Working class--Songs and music

Folklore Archive: Studies and Research Projects Records

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:26:58 -0500

The Folklore Archive, established in 1939, contains the oldest and largest record of urban folk traditions in the United States. To document these traditions, Wayne State University students conducted field research projects covering a broad range of topics. The archive is strong in modern industrial and occupational folklore, reflecting the rich ethnic diversity and work-oriented heritage of Detroit and southeastern Michigan. The Folklore Archive: Studies and Research Projects Records contain transcripts and research studies related to Greek-American family life, Southern upland migrant folk culture, traditional medical beliefs and American folk music.

Stanley D. Kane Papers

srafferty — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 12:33:09 -0500

This collection contains an International Workers of the World (IWW) song book, I Will Win Songs to fan the flames of discontent originally published in 1926. 22nd edition. Inscribed inside is a note "Given in the memory of Judge Stanley D. Kane (1907-1991) who fought for union rights in the 40s, served on the Minnesota District Bench for 27 years, and, in his youth, rode the rails to the wheat fields of North Dakota."

Elizabeth Morgan Papers

srafferty — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 12:49:49 -0500

Elizabeth Morgan was a Quaker and social activist. Elizabeth collected music and shared it as a method of teaching others about suppression and exploitation. Elizabeth and her husband, Ernest Morgan, founded the Arthur Morgan School that focused on creating a safe, loving environment for young teenagers in a rural setting to help students prosper and inspire them to make positive social and ecological changes in the world. This collection consists of a book of 1930s-1940s era labor and socialism songs Elizabeth collected and edited.

People's Song Library Records

drice — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:53:06 -0500

The People's Song Library is comprised of songs collected by the Almanac Singers (1941-43); People's Songs, Inc. (1946-49); People's Artists, Inc. (1950-57); and Sing Out, Inc. (1958-70). Scores, songbooks, and lyrics by Aaron Copland, Woody Guthrie, Joe Hill, "Leadbelly" Ledbetter, Alan Lomax, Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton, Malvina Reynolds, Peggy and Pete Seeger, Josh White, and lesser-known and some anonymous authors dealing with civil rights, the Cuban Revolution, election songs of the 1940s, labor, pacifism, and war. Included are traditional folksongs and some of more recent vintage.

Irwin Silber Papers

drice — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:37:43 -0500

Mr. Silber was an early organizer and worker in Peoples' Songs, Inc. Mr. Silber's collection consists of a representative portion of the group's files, mostly early labor and social reform songs.

Maurice Sugar Papers

drice — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:28:16 -0500

Chief counsel for the UAW from 1937 to 1946, Mr. Sugar's career as a labor lawyer began in 1916. The items in this collection pertain to his song, Sit Down, a favorite of the sit-downers of the mid-1930's. Subjects include: UAW legal matters; UAW factionalism; Ford Hunger March; HUAC; radical politics.

Utah Phillips Papers

aorchard — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 12:19:57 -0400

Bruce Duncan Phillips (1935-2008), better known as Utah Phillips, was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 15, 1935. He became well known as a folk singer, performer, storyteller, and activist beginning in the late 1960s and continued to be a prominent figure in the American folk and labor communities for the following four decades.

The Utah Phillips Papers document the personal, professional, and political activities of Utah Phillips. The papers include correspondence, interviews, writings, notes, contracts, flyers, publications, articles, clippings, photographs, audiovisual recordings, and other materials.

Doris B. Wheeler Papers

abarker — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:59:46 -0400

Doris Wheeler served as the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) southwestern region Educational Director and was a charter member of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 420 (St. Louis, MO). Ms. Wheeler’s papers are comprised of a collection of songs associated with radical groups and the labor movement.

Guest Post: More than a Lawyer - Maurice Sugar

Public Relations Team — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 15:17:18 -0400

“Music hath charms to sooth a savage heart, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” –William Congreve 1670-1729

This quote, among others, was scribbled on notes belonging to the famous and first Labor Lawyer –Maurice Sugar, and can be found in the Reuther Library’s Maurice Sugar Papers. read more »

Joe Hill, the Man Who Never Died

Public Relations Team — Mon, 06 May 2013 11:10:12 -0400

In the Winter 2013 semester, the Reuther Library worked with students in the Graduate Certificate in Archival Administration program at the Wayne State School of Library and Information Science to produce a series of student-written, guest blog posts.

Robert Kett is a second-year SLIS student and amateur musicologist with a genuine interest in labor history and especially labor songs.

A pamphlet, no matter how good, is never read more than once, but a song is learned by heart and repeated over and over.
-Joseph Hillstrom, 1879-1915 read more »

(34279) "Sit Down" sheet music

mcourtney — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 15:04:36 -0400

Sheet music for "Sit Down," a popular song penned by Maurice Sugar.