Frankensteen, Richard T. (Richard Truman), 1907-1977

Richard T. Frankensteen Papers

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:37:50 -0500

Mr. Frankensteen served as president of the Automotive Industrial Workers Association, one of the independent attempts to organize the auto industry in the early 1930's. He later served as president of UAW Dodge Local 3. In 1937 he was elected a vice-president of the UAW-CIO. Correspondence, speeches, clippings, and other materials on the Ryan Aeronautical Company Strike (1944); the National War Labor Board; North American Strike (1941); factionalism within the UAW-CIO; activities of the UAW during the late 1930s and early 1940s, and Mr. Frankensteen's unsuccessful campaign for mayor of Detroit in 1945 are included. Among the correspondents are George Addes, Adolph Germer, Homer Martin, and Philip Murray. An oral history interview with Mr. Frankensteen is available.

James Moore Audio Recordings

eclemens — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 09:43:32 -0500

In the fall of 1983 Professor James Moore recorded an oral history interview with Shelton Tappes and Catherine "Babe" Gelles, both early organizers for the United Auto Workers Union (UAW). Taped in Tappes' Detroit home, the interviewees gave firsthand account of 1937's "Battle of the Overpass," a brutal response by members of the Ford Service Department to the UAW organizing effort against Ford Motor Company. The interview lends offers two different vantage points: Gelles', as that of a member of the UAW's Women's Auxiliary, and Tappes' as that of a Ford Employee and early Black organizer. Their testimony includes description of brutal assaults on organizers that occurred at the hands of Ford Servicemen, including Walter Reuther, Richard Frankensteen, and Gelles herself; demonstrated anti-union bias by the Dearborn Police Department; description of triage set up in the union hall to attend to the wounded; and UAW organizing efforts that followed the event. The interview was recorded for use in "Mass Producing Fords", a documentary for the United Kingdom's Open University.

(001) UAW Organizing, Reuther, Frankensteen, Battle of the Overpass, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 18:11:23 -0400

UAW organizers pose for the press on the Miller Road Overpass as members of the Ford Service Department approach. Moments after this image was taken the organizers were savagely beaten by the servicemen in the incident that would become known as the Battle of the Overpass.

Left to right: Robert Kanter, Walter P. Reuther, Richard Frankensteen, J.J. Kennedy

(8744) UAW Organizing, Reuther, Frankensteen, Battle of the Overpass, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:47:33 -0400

UAW organizers pose for the press on the Miller Road Overpass. Moments after this shot is taken they are attacked by employees of the Ford Service Department during the Battle of the Overpass.

Left to right: Robert Kanter, Walter P. Reuther, Richard Frankensteen, J.J. Kennedy

(8745) Walter Reuther and Richard Frankensteen "Battle of the Overpass" Dearborn Michigan

eclemens — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:23:50 -0500

Walter Reuther and Richard Frankensteen shortly after being attacked by Ford Service men during the “Battle of the Overpass”. The men were beaten for distributing United Auto Workers leaflets outside of the Ford Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan.

(8747) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:39:58 -0400

Ford Motor Company Servicemen beat Richard Frankensteen, a UAW organizer, during the “Battle of the Overpass”, Dearborn, Michigan. From left to right: Tellford, unidentified, Angelo Caruso, Commett, Goodman. Frankensteen is in the foreground with his jacket pulled over his head. At the far right are photographers and/or reporters from the local press.

(8763) UAW Organizing, Violence, Reuther, Frankensteen, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:25:31 -0500

Walter Reuther comforts Richard Frankensteen following their assault by Ford Service Department employees during the “Battle of the Overpass”. The men were beaten and tossed down a flight of stairs for distributing United Auto Workers leaflets outside of the Ford Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan.

(11446) Richard Frankensteen, Murray Body Strike, Detroit, Michigan, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:07:09 -0400

Richard Frankensteen addresses the workers of Murray Body Co. during their 1937 sit-down strike Detroit, Michigan.

(11447) Contract Negotiations, UAW, Chrysler, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:08:47 -0400

Michigan Governor Frank Murphy (center) watches as Walter P. Chrysler signs the agreement that ends the 1937 Chrysler Sit-Down Strikes. At his left is John L. Lewis. Behind Lewis is Richard Frankensteen.

(11456) Chrysler Strike, Settlement Committee, Detroit, Michigan, 1939

eclemens — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:17:28 -0400

Members of the Chrysler Strike settlement committee at work, Detroit, Michigan.

1. Herman Weckler; 2. James Dewey; 3. Arthur Raab of the State Labor Mediation Board; 4. R.J. Thomas, UAW president; 5. Maurice Sugar, union attorney; 6. Richard Frankensteen, UAW regional director in charge of Chrysler affairs.

(11520) Conventions, Buffalo, New York, 1943

eclemens — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:06:21 -0400

Robert Patterson, Under-Secretary of War, addresses delegates at the wartime convention of 1943, Buffalo, New York.

Left to right: George Addes, R.J. Thomas, Patterson, Walter Reuther, and Richard Frankensteen.

(25228) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 16:58:41 -0400

Richard Frankensteen is brutally beaten by employees of the Ford Service Department during the Battle of the Overpass as photographers record the event and servicemen try to block their view.

(25229) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:01:51 -0400

A member of the Ford Service Department attempts to block the view of the press as Richard Frankensteen is brutally beaten during the Battle of the Overpass.

(25234) UAW Organizing, Violence, Reuther, Frankensteen, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:15:13 -0400

Walter Reuther and Richard Frankensteen clean themselves up after being beaten and thrown down a flight of stairs by Ford Service Department employees during the Battle of the Overpass.

(25251) UAW Organizing, Violence, Reuther, Frankensteen, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:22:26 -0400

A blood-soaked Richard Frankensteen has his wounds attended to after being beaten by Ford Service Department employees during the Battle of the Overpass. Walter Reuther sits at right, his eyes closed.

(25252) UAW Organizing, Violence, Reuther, Frankensteen, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:18:09 -0400

Walter Reuther and Richard Frankensteen clean themselves up after being beaten and thrown down a flight of stairs by Ford Service Department employees during the Battle of the Overpass. At rear, left is Tony Marinovich.

(25257) UAW Organizing, Violence, Reuther, Frankensteen, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:40:59 -0400

Robert Kanter, Richard Frankensteen and Walter Reuther regroup after they were met with violence by Ford Service Department employees during an UAW organizing attempt at the Ford Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan.