Battle of the Overpass

James Moore Audio Recordings

eclemens — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 09:43:32 -0500

In the fall of 1983 Professor James Moore recorded an oral history interview with Shelton Tappes and Catherine "Babe" Gelles, both early organizers for the United Auto Workers Union (UAW). Taped in Tappes' Detroit home, the interviewees gave firsthand account of 1937's "Battle of the Overpass," a brutal response by members of the Ford Service Department to the UAW organizing effort against Ford Motor Company. The interview lends offers two different vantage points: Gelles', as that of a member of the UAW's Women's Auxiliary, and Tappes' as that of a Ford Employee and early Black organizer. Their testimony includes description of brutal assaults on organizers that occurred at the hands of Ford Servicemen, including Walter Reuther, Richard Frankensteen, and Gelles herself; demonstrated anti-union bias by the Dearborn Police Department; description of triage set up in the union hall to attend to the wounded; and UAW organizing efforts that followed the event. The interview was recorded for use in "Mass Producing Fords", a documentary for the United Kingdom's Open University.

Battle of the Overpass

kchinery — Thu, 19 May 2011 14:46:13 -0400

On May 26, 1937, nearly sixty UAW members from Local 174 arrived at Ford Motor Company’s River Rouge Plant to pass out leaflets, with city permit in hand, as part of a campaign to secure union representation for Rouge workers. Several neutral observers were also present, including clergy, reporters, and photographers. In order to access the greatest number of workers, participants met read more »

Collection Spotlight: UAW Local 174 Mural

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

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

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

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

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

(vmc48900) Shelton Tappes, Portraits, UAW Local 600, 1948

eclemens — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 09:01:06 -0400

Shelton Tappes, Ford organizer and Recording Secretary for UAW Local 600, pauses for a portrait in his office.

(001) UAW Organizing, Reuther, Frankensteen, Battle of the Overpass, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 18:11:23 -0400

UAW organizers pose for the press on the Miller Road Overpass as members of the Ford Service Department approach. Moments after this image was taken the organizers were savagely beaten by the servicemen in the incident that would become known as the Battle of the Overpass.

Left to right: Robert Kanter, Walter P. Reuther, Richard Frankensteen, J.J. Kennedy

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

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

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

(8744) UAW Organizing, Reuther, Frankensteen, Battle of the Overpass, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:47:33 -0400

UAW organizers pose for the press on the Miller Road Overpass. Moments after this shot is taken they are attacked by employees of the Ford Service Department during the Battle of the Overpass.

Left to right: Robert Kanter, Walter P. Reuther, Richard Frankensteen, J.J. Kennedy

(8747) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:39:58 -0400

Ford Motor Company Servicemen beat Richard Frankensteen, a UAW organizer, during the “Battle of the Overpass”, Dearborn, Michigan. From left to right: Tellford, unidentified, Angelo Caruso, Commett, Goodman. Frankensteen is in the foreground with his jacket pulled over his head. At the far right are photographers and/or reporters from the local press.

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

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

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

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

(8749) Hearings, "Battle of the Overpass" Dearborn Michigan

eclemens — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:21:26 -0500

Injured UAW organizers listen to testimony during a National Labor Review Bureau (NLRB) hearing on the "Battle of the Overpass," Dearborn, Michigan. At left is Allwin Stickel. Walter Reuther sits at center.

(8763) UAW Organizing, Violence, Reuther, Frankensteen, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:25:31 -0500

Walter Reuther comforts Richard Frankensteen following their assault by Ford Service Department employees during the “Battle of the Overpass”. The men were beaten and tossed down a flight of stairs for distributing United Auto Workers leaflets outside of the Ford Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Second from right is Sam Taylor.

(25228) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 16:58:41 -0400

Richard Frankensteen is brutally beaten by employees of the Ford Service Department during the Battle of the Overpass as photographers record the event and servicemen try to block their view.

(25229) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:01:51 -0400

A member of the Ford Service Department attempts to block the view of the press as Richard Frankensteen is brutally beaten during the Battle of the Overpass.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(25234) UAW Organizing, Violence, Reuther, Frankensteen, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:15:13 -0400

Walter Reuther and Richard Frankensteen clean themselves up after being beaten and thrown down a flight of stairs by Ford Service Department employees during the Battle of the Overpass.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(25250) Battle of the Overpass, Aftermath, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 12:29:50 -0400

A view of the Miller Road Overpass immediately following the violent confrontation between Ford Service employees and UAW organizers, Ford Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan.

(25252) UAW Organizing, Violence, Reuther, Frankensteen, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:18:09 -0400

Walter Reuther and Richard Frankensteen clean themselves up after being beaten and thrown down a flight of stairs by Ford Service Department employees during the Battle of the Overpass. At rear, left is Tony Marinovich.

(25253) NLRB Inquiry, Battle of the Overpass, July 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 12:24:49 -0400

An African American man enters the courtroom during the National Labor Relations Bureau inquiry into the Battle of the Overpass.

It is assumed that his name is Mr. Jones and that he is a defendant accused of beating UAW organizers under the supervision of the Ford Service Department based on previous photographs in the series.

(25254) Harry Bennett, NLRB Hearings, Battle of the Overpass, July 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 12:19:25 -0400

A confident Harry Bennett, head of the Ford Service Department, prepares to enter the courtroom during the National Labor Relations Bureau inquiry into the Battle of the Overpass.

(25256) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

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

Ford Service Department employees "escort" two UAW organizers to the street car waiting area during the Battle of the Overpass. An unidentified woman, possibly a member of the UAW Local 174 Women's Auxiliary, shows her displeasure with a gesture.

(25257) UAW Organizing, Violence, Reuther, Frankensteen, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:40:59 -0400

Robert Kanter, Richard Frankensteen and Walter Reuther regroup after they were met with violence by Ford Service Department employees during an UAW organizing attempt at the Ford Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan.

(25326) UAW Organizing, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:03:53 -0400

A Ford Service Department employee attempts to restrain a member of the UAW Local 174 Women’s Auxiliary during the “Battle of the Overpass.”

(30587) UAW Organizing, Flyer, Battle of the Overpass, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:33:30 -0400

Copy of the flyer distributed at the Ford Rouge Plant in Dearborn, Michigan during the Battle of the Overpass.

Original material can be found in Box 8, folder 7 of the UAW President's Office: Walter P. Reuther Records.

(35325) Local 174 Mural, "Untitled" 1937

eclemens — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 10:09:01 -0400

A view of the Walter Speck mural, “Untitled.” The mural, painted in 1937 for UAW Local 174, depicts scenes from the union’s history. The mural was donated to Wayne State University in 2015 and is currently on display in the Reuther Library’s Reading Room.

[Podcast] Detroit Industry and 'The Mural'

teller — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 09:14:58 -0400

Dr. Jay Cephas considers two Depression-era murals in Detroit and their contrasting messaging about workers, labor, and power. read more »