Ford Rouge Plant

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.

Thomas W. Stephens Papers

drice — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:18:20 -0400

Thomas Stephens was a founder of the Evergreen Alliance, the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition and chaired the National Lawyer's Guild's Toxics Committee in his fight for environmental justice in the Detroit area. His papers reflect his interest and legal work in this arena and related issues, particularly lawsuits involving incinerators in Detroit and Flint, MI.

African Americans and the UAW

mosmith — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:53:30 -0500

The Reuther Library celebrates African American History Month with a brief review of the important role that African Americans have played in the formation and growth of the United Automobile Workers of America (UAW), one of the most powerful unions in American history, and the influence of black UAW members within the polity of Detroit. read more »

Collection Spotlight: UAW Local 174 Mural

eclemens — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 11:49:00 -0400

In 1937, United Auto Workers Local 174 sponsored the creation of a series of murals to enliven their Union Hall and celebrate their rich, if relatively young, history. The resulting work proved to be one of the most memorable pieces of Detroit’s New Deal-era artwork. read more »

(25233) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 12:40:39 -0400

A pair of UAW organizers, injured during the clash between Ford Service Department employees and union supporters. At right is Tony Marinovich.

(46512) Nelson Mandela, Ford Rouge Plant, Local 600, 1990

eclemens — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 18:13:10 -0400

Members of UAW Local 600 wait to greet Nelson Mandela as he tours the Ford Rouge Plant.

(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

(1190) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 16:09:48 -0400

Robert Sentman, president of a national CIO technician's union, is chased by William Commett and Mr. Jones (African American man at left) during the Battle of the Overpass. After this image was taken Mr. Sentman was thrown to the ground, kicked repeatedly in the face and dragged down the railway tracks by his assailants.

(1708) Military, Ford Motor Company, Navy Project, Dearborn, Michigan, 1941

eclemens — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:48:00 -0400

Henry Ford, Sr. (second from left) and Edsel Ford (far right) take a photo-op with two navy officials during the opening ceremonies of the Ford Motor Company Navy Project, Dearborn, Michigan.

NOTE: Official U.S. Navy Photograph

(1709) Military, Ford Motor Company, Navy Project, Dearborn, Michigan, 1941

eclemens — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:44:21 -0400

Henry Ford, Sr. speaks into the microphones as Edsel Ford and navy officials look on during the opening ceremonies of the Ford Motor Company Navy Project, Dearborn, Michigan.

NOTE: Official U.S. Navy Photograph

(1710) Military, Ford Motor Company, Navy Project, Dearborn, Michigan, 1941

eclemens — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:35:05 -0400

Henry Ford, Sr. speaks with two navy officials during the opening ceremonies of the Ford Motor Company Navy Project, Dearborn, Michigan.

NOTE: Official U.S. Navy Photograph

(1711) Military, Ford Motor Company, Navy Project, Dearborn, Michigan, 1941

eclemens — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:29:32 -0400

An aerial view of the Navy barracks put in place for the Ford Motor Company Navy Project at the Ford Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan.

(1712) Military, Ford Motor Company, Navy Project, Dearborn, Michigan, 1941

eclemens — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:23:11 -0400

Henry Ford, Sr. addresses the crowds during the opening ceremonies of the Ford Motor Company Navy Project, Dearborn, Michigan.

NOTE: Official U.S. Navy Photograph

(1713) Military, Ford Motor Company, Navy Project, Dearborn, Michigan, 1941

eclemens — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:17:12 -0400

Henry Ford, Sr. (third from right from left) and Edsel Ford (far right) take a photo-op with four navy officials during the opening ceremonies of the Ford Motor Company Navy Project, Dearborn, Michigan.

NOTE: Official U.S. Navy Photograph

(2645) Buildings, Automobile Factories, Ford Rouge, Dearborn, 1970

eclemens — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:42:25 -0400

Workers leave the Ford Rouge Plant during a shift change, Dearborn, Michigan. In the background a sign reads “Safety has no quitting time.”

(2647) Buildings, Automobile Factories, Ford Rouge, Dearborn, 1958

eclemens — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:46:46 -0400

A worker stands framed against the architecture of the Ford Motor Company Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan. Part of a series.

Photographer’s title: “Man and Industry.”

(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.

(8748) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 16:00:28 -0400

Ford Service Department employees assault a UAW organizer as photographers and reporters record the incident during the Battle of the Overpass. In the background, mounted policemen watch the violence but make no move to stop it.

The two men wearing hats, at center, are identified as Sam Taylor and William Commett

(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.

(11484) Leafleting, Ford Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan

eclemens — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:40:42 -0400

George Addes, UAW secretary-treasurer, and Richard Leonard, leader of the Ford organizing drive for the UAW, defy local ordinances and pass out handbills at Gate No. 4 of the Ford Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan.

(11485) Leafleting, Rouge Plant, Arrests, Dearborn, Michigan, 1940

eclemens — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:28:08 -0400

R.J. Thomas, president of the UAW; George Addes, UAW secretary-treasurer; and Richard Leonard, leader of the Ford organizing drive for the UAW are booked at the Dearborn police headquarters for defying a local ordinance that prohibited leafleting. At the far right (with pipe) is the union’s attorney, Maurice Sugar.

(11486) Leafleting, Women's Auxiliary, Ford Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan, 1940

eclemens — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:34:10 -0400

Members of the UAW Women's Auxiliary pass out special editions of the “United Automobile Worker” newsletter to workers at the Ford Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan.

(11488) Strike Kitchen, Ford Strike, Women's Auxiliary, Detroit, Michigan, 1941

eclemens — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:39:08 -0400

Members of the UAW Women’s Auxiliary prepare sandwiches in the strike kitchen at West Side Local 174, Detroit, Michigan. The women made over 4,500 sandwiches each day to feed the men on the Ford Rouge picket line.

(11489) First Aid, Violence, Pickets, Ford Strike, Dearborn, Michigan, 1941

eclemens — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:43:41 -0400

Dr. Raskin, of the UAW Health Institute, and Dr. Schafferman, a volunteer, tend to men at the union’s first aid station. The men were injured on the picket of the Schaffer (Ford) Administration Building on Miller Road during the Ford Organizing Drive.

(11490) Strike Kitchen, Ford Strike, Dearborn, Michigan, 1941

eclemens — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:46:20 -0400

Members of the union’s “Food Squad” bring hot meals from the local strike kitchen to the men at the Rouge picket line, Dearborn, Michigan.

(11491) Ford Strike Ends, Dearborn, Michigan, 1941

eclemens — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:57:25 -0400

UAW officials announce the end of the Ford Strike to the pickets gathered at the gates of the Ford Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan.

(11492) UAW-CIO, NLRB, Elections, Ford, Dearborn, Michigan, 1941

eclemens — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:08:32 -0400

Ford workers vote for union representation, Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan.

(11493) UAW-CIO, NLRB, Elections, Ford, Dearborn, Michigan, 1941

eclemens — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:11:02 -0400

Auto worker celebrate the victory of the UAW-CIO in the Ford National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election.

(11494) Ford Strike, Picket Lines, Dearborn, Michigan, 1941

eclemens — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:14:46 -0400

Auto workers and their families celebrate the forecasted end to the Ford Strike on the picket lines of the Ford Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan.

(11621) UAW Organizing, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:59:09 -0400

Walter Reuther distributes packets of leaflets to members of the UAW Women’s Auxiliary Brigade for distribution at the Ford Rouge Plant, two hours prior to the Battle of the Overpass.

(11719) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:57:07 -0400

An organizer for the UAW is attacked by employees of the Ford Service Department during the Battle of the Overpass.

(25223) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:37:49 -0400

An unidentified UAW organizer is knocked to the ground and beaten by a group of Ford Service Department employees during the Battle of the overpass.

Third from left with his back to the camera is Sam Taylor.

(25225) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:43:31 -0400

UAW organizers, members of the UAW Local 174 Women's Auxiliary and their supporters are forced back from the Ford Rouge Plant and into the Detroit Street Railway waiting area by Ford Service Department employees during the Battle of the Overpass.

The African American man at center is identified as "Jones."

(25227) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:34:47 -0400

An unidentified UAW organizer is soundly beaten by a group of Ford Service Department employees during the Battle of the Overpass.

Second from right is Sam Taylor.

(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.

(25226) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:18:17 -0400

UAW Organizers, members of the UAW Local 174 Women's Auxiliary and their supporters are violently pushed back into the Detroit Street Railway (DSR) waiting area by Ford Service Department employees during the Ford Rouge Plant during the Battle of the Overpass.

At front, left, a man identified as "Slim" makes a menacing gesture towards the photographers and other onlookers. Charles Goodman stands at center, partially obscured by an unidentified man.

(25231) UAW Organizing, Women's Auxiliary, Battle of the Overpass, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:52:35 -0400

Members of the UAW Local 174 Women's Auxiliary stand in the back of a parked streetcar and talk to the men standing outside of the Ford Rouge Plant during the Battle of the Overpass.

(25232) Battle of the Overpass, Aftermath, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 12:35:20 -0400

Members of the crowd that witnessed the violent confrontation between Ford Service employees and UAW organizers clean up handbills that were released during the fight from the Miller Road Overpass onto Ford Property, Ford Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan.

(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.

(25235) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 12:44:21 -0400

Portrait of Allwin Stickel, an UAW organizer, injured by Ford Service Department employees during the Battle of the Overpass.

(25236) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:06:50 -0400

An unidentified man with severe facial lacerations, injured by Ford Service Department employees during the Battle of the Overpass, shows his wounded leg to a fellow UAW organizer, Dearborn, Michigan.

(25239) UAW Organizing, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:12:48 -0400

(25240) UAW Organizing, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:10:47 -0400

(25242) UAW Organizing, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:01:14 -0400

(25243) UAW Organizing, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:56:57 -0400

An unidentified man is beaten by Ford Service Department employees as UAW organizers, members of the UAW Local 174 Women's Auxiliary and their supporters are forced back from the Ford Rouge Plant and into the Detroit Street Railway waiting area during the Battle of the Overpass.

(25248) UAW Organizing, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:55:03 -0400

(25249) UAW Organizing, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:52:06 -0400