Labor movement

Alex Baskin Papers

drice — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 10:45:39 -0500

Dr. Alex Baskin is a professor at State University of New York at Stony Brook; among his main
research interests is social history of the late 20th century, especially with regard to the 1960s and 1980s. Dr. Baskin also attended Wayne State University during the 1960s where he studied various left-wing social movements. Among his published works include The Woman Rebel and The Masses.

The materials in this collection reflect a wide variety of subjects that Dr. Baskin researched and mostly pertain to various social movements of the late 20th century. Included are posters and flyers related to Marxism, the anti-war movement, the women’s movement, Jewish issues, the labor movement, foreign policy under the Reagan Administration, and much more. The collection also contains various essays, some written by Dr. Baskin, as well as newspaper clippings and newsletters related to his interests.

Irving Bluestone: Weirton Steel Corporation Papers

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:32:58 -0500

Retired UAW Vice President Irving Bluestone served on Weirton Steel Corporation's Board of Directors from 1984 to 1990, during a time when the company was the largest in the United States operating under an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The papers in this collection were accumulated by Mr. Bluestone during his Board tenure.

Brookwood Labor College Photographs

drice — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 17:03:31 -0400

Brookwood Labor College in Katonah, New York was founded in 1921 as an experimental college for labor specific classes. It was a residential college different from traditional colleges. It only lasted until 1937 when it fell victim to the depression. Collection documents students, faculty, and other labor leaders affiliated with the school, as well as the buildings and grounds of the Brookwood Labor College. Classes, Brookwood Labor Player performances, and other student activities are also depicted.

Brookwood Labor College Records

aergas — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 10:44:37 -0500

Brookwood Labor College was a co-educational, residential workers' institution founded in 1921 in Katonah, New York. The curriculum focused on a progressive, non-factional education for workers, as the college sought to play an increasing role in the task of building a militant, intelligent, powerful labor movement. The records document the operation of the college during its sixteen years. Brookwood College closed in 1937.

Jerome P. Cavanagh Photographs and Other Material

drice — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 11:06:29 -0400

The Jerome P. Cavanagh Photographs and Other Material consists of numerous photographs, the majority of which were taken during his time in office. These photographs cover events such as the 1968 Olympic Bid, visits from Lyndon B. Johnson, aftermath of the 1967 unrest, and Mayor Cavanagh with various prominent Detroit business people, union members, and politicians. Also included in the collection is memorabilia from his 1966 Senate campaign, 1968 Olympic information, and other various memorabilia during his time in office.

Covington Hall Papers

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:26:03 -0500

A Xerox copy of a draft of Hall's 238-page manuscript, Labor Struggles in the Deep South. The original of this draft is held by the Tulane University Library. In his work, Mr. Hall discusses the labor movement in New Orleans and the Louisiana-Texas area from the pre-Civil War period to the outbreak of World War 1. The role of the IWW is particularly well covered.

Judah Drob Papers

abarker — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:06:06 -0400

Judah Drob served as Secretary of the Michigan Socialist Party during the 1940’s, after which he joined the Michigan Democratic Party. Mr. Drob taught labor education courses for the Wayne county Socialist Party, the Windsor Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), and the American Federation of Labor (AFL), and served as the Detroit area national representative to the Communications Workers of America (CWA). Mr. Drob’s papers reflect his work with the Socialist Party, the CCF, and the CWA.

Robert W. Dunn Papers

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:09:09 -0500

Research notes and other material gathered for Dunn's Labor and Automobiles (New York: 1929). The collection also includes a few clippings pertaining to subsequent events in the labor movement in the auto industry, such as the Battle of the Overpass, sit-down strikes of 1937, and earlier 1930's auto strikes.

E.K. Ellis Papers

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:58:43 -0500

Stock certificate from the Federation of Labor Temple Company preserved by Mr. Ellis. Money raised by the sale of this stock was to be used in the construction of a labor temple in Detroit.

Abraham Epstein Papers

abarker — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:05:35 -0400

A lecturer at Brooklyn College and New York University, Abraham Epstein was the first Secretary-Treasurer of the Workers’ Education Bureau and served as Executive Secretary to the American Association of Social Security. A published author, Mr. Epstein wrote on the topics of aging, social security and workers’ education. His papers include several journal articles written by Mr. Epstein and a number of chapters of a manuscript titled “Labor and the State” (published as The Labor Movement in Post-War France) by David J. Saposs.

Edward Falkowski Papers

abarker — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:28:08 -0400

The Edward J. Falkowski collection contains diaries and papers relating Mr. Falkowski’s experiences as a mineworker, reporter, a student at Brookwood Labor College and as an instructor at Commonwealth Labor College.

Bernard Firestone Papers

aergas — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 11:16:51 -0400

Bernard J. (Bernie) Firestone (1935-1989) served as secretary-treasurer of the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers (ACTWU) Chicago and Central States Joint Board, and as vice-president of the Metro Detroit American Federation of Labor-Council of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). The papers of Mr. Firestone reflect his work as a labor activist and his involvement in community affairs.

Harry W. Flannery Papers

abarker — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:54:36 -0400

A print and radio journalist, Harry Flannery was active in the labor movement and a member of the Radio Writers Guild Council, the American Newspaper Guild, and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists. Mr. Flannery’s papers reflect his interests in foreign policy and labor issues.

Flint Labor Records

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:20:46 -0500

Subjects include: Flint sit-down; Flint Trolley Coach strikes

Clayton Fountain Papers

abarker — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:33:05 -0400

A founding member of United Auto Workers Local 235, Clayton Fountain served as Associate Editor of the United Automobile Worker. Mr. Fountain’s papers reflect his activities in the labor movement, including the Bell Aircraft strike of 1949, and concern his writing projects, including a published autobiography, Union Guy, which recounts the early days of the UAW and its communist factions.

Nat Ganley Pamphlets

drice — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:32:06 -0400

Nat Ganley was a lifelong Communist and labor activist. His pamphlet collections reflects his personal and professional interests.

William C. Gausmann Papers

abarker — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:37:10 -0400

William Gausmann held positions in Europe, the United States and Vietnam as a labor advisor, news analyst and policymaker with various European and United States government agencies. Mr. Gausmann’s papers relate his work concerning labor issues, Communism, and the Vietnam War and to a lesser degree, his associations with the Socialist Party and the Lutheran Church of America.

Bill Goode Papers

abarker — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:59:56 -0400

Bill Goode served as United Auto Workers Director of Education and as Director of the UAW’s Black Lake Family Education Center. Mr. Goode’s papers include declassified Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) files relating the alleged Communist affiliations of Nat Ganley, Walter Reuther, and the Association of Catholic Trade Unionists (ACTU).

Jean Gould Papers

abarker — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:02:49 -0400

Author Jean Gould published various biographies, including, Walter Reuther: Labor’s Rugged Individualist, co-authored with Lorena Hickok. The papers of Ms. Gould relate to her work on the Reuther biography and on Charles Ervin’s autobiography, Homegrown Liberal. Important correspondents include Eugene Debs and Victor Reuther.

Carl Haessler Papers

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:23:21 -0500

Pamphlets, leaflets, handbills, clippings, articles, radio scripts, and union newspapers collected by Mr. Haessler, who was managing editor of the Federated Press (1922-56); editor of the United Auto Worker and many local union papers; a member of the public relations staff of the United Rubber Workers; and was responsible for public relations and publicity for various groups and organizations. Subjects include civil rights, social re- form, socialism in Britain, labor legislation, the NLRB, and federal court hearings on the Ford Motor Company (1930-41). An oral history interview with Mr. Haessler is available.

William Hardy Papers

drice — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:09:08 -0500

The William Hardy papers consist of a Victor Reuther speech given on January 28, 1937.

John Herling Papers

drice — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 16:38:31 -0500

John Herling was a prolific journalist, working for several publications and serving as White House correspondent and syndicated columnist specializing in labor affairs throughout the 1950s & 1960s. He owned "John Herling's Labor Letter," which he edited and published from 1947-1990, as well as authoring several books, including Strikes Under the New Deal, The Great Price Conspiracy and The Right to Challenge. Herling was also working on other books about the labor movement, including a book about the UAW, at the time of his death in 1994.

His papers reflect his interest in writing about the labor movement in America. The records in Part 2 consist primarily of interviews conducted by Herling as research for a book on the UAW, which was ultimately written by John Barnard and published in 2004 under the title, American Vanguard: The United Auto Workers During the Reuther Years, 1935-1970. The interviews were conducted mainly with people associated with the UAW, however several involve people in other labor unions. The records consist of transcripts or notes (taken during interviews that were not recorded), although there are a few speech and panel transcripts as well (noted in inventory). There are also audio recordings of interviews, panels, and conferences. Researchers should note that some pages of interview transcripts are missing, some audio recordings are unmarked, and not all interviews exist in both transcript and audio recording format.

Curt Hyans Papers

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:16:32 -0500

Curt Hyans, an early member of the Teamsters Union, was discharged from his job for trying to organize the truck drivers in Los Angeles in 1916. In the 1920's he worked at organizing migrant workers in California. He later served with the California State Federation of Labor until his retirement in 1967.

The papers of Mr. Hyans consist of his memoirs entitled "A Few Odds and Ends and Some
Trials and Tribulations of Organized Labor — Also Some Events and Happenings in Los Angeles and Adjacent Counties, Many Seen by an Eyewitness." Mr. Hyans' manuscript
covers a wide range of topics, including a historical account of labor's efforts to organize in the early part of the twentieth century, but it concentrates on the the organization of migrant workers in California. The personal recollections contains extensive excerpts and quotations from newspapers regarding the issues covered in the memoirs.

Kenosha Labor Records

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:14:50 -0500

Kenosha Labor is the newspaper of the labor movement in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The papers of this journal include materials on UAW Local 72 at American Motors in Kenosha; strikes; the Trade Union Unity League; WPA; and the Wisconsin Employment Relations Board.

Monsignor Clement Kern Papers

drice — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:53:57 -0400

Monsignor Clement Kern was a Roman Catholic Priest at Most Holy Trinity Church in Detroit, MI for 34 years. Under his leadership, Holy Trinity became a major center for Latino American residents of southwest Detroit. Kern became active in the migratory labor arena and helped with the Michigan Committee to Aid Farm Workers.

Monsignor Kern’s records document the struggle of Detroit area migrant workers and their fight for compensation for their work. The collection also explores his involvement in organizations to further the equality of minorities.

Matt Kobe Papers

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:28:07 -0500

Miscellaneous labor material including a 1914 copy of the Miners Bulletin, concerned with the copper strike in Calumet, Michigan. Also in the collection is a 1921 letter from Frank X. Martel, head of the Detroit Federation of Labor, discussing a proposal to move Labor Day from September to May.

Lucien Koch Papers

mstepaniak — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:29:23 -0500

Mr. Koch, after serving as director of Commonwealth College from 1923 to 1935, held several positions in the labor movement and in government agencies concerned with labor. Among these were the NRA, the Department of Labor, the Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of America, the NWLB, and the Air Line Pilots Association. Transcripts, affidavits, correspondence, and clippings cover such topics as Commonwealth College, activities of the Marine and Shipbuilders Union, Koch's federal security hearing, and ALPA negotiations. Correspondents include Roger Baldwin, James Carey, Edith Christenson, John Edelman, and Hilda Smith.

Raymond Koch and Charlotte Moskowitz Papers

abarker — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:00:33 -0400

Raymond Koch attended Commonwealth College as a student and served as an employee of Commonwealth in various positions of management and as an instructor. Charlotte Moskowitz Koch earned a degree from Commonwealth College and later served as the college’s executive secretary and treasurer. Following their tenure at Commonwealth Mr. and Ms. Koch continued to work as advocates of cooperative and labor education. Their papers document the history of Commonwealth College and relate Mr. and Ms. Koch’s work in the labor movement.

Labor Committee for Safe Energy and Full Employment Records

drice — Tue, 05 May 2009 10:57:10 -0400

The Labor Committee for Safe Energy and Full Employment was formed from a coalition of labor unions opposed to the expansion of the nuclear energy industry, and in part, as a reaction to the Three Mile Island nuclear accident. The committee's records primarily document their promotion of a protest march on March 28, 1981, the second anniversary of Three Mile Island.

Labor Today Records

drice — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:46:30 -0500

"Labor Today" is an independent labor journal which began publication as a monthly in Detroit in 1962. Their records are primarily composed of subjects files used by the newspaper's staff and various activities of its co-editor James H. Williams.

Labor's Non-Partisan League Records

drice — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:06:28 -0500

Mostly convention material from the Michigan area, including proceedings, programs, delegate lists, and other items.

Robert Lee Lawson Paper

drice — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:11:49 -0500

The Robert Lee Lawson Paper is a student paper that was prepared for Ball State Teachers College, Muncie, Indiana, entitled, "The Industrial Strife in Anderson, Indiana from January 1, 1937 to February 11, 1937."

Daniel J. Leab Papers

drice — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:16:39 -0500

Daniel Leab was a historian and university professor as well as the managing editor of "Labor History." His papers contain research material for books on the American Newspaper Guild and African-Americans in motion pictures.

Nel Lindemulder Papers

srafferty — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 10:53:02 -0400

Nel Lindemulder worked for the Brookwood Labor Players touring troupe in 1937. She assisted with wardrobe and set scenery for the play "Sit-Down!" by William Titus that was performed that year. The collection contains a copy of the "Sit-Down!" script and a Brookwood Song Book.

Robert Lopez Papers

abarker — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:23:09 -0400

Robert Lopez served as a United Auto Workers (UAW) International Union Delegate. Mr. Lopez’s papers reflect his work with the UAW and his interest in international concerns, particularly concerning Cuba, Nicaragua and El Salvador, and issues of labor and radical politics.

Alan W. Mather Papers

drice — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:23:03 -0500

Alan Mather was an architect in New York, Detroit, and Chicago, working for various well-known firms. His papers reflect his architectural career and his interest and activity involving unionization of architectural employees.

Ashby C. McGraw Papers

drice — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:11:23 -0500

Mr. McGraw was active in the unionization of the California aircraft industry from the early 1930s to the 1960s. Correspondence, press releases, handbills, notes, proceedings, and other materials document his career as an International Association of Machinists Local Lodge president, district secretary-treasurer, business representative, and Grand Lodge representative. He also served on advisory committees to the Institutes of Industrial Relations at the University of California and UCLA. Among the topics considered are UAW-IAM jurisdictional disputes, IAM elections, organizing and factionalism, and the Harvard Trade Union Program. Correspondents include Roy M. Brown, Eric Peterson, A. J. Hayes, and Wyndham MoGimer.

A.G. and Marie Mezerik Papers

drice — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 10:27:10 -0400

A. G. Mezerik and his wife, Marie Hempel Mezerik, worked for the protection of labor and civil rights through the the Conference for the Protection of Civil Rights. Mr. Mezerik was the steering committee chair and Marie Hempel was the secretary of the CPCR in the 1930s. The organization was active in the early days of the UAW, supporting strikes and demonstrations, and also involved with aid to the Spanish Republic and aid to China, as well as fighting the Black Legion. The papers include a portion of a manuscript describing A. G. Mezerik’s life growing up in Detroit during the years 1912-1920 and a scrapbook of CPCR materials.

Michigan Labor History Society Records

kschmeling — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 13:45:49 -0400

The Michigan Labor History Society, founded in 1977, is a local organization committed to fostering interest, understanding, and research regarding the contributions of the working men and women of Michigan. This collection consists of records relating to MLHS research, events, and commemorative efforts, with the bulk of the records pertaining to the Michigan Labor Legacy Project, an art installation commemorating worker contributions to Detroit and Michigan.

Elizabeth Morgan Papers

srafferty — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 12:49:49 -0500

Elizabeth Morgan was a Quaker and social activist. Elizabeth collected music and shared it as a method of teaching others about suppression and exploitation. Elizabeth and her husband, Ernest Morgan, founded the Arthur Morgan School that focused on creating a safe, loving environment for young teenagers in a rural setting to help students prosper and inspire them to make positive social and ecological changes in the world. This collection consists of a book of 1930s-1940s era labor and socialism songs Elizabeth collected and edited.

Marion Moses, M. D. Papers

abarker — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:37:55 -0400

Marion Moses served as United Farm Workers (UFW) Health Program Administrator and as Medical Director and Administrator for the National Farm Health Group. Dr. Moses’ papers reflect her interest in farm labor health concerns and document her work with the UFW; included are materials related to the Grape Boycotts of the 1960’s.

Tom Myerscough Papers

abarker — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:14:40 -0400

Tom Myerscough served as president of the National Miners Union, which was created out of factionalism within the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). The papers of Mr. Myerscough relate to the dissent of the National Miners Union from the UMWA.

National Caucus of Labor Committees Records

drice — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:30:52 -0400

First known as the National Caucus of Labor Committees, and later as the National Democratic Policy Committee, it is known for supporting Lyndon LaRouche for the U.S. presidency and its publications, "New Solidarity," the "Campaigner," and the "Organizer." The records of the NCLC reflect its interests both nationally and internationally, as well as include personal files of Jim Rankin.

Harvey O'Connor Papers

drice — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:08:56 -0400

Mr. O'Connor is the author of numerous books, articles, and pamphlets of social and economic interest. He worked in the publishing business from the mid 1920s -1930s and late 1950s, including stints at Federated Press, the Peoples Press, Ken, and the Nation. Active in several civil liberties organizations, Mr. O'Connor became a controversial figure during the McCarthy investigations. His papers contain materials related to his writings; his interest in 1930s Pittsburgh and Chicago labor & politics, the steel, coal, & oil industries; and his involvement in civil liberties activities, including his House Un-American Activities Committee trial.

Charles Orr Papers

drice — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:08:17 -0400

Charles Orr was an economist who focused on labor from early on in his career, working in several capacities both in the U.S. and Europe during the 1930s and 1940s. In the early 1950s he was research officer for the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and acting head of the Adult Education Section of UNESCO. In the early 1960s he taught worker education in India, Malaysia, Formosa, Hong Kong and Japan for the International Labor Office. Since 1946, Orr has taught labor education at several American universities and the University of Cardiff in Wales. His main interests have been comparative labor movements in Africa and other developing countries, comparative workers education , and economic growth in developing countries. His papers relate primarily to his activities with the ICFTU and the various publications he authored.

Frances D. and G. Lyman Paine Papers

drice — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:16:50 -0500

Frances D. and G. Lyman Paine enjoyed a forty-four year political and personal partnership. Their papers reflect their radical political interests and activities and include material related to the newspaper "Correspondence. "

People's Song Library Records

drice — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:53:06 -0500

The People's Song Library is comprised of songs collected by the Almanac Singers (1941-43); People's Songs, Inc. (1946-49); People's Artists, Inc. (1950-57); and Sing Out, Inc. (1958-70). Scores, songbooks, and lyrics by Aaron Copland, Woody Guthrie, Joe Hill, "Leadbelly" Ledbetter, Alan Lomax, Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton, Malvina Reynolds, Peggy and Pete Seeger, Josh White, and lesser-known and some anonymous authors dealing with civil rights, the Cuban Revolution, election songs of the 1940s, labor, pacifism, and war. Included are traditional folksongs and some of more recent vintage.

Henry J. Pfaff Papers

drice — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:23:09 -0500

Henry Pfaff was an immigrant laborer in the rubber industry in the second decade of the 20th century. His papers convey his reminisces about this time in his life, including his abortive unionizing efforts, the IWW, and various strikes. They include commentary on various economic and political philosophies and their impact on society and the working class.

Norman E. Philleo Papers

drice — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:18:09 -0500

Norman Philleo server for a period as Clerk of the House of Representatives of the Michigan legislature. His papers consist of a membership application for the Knights of Labor, one of the most important American labor organizations in the 19th century.

Sam Pollock Papers

drice — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:40:31 -0500

Leaflets, newsletters, press releases, campaign material, radio and television scripts, speeches, and newspapers collected by Mr. Pollock, who served as president of Meat Cutters Local 427, Cleveland, Ohio, and was an active member of the United Organized Labor of Ohio, a committee established to oppose the "Right-to-Work" amendment to the Ohio Constitution. This collection pertains to the 1958 right-to-work campaign.