Sam Robert Photographs
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Abstract
Sam Robert was born in Philadelphia in 1908. He moved to New York City in 1929, and eventually found his way to the motion picture industry. He became a prominent set decorator for movies and commercials and served first as the Vice President of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Local 52 and later as the Executive Director of the New York Council of Motion Picture and Television Unions (COMPTU). In these positions, Robert advocated for the merger of unions in the motion picture and television industries, encouraged motion picture production in New York City and played a prominent role in the restoration of the Astoria Studios in Queens, NY. This collection consists of approximately two hundred and fifty black and white and color photographs dating from the 1950s through 1990, though the majority are from the 1970s and 1980s. The images document the various activities of IATSE Local 52 and COMPTU, including meetings, rallies, events and participation in the Labor Day Parade.
Historical/Biographical Note
Sam Robert was born in Philadelphia in 1908 to a Jewish family involved in labor and socialist organizing. He moved to New York City in 1929, where he became active in the Communist Party, and edited the International Workers Order's publication The New Order. Robert served during WWII in the 163rd Signal Service Battalion. A poet, Robert helped found the Labor Poets of America and eventually found his way to the motion picture industry. He became a prominent set decorator for movies and commercials and served first as the Vice President of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 52 and later as the Executive Director of the New York Council of Motion Picture and Television Unions. In these positions, Robert advocated for the merger of unions in the television and film industries, encouraged motion picture production in New York City and played a prominent role in the restoration of the Astoria Studios in Queens, NY.
Arrangement
Folders are arranged alphabetically.
Scope and Content Note
This collection consists of approximately one hundred black and white photographs and one hundred and fifty color photographs dating from the 1950s through 1990, though the majority are from the 1970s and 1980s. There is also a small amount of fliers, clippings and correspondence included in the collection. The photographs document the various activities of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Local 52 and the New York Council of Motion Picture and Television Unions (COMPTU), including meetings, rallies, events and participation in the Labor Day Parade. Also included are photographs of the Conference of Motion Picture and Television Unions.
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use materials in the collection in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Sam Robert Photographs; PHOTOS 161; box number; folder number; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Possibly donated by Sam Robert, circa 2000. The accession numbers associated with this collection are 1950.191 and NPA.2000.080.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Materials have been rehoused in archival boxes and folders.