Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Printed Ephemera Collection on the United Steelworkers of America
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Abstract
The Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Printed Ephemera Collection on the United Steelworkers of America (1935-1997) is an artificial collection, collected and assembled by the Tamiment Library over the course of several decades. The United Steelworkers of America was founded in 1942 and through mergers with other unions has become one of largest industrial unions in North America. Ranging in date from the 1940s through the 1990s, the collection consists primarily of agreements, contracts and constitutions, as well as printed ephemera such as fliers, brochures, newspaper clippings, pamphlets and other publications. The material in the collection was generated by the national and international bodies of the United Steelworkers of America, various Districts and Locals, as well as rank and file committees.
Historical Note
In 1936, John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers of America, named Philip Murray chairman of the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC). The Committee was charged with leading an organizing drive of the entire steel industry. Out of the SWOC, the United Steelworkers of America was formed, holding its founding convention in 1942. Murray was elected as the first president and served until his death in 1952. Since its founding, various unions have merged with the United Steelworkers, most recently, in 2005, the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers (PACE) International Union. This merger created the largest industrial union in North America, a union not only of steelworkers but also workers in industries such as manufacturing, health care, pharmaceuticals, mining, energy and utilities. As of 2009, the United Steelworkers of American had over 850,000 active members in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into two series. Folders are arranged alphabetically within series. The series arrangement of the records is as follows:
Series I: National Union Files, 1935-1997
Series II: District and Local Files, 1945-1986
Scope and Content Note
The Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Printed Ephemera Collection on the United Steelworkers of America (1935-1997) consists of agreements, contracts, and constitutions, as well as printed ephemera such as fliers, brochures, newspaper clippings, pamphlets and other publications. There are several publications related to the National War Labor Board (1944) as well as publications relating to national wage stabilization and wage policy in the steel industry, dating from the late 1940s through the 1950s. In addition to material generated by the national and international bodies of the United Steelworkers of America, the collection also contains constitutions, fliers, and publications from various districts, locals, and rank and file committees.
Subjects
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
Identification of item, date; Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Printed Ephemera Collection on the United Steelworkers of America; PE 011; 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.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Materials in this collection have been compiled by the Tamiment Library. There is no accession record associated with this collection.
In 2025, materials from accession 2019.056, which is associated with Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Printed Ephemera Collection on Subjects (PE 029), were transferred to 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.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Decisions regarding arrangement, description, and physical interventions for this collection prior to 2025 are unknown.
In 2025, unprocessed materials from the Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Printed Ephemera Collection on Subjects (PE 029) were transferred to this collection and placed in new acid-free folders and boxes. These materials were housed in box Shared Tamiment 190 and integrated into the collection's existing alphabetical file list.
