Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Printed Ephemera Collection on the Industrial Workers of the World
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Abstract
The Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Printed Ephemera Collection on the Industrial Workers of the World is an articial collection, collected and assembled by the Tamiment Library over the course of several decades. It features the publications, pamphlets, news articles, and convention reports of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), a labor organization founded in 1905 in Chicago. The IWW fought for increased wages, better working conditions, and fewer hours by attempting to organize workers from all industry lines around the country.
Historical/Biographical Note
The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) was founded on June 27, 1905 in Chicago by representatives from 43 groups. The organization was established in response to the wage system of capitalism as well as the organizing methods of the American Federation of Labor. At its founding, the IWW sought to include all industrial workers in order to create One Big Union that would effectively gain better workers' rights, such as increased wages, fewer hours, and improved working conditions. Some of the founding leaders included Daniel De Leon of the Socialist Labor Party, William D. Haywood of the Western Federation of Miners, and Eugene V. Debs of the Socialist Party, who later withdrew his membership as the IWW became more radical. Although often employing militant tactics, the IWW also utilized protest methods that espoused the philosophy of "folded arms." In which they would withhold their labor from employers. Some methods of this included slow downs and massive sickouts. The IWW preferred "striking on the job" over traditional striking and picket lines as workers would often lose their jobs during strikes to scabs. In addition, many IWW members engaged in free speech fights. The IWW encouraged its members to openly recruit new members and voice grievances. They would consequently get arrested and put in jail—costing cities a lot of money. These methods proved effective as free speech bans were often lifted, such as in Spokane, WA in 1909. In 1912, the IWW had an estimated 50,000 members from various industries. In 1923, the IWW saw the height of its membership with roughly 100,000 members. In 1924, the IWW suffered a split due to two differing organizing visions, that of the centralists and the decentralists. The centralists called for the universalization of the IWW, eventually resulting in the IWW taking over the functions of the federal government. Meanwhile, the decentralists envisioned a free industrial society, in which independent local groups would organize and establish laws as they saw fit. After the 1924 split, the IWW saw a decline in membership, but continues to be active today.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into two series: Series I: General Files, 1905-2005; Series II: New York City Branch, 1905-1976. Folders are arranged alphabetically within series.
Scope and Content Note
The collection is organized into two series. Series I contains the general files of the IWW. Series II was acquired from the IWW's New York City Branch.
Series I: General Files, 1905-2005, consists of pamphlets, fliers/leaflets, articles, circular letters, songbooks, and other material from various branches and committees, including the Starbucks Workers Union, Chicago Branch, New York General Membership Branch, Metal and Machinery Workers Union No. 440, and Coal Mine Workers Industrial Union No. 220.
Series II: New York City Branch, 1905-1976, consists of material acquired from the IWW's New York General Membership Branch, which includes various pamphlets, publications, news articles, fliers/leaflets, convention reports, and general records from the General Defense Committee, Centralia Publicity Committee, and One Big Union Workers' Bulletin.
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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. The accession number associated with this collection is 1950.261.
Some materials were donated by Susan Parker Sherwood at an unknown date. The accession number associated with this gift is NPA.2003.058.
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.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Material in the general files originated from several different sources. However, the material from the New York Branch came in as a separate collection.