John B. Andrews Papers
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Abstract
John B. Andrews (1880-1943) was a labor historian, secretary of the American Association for Labor Legislation (1905-1942), and author. The John B. Andrews Papers (dated 1864-1908) contain notes that were used to write "Volumes IX: Labor Movement, 1860-1880, Volume 1" and "Volumes X: Labor Movement, 1860-1880, Volume 2," which are chapters in the book A Documentary History of American Industrial Society. Materials in the collection consist of research notecards, a Ph.D. exam, newspaper articles, outlines, and correspondence.
Biographical Note
John B. Andrews (1880-1943) was a labor historian, secretary of the American Association for Labor Legislation (1905-1942), and author. He studied at the University of Wisconson (B.A. 1904). He founded and edited the American Labor Legislation Review; authored A Documentary History of American Industrial Society, Vol. IX and X (1910-1911); Principles of Legislation (1916); History of Labor in the United States (1918); and numerous government reports.
Scope and Contents
The materials found in this collection were used to write "Volumes IX: Labor Movement, 1860-1880, Volume 1" and "Volumes X: Labor Movement, 1860-1880, Volume 2," which are chapters in the book A Documentary History of American Industrial Society. Most of the notes were compiled from labor newspapers, interviews with former union members, and secondary sources. They reflect the organizing efforts and concerns of the early unions. Other materials include a Ph.D. exam given to Andrews and Helen Sumner (1908); newspaper articles; outlines; and correspondence.
The research note cards housed in Box 1 cover the following topics:
American Bureau of Industrial Research: Contains biographical notes written by Andrews on his academic background, description of research methods, and impressions received during the year.
Biography and Research References: Brief notes taken on secondary sources and citation references.
Cities, Summer 1906: Notations on principal cities visited by Andrews. They include Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Rochester, Utica, Albany, Worcester, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Pittsburgh.
Labor Journals: Includes general notes on labor journals located, the majority of which are filed by title. A separate section in this series indexes the the Daily Evening, News, (Boston 1864-1866), with cards filed by subject. It also includes an index to Fincher's Trade Review.
Labor Research Notes: Brief notes taken from secondary sources on the labor movement from 1820 to 1880.
Labor Subjects -- this makes up the majority of the note cards. Subjects are arranged alphabetically and include 50 subjects. They are: Anarchism, Arbitration, Boycott, Builders, Carpenters, Charity, Child Labor, Cigarmakers, City Central, Class Struggle, Communism, Contracts, Cooperation, Domestic Labor, Eugenics, Employers' Associations, Factories, Farmers, Hours, Immigration, Imprisonment for Debt, Industrial Evolution, I.W.A., Justice, Knights of labor, Knights of St. Crispin, Land, Labor Movement, Legal, Legislation, Machinists, Mechanics, Mail Order Business, Money, National Labor Union, Protection, Printers, Public Authority, Public Employment, Reminiscenses, Riots, Settlements, Socialism, Strikes, Sunday Work, Suffrage, Wages, Trades Unions, Value, and Woman's Work. The subject Woman's Work was made into a separate series because of its size.
Woman's Work: Shows the extent of organizing activities prior to 1900 undertaken by the Knights of Labor in those professions dominated by women.
Additional paper materials including a Ph.D. exam, newspaper articles, outlines, and correspondence are housed in Box Shared Tamiment 200.
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Materials in this collection, which were created in 1906-1908, are in the public domain. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; John B. Andrews Papers; TAM 113; box number; folder number or item identifier; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Leon Stein at an unknown date. The accession number associated with this gift is 1984.012.
Custodial History
Leon Stein sent a gift of John B. Andrew's research notes. The accession number associated with this gift is 1984.012. Leon Stein obtained the materials from Nelson Frank.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Processing decisions made prior to 2025 were not documented.
In May 2025, ten archival folders containing materials found in Box 1 were rehoused into Box Shared Tamiment 200, a manuscript box. Research index cards were kept in Box 1. The finding aid was updated to reflect these changes. At this time, an abstract and citation note was added to the collection. The scope and content note was also updated to better reflect the collection.
