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Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Printed Ephemera Collection on the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America

Call Number

PE.009

Date

1937-2006, inclusive

Creator

Tamiment Library

Extent

7 Linear Feet (7 boxes)

Language of Materials

Materials are in English

Abstract

The Printed Ephemera Collection on the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) is an artificial collection, collected and assembled by the Tamiment Library over several decades. Known more familiarly as the UAW, this union collection consists of contracts, agreements, and constitutions as well as printed ephemera, such as fliers, brochures, leaflets, newspaper clippings, pamphlets and other publications. The materials range in date from the founding of the UAW in 1935 up to the present, spanning the various changes in affiliation the UAW had with both the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). In addition to the international and national body of the UAW, the collection contains printed material from UAW locals, notably the Detroit and Flint Michigan automobile plants, as well as materials from rank and file activity from around the United States.

Historical/Biographical Note

The United Automobile Workers of America (UAW) was founded in 1935, and over the next few years changed its affiliation from the American Federation of Labor to that of the Congress of Industrial Organizations. In 1937, the UAW gained recognition from the General Motors Corporation with its use of the dramatic sit-down strike, employed as both a bargaining tool and an organizing method. Membership skyrocketed following these heroic organizing campaigns and recognition was gained from the major auto manufacturing companies. In 1941, the UAW changed its name to the International Union, United Automobile, Aircraft and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, and later in 1962, it changed the "Aircraft" to "Aerospace", though today the union is still familiarly known as the UAW. Walter Reuther served as president from 1946 until 1970 when he and his wife died tragically in an airplane crash. As of 2009, the UAW had roughly 513,000 active members and more than 575,000 retired members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. There were more than 800 local unions within the UAW with over 3,100 contracts.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into four series: Series I: United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, 1957-2006; Series II: United Automobile, Aircraft and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, 1939-1972; Series III: United Automobile Workers of America, 1937-1951; Series IV: Locals and Regions, 1937-2005. Folders are arranged alphabetically within series.

Scope and Content Note

The Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Printed Ephemera Collection on the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) is made up of agreements, contracts, and constitutions, as well as printed ephemera such as fliers, brochures, newspaper clippings, pamphlets and other publications.

Series I: United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, 1957-2006, consists of constitutions, by-laws, agreements, convention proceedings and decisions made by the Public Review Board as well as printed ephemera. Additionally, this series broken down by department, with material coming largely from the Education Department, the Fair Practices and Anti-Discrimination Department, and the Public Relations Department. Included from the Public Relations and Publications Department are numerous biographical sketches about leaders in the UAW. Also in this series are the fliers and other printed material put out by a number of different rank and file groups, including the Black Panther Caucus, the United National Caucus, and the Locals Opposed to Concessions group.

Series II: United Automobile, Aircraft and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, 1939-1972 consists of material from the union at the national level including constitutions and conventions proceedings. Additionally, the material in this series is broken down by department, and like Series I, the printed material originates largely with the Education and Public Relations Departments.

Series III: United Automobile Workers of America, 1937-1951, consists of material from the founding years of the UAW. This is a smaller series consisting mainly of constitutions and liers as well as several pamphlets.

Series IV: Regions and Locals, 1937-2005, consists of material that was generated at the Regional or Local level. There is material from several locals in and around Detroit and Flint Michigan, as well as from the rank and file groups out of Local 906 from New Jersey, the Militant Solidarity Caucus and the United Black Workers.

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Because of the assembled nature of this collection, copyright status varies across the collection. Copyright is assumed to be held by the original creator of individual items in the collection; these items are expected to pass into the public domain 120 years after their creation. Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Archives is not authorized to grant permission to publish or reproduce materials from this collection.

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date; Collection name; Collection number; box number; folder number;
Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012, New York University Libraries.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Materials in this collection have been compiled by the Tamiment Library. There is no accession record associated with this collection.

Custodial History

The provenance of the materials is varied. Items were obtained through purchases, donations, standing orders with publishers, arrangements with labor unions and other organizations, exchanges with other libraries, and through ongoing collecting by Tamiment staff.

Collection processed by

Adrien Hilton

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-20 16:27:55 -0400.
Language: Description is in English

Repository

Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10012