Women in the labor movement

AFSCME Local 1259: Detroit Public Library Records

jruss — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 11:11:55 -0400

Local 1259, representing Detroit Public Library (DPL) employees, affiliated in 1949 with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Michigan Council 77. It represented professional librarians, as well as clerical and maintenance employees. A staff association existed for some years before union certification, and failed attempts to unionize were made before 1949. In 1970, the Association of Professional Librarians won the right to represent the professional librarians within the union. Local 1259 continued to be the bargaining unit for the DPL's maintenance and clerical workers. The collection documents the activities of Local 1259 and of the Detroit Public Library during the 1950s and 1960s. Additional information is included on broader topics like Detroit city employees; Michigan AFSCME organizations and events, especially Michigan Council 77; and unionism in libraries. Records include contracts and negotiation material; budgets, proposals, and financial statements; correspondence; meeting minutes; publications; constitutions; salary information; clippings; convention materials; and fliers.

AFSCME Local 771 Wayne County, Michigan Library Employees Records

scaloia — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 11:28:55 -0400

The Wayne County, Michigan Library System was established in 1920 and built branches in the then-far flung rural areas of the county. Librarians in the system organized and received a charter for AFSCME Local 771 in 1943 and operated out of a building at 3661 Trumbull in Detroit. Activities included navigating the newly-established Wayne County Civil Service program. The local was active until 1964 when it disbanded. The county system disbanded in 2015, at which point it had been reduced to just a few locations. Many of the former member locations converted to municipal libraries.

The AFSCME Local 771 Wayne County, Michigan Library Employees records contain correspondence, reports, meeting minutes, constitutions, articles, and photographs. Topics include various committees, the Wayne County Civil Service Commission, AFL, AFSCME International and Council 77. Local 771 Presidents represented in the collection include Anne Farrington, Zona Williams, Kathryn (Wagner) Sadler, and Isabella Swan.

Full finding aid

AFSCME Program Development Department Records, Part 1 & 2

jruss — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:05:55 -0400

The AFSCME Program Development Department was created in January of 1973 to deal with matters such as health care, the deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill, employee protections, career development, and sex discrimination. It was funded by federal grant money until 1975 when the funds ran out, the department was disbanded, and its several functions were taken over by other AFSCME departments.

The records in Part I reflect the Department's concerns with women's issues, sex discrimination, the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), and other groups. Important figures represented are Linda Tarr-Whelan, deputy director, 1973-1975; her successor, Nancy Perlman; and International President Jerry Wurf. Important topics appearing in the records include affirmative action, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, International Women's Year, Title IX, and commissions on the status of women.

The records in Part II of this collection contain the administrative records of the Program
Development Department head and staff. A large portion of Part II is devoted to subject
files, which illustrate the broad scope of the Department’s focus. Part II also contains
records pertaining to the Department’s efforts to prevent the decentralization of mental
health institutions and to protect the employees that worked in those facilities. Files on
other health care related issues are also included in Part II. A few files related to
Women’s Issues that were missed when processing Part I also appear.

AFSCME Women's Rights Department Records

jruss — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:11:19 -0400

The records in this collection focus on comparable worth and job evaluation in state governments. The majority of the collection is comprised of consultants’ proposals to state and local government committees to conduct studies addressing issues of pay equity and job evaluation and ranking systems. Some correspondence exists that documents the evaluation and selection of these proposals by state committees and the national AFSCME office. General information and reports about various job evaluation and ranking methods are included as well as reports from AFSCME about how best to develop comparable worth job systems. Additionally, some training material and more general information on pay equity issues are represented in the collection.

Olive R. Beasley Papers

jruss — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:49:00 -0400

Olive R. Beasley led a career devoted to improving human and civil rights for minority groups. She served as secretary and later as executive director of the Michigan Committee on Civil Rights and was a member of the Fair Employment Practices Commission. She continued to serve its successor, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission as executive director of the Flint office. She also held numerous posts in labor and community organizations in Detroit and Flint including president of AFSCME Local 52, Detroit area; vice-president of AFSCME Council 7, Michigan; executive board member, Michigan AFL-CIO; and secretary of the Detroit League of Women Voters. In 1972 she received the Governor's Award for Distinguished Public Service Employees.

The papers reflect Mrs. Beasley's career with Michigan agencies and organizations concerned with civil rights and, to a lesser degree, her involvement with labor unions and Michigan politics.

Charles Beckman Papers

abarker — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:39:03 -0400

Charles Beckman served as United Auto Workers Local 45 (Fisher Body Plant, Cleveland) President for eighteen consecutive terms. His tenure included the Cleveland plant sit-down strike which served as a catalyst for the historic Flint sit-down strike of 1936-1937. The papers of Mr. Beckman reflect his work with Local 45 and its affiliated organizations and, to a lesser degree, his involvement in political and social issues, including civil rights, anti-fascism and anti-war efforts.

Thelma Bernstein Papers

jruss — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:47:18 -0400

Thelma Bernstein was on the staff of Family Services of Metropolitan Detroit and was a member of AFSCME Local 1640, Council 77. Her papers relate to the activities of Local 1640 and consist of correspondence, minutes, memoranda, membership lists, and contract proposals.

Ann Blankenhorn Papers

drice — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:39:13 -0400

Ann Blankenhorn investigated and publicized the social and economic conditions in the textile, clothing, and coal mining industries in the 1920s and 30s with special emphasis on women and children. Also included are papers relating to the WPA (1934) and the imprisonment of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn in the 1950s. Important correspondents are Peter Blume and Elizabeth Gurley Flynn. The materials consist of correspondence (1931-68), personal notebooks, diaries, and address books.

Selma Borchardt Papers

drice — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:46:21 -0400

Correspondence, minutes, reports, speeches, press releases, and notes collected by Miss Borchardt, who served as legislative representative and vice-president for the AFT (1924-62), chairman of the AFT International Relations Committee (1927-62), secretary of the AFL Education Committee (1929-55), and director of the World Federation of Education Associations (1927-46). Miss Borchardt also served as a member of many governmental committees and conferences including the National Advisory Board of the National Youth Administration (1934-44); the U.S. Office of Education Wartime Commission (1941-43); the White House Conferences on Children and Youth (1930, 1940, and 1950); and the White House Conference on Education (1955). Subjects include the communist issue within the AFT, exchange teacher programs, federal aid to education, the Institute of World Studies, juvenile delinquency, National Women's Trade Union League, Social Security legislation, vocational education, and workers' education. Correspondents include George Ai ken, George Axtelle, Mary Barker, Arthur Capper, John Sherman Cooper, George Counts, Mary Dent, John Ekiund, Arthur Elder, Walter George, William Green, Lister Hill, David Starr Jordan, Abraham Lefkowitz, Henry Linviiie, Jay Lovestone, James Mead, George Meany, Carl Megel, A.J. Muste, Hilda Smith, and Matthew Woll.

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.

Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Records

drice — Fri, 03 May 2013 11:45:20 -0400

The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWE) was founded at Demopolis, Alabama, in July, 1887 under the name of the Order of Railroad Trackmen, and eventually came to include all workers who build and maintain the tracks, bridges, buildings and other structures of the railroads. Its Grand Lodge headquarters was permanently established in Detroit, Michigan in 1913, and is comprised of System Divisions or Federations, each of which has under its jurisdiction one or more railroad systems and the Subordinate Lodges located on those systems. In 2004, the BMWE merged with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, to become the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Part 1 of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Collection consists primarily of outgoing presidential correspondence for the years 1899-1900 and 1912-1914, preserved in letterpress copybooks, Grand Executive Committee meeting minutes and proceedings for the years 1918-1920, and BMWE Ladies' Auxiliary convention proceedings as well as minutes and correspondence of the Denver and Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) Auxiliaries.

Part 2 of the records are a comprehensive documentation of the organization’s activities related to the growth and decline of railroad systems on an international, national and divisional scale. Organizational documentation includes governing documents, correspondence to and from Presidents and union members, and agreements from 1906-2004, which give insight into a union that at one time had more than 350,000 members. Records specifically document the organization’s founding and history, its administration, and the evolving activities of its members.

Joseph Chrapkiewicz Papers

drice — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:39:11 -0400

Joseph Chrapkiewicz began his union career in 1947 as Chief Steward in the United Automobile Workers Local 78, Kelsey-Hayes, Detroit, after which he held various offices in the local. In the 1970s he also edited the local's newspaper, Union Picket.

Chrapkiewicz's papers pertain to his tenure (and his predecessor, Maurice Terpenning's) on the West Side Local 174 & Local 78 Bargaining Committee, as well as various other committees he served on.

Edith L. Christenson Papers

abarker — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:36:50 -0400

Edith Christenson held positions in the Women’s Trade Union League, the Chorus Equity Association, the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Public Affairs. The papers of Ms. Christenson document her work as a YMCA canteen worker during World War I and her involvement in the labor and cooperative movements and as an advocate for adult education.

Coalition of Labor Union Women Records

drice — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:12:06 -0500

The Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) was founded in Chicago in 1974 with the goal of bringing women to the forefront of the workforce as full and equal participants. The records of CLUW document the administration and activities of the national organization and its various chapters undertaken toward this goal. Issues such as affirmative action, pay equity, sex discrimination, child care and family issues, ERA and reproductive freedom are well represented.

Coalition of Labor Union Women: Metro-Detroit Chapter Records

drice — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:36:19 -0500

The Metro-Detroit Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women was founded as the Wayne County Chapter of CLUW at the Southeastern Michigan Organizing Conference in July 1974. Their goal was to bring together as broad a representation as possible of union women living or working in Wayne County to identify common problems and develop union-centered programs to deal with them. Their records reflect activities concerning strike assistance, affirmative action, ERA, and sexual harassment.

Coalition of Labor Union Women: San Francisco Chapter Records

drice — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:12:27 -0400

Subjects include: working women; politics; job discrimination

Coalition of Labor Union Women: Seattle Chapter Records

drice — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:13:20 -0400

Subjects include: CLUW factions; Coalition for Protective Legislation

Coalition of Labor Union Women: Greater Boston Chapter Records

srafferty — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 13:17:26 -0400

The Greater Boston Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) began forming shortly after the creation of the national organization on March 12, 1974. Early in the chapter's formation there were differences in opinion between radical and more moderate members. Members differed on the topics of the chapter’s priorities, membership requirements, and the relationship between the regional chapters and the national organization. This chapter focused on topics of affirmative action, the Equal Rights Amendment, desegregation, and the rights of immigrants and undocumented workers among others.

Coalition of Labor Union Women: Puget Sound Chapter Records

srafferty — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 13:15:12 -0400

The Coalition of Labor Union Women Puget Sound Chapter was originally known as the Seattle Chapter, but changed its name on July 25, 1979.

John and Phyllis Collier Papers

drice — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:11:45 -0400

John Collier (1874-1947) was interested in various socialist, radical, liberal, and anarchist causes, and was a life-long student of philosophy, theology, mysticism, and psychic phenomena. His papers contain correspondence, notes, literary manuscripts, clippings, photographs, pamphlets, and memorabilia relating to his activities as a writer and social critic as well as biographies and personal papers relating to his family and his two early confinements.

Also covered are correspondence, clippings, notes, and miscellaneous printed materials concerning Mrs. Collier's activities as secretary of the American Labor Party in New York (1919-20) and social worker in Los Angeles (1932-58). Part II of her papers include personal files, including an autobiography.

Subjects include American Labor Party, Garland Farm and Garland Fund (1920-26).Helicon Home Colony (1906-07), IWW, Tom Mooney defense, Sacco and Vanzetti Case, Upton Sinclair's gubernatorial campaigns (1934, 1936), Single-Tax and co-operative colonies, the Workers Defense League, and psychic phenomena. Correspondents include Roger Baldwin, V.F. Calverton, Malcolm Cowley, Floyd Dell, Theodore Dreiser, Max Eastman, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Charles Garland, Emma Goldman, Sidney Hook, Frieda Lawrence, Sinclair Lewis, Mabel Dodge Luhan, Scott Nearing, Margaret Sanger, Max Schactman, Upton Sinclair, Norman Thomas, and Louis Untermeyer.

Communications Workers of America District 4 Records

drice — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:10:20 -0500

The CWA grew out of the ineffectual National Federation of Telephone Workers in 1947 to provide a centralized framework for the new regional labor organizations that had sprouted in the communications industry after passage of the Wagner Act. District 4 represents the Michigan and Ohio collective bargaining areas. Its records relate primarily to the operations of Michigan Bell Telephone Company and the organizing and servicing of Michigan Bell employees.

Minnie F. Corder Papers

abarker — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:06:33 -0400

A member of the Industrial Workers of the World, Minnie Corder’s papers include an unpublished autobiographical novel which addresses themes of the garment industry, immigration, migrant labor, socialism, unions, and the Great Depression.

Genora and Sol Dollinger Papers

abarker — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:15:09 -0400

A highly active union advocate, Genora Dollinger was a charter member of the Flint Socialist Party and organized Flint Women’s Auxiliary #10 and the Women’s Emergency Brigade, which played a crucial role in the success of the Flint Sit-down Strike of 1937. Her husband, Sol Dollinger was an organizer for the Socialist Workers Party.

The papers of Genora and Sol Dollinger relate largely to Ms. Dollinger’s involvement in the Flint Sit-down Strike, and to a lesser extent, the Dollinger’s activities as members of the Socialist Workers Party and Ms. Dollinger’s involvement in women’s and civil rights advocacy.

Enid Eckstein Papers

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:13:55 -0500

Enid Eckstein was a member of the Detroit District of the International Socialists and worked as an inspector at Chrysler’s Lynch Road Assembly plant. Represented by UAW Local 51, she served as a chief steward and on the local’s Community Services, Women’s and Resolutions Committees. In 1973 she helped form the United Coalition, one of many militant, rank-and-file groups that sprang up in Detroit auto plants in the 1970s, on whose slate she ran unsuccessfully for Trustee in 1975 and for Treasurer in 1978. In the early eighties she sat on the Steering Committee of the Michigan Citizens Party that tried to elect Barry Commoner U.S. President. A feminist, she was also active in the Coalition of Labor Union Women, NOW and the Region 1B Women’s Council.

The Enid Eckstein Collection consists primarily of draft reports, flyers, newsletters, election campaign material, pamphlets and other publications documenting the International Socialists’ perspective on political work in the auto plants, UAW rank-and-file militancy and the activities of the Michigan Citizens Party.

Katherine Pollak Ellickson Papers

drice — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 10:38:21 -0400

Katherine Pollak was active in workers' education from 1927-1934. She worked at the CIO national office from 1935-1937 as an assistant to the director. Her papers include original notes and minutes of the earliest CIO meetings. She returned to the CIO national office from 1942-55 as Associate Director of Research, she focused on Social Security, manpower, farm labor and women and children. At the AFL-CIO national office (1955-61), she was assistant director of the Social Security Department and worked intensively to secure passage of health insurance legislation that was a precursor of Medicare. Her papers and records kept during her years as a member of the President's Commission on the Status of Women reflect the preliminary efforts, which led to its formation as well as her responsibilities as its executive secretary.

Carolyn Forrest Papers

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:30:46 -0500

Carolyn Forrest began working at JR Winter Company, which she helped organize for the United Auto Workers (UAW). In 1967 Forrest joined the international staff of Region 1E as the first female servicing representative in the UAW and ten years later was appointed an administrative assistant by UAW President Douglas Fraser. In 1993 she was elected an International Vice President. Forest retired from the UAW in 1998.

Ann Francis Papers

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:35:28 -0500

Ann Francis, a journeyman pipefitter and member of UAW Local 652, worked at the General Motors Oldsmobile plant in the early 1980's. In 1985 she became a technical instructor in the UAW-GM apprentice program and developed programs to recruit and train women and minorities for the skilled trades. From 1989 until her retirement in 1998, she managed a number of different joint union-management programs for the skilled trades at GM's Lansing plant, the most important of which was the Skilled Trades JOBS Bank for laid-off workers. The Collection consists primarily of publications related to women in the skilled trades.

Catherine Gelles Papers

abarker — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:07:56 -0400

A charter member and president of Women’s Auxiliary 15, Catherine Gelles served as secretary-treasurer, and later, an international representative, of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Women’s Auxiliaries, and vice-president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) National Auxiliaries. Ms. Gelles’ papers reflect her work in the labor movement and the history of UAW women’s auxiliaries.

Martin and Jessie Glaberman Papers

drice — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:57:31 -0400

Martin Glaberman was active in the labor movement from 1942-1965, primarily in the UAW. He has written extensively on labor both as managing editor of national labor newspaper in the 1950s and as a freelance writer. He also lectured in sociology and political science at several Detroit colleges.

Jessie Glaberman was actively involved in labor and civil rights movements, playing an important role in the women's rights movement in Detroit, particularly at Wayne State University.

Their papers reflect their many years of involvement in the labor, civil rights and women's movements. Material includes correspondence, radical publications, speeches, and interviews on their involvements and interests such as the Correspondence Publishing Committee/Company, C.L.R. James and the Socialist Workers Party.

Joyce Hennessee Papers

drice — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:30:28 -0500

Joyce Hennessee worked for Chrysler Corporation Management Information Systems. Her papers reflect her membership in various organizations concerned with working womens' issues.

Mary J. Herrick Papers

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:34:48 -0500

Long active with the AFT, Miss Herrick was its director of research and vice-president, and served in other positions with that union. During the 1930s, she was particularly concerned with organizing teachers in the Chicago area. The communist controversy in the AFT, federal aid to education, Workers Defense League, and teacher salaries and problems are covered. Correspondents include Irvin Kuenzli, Jerome Davis, Selma Borchardt, Charles Cogen, Estes Kefauver, and Paul Douglas.

Susan Holleran Papers

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:48:11 -0500

Susan E. Holleran was a labor journalist for AFSCME's national headquarters and its international magazine. Additionally, she was a founding member of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), a member of the National Organization of Women (NOW), active in community service activities of the Washington, D.C. AFL-CIO, and coordinator of the first national conference on pay equity which resulted in the founding of the National Committee on Pay Equity in 1979. Holleran died of cancer on December 15, 2007. Holleran's papers reflect her work with AFSCME, the AFL-CIO, CLUW, and the National Committee on Pay Equity, as well as her interest and involvement with working women.

Olga Hrabar Papers

abarker — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:39:28 -0400

President of Auxiliary 233-Local 600, Olga Hrabar was an active participant in early strike activities and the organizational growth of United Auto Workers (UAW) Women’s Auxiliaries. Ms. Hrabar’s papers reflect the activities of the women’s auxiliaries at a local level and document the organizational structure of an individual auxiliary. Correspondents include Coretta Scott King, Emil Mazey, and Leonard Woodcock.

Dolores Huerta Papers

drice — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:04:27 -0400

Dolores Huerta champions the rights of farm workers and Latinos. As a young teacher her experiences in classrooms filled with hungry children of migrant farm workers led her to believe that an even greater need was organizing farm workers. Dolores first met Cesar Chavez in the late 1950s while organizing farm workers under the name of the Agricultural Workers Association. In 1962 they founded the National Farm Workers Association in Delano, California. Today, Dolores Huerta continues to place La Causa first. She remains a boundlessly energetic and charismatic leader for the United Farm Workers union as an executive board member, union negotiator and lecturer. In addition, Huerta has been honored with numerous awards across the country for her work as an advocate for the rights of women, immigrants and people of color.

The papers of Dolores Huerta primarily deal with boycotts, strikes, and the ongoing struggle for workers’ rights and organizations involved in such matters.

Mildred Jeffrey Papers

drice — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:19:31 -0500

Mildred "Millie" Jeffrey worked as an organizer for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, as Educational Director of the Pennsylvania Joint Board of Shirt Workers, as a consultant to the War Labor Board, as Director of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Women’s Bureau, and as Director for UAW Community Relations and Consumer Affairs Departments. Ms. Jeffrey was also active in the Democratic Party and was a founding member and chair of the National Organization of Women’s (NOW) political arm, the National Women’s Political Caucus.

Part 1 of Ms. Jeffrey’s papers document her extensive work for women’s rights and the labor movement and reflect her commitment to social justice. Part 2 primarily documents the last 30 years of her life during which Jeffrey became an activist in the many social and political movements of the time, including women’s rights, civil rights, reproductive rights and peace.

Wanda Killian Papers

pneirink — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 09:04:51 -0400

Several letters concerning a strike by women workers at a GuideLamp, General Motors Division in Anderson, Indiana. The letters discuss charges against the women made by a fellow member of their union, UAW Local 663. Includes correspondence with UAW Secretary-treasurer, Emil Mazey.

Dorothy Kraus Papers

drice — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 10:30:40 -0400

Dorothy Kraus, wife of Henry Kraus, had a Jewish working class socialist family background. When married to Henry, she helped assist in local Detroit UAW strikes by organizing strike kitchens and leading the Emergency Brigade. Her efforts led to the formation of the UAW Women's Auxiliary.

Material in Part I of the Dorothy Kraus Collection relates mainly to the early activities of the UAW Women's Auxiliary, attempts to control the cost of living during the Depression, and to anti-Semitism. Papers in Part II detail Dorothy’s early life in Poland, and contain personal notebooks, correspondence and manuscripts of her later writings.

Layle Lane Papers

drice — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:29:52 -0500

Layle Lane was a public school teacher in New York City and active in the American Federation of Teachers and the New York Teachers Guild. She was the first African-American vice-president of the New York City AFT local and chaired their Committee for Democratic Human Relations. Her papers relate primarily to civil rights and the role of African-Americans in American society, including copies of two briefs filed by the AFT in Brown vs. Board of Education.

Mary Upshaw McClendon Papers

drice — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:59:02 -0500

Mary Upshaw McClendon was the founder and first president of the Detroit Household Workers Organization, which aimed to improve the wages and working conditions of household workers. She failed in unionizing workers, but was successful in providing services, training, and support for local household workers and was very active in community relations. McClendon also helped found the national Household Technicians of America. Her papers reflect both her personal and professional life.

Ken Morris Papers

abarker — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:47:53 -0400

Ken Morris served as president of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 212 and as director of UAW Region 1B. Mr. Morris was active in community affairs and served in various committees such as the Oakland University Board of Trustees, the Oakland County Mental Health Board, and the National Commission on Unemployment and Compensation. Mr. Morris’ papers relate primarily to his activities as Director of UAW Region 1B, and to a lesser degree, his trusteeship at Oakland University, and reflect his interest in matters of health care, unemployment, and labor.

Bette Murphy Papers

aergas — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 10:34:44 -0400

An active member of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 148 (Douglas Aircraft-Long Beach), Bette Murphy was the first woman at Douglas to hold positions of supervisor and manufacturing engineer. Ms. Murphy’s papers document the affairs of Local 148 throughout her career.

Jana Pellusch Papers

drice — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:27:09 -0500

Jana Pellusch was a delegate to the second national convention of the Coalition of Labor Union Women held in Detroit in 1975. Her papers consist of personal comments and clippings from The Militant regarding the convention.

Matilda Robbins Papers

drice — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:12:38 -0500

Manuscripts (articles and stories), clippings, correspondence, personal papers, and photographs collected by Mrs. Robbins, who was a labor organizer and writer for the IWW from 1912 until her death in 1963. Subjects include the Paterson N.J. Silk Strike.

Adair Damman Papers

aorchard — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:49:58 -0500

Adair Damman’s affiliation with SEIU began in 1981, and Damman worked at SEIU for a number of years, most notably as an organizer. Presently. Damman works as the Legislative Director of Local 925 in Seattle, Washington.

These records primarily document Damman’s earlier work during the 1980s and 1990s. Much of the material focuses on Local 1864 in Nevada, Local 707 and the Mendocino County Employees Association in California, Local 880 in Boston, and organizing Local 6. Predominate topics are organizing and campaigns, but training and leadership are also heavily featured. Material types include correspondence, clippings, campaign materials, training materials, and audiovisual materials such as stickers, buttons, photographs, and tapes.

SEIU District 925 Records

ljones — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:22:15 -0400

Part 1 subjects include: 9to5; Working Women; working women's movement; clerical worker organizing; sex discrimination in employment; office worker health and safety; pay equity; SEIU Local 925; Classified Staff Association; Karen Nussbaum.

See Part I for the history of District 925, as well as the bulk of the organization’s records during its origin and transitions (9to5 / Working Women / District 925 / Local 925), its national and regional office files, contracts, and Karen Nussbaum’s records. Part II consists of the records of Local 925 and District 925, including correspondence, meeting minutes (particularly Executive Board Meetings), and documents on District 925’s final transition and merger into SEIU locals. Additionally there are contracts and agreements not found in Part I, as well as publications. Finally, AV and library materials, predominately photographic materials, but also VHS tapes, a jacket, and two books, make up the final group of items.

SEIU Education Department Records

aorchard — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 08:51:59 -0400

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was founded in 1921 as a union of flat janitors. Over the years it has grown in size and scope, now comprising three divisions: healthcare, property services, and public services. SEIU’s Department of Education generates training materials for its members on topics including workplace training (for all three divisions), internal staff professional development, collective bargaining, organizing, and political campaigns. Document formats found within the records are primarily training guides and manuals (including facilitator training materials), as well as materials such as publications and reports utilized by the Education Department.

SEIU Executive Office Records

aorchard — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 11:55:33 -0500

In 1996 Andy Stern was elected President of SEIU and the members of Stern’s New Voices slate took office (Betty Bednarczyk, Patricia (Pat) Ford, Eliseo Medina, and Paul Policicchio). Most of the records in this collection document aspects of this group’s leadership, with the majority of records from the New Voices campaign, the Secretary-Treasurer’s Office (primarily materials relating to AFL-CIO and other organization’s conventions), the Executive Vice President’s office (predominately Pat Ford’s speeches and talking points), subject files and convention records, and audiovisual materials. Records include correspondence, reports, resolutions and amendments, speeches and talking points, photographs, posters, T-shirts, pins, VHS and audio cassettes, CDs, and DVDs.

SEIU Executive Vice President's Office: Patricia Ford Records

aorchard — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 14:41:28 -0400

In 1973, Pat Ford, then a clerical worker at Alameda County Hospital, aided in the creation of Local 616 by affiliating the 4000-member association with SEIU. Ford held various leadership positions in Local 616, including president (the Local’s first African-American woman president), and Executive Director. In addition to Ford’s service to Local 616, in 1996 she was elected as SEIU Executive Vice President, and reelected in 2000. During her tenure with SEIU, Ford helped to found the Caucus of African Descent (AFRAM), lead SEIU’s government affairs program, and coordinated SEIU’s civil and human rights activism. A full biography on Patricia Ford, may be found in Ford’s oral history held at the Reuther Library.

The SEIU Executive Vice President’s Office: Patricia Ford Records contains digital transcripts of 25 speeches given by Patricia Ford during her tenure as SEIU Executive Vice President. The records particularly reveal Ford’s involvement with organizations such as CBTU, CLUW, and NAACP. Also included is one folder of photographs, primarily featuring Ford at various SEIU events.

Speech transcripts may be found here:
https://www.reuther.wayne.edu/search/node/pat+ford+speech+transcript

SEIU International Affairs Records

aorchard — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 10:30:15 -0500

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was founded in 1921 as a union of flat janitors. Over the years it has grown in size and scope, now comprising three divisions: healthcare, property services, and public services. While most of SEIU’s members reside in the United States, the SEIU is an international union with members and affiliates in countries all over the world. The records of SEIU’s International Affairs Department document the SEIU’s relationships with companies, unions, organizations, and labor activists in other countries, as well as detail departmental operations. Document formats found within the records primarily include correspondence, meeting minutes and agenda, booklets, and reports.

SEIU Local 31-M Records

aorchard — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 14:03:27 -0400

Local 31-M’s earliest manifestation, Local 191, began in 1938 with the organization of the Michigan Unemployment Compensation Commission (MUCC), the precursor to Michigan Employment Security Commission (MESC). MUCC was the first civil service agency within Michigan to become unionized. Initially an independent local, Local 191 eventually affiliated with the State, County and Municipal Workers of America. After facing several years of difficulty, Local 191 disbanded.

Despite the dissolution of Local 191, in 1941 MUCC was again unionized, this time by AFSCME affiliate Local 31. However, in 1960, Local 31’s lack of representation within its national affiliate led to its separation from AFSCME and subsequent affiliation with SEIU. SEIU Local 31-M was officially chartered on September 8, 1960 as a public sector labor union, representing Michigan employees, particularly those in the Michigan Employment Security Commission (MESC). Local 31-M was a member of Council 35, the coalition of all SEIU locals within Michigan, as well as a member of the Central States Conference. Local 31-M continued in this fashion until its merger with Local 517-M in the 2002.

The Local 31-M Records document former (from 1984-2001) President Victoria (Vicki) Cook’s (Vicki Cook Bumbaugh) and the Local’s involvement in politics at the local, state, and national levels, member affairs, and interaction with management and Michigan state offices and departments, primarily from the mid-1970s through the Local’s amalgamation into Local 517-M in 2002. The materials include correspondence, minutes, legal documents, requests for proposals, clippings, notes, and photographic materials.