Automotive industry and trade

Joe Brown Papers

drice — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:19:34 -0400

A one-time reporter for the Federated Press, Mr. Brown gathered a variety of items for a proposed book on unionism in the auto industry. Clippings, correspondence, handbills, and miscellaneous publications relate to the rise of auto unions during the 1930s and 1940s. Nearly every topic of importance for that time and subject is covered, including sit-downs, drives to organize various plants, and strikes. The scrapbooks contain mostly Detroit newspaper clippings about auto unions.

Box 23, Folder "Strikes and Lockouts (by Industry): Glass Companies is unavailable.

Harold Cranefield Papers

drice — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:48:09 -0400

A labor attorney, Mr. Cranefield served with the National Labor Relations Board in Chicago and Detroit, as an investigator for the La Follette Committee, and as an associate counsel with the UAW. Correspondence, briefs, clippings, and speeches cover such topics as unionizing the J.I. Case Company in Racine, Wisconsin (1934-35); work of the NLRB in the auto industry; industrial espionage; and the shootings of Victor and Walter Reuther. Correspondents are Heber Blankenhorn, J. Edgar Hoover, Wayne Morse, Joseph Rauh, Walter Reuther, Helen Sobell, and Robert Wohlforth.

Angelo Deitos Papers

drice — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:00:13 -0500

Angelo Deitos became president of the United Auto Workers Local 78 in the 1970s. His papers document the affairs of the local and the activities of labor union militants in the auto and other industries during that time.

Richard E. Harris Papers

drice — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:06:41 -0500

Richard Harris worked for the UAW, Michigan Department of Labor and Industry, and the American Arbitration Association. His papers consist of a tribute he wrote to Walter Reuther recalling the conditions of auto workers in the pre-union days of the 1930s.

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.

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.

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.

Ruth Milkman Papers

drice — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 14:40:44 -0400

Ruth Milkman (1954-) is a professor of sociology at the CUNY Graduate Center and the academic director at the Joseph F. Murphy Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies. Her professional focus is labor and labor movements, and she has published on a variety of topics revolving around work and organized labor in the United States. She received her B.A. from Brown University and her M.A. from the University of California, Berkley. Milkman’s early research focused on women workers during the economic and war crisis of the 1930s and 1940s. Her next period of research focused on the restructuring of the U.S. automobile industry and its impact on its workers and unions. She also studied Japanese-owned factories in California at this time. Her studies now focus on low wage immigrant workers, including their working conditions and labor organizations.

The Ruth Milkman Papers are predominantly research materials for her published reports on the employee buyouts at the GM Linden Plant in New Jersey. Included are various articles, studies, clippings, and UAW published materials she used in her research. Of particular note are Milkman’s interviews with plant workers, which were critical to her reports on the GM Linden Plant.

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.

Francis Palmer Papers

drice — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:47:49 -0500

Francis "Jack" Palmer worked for General Motors, Flint, MI where he became a member of the United Auto Workers. He was active in the local union, eventually serving as president. His papers relate primarily to his efforts to promote the escalator clause in labor negotiations, foster the founding of an independent labor political party, and repeal of the "no-strike" pledge of the union during WWII.

Paul Parker Papers

drice — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:07:38 -0500

Paul Parker worked for the Flint, MI Chevrolet Division of General Motors for forty-one years. During that time he served the United Auto Workers in several capacities and was active in local and state Democratic politics. His papers primarily reflect his activities in the Michigan House of Representatives.

Peter and Tom Wolf Papers

kschmeling — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 11:13:07 -0500

Peter and Tom Wolf are nephews of Walter Reuther's wife, May Reuther. The collection consists of photographs of Reuther family events as well as some articles relating to Walter and May Reuther.

Fred C. Pieper Papers

drice — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:37:01 -0500

Fred Pieper was an early leader in the unionization of the auto industry. His papers reflect his work for the United Auto Workers and the Congress of Industrial Organizations in the South.

Victor Reuther: UAW New Directions Movement Papers

abarker — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:53:25 -0400

Victor Reuther came out of retirement in the 1980’s to support Jerry Tucker and the New Directions Movement (NDM). The NDM emerged as a dissident caucus of UAW local union leaders within Region 5, particularly of General Motors facilities. Jerry Tucker unsuccessfully ran as the NDM candidate for regional director in the 1986 convention. Mr. Tucker won a second election, which was ordered following charges contesting the election results, but the following year he was defeated in the next term election.
The New Directions Movement collection contains material collected by Mr. Reuther, which document the affairs of the NDM.

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.

Norman Smith Papers

drice — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:31:05 -0400

Norman Smith was an organizer for the Congress of Industrial Organizations from 1935 - 1964 in St. Louis, Detroit, Memphis, and California while working in the auto and steel industries. His papers mainly reflect both his work in the Mid West as well as immediately following WWII in California.

Thomas J. Starling Papers

drice — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:46:05 -0500

Thomas Starling was a United Auto Workers member and president of Local 34 in Atlanta, GA who served on the UAW Board of Directors for twelve years. His papers reflect his association with the UAW, especially in regards to General Motors.

Stuart Strachan Papers

drice — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:37:01 -0400

Stuart Strachan held several positions in the United Auto Workers Locals 615 and 174, throughout his career. His papers reflect UAW activities at the time, both local and national.

UAW Accounting Department Records

drice — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:09:22 -0500

The records of the United Auto Workers Accounting Department consist of financial reports.

UAW American Motors Corporation Department Records

drice — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:22:40 -0500

The papers of the AMC department of the UAW were placed in the Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs in April of 1990 and were opened for research in 1992. The UAW and AMC began their working relationship in 1955 when the Hudson and Nash companies merged to form American Motors Corporation. This branch of the UAW represented workers in Kenosha, Wisconsin and Toledo, Ohio. The papers in this collection reflect the general office correspondence between the UAW, the UAW's three locals which worked for American Motors
Corporation, and American Motors Corporation.

UAW Borg-Warner Department Records

gstrassel — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 11:02:33 -0500

A prominent American automotive components and parts supplier, Borg-Warner (later rebranded as BorgWarner) had factories across the US and Canada represented by the UAW. The UAW Borg-Warner Department Records are the documents of the office within the UAW’s international headquarters that oversaw the union’s operations at Borg-Warner plants. These records consist of correspondence with the union locals representing Borg-Warner employees, arbitration proceedings, strike pamphlets, collective bargaining agreements with Borg-Warner subsidiaries, and much more.

UAW Chrysler Department Records

drice — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:28:29 -0500

The UAW Chrysler Department was formed in the year following the tumultuous sit-down strikes of 1937. Responsible of the department included planning, developing, negotiating, and administering collective bargaining agreements for Chrysler workers in the United States and Canada.

The records of the department reflect its administration and activities and largely include the files of Arthur Hughes, an administrative assitant and assistant director in the department from 1940-1978.

UAW Citizenship Department: Roy Reuther Records

drice — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:16:34 -0500

In 1957 the United Auto Workers changed the name of their Political Action Department to the Citizenship Department , headed by Roy Reuther. Their records cover activities until the subsequent name change to the Citizenship-Legislative Department.

UAW Conventions Records

drice — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:35:29 -0500

These records contain material from the United Auto Workers conventions held in 1951 and 1953.

UAW Education Department Records

drice — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:54:48 -0500

The United Auto Workers Education Department records reflect their various activities, such as negotiations, and include material from the tenures of Edward Coffey and Carroll Hutton.

UAW Ford Department Records

drice — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:39:42 -0500

The UAW signed its first contract with Ford Motor Company in 1941 after years of confrontation between labor and management. They achieved many gains for Ford employees, including a pension plan, health care benefits, workplace health and safety protection, skilled trades recognition, a shortened work week, more paid days off, supplemental unemployment benefits, and a guaranteed annual income credit. Their records document department affairs under the leadership of Richard Leonard and Ken Bannon.

UAW Local 1088 Records

drice — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:59:58 -0500

Subjects include: Neco Ordnance plant closing in Winona, Minnesota

UAW Local 1112 Records

drice — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:01:06 -0500

Subjects include: Lordstown GM plant; automation and speed-up; 1972 strike; QWL; “blue-collar blues”

UAW Local 113 Records

drice — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:02:06 -0500

Subjects include: Leonard Woodcock’s local; Continental Motors (Muskegon, Michigan); Muskegon politics and government; World War II aircraft industry workers

UAW Local 199 Records

drice — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:18:35 -0400

United Auto Workers Local 199 was charted in 1936 in St. Catherines, Canada. It represented employees of McKinnon Industries, a subsidiary of General Motors. Records of the local reflect primarily the its financial, executive, and bargaining activities.

UAW Local 230 Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:30:54 -0500

Subjects include: Chrysler (Los Angeles)

UAW Local 25 Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:32:44 -0500

Subjects include: General Motors Fisher Body and Chevrolet plants in St. Louis; labor education; women's auxiliary

UAW Local 292 Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:34:54 -0500

Subjects include: UAW Local 292 20 Automobile workers in Kokomo, Ind.; collective bargaining and strikes; General Motors Delco Radio Division; Accurate Parts Inc.; political activity; labor education; UAW Locals 303, 438, 662, 974

UAW Local 3 Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:35:53 -0500

Subjects include: Hamtramck Dodge Main plant; DRUM; UAW elections; education

UAW Local 32 Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:37:29 -0500

Subjects include: White Motor Co. (Cleveland)

UAW Local 36 Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:38:39 -0500

Subjects include: Ford Wixom plant; UAW Locals 400, 600, 900; Sam Fishman; industrial safety; African-American autoworkers; strikes

UAW Local 371 Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:44:27 -0500

Subjects include: Chrysler New Castle, Indiana plant

UAW Local 397 Records

drice — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:49:50 -0500

Contains minutes of the first meeting of Local 397 Coach & Body.

UAW Local 400 Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:45:27 -0500

Organized in 1941, Local 400 was located in Highland Park, Michigan for many
years. In addition to servicing the Ford Highland Park Plant, Local 400 also represented Ford Facilities in Utica, Romeo, Mount Clemens, Chesterfield, and the Michigan Proving
Ground of the Ford Motor Company. The papers of Local 400 reflect union activities from 1941
-1966. The period covering the years 1942-1961 is particularly well documented in terms of executive board meeting minutes, plant-wide meeting minutes, and correspondence. Also, the grievance file is quite comprehensive, especially for the years 1951-1959.

UAW Local 417 Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:47:25 -0500

Subjects include: auto parts plants in Detroit's northern suburbs; plant closings; collective bargaining; union organizing; grievances; discrimination

UAW Local 444 Records

drice — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:36:48 -0400

United Auto Workers Local 444 services the Windsor, Ontario plant of Chrysler Corporation. Its records reflect routine operations and programs.

UAW Local 45 Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:48:22 -0500

Subjects include: GM Fisher Body (Cleveland); UAW factionalism

UAW Local 5 Records

drice — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:48:46 -0400

United Auto Workers Local 5 began in 1933 as an American Federation of Labor local at Studebaker in South Bend, Indiana, established in opposition to depression conditions. By the time it became affiliated with the UAW in 1935 it was the largest auto local in the early struggle to establish auto unions and one of the earliest to organize. They joined with other industrial unions to form the Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1937 and remained one of the leading locals in UAW history through the 1950s. Local 5 records reflect their operation and programs through the demise of Studebaker in 1965.

UAW Local 51 Records

drice — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:23:53 -0400

United Auto Workers Local 51 services the Plymouth auto plant in Hamtramck, MI. Their records document the locals activities and interests.

UAW Local 576 Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:52:38 -0500

Subjects include: Divco Truck plant in Detroit; grievances; employee benefits

UAW Local 581 Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:53:25 -0500

Late in 1936, a union office was opened at 4347 S. Saginaw St. in Flint, Michigan, across from
General Motors Fisher Body Plant #1. The office, which handled the affairs of workers at Fisher Body, was part of AFL-affiliated UAW Local 156, representing several General Motors plants in Flint. The famous Sit-Down Strike of l936-37, which culminated in General Motors recognition of the UAW, started in the Fisher #1 plant. In April 1938, Local 581, representing Fisher Body workers, was chartered independently from Local 156, and a year later, joined the CIO with other UAW locals.

The papers of UAW Local 58l include Management-Shop Committee minutes, correspondence, apprenticeship records, wage scale agreements and other materials documenting the history of workers at the Flint GM Fisher Body plant.

UAW Local 595 Records

drice — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:52:55 -0500

Local 595 is located in Linden, New Jersey and services General Motors, BOP Assembly Division. Their records cover local strike issues and time studies.

UAW Local 598 Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:54:20 -0500

Subjects include: Fisher Body Plant No. 2 (Flint, Michigan)

UAW Local 599 Records

drice — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:33:39 -0400

United Auto Workers Local 599 represented workers in the Buick plant in Flint, MI and is noted for its involvement in the anti-Martin struggles during the early years of its existence. The records of the local reflect routine operations.

UAW Local 600 Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:56:09 -0500

Chartered August 9, 1938, UAW Local 600 did not gain much worker support until the Rouge plant-wide strike of April 1, 1941. The first UAW contract with Ford Motor Company was signed June 20, and ratified by the Local July 22, 1941. With 50,000 to 80,000 members in various periods, many from the massive River Rouge Complex, Local 600 has been both the largest and the most controversial local in the UAW. Local 600 is also known for its progressive streak, having hosted civil rights icons such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks while supporting social causes around Metro Detroit. The Local was organized into separate plant units, with as many as nineteen during the period between 1941-1950. Each unit sent delegates to a General Council which determined the policies of the Local, and occasional mass meetings were held. The collection covers various aspects of the union's operations. The majority of the collection consists of personal papers of union leaders, meeting minutes of the General Council and Executive Board, along with photographs of union events and from Local 600's Ford Facts publication.