United Federation of Teachers Oral History Collection
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
The United Federation of Teachers is an American Federation of Teachers-affiliated union representing workers in New York City. The union was founded in 1960 following the merger of the Teachers Guild and the High School Teachers Association. In 1985, George Altomare, a founder and Vice-President of the UFT and history teacher, initiated an extensive oral history project to document the history of teacher collective bargaining in New York City. The union hired free-lance oral historian Renee Epstein to conduct the interviews with UFT members, organizers, staff, and officers. The interviews document the activities of the UFT and its predecessor unions, including the Teachers Union and the Teachers Guild. Also discussed are committees and organizing activities within the UFT and its predecessors, such as the Unemployed Teachers Organization, the Anti-War Committee, and the Communist Party's activity within the Teachers Union. Interviewees also reflect upon union leadership and the major strikes of the 1960s and 1970s, including the bitter 1968 Ocean Hill-Brownsville strike over community control.
Historical Note
In 1985, George Altomare, a founder and Vice-President of the United Federation of Teachers and history teacher, initiated an extensive oral history project to document the history of teacher collective bargaining in New York City. The union hired free-lance oral historian Renee Epstein to conduct the interviews.
New York City teachers first organized in 1912 with the publication of The American Teacher. The editor, Henry Linville, founded the Teachers' Union, which in September 1916 affiliated with the recently-founded American Federation of Teachers. The TU undertook the struggle to gain recognition and decent working conditions for teachers. It campaigned for fair appointment procedures, an annual salary paid monthly, minimum wages with gradual increases above the cost of living, and a sabbatical leave. In 1935, the Teachers' Union splintered over accusations of Communist Party domination. Rival factions disrupted meetings over political disputes and undermined the TU's unionist activities. That year, Linville and a majority of the Executive Board resigned and organized the Teachers' Guild. As one of its first acts the Guild created an unemployment committee to evaluate the Depression's impact on teachers. The committee found that only one in nine teachers was employed. Reduced class size would also remain a prominent issue for which the Guild advocated.
Additionally, the Guild worked to achieve recognition as negotiators for teachers who had grievances against the Board of Education. Frustrated by the confusion of having at least 12 different teacher associations during negotiations with the Board of Education, the Guild, along with the militant Committee for Action through Unity (including members of the Guild and the High School Teachers Association) and 1500 unaffiliated teachers, agreed to the terms of a merger. The new organization, the United Federation of Teachers, became Local 2 of the AFT. In 1961, the UFT won an election to become the sole collective bargaining representative for teachers, winning the endorsement of 77% of the city's teachers who were eligible to vote. In the winter of 1961, the UFT began negotiations on a wage and benefit package that had been submitted to the NYC Board of Education. Continued procrastination by the Board of Education precipitated a one-day teacher's strike on April 11, 1962, which resulted in a contract which became a model and spur to teachers throughout the country. After the Union's first contract, the ranks of the UFT grew to over 100,000 to become the largest union local in the U.S.
Arrangement
Access compact disks and transcripts are arranged alphabetically. Master cassettes have a numbering scheme that was applied to alphabetized tapes, with materials later added to the collection being given numbers at the end of the sequence.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of interviews with members, organizers, staff, and officers of the United Federation of Teachers regarding the activities of the UFT and its predecessor unions, including the Teachers Union and the Teachers Guild. Also discussed are committees and organizing activities within the UFT and its predecessors, such as the Unemployed Teachers Organization, the Anti-War Committee, and the Communist Party's activity within the Teachers Union. Interviewees also reflect upon union leadership and the major strikes of the 1960s and 1970s, including the bitter 1968 Ocean Hill-Brownsville strike over community control. Many of the interviews have been indexed or transcribed.
Subjects
Organizations
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions with the exception of cassette 10 in box 5. Access to cassette 10 in box 5 is restricted.
Conditions Governing Use
Unless otherwise noted, any rights (including copyright and related rights to publicity and privacy) held by the United Federation of Teachers are maintained by New York University. Permission to publish or reproduce materials in this collection must be secured from repository. Please contact tamiment.wagner@nyu.edu.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; United Federation of Teachers Oral History Collection; OH 009; box number; folder number; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
In 1985, the UFT commissioned Renee Epstein to conduct the interviews. They were deposited in the Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives between 1985 and 1989. Audio materials that were not part of the 1985 project were later added to the collection. The accession number associated with this collection is 1986.022.
Custodial History
In May 2021, the Carrie Cunningham interview was removed from the collection as it is part of the New York City Immigrant Labor History Project Oral History Collection (OH 014).
Audiovisual Access Policies
Audiovisual materials have not been preserved and may not be available to researchers. Materials not yet digitized will need to have access copies made before they can be used. To request an access copy, or if you are unsure if an item has been digitized, please contact tamiment.wagner@nyu.edu with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. A staff member will respond to you with further information.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Between accessioning and the early 2000s, tapes were inventoried, numbered, and many were transcribed or indexed. Tapes were arranged alphabetically and given numbers, with subsequently-acquired tapes being added at the end of the numbering run. Digitization of master cassettes began in the 2014. At the same time, a finding aid was created by encoding and updating preexisting archival description to comply with archival descriptive standards. In May 2021, the Carrie Cunningham interview was removed from the collection as it is part of the New York City Immigrant Labor History Project Oral History Collection (OH 014).
Revisions to this Guide
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Melvyn Aaronson, Apr 2, 1986, inclusive
Irving Adler, Jul 10, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include Unemployed Teachers Assoication, trade unionism history, and the NLB.
George Altomare, Aug 1985 and Aug 1995, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include Teachers Guild in 1950s and the UFT in 1960.
Use Restrictions
The Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives does not hold a release form for this interview. Copyright (and related rights of publicity and privacy) are held by the narrator and interviewer. Permission to publish or reproduce materials must be secured from narrator and/or interviewer. Please contact the Tamiment Library for assistance in contacting these individuals.
John Bailey, Dec 30, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include merger, UFT organizing, and the 1962 election
Yetta Barsh, Nov 21, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Discussion of the UFT in late 1960s-1980s.
Simon Beagle, Dec 1982 - Aug 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include socialism, the UFT and Vietnam, John Dewey, the American Federation of Teachers, and the Communist Party.
Scope and Contents
Some static heard occaisionally throughout
Mayor Abraham Beame, Oct 28, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include budget office during the 1940s-60s, strike, fiscal budget, mayoralty, and the labor movies of the 1980s.
Sanford Blair, Apr 4, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include collective bargaining, Al Shanker, picketing, organizing the UFT, and democracy.
Eugene Blum, Mar 25, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include colleagues' resistance to organizing and Al Shanker.
Charles Cogen, Jul 9, 1985 - Oct 26, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include Communist opposition, presidencies, collective bargaining, AFT history, strike, and merger.
Conditions Governing Access
Access to this interview is restricted.
Rita Cohen, Apr 17, 1991, inclusive
Use Restrictions
The Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives does not hold a release form for this interview. Copyright (and related rights of publicity and privacy) are held by the narrator and interviewer. Permission to publish or reproduce materials must be secured from narrator and/or interviewer. Please contact the Tamiment Library for assistance in contacting these individuals.
Colby, Jun 27, 1989, inclusive
Use Restrictions
The Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives does not hold a release form for this interview. Copyright (and related rights of publicity and privacy) are held by the narrator and interviewer. Permission to publish or reproduce materials must be secured from narrator and/or interviewer. Please contact the Tamiment Library for assistance in contacting these individuals.
Ben Davidson, Aug 19-20, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include criticism of Linville-Lefkowitz group, union relation to larger community, and the executive director of Liberal Party.
Jeannette DiLorenzo, Oct 19, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include the Teachers Guild's evolution and strike, bargaining coalition, and the evolution of the UFT.
Nathan Fein, Oct 21, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include socialism, Communism, restructuring the union in 1935, David Selden, and Al Shanker
George Fesko, Feb 27, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include teaching, strikes, decentralization, and the UFT financial crisis of the 1970s.
Ray Frankel, Feb 17, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include organizing the Teachers Guild, the UFT's origins, and strike efficacy.
Samuel Friedman, Jan 6, 1987, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Friedman discusses his life as a socialist.
Tess Gloster, Sep 26, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include socialism, elitism, and grievances.
August Gold, Jul 11, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include organizing the Teachers Guild and the UFT and socialism.
Edward Gottlieb, Feb 1986 - Mar 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include the Linville administration, the Great Depression, militant activities in the 1940s, collective bargaining, and integration.
Louis Gregory, Feb 13, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Interview includes discussion of Jamaica Evening High strike.
Allen Griggs, May 23, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include collective bargaining and grievance activity.
John Hagan, Feb 19, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Interview includes discussion of Teachers Guild in the 1950s.
Louis Hay, Oct 31 - Nov 1, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include socialism, Communism, democratization committee, and consulting work.
Velma Hill, Jun 1986 - Nov 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include integration, Congress of Racial Equality, and the Career Ladder Program.
Ponsie Hillman, Feb 25, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include segregation, World War II, and joining the UFT.
Hy Hirsch, May 28, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include socialism in 1920s, factionalism, the progressive caucus, the Dewey Commission, the CIO, and militancy in the 1950s.
Sidney Hook, Oct 17, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include Communism in UFT and Dewey.
Solomon Jaffe, Nov 9, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include collective bargaining, Al Shanker, and the Special Education Program.
Interview with Steve Cole.
Benjamin Kaplan, Jan 27, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include eligibles committee and collective bargaining.
Israel Kugler, Nov 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include socialism, community college movement, and collective bargaining.
Abe Levine, Dec 24, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include 1950s generation and organization.
Sol Levine, Feb 18, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include UFT organization, caucus, politics, and CAR.
Martin Lobenthal, Jul 16, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include the Teachers Guild and the UFT from 1947 to 1971.
Rubin Maloff, Jan 30, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include organizing the Teachers Guild, Communists in school, "business union," and bargaining.
Jack Mandel, Oct 11 and Oct 18, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include teaching during the 1940s through 1950s, salary, collective bargaining, strike, and supervising the in union.
Alice Marsh, July 5, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include activities from 1939 to 1960 and paraprofessionals.
Fred Nauman, Mar 24, 1986 - Apr 1, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects include joining union during the 1950s, decentralization, demonstration districts, and Ocean Hill-Brownsville.
John O'Neill, Oct 27, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects include organizing in the 1960s, Vietnam, and paraprofessionals.
Roger Parente, Aug 22, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include the High School Teachers Association, a 1959 strike, and merger.
Milton Pincus, Apr 7, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include the Teachers Guild in the 1950s, merger, and bargaining.
Larry Robbins, Mar 28, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include the creation of the UFT, merger, goals, and strikes.
Bayard Rustin, Oct 29, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include socialism, Communism and unions, assimilation, and paraprofessionals.
Dan Sanders, Nov 15, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include organizing the Teachers Guild and the Ocean Hill-Brownsville Strike
David Selden, Jun 29 1986 and Mar 19 1990, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Recording of UFT Event.
Use Restrictions
The Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives does not hold a release form for this recording. Copyright (and related rights of publicity and privacy) are held by the creator of the materials. Permission to publish or reproduce materials must be secured from copyright holder. Please contact the Tamiment Library for assistance in contacting these individuals.
Al Shanker, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include new teachers' union negotiations and struggles with Board of Education.
Interview by Neil M. Cowan.
Scope and Contents
Audio on most of the access CDs has a muted/compressed sound which is often associated with multiple duplications. Tape #59E, which was transferred to CD #59E, had sticky shed syndrome and this defect has been carried over from the master to the access copy.
Use Restrictions
When these tapes are quoted or cited, Neil M. Cowan must receive full credit.
Morris Shapiro, Jun 12, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Discussion includes comparison of the trade teacher versus the academic teacher.
Rose Shapiro, Aug 7, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include socialism, the Parent Teachers Association, the United Parents Association, the Public Education Association, and Al Shanker.
Harold Siegel, Oct 11, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include socialism, the United Parents Organization, and the Board of Education secretary.
Fanny Simon, Dec 25, 1985 - Jan 1, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include socialism, unionizing, Communism, radicalism during the Great Depression, Linville, the 1935 split of the Teachers Union and Teachers Guild, and AFT presidents.
Rebecca Simonson, Jun 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include Communism during the 1950s, federal aid, segregation, and integration.
Adolf Stone, Dec 23, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include substitute teaching and union motivation.
Morris Sukenik, Jun 21, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include socialism, collective bargaining, and Al Shanker.
Robert Wagner, Nov 1986 - Dec 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include relationship with the Teachers Movement, Communist witch-hunt, trade union community, and the history of liberalism.
Samuel Wallach, Oct 17, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include union activity during the 1930s, Wallach, and anti-Communist witch-hunts.
Sarah Wiener, Aug 20, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include Communism, decentralization, and the Retired Teachers Chapter.
Ella Wolfe, Aug 17, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Subjects discussed include Communism, pacifism, and the Soviet Union.
