Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Oral History Collection on the Transport Workers Union of America
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Abstract
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) was founded in 1934 and represented transportation workers in both the public and private sectors. TWU's New York City-based Local 100 was its largest branch, which encompassed transit workers in the subway and bus systems, as well as private bus and taxi companies. The collection consists of interviews with officers, members, and staff of the Transport Workers Union. Subjects discussed mainly concern TWU history in the New York City area, but there are some references to union politics and activity on the national level. The collection also includes an audio recording of TWU songs.
Historical Note
The Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Oral History Collection on the Transport Workers Union of America was initiated by Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives staff member Brenda Parnes in 1985 to fill gaps in documentation as she processed the papers of the union. The interviews were conducted by Parnes and Joseph Doyle from 1986-1988, then continued by Gail Malmgreen from 1990.
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) was founded in 1934 by Irish immigrants and represented transportation workers in both the public and private sectors. By 1950, the TWU had organized transit workers throughout the nation and had chartered more than 100 Locals. TWU's New York City-based Local 100 was its largest branch, which encompassed transit workers in the subway and bus systems, as well as private bus and taxi companies.
Union President Mike Quill was influential in the union's activities from his election in 1935 until his death in 1966. In 1948, Quill and the union broke ties with the Communist Party of the United States of America, and communists were excluded from union membership thereafter.
In the 1950s, the TWU was active in organizing for rail transport and airlines workers, as well as the civil rights struggles within the Southern labor movement. The TWU was the only international to hold out against the merger of the CIO with the AFL in 1955. In 1966, the union organized a transit strike and President Mike Quill passed away shortly after.
Arrangement
Interviews are arranged alphabetically by the intervewee's last name.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of interviews with officers, members, and staff of the Transport Workers Union, including Shirley Garry Quill, Maurice Forge, and Gerald O'Reilly. The subject matter mainly concerns TWU history in the New York City area, but there are some references to union politics and activity on the national level. The collection also includes an audio recording of TWU songs.
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People
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Use Restrictions
Any rights (including copyright and related rights to publicity and privacy) held by Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives 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; Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Oral History Collection on the Transport Workers Union of America; OH 011; box number; folder number; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was created for the Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives by Brenda Parnes, Joe Doyle, and Gail Malmgreen in 1985. The accession number associated with this collection is 1985.006.
Custodial History
In 2014, interviews with Ira Coleman-Polansky and Walter Nelson were removed from the collection. Coleman-Polansky's interview is present in the Oral History of the American Left Collection (OH.002) and the Communist Party of the United States of America Records (TAM.132). Walter Nelson's transcribed interview was outside of the scope of this collection.
Audiovisual Access Policies and Procedures
Access to some audiovisual materials in this collection is available through digitized access copies. Researchers may view an item's original container, but the media themselves are not available for playback because of preservation concerns. Materials that have already been digitized are noted in the collection's finding aid and can be requested in our reading room. If you are unsure if an item has been digitized, please contact Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, special.collections@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596 with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. A staff member will respond to you with further information.
Separated Materials
Two audiotapes, "Martin Luther King Jr. Speech at Constitutional Convention of TWU," were moved to WAG.235 in July, 2022.
About this Guide
Processing Information
In 2013, a finding aid was written for this collection adapting legacy description. In 2022, the collection was processed by an archivist.
At the time of processing, interviews with Eladio Diaz and Steve Downs could not be located.
