Zander, Arnold S. (Arnold Scheuer), 1901-1975

AFSCME Central Files Department Records

jruss — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:09:27 -0400

The AFSCME Central Files Department was established in 1966 to which all departments within the international headquarters contributed correspondence and reports so all material related to a particular incident would be filed together. In 1974, Dr. Philip Mason of the Reuther Library at Wayne State completed a thorough records management survey of AFSCME and recommended that the Central Files Department be dissolved and that individual departments maintain their own records. His recommendation was enacted that same year.

The material in this collection reflects the broad range of operational activities undertaken by the AFSCME International Headquarters in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The records reveal information on most aspects of the union’s procedures, on councils and locals throughout North America, and on AFSCME’s dealings with organizations, government entities, and other unions. The records are primarily comprised of correspondence, but other types of records also appear including legal and policy memoranda, financial statements, legal decisions, transcripts from hearings and proceedings, meeting minutes, procedures, by-laws, grievance claims, membership lists, staff activity reports, press releases, and news clippings.

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 International Executive Board (I.E.B.) Records

jruss — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:46:46 -0400

The International Executive Board (IEB) is the top level legislative and policy-making body within AFSCME, except when the convention is in session. The IEB is responsible for interpreting the union’s constitution. The records of the IEB are maintained by the Office of the Secretary-Treasurer. Materials in this collection were pulled together from various shipments from the Office of the Secretary-Treasurer to make a comprehensive record of the proceedings of the AFSCME IEB. Some IEB-related information can still be found in the Secretary-Treasurer’s records.

This collection includes minutes, agendas, and transcripts of the meetings of the International Executive Board of AFSCME from 1935 to 1993. Reports presented to the IEB from various entities and offices like the Office of the President and the Office of the Secretary-Treasurer also appear in the collection. Correspondence on planning the meetings and on various issues that Locals and Councils brought before the IEB appears as well. Resolutions, budgets, judicial panel hearing reports, and other miscellaneous material related to individual IEB meetings also appear in the collection. Materials are arranged chronologically, and are grouped by convention location and date.

AFSCME Office of the President: Arnold S. Zander Records

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

This collection encompasses the Office of the President's records during the tenure of AFSCME's first and founding president, Arnold S. Zander, from 1935 to 1964. Information on the formation of AFSCME and early AFSCME history can be found in this collection. Additionally, the collection reflects the organizing efforts of AFSCME throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and the relations between AFSCME and the AFL, CIO, AFL-CIO, and other unions and organizations. Further, Zander's particular interests in consumer affairs and the international aspects of public employee organizing appear in these records.

Appended to the finding aid is a non-searchable subject and correspondent index.

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.

AFSCME Office of the Secretary-Treasurer: Gordon Chapman/Joseph Ames Records

jruss — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:47:43 -0500

This collection primarily covers the end of Gordon Chapman’s tenure as Secretary-Treasurer, and all of Joseph Ames’s tenure. These years saw turbulence in the International Union’s politics where founding incumbent president Arnold Zander faced challenges from an opposing faction called the Committee on Union Responsibility (COUR). COUR candidate Jerry Wurf won the presidency at the 1964 convention. Gordon Chapman held the office of Secretary-Treasurer. In 1966, Chapman retired due to poor health. He was replaced by Joseph Ames who had been President Wurf's assistant. Ames served as Secretary-Treasurer until 1972 when he became Judicial Panel Chairman, and William Lucy, then President Wurf's assistant, became Secretary-Treasurer.

The early records in this collection document the activities of President Zander's assistant Leo Kramer and COUR, illustrating their rival campaigns. The later records in this collection document the activities of the Office of the Secretary-Treasurer, including finances, conventions, International Executive Board meetings, correspondence and speeches, political activities, legislation, files on councils and locals, and files on various associations with which AFSCME had relationships.

AFSCME Office of the Secretary-Treasurer: Government and Civic Employees Organizing Committee Records

jruss — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:41:02 -0400

In early 1950, the United Public Workers union was expelled from the CIO for alleged communist activities, leaving behind an anti-communist group called the Government Workers Union. In February of 1950, the CIO chartered the Government Workers Union as the Government and Civic Employees Organizing Committee (GCEOC) and gave the new committee jurisdiction over federal, state, and local employees. In the next five years, GCEOC aggressively attempted to reach full union status within the CIO but failed to do so before the AFL-CIO merger in December 1955. After the merger, GCEOC was absorbed by the AFL's AFSCME. Some of the GCEOC personnel and many of its locals transferred into AFSCME, but by the late 1950s almost all traces of the old GCEOC had disappeared.

These records detail the breakup of the United Public Workers and the formation of the Government Workers Union and the GCEOC. There is considerable documentation on GCEOC Local 1 in Washington, D.C., which became AFSCME Local 1, and of GCEOC organizing efforts in the 1950s in the United States, Canada, and Panama.

NOTE: A non-searchable subject and correspondents index is appended to the end of the guide.

Al Bilik Papers

drice — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 16:00:39 -0400

Al Bilik served on the District Council 51, Cincinnati, Ohio and was an active labor member within the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). Sensitive to the relationship of the larger international union working with and depending on the strength of locals and councils, he helped American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Union members Victor Gotbaum, Rob Hastings, Jerry Wurf, Joseph Ames, Norm Schut and Father Albert Blatz, form the Committee on Union Responsibility (COUR).

Formed in the early 1960’s, COUR worked on AFSCME constitutional reforms to broaden the powers of the Secretary-Treasurer and International Executive Board, giving affiliated unions more authority in determining local policies and programs. COUR supported Jerry Wurf to become the new AFSCME President and opposed the candidacy of AFSCME President Arnold Zander in the international convention held May 1962 in Kansas City. At the 1964 Denver convention COUR campaigning eventually worked to oust Zander and establish Wurf as the new AFSCME President. Al Bilik later became the assistant to AFSCME President Jerry Wurf.

Al Bilik’s papers contain correspondence from active COUR members, but does not contain correspondence written by Al Bilik.

Gordon W. Chapman Papers

jruss — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:34:38 -0400

Gordon W. Chapman was elected secretary-treasurer of AFSCME in 1937. He served until 1944 when he became executive assistant to AFSCME president Arnold Zander. In 1948, he was reelected to the office of secretary-treasurer. Chapman resigned from AFSCME in 1961 to accept a State Department appointment as special assistant for the coordination of international labor affairs. In 1962, he was once again elected as secretary-treasurer of AFSMCE where he served until his retirement in 1966 due to poor health. During the 1950s, Chapman also worked actively with the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.

Chapman placed his papers with the Reuther Library in 1979. His collection reflects almost exclusively his work in AFSCME.

Leo Kramer Papers

jruss — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:15:55 -0400

The Leo Kramer Papers were given to the Reuther Library by Leo Kramer who served as personal assistant to Arnold Zander during Zander's tenure as AFSCME International President, 1936-1964. Kramer assembled and utilized the Papers in the writing of a book about AFSCME. Therefore, included in the collection are notes, correspondence, and research materials relating to Kramer's writings and labor activities. The bulk of the Papers, however, reflect the development of AFSCME from its beginning as the WSEA (Wisconsin State Employees Association) to the end of Zander's presidency in 1964.

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.

AFSCME's History-Making 1964 Convention

scaloia — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 13:04:06 -0400

Fifty-five years ago, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees elected a new president who would dramatically change the trajectory of the union.

A founding member of the Wisconsin Service Employees Association in 1932, Arnold Zander took the lead in forming the national public employee union that would become AFSCME. read more »

AFSCME Coloring Pages

scaloia — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 15:22:14 -0400

Decompress and have some fun with these coloring pages!

Click the links at the bottom of the page to download and print PDF images that you can color.

34352-1978Convention: Interior view of the Las Vegas Convention Center, featuring the “AFSCME in the Public Service” theme, at the AFSCME International Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 1978. See the original image here.

38272-Wurf: AFSCME International President Jerry Wurf in Michigan during AFSCME Local 1390, Ingham County, strike. See the original image here.

AFL1958-Zander: AFSCME President Arnold S. Zander reports to the 1958 AFL-CIO Convention in Washington, D.C. See the original image here.

AFSCME Convention Announcements and Program, 1936

scaloia — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 16:04:45 -0500

Information on the first Biennial Convention for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) at the Book-Cadillac Hotel in Detroit, MI, September 17-19, 1936. Includes information on hotel facilities and Convention program including a list of invited speakers. It reads, in part, "The deliberations of the convention will be concerned with the disposition of resolutions, problems of organization, matters of policy, amendments to the constitution, plans for proposed state and local legislation, a program of education and public welfare, the reports of officers, and the election of officers. Most informative discussions are anticipated."

(7467) AFSCME President Arnold Zander and Senator Ted Kennedy

jruss — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:19:02 -0400

Former AFSCME President Arnold Zander (right) and Senator Edward Kennedy speak in 1963.

(7468) Arnold Zander and Arthur Goldberg

jruss — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:22:37 -0400

Former AFSCME President Arnold Zander (right) and former U.S. Secretary of Labor Arthur Goldberg chat informally at a reception given for cabinet officers in Washington, D.C. in 1962.

(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.

(7676) Arnold Zander marches with Council 50

jruss — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:14:47 -0400

AFSCME International President Arnold Zander (in line with lamp post) joins the picket line of Council 50 New York State Employees during a march in Albany in 1963. Elmira, N.Y. Local 1240 member Bill Curios is to the right of Zander, and George Lima, AFSCME Feild Representative in the New England states is to the right of Curios.

(8878) Arnold Zander and Leo Kramer

jruss — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:33:34 -0500

AFSCME International President Arnold Zander (left) stands with international representative and longtime personal assistant Leo Kramer.

(9972) Staff meet with President Zander

jruss — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:43:05 -0400

AFSCME staff at the International Headquarters in Washington, D.C. meet with union president Arnold Zander.

(10502) 1943 AFL Convention

jruss — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:28:10 -0400

The American Federation of Labor convention committee on resolutions meets during the 1943 AFL Convention in Boston. Members clockwise from center front are: Lawrence P. Lindelof, president of the Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America; J.L. Reilly, Railway Mail Association; William E. Maloney, president of the International Union of Operating Engineers; Arnold S. Zander, president of AFSCME; Thomas H. O’Donnell, Bricklayers, Masons and Plasters’ International Union of America; John P. Frey, president of the AFL Metal Trades Department; Matthew Woll, president of the AFL Union Label Trades Department; Reuben G. Soderstrom, president of the Illinois State Federation of Labor; Fred W. Baer, president of the international Association of Fire Fighters; David Dubinsky, president of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union; Maurice Hutcheson, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America; Frank Kasten, president of the United Brick and Clay Workers of America; John M. Gillespie, secretary-treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America; Max Zaritzky, president of the United Hatters, Cap and Millinery Workers International Union; and Hugo Ernest, secretary-treasurer of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees’ International Alliance and Bartenders’ International League of America.

(10503) 1958 AFL-CIO Convention

jruss — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:36:50 -0400

AFSCME President Arnold S. Zander reports to the 1958 AFL-CIO Convention in Washington, D.C. on the activities of the Committee on Government Employees’ Subcommittee on Resolutions.

(10505) 1958 AFL-CIO Convention

jruss — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:53:28 -0400

Members of the AFSCME delegation to the 1958 AFL-CIO Convention in Washington, D.C. listen to proceedings. From left they are then Regional Director Jerry Wurf, Organizing Director Thomas E. Morgan, Secretary-Treasurer Gordon W. Chapman, and President Arnold S. Zander.

(10510) 1961 AFL-CIO Convention

jruss — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:21:04 -0400

AFSCME President Arnold Zander (right) and his assistant Leo Kramer (center) consult with delegates at the 1961 AFL-CIO Convention in Washington, D.C.

(11307) 1940 AFSCME Convention

jruss — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:00:55 -0400

Secretary-Treasurer Gordon Chapman addresses the 1940 AFSCME Convention in Duluth, Minnesota, as President Arnold Zander listens.

(11308) 1940 AFSCME Convention

jruss — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:06:14 -0400

Delegates at the 1940 AFSCME Convention in Duluth, Minnesota, cast ballots as officials Gordon Chapman and Arnold Zander (far right) look on.

(11309) 1948 AFSCME Convention

jruss — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:17:03 -0400

AFSCME President Arnold Zander speaks at the 1948 Convention in Boston, Massachusetts.

(11317) 1954 AFSCME Convention

jruss — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:58:22 -0400

Secretary-Treasurer Gordon Chapman (left) and President Arnold Zander at the 1954 AFSCME Convention in Los Angeles.

(11322) 1956 AFSCME Convention

jruss — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:43:13 -0400

AFSCME President Arnold Zander (right) shakes hands with International Vice President Alvin Ruthenberg at the 1956 Convention in Detroit.

(11328) 1958 AFSCME Convention

jruss — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:58:09 -0400

International Vice President and Chairman of Officers’ Reports Steve Clark addresses the 1958 AFSCME Convention in Long Beach, California, as President Arnold Zander looks on.

(11333) 1960 AFSCME Convention

jruss — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:50:28 -0400

Delegates listen to AFSCME President Arnold Zander’s address at the 1960 Convention in Philadelphia.

(11337) 1960 AFSCME Convention

jruss — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:13:30 -0400

At the 1960 Convention in Philadelphia, AFSCME President Arnold Zander shares the gavel with convention host William McEntee, District Council 33’s president.

(11388) 1962 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:54:18 -0400

President Arnold Zander addresses the AFSCME 1962 Convention in Milwaukee, WI.

(11389) 1962 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:56:22 -0400

President Arnold Zander (left at profile) speaks with delegates, including William McEntee (just right of Zander), at the 1962 AFSCME Convention in Milwaukee, WI.

(11390) 1962 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:58:14 -0400

AFSCME President Arnold Zander speaks with Esther Peterson, Assistant Secretary of Labor and labor and women’s rights pioneer, at the 1962 Convention in Milwaukee, WI.

(11392) 1962 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:09:01 -0400

AFSCME President Arnold Zander looks on as U.S. Senator Alexander Wiley of Wisconsin addresses the 1962 Convention in Milwaukee, WI.

(11393) 1962 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:10:28 -0400

AFSCME President Arnold Zander (right) discusses the union’s Milwaukee-sponsored housing project with Robert C. Weaver (left) of the Housing and Home Finance Agency and FHA Wisconsin State Director Lawrence S. Katz.

(11395) 1964 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:12:31 -0400

Outgoing President Arnold Zander greets incoming President Jerry Wurf at the 1964 AFSCME Convention in Denver, CO where Wurf won the election on a platform of reform.

(11396) 1964 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:13:42 -0400

Outgoing President Arnold Zander swears in new officers, including new President Jerry Wurf, at the 1964 AFSCME Convention in Denver, CO. From left: Vice Presidents Don McCullar, Harry Gray, William Richard, Lillian Roberts, John Caldwell, Ruby Wicker, Steve Clark, Secretary-Treasurer Gordon Chapman, President Jerry Wurf, and Vice Presidents Rena Ainsworth, N. B. Crippen, Father Albert Blatz, and James A. Broyer.

(11399) 1964 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:16:38 -0400

AFSCME President Emeritus Arnold Zander speaks with John Williams, James Butler, and Frank Schlessinger at the 1964 Convention in Denver, CO.

(11401) 1964 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:18:58 -0400

Former President Arnold Zander (seated left) listens as President Jerry Wurf addresses the 1964 AFSCME Convention in Denver, CO. Also seated are International Vice Presidents Rena Ainsworth and James Broyer.

(11556) California State Conference of Public Employees

jruss — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:52:13 -0400

At the eighth annual California State Conference Public Employees in 1962. From left: Morrell Krell, Local 183, sargent; Martinez (Marty), Local 183, vice president; AFSCME International President Arnold Zander; Glenn Salyer, Local 1675, president; Mickie Thomson, Local 1675, secretary; Harold Benner, Local 257, treasurer.

(11560) Labor Institute on Human Rights

jruss — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:54:02 -0400

Labor leaders chat between sessions at the 1962 Labor Institute on Human Rights in Boston. From left: Stephen E. McCloskey, secretary-treasurer of the Boston Central Labor Union; Emil Mazey, secretary-treasurer of the UAW; AFSCME President Arnold Zander; Joseph Cass, education director of the Massachusetts State CIO; and Julius Bernstein, executive secretary of the Labor Committee to Combat Intolerance.

(11571) 1943 Eastern Labor Press Conference

jruss — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:30:06 -0400

The 1943 Eastern Labor Press Conference (ELPC) was held in Washington, D.C. From left: ELPC Vice President Ruth Taylor, AFSCME President Arnold Zander, Brotherhood of Railway Clerks George M. Harrison, special assistant to President Truman John R. Steelman, and ELPC Secretary-Treasurer Frank B. Powers.

(11573) Rutgers University Labor Institute

jruss — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:46:20 -0400

Veterans of World War II attended the Rutgers University Labor Institute in 1943. Seated in front of them from left: A.H. Feller, general counsel, Office of War Information; Vincent J. Murphy, mayor of Newark and secretary-treasurer of the New Jersey State Federation of Labor; Dr. Spencer Miller, Jr., New Jersey State Highway Commissioner; and AFSCME President Arnold Zander.

(11663) Maritime Trades Department

jruss — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:25:38 -0500

The Executive Board of the AFL-CIO’s Maritime Trades Department met in 1960. AFSCME’s president Arnold Zander (right) sat on the board.

(11670) National Union of Public Service Employees of Canada

jruss — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:43:17 -0500

Members of the National Union of Public Service Employees (NUPSE) of Canada, which later merged with another organization to become the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), visit with AFSCME President Arnold Zander. From left: NUPSE President Stan A. Little, NUPSE International Representative Francis K. Eady, AFSCME President Arnold Zander, and NUPSE National Vice President Kealey Cummings.

(11672) AFSCME Staff and Leaders

jruss — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:11:34 -0500

AFSCME leaders and staff pose in front of the International Headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin in 1949. AFSCME moved its headquarters to Washington, D.C. in 1957. In the front row, the first three from left are Colonel A. E. Garey, civil service counsel for AFSCME; Secretary-Treasurer Gordon Chapman; and President Arnold Zander. A young Jerry Wurf, who became President in 1964, can be seen in the second standing row between Chapman and Zander.

(11673) New England Institute

jruss — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:29:14 -0500

AFSCME leaders prepare for the 1955 New England Institute in Scituate, Massachusetts, where officers of AFSCME Locals attended workshops on union leadership. From left: Connecticut Representative George Lima; General Organizer for New England States and, later, Assistant to the President, Leo Kramer; Representative Robert Montminy; and President Arnold Zander.

(11687) AFSCME Police Conference

jruss — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:13:02 -0500

President Arnold Zander speaks at the 1959 AFSCME Police Conference. Secretary-Treasurer Gordon Chapman is seated beside him.