, the office involved itself with other UFW interests including migrant workers operating in Pennsylvania, pesticide abuse and the lobbying for or against specific legislation being proposed at the state and federal levels.

The records of the Pittsburgh Boycott office relate to the grape and lettuce strikes that were initiated by the United Farm Workers Union and the national boycott efforts that followed.

UFW: Peter Velasco Records

kschmeling — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 10:18:31 -0500

Peter Velasco has served in a number of positions in the UFW. He worked as the Stockton, California Field Office Director, as the director of the Strike Defense Fund, was a board member of the Farm Workers Credit Union, and the National Executive Board. He and his wife Dolores Ann also worked on the US Senate campaign of Tom Hayden in 1976. Pete Velasco died in 1995. His collection consists of office files, largely from the time when Velasco was Stockton Area Director and personal files from the early 1960s to the late 1970s.

Part 2 of this collection includes materials relating to both the United Farm Workers movement and to Peter Velasco’s life more broadly, covering the span of 1942-2000.

UFW Public Relations: Jocelyn Sherman Records

drice — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:48:48 -0500

After college, Jocelyn Sherman started at the United Farm Workers (UFW) as a public relations representative and has been with the UFW for over 20 years. Sherman served as a documentary photographer for the UFW and as manager of the UFW’s public relations department before becoming the UFW’s Internet Communications Director.

Sherman’s records consist of the UFW public relations department’s files from 1988 to 2001 and reflect her work with UFW campaigns during that era, including grape boycotts, organizing campaigns, raising awareness of the consequences of pesticide use, and fund-raising. The records cover public relations department administrative matters and persons and subjects of interest to the department and the UFW. The records also contain newspaper clippings of articles referencing the UFW, its members, campaigns, and other activities, and people and subjects of interest to the department and to the UFW.

UFW Publications

kschmeling — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 14:29:30 -0500

UFW Publications is primarily comprised of serials and unique publications created by, or collected by the United Farm Workers of America, the National Farm Worker Ministry and support organizations, which assisted the UFW with its cause. Included in the collection are convention proceedings dating back to the official inception of the UFW, constitutions, bylaws and serials.

UFW Publications is an artificial collection, its contents have been pulled from other UFW collections and UFW related collections to create a single grouping of farm labor publications.

UFW Wisconsin Boycott: Milwaukee Office Records

drice — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:28:18 -0400

The National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) was founded in 1962. In 1966 it affiliated with the Agricultural Workers Committee to form the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC). In 1973 the UFWOC became the United Farm Workers, AFL-CIO. Cesar Chavez led the farm workers from 1962 until his death in 1993.The papers of the Wisconsin Boycott Office record the activities of the UFW primarily in Milwaukee during the mid 1970s, including several director's records. The office worked to make the people of the state aware of the harsh conditions under which the farm workers in California and Arizona labored, and how the people of Wisconsin contributed to these conditions by purchasing certain products. The majority of the papers are concerned with national or California boycott activities, but several lawsuits and boycotts specific to Wisconsin are also chronicled.

UFW Work Department Records

drice — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:25:21 -0400

UFW Missouri Boycott Records

drice — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 16:39:05 -0400

The records of the UFW Missouri Boycott Office relate to the various strikes and boycotts that occurred nationally during the period of the 1970s. The Missouri Boycott Offices were located in two locations, Kansas City and St. Louis. The people directing these boycott offices worked on petitions, boycotts of grocery store chains and agricultural products, and raising awareness about the UFW’s dispute with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

The majority of material in this collection dates from the 1968 to 1979 and contains numerous correspondences, petitions, and fliers about the plight of the UFW. Some important events that are included in this collection include the Salad Bowl Strike and Grape Strikes.

Workers' Defense League Records

drice — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:17:41 -0500

This collection of correspondence, press releases, newspaper clippings, speeches, trial briefs and transcripts, and published pamphlets and leaflets, thoroughly documents the Worker's Defense League's efforts to obtain justice for labor organizers, government critics, victims of racial and economic discrimination, and conscientious objectors, through established, legal processes.

Series V: Farm Workers, Migrant Workers, Sharecroppers and their Unionization, Boxes 154 to 172 available only on microfilm.