Meany, George, 1894-1980

AFSCME Communications Department Records

jruss — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:06:22 -0400

AFSCME has produced a regularly published magazine since its inception. Publication duties for this organ and other materials were accomplished by the Education and Publications Department for the first twenty years of AFSCME’s existence. The 1954 Convention, however, passed Resolution 14, establishing a Publications and Public Relations Department. This new department would continue to publish the AFSCME magazine and other materials and would also take on new media public relations duties both at headquarters, and importantly, in the field. Recognizing that current field staff’s duties did not include crafting AFSCME’s message during organizing campaigns and strikes, it was hoped that the new department would provide skilled public relations professionals on the ground. The new department was created on April 1, 1956. The Publications and Public Relations Department existed until 1971 when the name was changed to the Public Affairs Department. This existed until 2011 when the name was changed again to the Communications Department.

The AFSCME Communications Department Records document the public activities of the Department, AFSCME International, and AFSCME officials. Records include speech transcripts; press releases; surveys and polls; documents related to AFSCME biennial conventions such as transcripts of proceedings, correspondence, and planning documents; correspondence; publications; meeting minutes; clippings; photographs, slides, and negatives; audio and video recordings; and posters.

AFSCME Office of the President: Jerry Wurf Records

jruss — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:29:17 -0400

This collection focuses on Jerry Wurf's tenure as AFSCME International President from 1964 until his death in 1981. Some information appears on an AFSCME affordable housing project that began prior to Wurf's election to the presidency. This housing project was one of the issues that led to a rift among AFSCME members and to Wurf's winning the presidency from incumbent president Arnold Zander. The bulk of the collection, though, represents the Office of the President's records during Wurf's tenure.

Information appears on International Executive Board (IEB) meetings; AFSCME councils and locals; the Committee on Public Education (COPE); the Coalition of American Public Employees (CAPE); Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality (PEOPLE); public employee legislation; international public employee unions; the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers' strike; the Martin Luther King Jr. assassination; Wurf speeches; the Vietnam War; Wurf and AFSCME's relations to larger AFL-CIO issues; AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy; AFL-CIO President George Meany; and Communication Workers President Joseph Beirne.

AFSCME Office of the Secretary-Treasurer: Gordon Chapman Records

jruss — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:29:03 -0400

The records in this collection were created during the tenure of AFSCME's first and founding president Arnold S. Zander. The Secretary-Treasurer for most of Zander's presidency was Gordon Chapman. The Office of the Secretary-Treasurer during this time period oversaw the general financial health of the international union and kept records for its locals, councils, and the headquarters staff. The Office also maintained the records on dues payments.

The records in this collection relate to the chartering, organizing, placement under trusteeship, and disbanding of thousands of locals and councils in all the United States, Puerto Rico, Panama, and Canada. There is also historical information on some locals and councils, and a small amount of documentation on the financial operations of the Office, with data on salaries and payroll matters.

AFT Inventory Part I Records

dgolodner — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:06:07 -0400

Contains Series I, III, IV, VI.

Series I Presidents department, 1920-1964 4W-B-8(1-6), 4W-B-7(9)
Series III Executive Council, 1916-1980 4W-B-7(6-9)
Series IV Defunct Locals, 1916-1958 4W-B-7(3-6)
Series VI Old correspondence with locals, 1914-1940s 4W-B-7(1-2) 4W-B-6(9)

Papers consist of correspondence, ballots, proceedings from meetings, clippings, local finances, per capita reports, charter applications. Subjects include integration, federal works programs, loyalty oaths, academic freedom, federal aid to education, communist issues. read more »

Harry W. Flannery Papers

abarker — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:54:36 -0400

A print and radio journalist, Harry Flannery was active in the labor movement and a member of the Radio Writers Guild Council, the American Newspaper Guild, and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists. Mr. Flannery’s papers reflect his interests in foreign policy and labor issues.

Jay B. Krane Papers

drice — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:03:43 -0500

Jay Krane served in various capacities overseas for the Congress of Industrial Organizations and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. His papers reflect both his work in these organizations as well as the structure and activities of the organizations themselves.

Irving Richter Papers

abarker — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:14:52 -0400

Irving Richter served as president of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) Lodge 139 of the American Federation of Government Employees while employed by the FERA, which would later become the Works Progress Administration. Mr. Richter also served as an economist with the US Labor Department, and as the legislative representative and director of political action in the United Auto Workers-Congress of Industrial Organizations (UAW-CIO) Washington D.C. office. Mr. Richter was a member of the anti-Reuther caucus of the UAW and was dismissed from the UAW, having been identified by Walter Reuther as a Communist.

Mr. Richter’s papers document his career in the labor movement and as an academic, and reflect his research in the postwar history of the labor movement. Part two of Richter's papers contain copies of his articles for “Behind Washington Headlines” and research files, consisting of notes, articles and clippings, for his writings

Archie W. Robinson Papers

abarker — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:20:16 -0400

Journalist Archie Robinson served as the labor editor of the Detroit News, as a press officer for the National War Labor Board, as labor editor of the U.S. News and World Report, and authored George Meany and His Times, a history of the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and its president. Mr. Robinson’s papers document his career in journalism and his coverage of major labor issues.

SEIU Executive Office: William McFetridge Records

ljones — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:17:35 -0500

A nephew of William F. Quesse, SEIU's founder and first International President, William McFetridge began his career with SEIU in 1923 as a member of Chicago's Flat Janitors Local 1. In 1927 he assumed the position of SEIU Third Vice President and then ascended to the position of SEIU 1st Vice President in 1930, a position he maintained until April of 1940, when he became President of the International. The records comprising this collection chronicle McFetridge's last years as President of SEIU.

UAW Local 239 Records

drice — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:25:38 -0400

United Auto Workers Local 239 serviced General Motors plant employees in Baltimore, MD. The records of the local reflect its activities as representative of Fisher Body Plant workers, before they merged with Local 678, Chevrolet assembly operations.

UAW Local 678 Records

drice — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:32:25 -0400

United Auto Workers Local 678 originally serviced the Chevrolet plant and parts warehouse in Baltimore, MD. before merging in 1969 with Local 239, Fisher Body. The records relate to activities and operations prior to the merger.

(213) National Charter, Cesar Chavez, George Meany, Msgr. George Henry, 1972

eclemens — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:34:56 -0400

Photograph showing the granting of the National Charter for the United Farm Workers Union. From left to right: Msgr. George Higgins, Cesar Chavez, and George Meany.

(7469) Arnold Zander and George Meany

jruss — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:26:39 -0400

Former AFL-CIO President George Meany (left) introduces former AFSCME President Arnold Zander to present a resolution for the delegates' consideration at the 1961 AFL-CIO convention.

(10504) 1958 AFL-CIO Convention

jruss — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:45:01 -0400

Immediately following his reelection at the 1958 convention in Washington, D.C., AFL-CIO President George Meany accepts congratulations from Al Hayes, president of the International Association of Machinists. Joining in the applause are AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer William F. Schnitzler and UAW President Walter P. Reuther.

(10514) SPACE Convention

jruss — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:25:05 -0400

AFL-CIO President George Meany swears in officers of the Council of Unions for Scientific, Professional and Cultural Employees (SPACE). SPACE was formed in 1967 and later became the Department for Professional Employees (DPE). From left: AFSCME President Jerry Wurf, SPACE Treasurer; head of American Federation of Musicians Herman D. Kenin, SPACE President; and New York AFT leader Charles Cogen, SPACE Vice President.

(10519) 1971 AFL-CIO Convention

jruss — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:27:01 -0400

AFSCME President Jerry Wurf speaks with AFL-CIO President George Meany at the 1971 AFL-CIO Convention in Bal Harbour, Florida.

(10521) 1973 AFL-CIO Convention

jruss — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:42:42 -0400

AFL-CIO President George Meany speaks with AFSCME President Jerry Wurf and Texas Congresswoman Barbara Jordan at the 1973 AFL-CIO Convention in Bal Harbour, Florida. Jordan delivered a famous speech the following year explaining why she voted to impeach President Nixon, and she addressed the Democratic National Convention in 1976.

(10527) 1979 AFL-CIO Convention

jruss — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:27:13 -0400

Retiring AFL-CIO President George Meany shakes hands with newly elected AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland at the 1979 AFL-CIO Convention in Washington, D.C.

(10534) 1979 AFL-CIO Convention

jruss — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:01:03 -0400

Delegates applaud retiring AFL-CIO president George Meany at the November 1979 AFL-CIO Convention in Washington, D.C.

(10535) 1979 AFL-CIO Convention

jruss — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:05:27 -0400

Delegates applaud retiring AFL-CIO president George Meany at the November 1979 AFL-CIO Convention in Washington, D.C.

(10536) 1979 AFL-CIO Convention

jruss — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:09:33 -0400

Retiring AFL-CIO President George Meany acknowledges applause at the 1979 AFL-CIO Convention in Washington, D.C.

(11803) George Meany, AFL-CIO

jhelpap — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 09:54:04 -0400

George Meany, AFL-CIO (right)

(24820) Meany presents Vermont charter

jruss — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:58:08 -0400

AFL President George Meany presents an AFSCME charter to the Washington County, Vermont, Municipal Employees Local 557 at the 50th anniversary convention of the Vermont State Federation of Labor. From left: Meany; Ralph Leavitt, vice president of the International Brotherhood of Pulp and Paper Workers; Joseph Zamperie, president of Local 557; and Leo Kramer, AFSCME International representative.

(24821) Meany presents Massachusetts charter

jruss — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:09:34 -0400

AFL-CIO President George Meany presents the AFSCME charter to Local 1776 representing employees at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Meany was at the University’s Centennial Charter Day celebration to receive an honorary degree. From left: Herman Lampron, Local 1776 treasurer; Judith Switky, Local 1776 secretary; George Crowell, Local 1776 president; Meany; Howard V. Doyle, AFSCME Massachusetts State Council 41 president; and Hugh Thompson, AFL-CIO regional director.

(24830) Meany, Pollock, Wurf

jruss — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:27:57 -0400

AFL-CIO President George Meany (left), Textile Workers International Union President William Pollock (center), and AFSCME President Jerry Wurf chat during a break at the AFL-CIO Industrial Union Department (IUD) convention in Washington, D.C.

(28007) Albert Shanker and George Meany

jhelpap — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:25:14 -0500

AFT President, Albert Shanker speaking with AFL-CIO President, George Meany.

(28008) George Meany and Albert Shanker

jhelpap — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:35:06 -0500

AFT President Albert Shanker introducing AFL-CIO President George Meany at the 1978 AFT Conference.

(29521) George Meany, George Hardy, 1977

aorchard — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 10:18:25 -0500

George Meany and George Hardy at a board meeting and luncheon on October 3, 1977.

(29707) George Meany, Bob Hope

jhelpap — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 17:21:49 -0500

AFL-CIO Executive board meeting, April 1979

Meet the Press

jruss — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:21:21 -0500

Al Shanker fields questions from a panel of interviewers on a wide range of topics including the purpose of the teacher union movement; teacher salaries; student achievement; the rise of public employee unionism; Shanker's role at local and national levels of teachers' unions and the labor movement; school integration and busing; how to measure productivity in education; how to merge the National Education Association (NEA) and the AFT; the effects of teacher strikes; and school vouchers.