Flint Sit-Down Strike, 1936-1937

Joseph Ditzel Papers

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:43:47 -0500

Newspaper clippings from Detroit and Toledo papers concerning labor activities and the Flint Sit-Down Strike, collected by Mr. Ditzel, a participant in that strike and an organizer in the Toledo area.

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.

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.

Arthur Elder Papers

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:23:45 -0500

Correspondence, reports, and a scrapbook relating to the AFL and education (1941–49); correspondence, reports, resolutions, studies, hearings, and clippings pertaining to the American Federation of Teachers (1934–50), the Michigan Federation of Teachers (1937–49), and the Detroit Federation of Teachers (1921–51); correspondence relating to the organizing efforts of the MFT (1939–53), and to the dismissal of teachers in the Flint area (1937–49); correspondence, clippings, and documents pertain- ing to the Workers Education Service (1936–48); and miscellaneous off ice files. The materials were collected by Mr. Elder, who served as vice-president of the AFT, president and secretary of the Michigan and Detroit federations, and director of the University of Michigan Workers Education Service. Subjects include AFT and the communist issue, history of the AFT, federal aid to education, New York City teachers' dispute, tenure for teachers, and the termination of the U of M Workers Education Service. Among the correspondents are Frank Martel, Frank Murphy, Mark Starr, Norman Thomas, and Arthur Vandenberg.

Hy Fish Papers

drice — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:24:17 -0400

Hy Fish was born June 11, 1913. He lived in Chicago and earned his MBA from the University
of Chicago in 1960. Hy was a Socialist who was active in the Young Peoples Socialist League
where he was the business manager of their monthly newspaper, “The Challenge.” After the Flint sit-down strike began in 1936, Hy was sent to Flint to act as an organizer for the Socialist Party. Awhile later he became a labor education teacher at Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL., and traveled to India and Israel in the 1950s as an economic advisor for the International Labour Office. In the 1960s he left Roosevelt University to work as a self-employed consultant. Hy Fish died July 9, 1994.

The Hy Fish collection consists largely of Socialist publications covering topics such as labor,
Socialism, Communism, post WWI housing issues in the United States, war, religion and
specific labor unions of the 1920s and 1930s. The collection contains materials from the Young Peoples Socialist League (YPSL) and the Socialist Party with correspondence from his years in the YPSL. Some material from the Flint sit-down strike, from his trip to India for a mission on productivity, and his independent consultant work are also included.

Flint Labor Records

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

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

William Genske Papers

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:52:13 -0500

Correspondence, minutes, reports, pamphlets, and miscellaneous printed materials collected by Mr. Genske, who served as financial secretary and chairman of the Shop Committee, UAW Local 581 at the Fisher Body plant, Flint, Michigan. He was also a participant in the 1937 Flint sit-downs. Material covers UAW factionalism ( 1940-60). Correspondents are David Dubinsky, Richard Gosser, John L. Lewis, Ralph Marlatt, Blair Moody, Philip Murray, Jacob Potofsky, Victor Reuther, and G. Mennen Williams.

Henry Kraus Papers

drice — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:36:01 -0400

Mr. Kraus was the first editor of the UAW's newspaper The United Auto Worker (later changed to Solidarity). He was active in the early attempts by the UAW (first under the AFL and later under the CIO) to organize the auto industry. Files for the late 1920s and early 1930s cover the attempts by groups, including the Auto Workers Union of the Trade Union Unity League, to organize auto workers, and discuss such events as the Murray Body Strike (1929); the Ford Hunger March (1932); and the Briggs Strike (1933). There are many items pertaining to the AFL's work in the auto industry, such as material on the threatened auto strike of March 1934, the Toledo Auto-Lite and Chevrolet strikes of 1934 and 1935, and conferences and conventions of the UAW-AFL. The collection also has many files of the AFL's Detroit office for the early 1930s. Particularly well covered are the activities of the UAW-CIO from 1936 to 1940, including the South Bend Convention, the sit-downs, early attempts to organize Ford, and the Homer Martin controversy (resulting in the split of 1939). The Flint Sit-Down Strike and factionalism in the UAW are particularly well documented. Correspondents include nearly every major AFL, CIO, and UAW leader of the period. Among them are John Brophy, F. J. Dillon, Adolph Germer, William Green, John L. Lewis, Homer Martin, Rose Pesotta, Walter Reuther, and R. J. Thomas. Public figures include Charles Coughlin and Frank Murphy. Nine reels of microfilm complement content in Part I and are described in a separate guide.

Part 3 contains manuscripts, notes and research materials from Kraus’s three major books, as well as materials from his other books and writings including those on medieval art. Also included are transcripts of oral histories from a variety of individuals involved in the labor movement, especially those from the 1937 Flint Sit-Down Strike.

Wyndham Mortimer Papers

abarker — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:04:01 -0400

As United Auto Workers (UAW) Vice-President, Wyndham Mortimer worked to organize the employees of General Motors Fisher Body Plant, which led to the Flint Sit-Down Strike of 1936-1937, and later participated in the negotiations that achieved the first UAW-GM contract. Mr. Mortimer was active in factional struggles within the UAW as a leader of the Unity Caucus and was ultimately expelled from the UAW with charges of Communist allegiance. Mr. Mortimer’s papers document his work in the UAW, particularly concerning his efforts to organize the West Coast aircraft industry, and the factional struggles within the UAW

Included in Mr. Wyndham’s papers are the papers of John M. “Scotty” Orr, who was an active organizer for American Federation of Labor (AFL), and the UAW. Mr. Orr’s papers largely relate to his efforts as a UAW organizer in the West Coast aircraft industry.

Victor G. Reuther Papers

drice — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:44:59 -0500

Victor Reuther began his UAW career as an organizer for Local 174 in 1937, the same year he participated in the Flint Sit-Down Strike. In the 1940s he moved up to the UAW national organization, serving in several leadership positions culminating in the directorship of the International Affairs Office from which he retired in 1972. His papers reflect his work with the UAW, especially relating to international community organizations. The material in the collections was originally used by Reuther in writing his book, The Brothers Reuther, published in 1976. Subjects include: International Metalworkers Federation; International Confederation of Free Trade Unions; Amerian Institute for Free Labor Development; UAW factionalism; and the UAW break with the AFL-CIO.

Archie W. Robinson Papers

abarker — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:20:16 -0400

Journalist Archie Robinson served as the labor editor of the Detroit News, as a press officer for the National War Labor Board, as labor editor of the U.S. News and World Report, and authored George Meany and His Times, a history of the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and its president. Mr. Robinson’s papers document his career in journalism and his coverage of major labor issues.

Bud and Hazel Simons Papers

drice — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:40:04 -0500

Correspondence, notebooks, picket cards, songs, newspaper clippings, photographs, and memorabilia collected by Mr. Simons, who was strike chairman of Fisher Body Plant 1 during the Flint sit-down strikes of 1937. The collection deals solely with the strike and contains correspondence with John L. Lewis. An oral history interview with Mr. Simons is available.

Joe Walton Papers

abarker — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:03:01 -0400

A recipient of the Walter P. Reuther Distinguished Service Award, Joe Walton was a participant in the General Motors Flint Sit-Down Strike of 1936-1937 and held various posts in United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 581, including Sergeant-at-Arms and Financial Secretary. Mr. Walton’s papers document his involvement in the labor movement, particularly concerning the activities of Local 581.

HistoryPin: Tour the Detroit Sit-Down Strikes of 1937

eclemens — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:14:23 -0500

The Reuther Library is pleased to announce its partnership with HistoryPin. For the uninitiated, HistoryPin is a popular, interactive social media platform that uses geotagging to link historical photographs to modern mapping systems. Partnering institutions and individuals--currently thousands across the globe-- “pin” still images, audio resources, or moving images to their subject’s original location. These pins can be grouped together in a tour or collection, each allowing for the individual user to explore historical topics or locations. The platform is widely available through a website or via mobile device applications. read more »

On Display: Michigan Labor Actions case exhibit

eclemens — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 09:33:21 -0400

Michigan Labor Actions case exhibit
February 10, 2025 – July 3, 2025

Come by the library and explore our latest case exhibit, Michigan Labor Actions. This display features photographs, ephemera, and artifacts from our collections that highlight key collective actions in Michigan’s labor history. Events showcased include the Copper Country Strike (1913), Studebaker Strike (1913), Ford Hunger March (1932), Flint Sit-Down Strike (1937), UFW Grape Boycotts (1970s), D.R.U.M. Wildcat Strikes (1970s), P.A.T.C.O. Strike (1981), and the Detroit Newspaper Strike (1995–1997). read more »

Subject Focus: Remembering the Flint Sit-Down

teller — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:52:57 -0500

Tired of reductions in pay and jobs, increased workloads, and harassment of United Automobile Workers organizers, on December 30, 1936 automotive workers in the General Motors Fisher Number One Plant in Flint, Michigan sat down on the job. For the next 44 days workers refused to work or leave the Fisher One and Two plants, and later Chevrolet Number 4. Michigan Governor Frank Murphy refused to order the strikers out, so GM attempted to expel them by shutting off the plants’ heat and electricity and by preventing food deliveries. read more »

(4735) Flint Sit-Down Strike, Emergency Brigade, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 17 May 2019 14:49:37 -0400

Members of the Women’s Emergency Brigade line the street opposite from Chevrolet Plant No. 9. Dorothy Kraus is sixth from the right.

(45976) Flint Sit-Down Strike, Strikers, Interiors, 1937

eclemens — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 11:20:33 -0500

Strikers relax on car seats and read newspapers inside of Fisher Body Plant No. 1 during the Flint Sit Down Strike.

[Podcast] "No Labor Dictators For Us": Revisiting Anti-Union Forces in the Flint Sit-Down Strike

teller — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 08:55:01 -0500

While the 1936-1937 Flint Sit-Down is usually viewed as a pivotal success for the UAW, Dr. Gregory Wood considers more closely the influence of anti-union workers and the General Motors-supported Flint Alliance both during and after the strike. read more »

[Podcast] Midnight in Vehicle City: Modern Lessons From the Flint Sit-Down Strike

teller — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 15:03:58 -0400

Edward McClelland recounts the gripping details of the Flint sit-down strike, and considers what we can learn today from the strikers’ successful fight for shared prosperity in 1936-1937. read more »