Hill, Joe, 1879-1915

John Beffel Papers

drice — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:21:49 -0400

Mr. Beffel served as a reporter, writer, editor, and publicist. He edited manuscripts of Slim Brundage, Joseph Cohen, Paul Crouch, Harry Kelly, Walter Marshall, Rose Pesotta, Voline, and Vincenzo Vocirca; and did publicity work for the Workers Defense League. In addition to the manuscripts, the collection includes correspondence, drafts, notes, and clippings which deal with the Carlo Tresca Memorial Committee, anarchists, communism, the Joe Hill case, the IWW, and the League for Mutual Aid. Correspondents include, in addition to the authors noted above, Ralph Chaplin, Margaret DeSilver, Max Nettlau, Matilda Bobbins, Nicolaas Steelink, Norman Thomas, and Fred Thompson.

Richard Ellington Papers

drice — Tue, 10 May 2011 10:36:38 -0400

Richard Ellington was a typographer and typesetter and member of the Industrial Workers of the World. Born in Seattle, WA, he moved to New York after his discharge from the army. Through his interest in science fiction, he became involved with sci-fi fan groups where he met his wife as well as other libertarian/anarchists. He joined the IWW in 1955, as a group effort to revive the organization and served on the Executive Board numerous times. In the mid 1960s, Ellington and his family move to the San Francisco Bay area where he later established his own typesetting business. Some projects for which he typeset include non-anarchist, alternative publications and poetry books, though many of his projects were for the IWW. Through his home office, he typeset many anarchist periodicals, including the Industrial Worker, and stickers that were called “silent agitators.” He also co-wrote the Boss’s Songbook. Richard Ellington died from lung cancer on May 26, 1991.

The Richard Ellington papers consist largely of correspondence related to his work with the Industrial Workers of the World starting in the 1950s until his death in 1991. Most of the correspondence is followed by the related typeset document. The collection includes various manuscripts, pamphlets, and leaflets on which he worked as well as files from his time as member of the Executive Board. The newspaper articles he saved covering the IWW and anarchist events are also included.

Joe Hill Papers

drice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:37:48 -0500

The Joe Hill Collection was given to the Archives by King Carl XVI Gustav of
Sweden when he visited in April of 1976. This small collection includes mostly late correspondence.

Industrial Workers of the World Records

drice — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 16:44:51 -0400

The Industrial Workers of the World was founded in 1905 and is a member-run union for all workers. The IWW organizes all workers producing the same goods or services into one union instead of pooling them by skill or trade. Numbered among its members (known popularly as Wobblies) are lumberjacks, miners, farmhands (especially migrant workers), sailors, and workers in textile mills. Since their founding, the IWW has made significant contributions to labor struggles around the world. The union is proud of its long-standing tradition of fierce defense of the first amendment and breaking down barriers of race, ethnicity, and gender. Since it's founding in Chicago, the IWW has moved its headquarters around the country.

Part 1 includes minutes and proceedings, trial records and evidence, newspapers, pamphlets, poems, cartoons, songs, and correspondence. Subjects of interest include the Centralia Conspiracy; criminal syndicalism; the Everett Massacre; Free Speech fights; organization of farm workers; labor conditions; the controversy between craft and industrial unionism; government raids and seizures; trials of various members; foreign IWW administrations; political prisoners; GEB 1960's-1970's; conventions 1970's; Junior Wobblies; Houston Branch; and information on such figures as Vincent St. John. Correspondents include T.J. Bogard, Arthur Boose, Richard Brazier, Frank Cederval, A.S. Embree, William D. Haywood, Claude Irwin, Joyce Kornbluh, John A. Law, George Lucas, Albert Prashner, Rudolf Rocker, Vincent St. John, Nicolaas Steelink, Fred W. Thompson, William Unger, Walt Westman, and Claire Whitaker.

Part 2 of the Industrial Workers of the World Collection contains General Executive Board correspondence from the 1960s and 1970s and minutes, newsletters and correspondence from several branch locations and foreign administrations covering the same time period. Also included are Constitutional General Convention minutes from the 1970s, membership dues booklets, songs, cartoons, poetry, articles, legal case files, and a large assortment of English and foreign-language pamphlets and leaflets. Of particular interest are the reports of undercover private detectives posing as IWW members who investigated IWW organizing among Arizona miners in 1923.

Part 3 include mainly correspondence, reports, and photographs that document the union’s activities and goals primarily during the time they were headquartered in Ypsilanti. Since the organization is global, some reports come from places as far as Sweden and Germany. Of particular note are copies of Junior Wobblies cards dating from the 1930s.

Content of Box 158, Folder "Cigar Makers Meeting" is unavailable.

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.

Frederick W. Thompson Papers

drice — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:44:31 -0400

A Canadian, Frederick Thompson came to the U.S. and became a member of the Industrial Workers of the World in 1922. He traveled throughout the country organizing for the IWW, served as General Secretary-General, edited "The Industrial Worker," and wrote two histories on the organization. His papers reflect his involvement with the IWW and his interest in preserving its history; his ties to Socialism; his effort to become a U.S. citizen; and IWW legal struggles of the 1950s and 1960s.

Event Announcement: "Re:Collecting Past Radicals and Rebels: The Resonance of Resistance and the Persistence of Injustice," December 9, 2014

Public Relations Team — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 17:24:29 -0500

NOTE: The public event featuring Fran Shor has been rescheduled to 4:30pm on Tuesday, December 9.

Dr. Francis Shor, of the Wayne State University Department of History, will deliver the presentation "Re:Collecting Past Radicals and Rebels: The Resonance of Resistance and the Persistence of Injustice." This event will take place at 4:30 PM on Tuesday, December 2 in the Reuther Conference Room of the Walter P. Reuther Library of Labor and Urban Affairs. read more »

Gallery Announcement: The Industrial Workers of the World Graphic Materials and Artifacts

eclemens — Fri, 01 May 2020 11:58:44 -0400

In celebration of May Day, the Reuther Library is pleased to share a new image gallery: Industrial Workers of the World Graphic Materials and Artifacts. read more »

Joe Hill, the Man Who Never Died

Public Relations Team — Mon, 06 May 2013 11:10:12 -0400

In the Winter 2013 semester, the Reuther Library worked with students in the Graduate Certificate in Archival Administration program at the Wayne State School of Library and Information Science to produce a series of student-written, guest blog posts.

Robert Kett is a second-year SLIS student and amateur musicologist with a genuine interest in labor history and especially labor songs.

A pamphlet, no matter how good, is never read more than once, but a song is learned by heart and repeated over and over.
-Joseph Hillstrom, 1879-1915 read more »

Video: Dr. Francis Shor, "Re:Collecting Past Radicals and Rebels: The Resonance of Resistance and the Persistence of Injustice"

cwesterman — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 13:52:10 -0500

On December 9, 2014, Dr. Fancis Shor of the Wayne State University Department of History delivered the presentation "Re:Collecting Past Radicals and Rebels: The Resonance of Resistance and the Persistence of Injustice" in the Reuther Conference Room of the Walter P. Reuther Library of Labor and Urban Affairs. read more »

(2876) Joe Hill, Portrait, 1915

eclemens — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:27:55 -0500

Portrait of Joe Hill created, Circa 1915.

(4850) William "Big Bill" Haywood, Oration, Funeral, 1910s

eclemens — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 12:21:28 -0400

William "Big Bill" Haywood delivers an oration at an unidentified funeral, quite possibly Joe Hill's memorial service in Chicago, Illinois.

(4879) Joe Hill, Funeral, Chicago, 1915

eclemens — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:18:11 -0500

The scene outside of the Westside Auditorium before Joe Hill’s funeral, Chicago, Illinois.

(4885) Joe Hill, Artwork

eclemens — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:11:06 -0500

A watercolor and ink holiday postcard created and sent out by Joe Hill.

(4887) Joe Hill, Artwork

eclemens — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:07:49 -0500

Original artwork by Joe Hill.

(4888) Joe Hill, Artwork

eclemens — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:06:02 -0500

Original artwork by Joe Hill.

(4890) Joe Hill, Funeral, Santana, Chicago, 1915

eclemens — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 15:47:51 -0400

J. Santana speaks at the funeral of Joe Hill, held at the Graceland Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.

(4892) Joe Hill, Funeral, Chicago, 1915

eclemens — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 15:47:51 -0400

An unidentified man speaks at the funeral of Joe HIll, held at the Graceland Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.

(4900) Joe Hill, Portrait, 1915

eclemens — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:22:54 -0500

Profile view of Joe Hill, circa 1915.

(4901) Joe Hill, Portrait

eclemens — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:33:24 -0500

Portrait of Joe Hill by M. Baer.

(4909) Joe Hill, Funeral, 1915

eclemens — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:14:38 -0500

Mourners at Joe Hills funeral.

(6643) Joe Hill, Funeral, Chicago, 1915

eclemens — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:21:18 -0500

Crowds gather in the street as Joe Hill’s coffin is carried from his funeral at the Westside Auditorium, Chicago, Illinois.

(30194) Industrial Workers of the World, Song Book, 1915

eclemens — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:46:40 -0400

Cover of 15th edition of “I.W.W. Songs: To Fan the Flames of Discontent," also known as “The Little Red Songbook.”

(30195) Industrial Workers of the World, Song Book, 1915

eclemens — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:50:39 -0400

Back cover of the 15th edition of “I.W.W. Songs: To Fan the Flames of Discontent, also known as “The Little Red Songbook.”

Includes song list:

"We Have Fed You All for a Thousand Years"
"Funeral Song for a Russian Revolutionist"
"The Advancing Proletaire"
"Don't Take Papa Away from Me"
"The Rebel Girl"
"Workers of the World, Awaken!"

(32404) Joe Hill, Memorial Poster, 1979

eclemens — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 09:34:47 -0500

A memorial poster for Joe Hill, created by celebrated I.W.W. artist Carlos Cortez. Text on the poster, in English and Swedish, reads:

“Gävle, Sverige, 7 Oktober 1875 - Salt Lake City, USA, 19 November 1915. Union organizer, labor agitator, musician, composer, itinerant worker, abetarsängaren.
Murdered by the Judiciary in collusion with the mine owners who wishes to silence his songs but the songs are still being sung!”

Hill holds an accordion in one hand and a piece of paper in the other that has lyrics from his song Workers of the World Awaken:

"If we workers take a notion,
We can stop all speeding trains;
Every ship upon the ocean
We can tie with mighty chains.
Every wheel in creation,
Every mine and every mill,
Fleets and armies of the nation,
Will at our command stand still."

(46035) Poster, Joe Hill, 1979

eclemens — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 16:33:16 -0400

“Joe Hill.” 22.75 x 34.5 inches. Linocut Print. [Partially in Swedish]
Artist: Carlos Cortez.

(46047) Cartoons, IWW, Mr. Block, Undated

eclemens — Fri, 01 May 2020 08:56:35 -0400

“Mr. Block: He Works in the Woods.” 11 x 14 inches.
Artist: Joe Hill.

Note: The original was published in 1912. This is a later reproduction.

(46048) Broadside, Poetry, Joe Hill, 1990

eclemens — Fri, 01 May 2020 10:04:53 -0400

“Joe Hill: A Long-Distance Call.” 10 x 14 inches.
Artist: Robert Green. Poem by Franklin Rosemont.

A broadside featuring the poem "Joe Hill: A Long-Distance Call," published as a commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the execution of Joe Hill.

(46054) Cover Art, Sheet Music, "The Rebel Girl"

eclemens — Fri, 01 May 2020 09:14:55 -0400

Cover of the sheet music for Joe Hill’s “The Rebel Girl.” Elizabeth Gurley Flynn is featured carrying a red banner for the I.W.W.

Illustration by Arthur Machia

Appellant’s Brief, Joe Hill (133)

kchinery — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:42:01 -0400

Processed. Microfilm.