Kramer, Leo

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 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/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.

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.

(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.

(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.

(11671) New England Educational Conference

jruss — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:50:07 -0500

AFSCME members tour the United Nations headquarters in New York City during the AFSCME New England Educational Conference. Three AFSCME leaders face a display on refugees. From left: Leo Kramer, assistant to President Zander; Gordon Chapman, Secretary-Treasurer; and George Lima, New England Regional Director.

(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.

(12105) McEntee and Kramer

jruss — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 14:34:38 -0400

Philadelphia AFSCME District Council 33’s Gerald McEntee (left) receives his diploma upon completing AFSCME staff training from assistant to the president Leo Kramer.

(12300) 25th Anniversary

jruss — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:02:59 -0400

Reverend Albert Blatz gives the benediction at the AFSCME 25th anniversary banquet. Father Blatz was president of the Minnesota Council of State Employees (AFSCME Council 6--now Council 5) and an AFSCME International Vice President. Left of Blatz is AFSCME President Arnold Zander, and right of Blatz is Leo Kramer, special assistant to President Zander.

(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.

(24833) Reuther, Zander, and Kramer

jruss — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:08:34 -0400

Victor Reuther (left), AFSCME President Arnold Zander (center), and Zander’s assistant Leo Kramer chat during a break at the AFL-CIO Industrial Union Department’s 1962 meeting.

(29052) AFSCME Civil Rights Committee

jruss — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:41:45 -0400

AFSCME officials met to set up the union's Civil Rights Committee. From left standing: Donald Slaiman, Leo Kramer, George Lima, Ambrose Raleigh, Al Church; setaed: Walter Davies, Boris Shishkink, President Arnold Zander. This image appeared in the April 1962 issue of AFSCME's Public Employee magazine.

(29671) Illinois Council 34 wage freeze protest

jruss — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 09:28:05 -0500

AFSCME Illinois Council 34 members protest a wage freeze in 1962.