Thompson, Frederick W., 1900-1987

John Beffel Papers

drice — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:21:49 -0400

Mr. Beffel served as a reporter, writer, editor, and publicist. He edited manuscripts of Slim Brundage, Joseph Cohen, Paul Crouch, Harry Kelly, Walter Marshall, Rose Pesotta, Voline, and Vincenzo Vocirca; and did publicity work for the Workers Defense League. In addition to the manuscripts, the collection includes correspondence, drafts, notes, and clippings which deal with the Carlo Tresca Memorial Committee, anarchists, communism, the Joe Hill case, the IWW, and the League for Mutual Aid. Correspondents include, in addition to the authors noted above, Ralph Chaplin, Margaret DeSilver, Max Nettlau, Matilda Bobbins, Nicolaas Steelink, Norman Thomas, and Fred Thompson.

Charles Chiakulas Papers

drice — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:18:44 -0400

As a UAW International representative, Mr. Chiakulas worked in many capacities in the labor movement, including assistant director of the Borg-Warner Department, and coordinator of the AFL-CIO Industrial Union Department. In Chicago he set up one of the successful Community Union centers, working in the ghetto with tenant unions. He was a COPE coordinator and was sent abroad three times by the union to work (through the ICFTU) with labor leaders in Cyprus and Greece. His papers reflect his many-faceted career and include material on the following subjects: AFSCME; Borg-Warner; British colonialism; the J.I. Case Com- pany; the Chicago CUC; Chicago politics; COPE; Community Unions; Cyprus; Cyprus Trade Unions; the 1967 coup in Greece; the Greek Community in Chicago; IUD; ICFTU; UAW Locals 180 and 477; Miss Melina Mercouri; NLRB cases; peace groups; teachers' unions; and the UAW-AFL-AIWU problems. Frequent correspondents include many senators and congressmen, particularly Representative Roman Pucinski. Among the international correspondents are J.M. Aguirre, H.E. Chudleigh, Eiler Jensen, Bill Kemsley, Jay 6. Krane, Archbishop Makarios, Fotis Makris, J.H. Oldenbroek, N. Petrides, Michael Pissas, Z. Rossides, and A. Vassilion. Union correspondents are Jack Bollens, Frank Callaghan, Patrick German, Richard Gosser, Pat Greathouse, Joseph Mattson, Victor Reuther, Walter Reuther, Tony Valeo, and Leonard Woodcock.

Joseph P. Conlin Papers

abarker — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:51:37 -0400

A Professor of History and author of several books concerning the Industrial Workers of the World, Joseph Conlin’s papers document his study of the history of the organization and correspondence with members of the IWW.

Richard Ellington Papers

drice — Tue, 10 May 2011 10:36:38 -0400

Richard Ellington was a typographer and typesetter and member of the Industrial Workers of the World. Born in Seattle, WA, he moved to New York after his discharge from the army. Through his interest in science fiction, he became involved with sci-fi fan groups where he met his wife as well as other libertarian/anarchists. He joined the IWW in 1955, as a group effort to revive the organization and served on the Executive Board numerous times. In the mid 1960s, Ellington and his family move to the San Francisco Bay area where he later established his own typesetting business. Some projects for which he typeset include non-anarchist, alternative publications and poetry books, though many of his projects were for the IWW. Through his home office, he typeset many anarchist periodicals, including the Industrial Worker, and stickers that were called “silent agitators.” He also co-wrote the Boss’s Songbook. Richard Ellington died from lung cancer on May 26, 1991.

The Richard Ellington papers consist largely of correspondence related to his work with the Industrial Workers of the World starting in the 1950s until his death in 1991. Most of the correspondence is followed by the related typeset document. The collection includes various manuscripts, pamphlets, and leaflets on which he worked as well as files from his time as member of the Executive Board. The newspaper articles he saved covering the IWW and anarchist events are also included.

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.

IWW Detroit/Ann Arbor Branch Records

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:34:02 -0500

Subjects include: organizing; boycotts

IWW San Francisco Bay Area Branch Records

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:37:32 -0500

Subjects include: radical publications; union activities

Frederick W. Thompson Papers

drice — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:44:31 -0400

A Canadian, Frederick Thompson came to the U.S. and became a member of the Industrial Workers of the World in 1922. He traveled throughout the country organizing for the IWW, served as General Secretary-General, edited "The Industrial Worker," and wrote two histories on the organization. His papers reflect his involvement with the IWW and his interest in preserving its history; his ties to Socialism; his effort to become a U.S. citizen; and IWW legal struggles of the 1950s and 1960s.

Richard B. Tussey Papers

abarker — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:30:22 -0400

Richard B. Tussey served in the Cleveland labor movement as an organizer, educator, editor, negotiator and administrator, for various organizations, including the Socialist Labor Party, the Metal and Machine Workers Industrial Union, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), the Mechanics Educational Society of America (MESA) and the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen, later known as the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). Mr. Tussey’s papers document the activities of the various labor organizations he associated with, and to a lesser degree, his work as an advocate for civil rights and the peace movement.

(46046) Poster, Fred Thompson Memorial, Cortez, Phillips, Chicago, c. 1987

eclemens — Fri, 01 May 2020 08:51:00 -0400

A poster for a memorial meeting honoring Wobbly scholar and organizer Fred Thompson, likely from 1987. The meeting was held at the Sulzer Library in Chicago, and featured the following speakers: Arthur Weinberg, Joyce Kornbluh, Carlos Cortez, Penny Pixler, Robert Green, J. Quinn Brisben, Franklin Rosemont and others. Music was provided by Utah Phillips and the Grand Industrial Band.

The event was co-sponsored by the Chicago Branch of the IWW; the Charles H. Kerr Publishing Company; Left Court magazine; the Illinois Labor History Society; and Workers Education Local 189.