Roberts, Lillian

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 Secretary-Treasurer: William Lucy Records

jruss — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:21:25 -0400

The AFSCME Office of the Secretary-Treasurer oversees the general financial health of the international union, keeping records for its locals, councils, and the headquarters staff. The Office keeps files on council and local trusteeships, maintains per capita dues payments by locals and councils, issues charters to new locals, and suspends and disbands locals or councils when problems arise. William Lucy held this position for 38 years, 1972-2010.

Lucy joined AFSCME as a civil engineer in Contra Costa, CA in 1956. A decade later, he was working for the International in Washington, D.C. Proving his leadership abilities during the 1968 sanitation workers strike in Memphis, during which Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated, Lucy became AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer in 1972. Alongside his work with AFSCME, Lucy also served with countless labor, civil rights, and civic organizations to advance causes for blacks, women, and workers locally in Washington, D.C., nationally, and internationally. Lucy helped found the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) in 1972 to represent African Americans in the labor movement. He was instrumental in the Free South Africa Movement's efforts to end apartheid in South Africa. He served as president of Public Services International (PSI) and as a member of the AFL-CIO Executive Council. These activities are reflected in the Records. Lucy retired from the position of Secretary-Treasurer in July 2010 at the AFSCME biennial convention.

The AFSCME Office of the Secretary-Treasurer: William Lucy Records document the activities and operations of AFSCME International, the Office of the Secretary-Treasurer, and AFSCME’s state and local councils. The Records also convey the actions of William Lucy in a number of labor and civil rights organizations, including TransAfrica, the NAACP, CBTU, PSI, and the AFL-CIO. The Records include correspondence, reports, speeches, financial information, legal documents, convention transcripts and proceedings, publications, and meeting minutes. Several boxes of audio recordings of International Executive Board meetings are included, and a very small number of photographs appear in the collection.

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 »

Lillian Roberts's willing sacrifice for public employees

scaloia — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 12:03:00 -0500

Lillian Roberts almost spent Christmas in jail.

The series of events leading up to December 1968 began more than a year before. New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller decided to make the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) the sole collective bargaining representative for state employees, rather than allowing those employees to make their own choice. Rockefeller promised to hold a representation election after a year, but he failed to keep his word. read more »

(7470) Roberts speaks, Wurf watches

jruss — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:17:45 -0400

Lillian Roberts, a leader of AFSCME Council 37 in New York City speaks as AFSCME President Jerry Wurf looks on in 1968.

(7477) Lillian Roberts honored

jruss — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:20:39 -0400

AFSCME President Jerry Wurf and civil rights activist Bayard Rustin look on as Lillian Roberts receives the A. Philip Randolph Institute Award.

(7678) Lillian Roberts arrives at New York City jail to serve time, 1968

jruss — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:45:33 -0400

Lillian Roberts stands with her family, AFSCME President Jerry Wurf (left) and AFSCME District Council Director Victor Gotbaum (right) before serving a jail sentence for leading a New York state employees strike.

(7679) Council 37 protests for Lillian Roberts

jruss — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:50:03 -0400

Supporters, including members of AFSCME Council 37 in New York, protest the jailing of Lillian Roberts in December 1968.

(7680) Council 37 protests for Lillian Roberts

jruss — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:51:51 -0400

Supporting members of AFSCME Council 37 and others in New York protest the jailing of Lillian Roberts in December 1968.

(7681) Lillian Roberts serves jail time after leading strike, New York, 1968

jruss — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:46:58 -0400

Lillian Roberts, center, stands with AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Ames (right of Roberts) outside of the New York City jail as she arrives to serve her sentence in December 1968. Roberts was found in violation of the no-strike provision of New York's Taylor law and sentenced to 30 days. She was released early on December 24, 1968.

(7682) Council 37 protests for Lillian Roberts

jruss — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:53:10 -0400

Supporting members of AFSCME Council 37 and other labor organizations in New York protest the jailing of Lillian Roberts in December 1968.

(7683) Lillian Roberts, New York, 1968

jruss — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:48:28 -0400

Lillian Roberts was released on Christmas Eve with an organizing victory. Here, AFSCME leaders welcome her at a protest calling for her release in December 1968.

(7684) Council 37 protests for Lillian Roberts

jruss — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:54:19 -0400

AFSCME leader and organizer Lillian Roberts had been jailed after leading a strike of New York state hospital workers. Then Governor Nelson Rockefeller jailed her for breaking the Taylor Law which prohibits strikes. Here, supporting AFSCME members demand Roberts's release.

(10320) 1965 Constitutional Convention

jruss — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:06:52 -0400

President Jerry Wurf leads the International Executive Board (IEB) of AFSCME in discussion of the proposed constitution just before the June 1965 Constitutional Convention in Minneapolis at which the union reformed the constitution.

(10321) 1965 Constitutional Convention

jruss — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:21:57 -0400

Frank Carpenito (left), an officer of New York City Local 924, testifies before the International Executive Board at a hearing before the 1965 Constitutional Convention in Minneapolis. Sitting to Carpenito’s left are International Vice President John Caldwell and New York leader Lillian Roberts.

(11569) Democratic National Convention

jruss — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:01:32 -0400

AFSCME leader Lillian Roberts of New York City District Council 37 chats with New York City Mayor John Lindsay at the 1972 Democratic National Convention in Miami Beach.

(28406) New York City Welfare Centers picket

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:16:11 -0400

AFSCME International Vice President Lillian Roberts pickets along with more than 7000 striking members of District Council 37 in front of the New York City Welfare Centers.

(28407) Harry Gray retirement dinner

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:23:13 -0400

AFSCME dignitaries at a dinner for the retirement of Harry Gray, a leader of New York District Council 37. From left: Lillian Roberts, Harry Gray, Joseph Ames, and unidentified.

(28408) A. Philip Randolph Award

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:29:51 -0400

AFSCME President Jerry Wurf speaks at a dinner honoring Lillian Roberts with the A. Philip Randolph Award. Roberts is seated left of Wurf, civil rights activist Bayard Rustin is seated right of Wurf, and AFSCME New York District Council 37 leader Victor Gotbaum is seated second from right.

(28409) A. Philip Randolph Award

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:40:30 -0400

AFSCME leader Lillian Roberts is honored with the 1969 A. Philip Randolph Award. From left: AFSCME President Jerry Wurf, AFSCME New York District Council 37 leader Victor Gotbaum, Roberts, and Frederick O'Neal, president of Actors' Equity.

(28410) A. Philip Randolph Award

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:46:03 -0400

AFSCME leader Lillian Roberts is honored with the 1969 A. Philip Randolph Award. From left: AFSCME President Jerry Wurf, unidentified, Roberts, Actors' Equity President Frederick O'Neal, and civil rights leader Bayard Rustin.

(28411) District Council 37's 100,000th member

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:51:55 -0400

AFSCME New York District Council 37 honors its 100,000th member. "Miss 100,000" is Donna Martirano, a college office assistant at Queens College, part of Local 384. From left: DC 37 Director Victor Gotbaum, DC 37's 50,000th member Beverly Dabney Vance, Martirano, AFSCME President Jerry Wurf, and DC 37 Associate Director Lillian Roberts.

(28412) District Council 37 press conference

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:57:12 -0400

AFSCME New York District Council 37 leaders speak at a press conference. Standing from left: Associate Director Edward Maher, Treasurer Arthur Tibaldi, and Secretary James Corbett. Seated from left: Associate Director Lillian Roberts, Executive Director Victor Gotbaum, and President Joseph Zurlo.

(28413) Illinois Council 34

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:04:00 -0400

Lillian Roberts meets with other AFSCME Illinois Council 34 members in Springfield, IL.

(28414) Council 34 celebrates Lillian Roberts

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:15:21 -0400

Officers of AFSCME Illinois Council 34 locals, formerly serviced by Lillian Roberts, welcome her back to Illinois to hear about her successful campaign to organize New York City Hospitals. From left, front row: Benjamin Sherman of Local 1610, George Samuels of Local 1403, Exzene Effort of Local 1610, Dorothy Venable of Local 1610, Henry Lile of Local 1038, Roberts. From left standing: Al Herman of Local 708, Luther Favors of Local 26, Carl Dgier, Charles Coffman of Local 26, Mrs. Cleo Hudson of Local 1584, Andrew Favors of Local 29, and John Upchurch of Local 51.

(28415) District Council 37's 25th Anniversary

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:31:13 -0400

Dignitaries celebrate AFSCME New York District Council 37's 25th anniversary in 1969. The first four seated from left are DC 37 Associate Director Lillian Roberts, DC 37 Executive Director Victor Gotbaum, New York City Mayor John Lindsay, and AFSCME President Jerry Wurf. AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Ames is standing at the far left.

(28416) District Council 37's 25th Anniversary

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:35:58 -0400

AFSCME President Jerry Wurf speaks at the celebration of New York District Council 37's 25th anniversary. Seated far left is AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Ames; DC 37 Associate Director Lillian Roberts is next to him; and DC 37 Executive Director Victor Gotbaum is seated at far right.

(28417) District Council 37's 25th Anniversary

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:39:48 -0400

(28418) District Council 37

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:45:22 -0400

AFSCME New York District Council 37 Executive Director Victor Gotbaum speaks. Associate Director Lillian Roberts is seated left.

(30476) Protest for Lillian Roberts, 1968

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:50:15 -0400

New York AFSCME leader Lillian Roberts was jailed after leading an illegal strike among city hospital workers. Workers demanded Roberts's release, and succeeded. Roberts was let out of jail just before Christmas in 1968.

(30480) AFSCME Locals 420 and 1784 certified, 1966

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:40:37 -0400

AFSCME New York City Local 420 and Local 1784 were certified as bargaining agents for 35,000 city hospital employees. Lillian Roberts, then head of AFSCME District Council 37's hospital division, stands in the front row, second from left.

(34357) Lillian Roberts, Simcha Dinitz, AFSCME International Convention, Las Vegas, 1978

scaloia — Mon, 16 May 2016 16:03:17 -0400

Lillian Roberts of New York District Council 37 with Israeli Ambassador Simcha Dinitz at the AFSCME International Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 1978.

(38564) Committee for Union Responsibility Conference, Chicago, 1963

scaloia — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 14:17:59 -0400

Members of AFSCME’s Committee on Union Responsibility (COUR) at a conference in Chicago. At left is Lillian Roberts, and at center is Robert Hastings.