Seymour Posner Papers
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Abstract
Seymour Posner (1925-1988) was a pro-labor New York State Assemblyman, who represented the 76th District in the Bronx. He was actively involved with the Workman's Compensation Board, in addition to the Workers Defense League, Inc. Posner was an admitted Socialist who joined the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee during the late 1970s. The papers and photos featured in Posner's collection mostly relate to his service as Assemblyman and his work with the Workman's Compensation Board.
Historical/Biographical Note
Seymour Posner (1925-1988), New York State assemblyman and labor legislator, was born on May 21, 1925 to Nathan and Fannie Posner. He was raised in the Bronx, New York. In 1942, he enlisted and served in the 3rd Infantry Regiment in France and Germany during World War II, during which he lost hearing in one ear. Upon his return to New York, Posner enrolled at the City University of New York, earning a BS in social science in 1948. He began his active involvement in Democratic politics during this time, as a supporter and officer in the Young Democrats. His involvement with the labor movement also began about this time, as he chaired the organizing committee of Local 371 of the Government and Civic Workers (AFSCME) from 1949 to 1951 and was a member of the New York City Central Labor Council from 1949 to 1954. In 1958 Posner completed the MA program at New York University's School of Public Administration.
Posner became the public relations director for the Urban League of Greater New York in 1958 and served as director of public relations for marches on Washington in 1958 and 1959, and again for the 1963 march led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He also spent several days in a Maryland jail as a Freedom Rider in 1963. Posner served as the community relations director to the Manhattan Borough President for one year (1961-1962) and was Bronx director of the American Jewish Congress (ca. 1962-1964). During this period he worked in public relations and direct-mail marketing of services primarily aimed at the housing market. In 1964 Posner sought and won the 76th A.D. Assembly spot, representing the South Bronx. Despite two consecutive reapportionments of the 76th district in 1965 and 1966, Posner was able to win re-election and became a fixture in the Assembly. He communicated with his constituency via newsletters and flyers. He concentrated on labor-related issues, supporting bills that permitted collective bargaining rights for domestic workers and for workers employed by non-profit, educational and charitable institutions and that guaranteed workman's compensation for farm workers. He sponsored bills on retirement benefits, insurance, and workman's compensation.
In 1972 he began serving on the Assembly Labor Committee, rising to the position of Chairman (1974-1976). He failed in a 1973 bid for the position of Bronx City Councilman at Large, and, in 1978, retired from the Assembly to accept appointment an from Governor Carey to the State Workman's Compensation Board, though his nomination was only narrowly confirmed by the Senate. Posner had some difficulties with two chairmen of the Board, Robert Steingut and Arthur Cooperman, but he did win appointment as the Vice-Chairman of the Board in 1984. Posner took a decidedly pro-union position on the Board and served until June of 1988, when he retired. He acted as the legislative director for the New York City Central Labor Council until his death on November 2, 1988, a span of less than six months.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into three series:
This collection is arranged into five series:
Missing Title
- New York State Assembly, 1958-1988
- Workman's Compensation Board, 1960-1988
- General Files, 1940-1989
- Photographs, 1949-1977
- Unprocessed Material
Scope and Content Note
The bulk of the collection is comprised of correspondence and clippings, along with photographs, case files, legislative drafts, press releases, flyers, newsletters, lists, transcripts of speeches and reports. The clippings, many of which are from local Bronx newspapers, provide context for legislative material and background on Posner's general activities.
The Seymour Posner Papers primarily document Posner's time as New York State Assemblyman and his involvement with the Workman's Compensation Board. Included in the collection are reminiscences concerning Posner's participation in the Civil Rights Movement and various marches; also featured is limited photographic material on Posner and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Washington, D.C. This collection contains relatively sparse coverage of Posner's activities prior to 1964; additionally, there are not any contemporary documents.
Subjects
Organizations
Genres
People
Donors
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions. It should be noted that Series V, comprising Boxes 5 and 6, is unprocessed but open to researchers.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection, created by Seymour Posner was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Seymour Posner Papers; WAG 070; Box number; Folder number; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Ann Posner, 1989. The accession numbers associated with this gift are 1989.002, 1989.007, 1989.010, and 2009.058.
About this Guide
Processing Information Note
During initial processing, photographs and graphic materials were established as separate collections: the Seymour Posner Graphics (GRAPHICS 014) and the Seymour Posner Photographs (PHOTOS 045). In January 2013, the photograph and graphics collections were reincorporated into the Seymour Posner Papers (WAG 070).
Repository
Series I: New York State Assembly, 1958-1988.
Scope and Content Note
Series I: New York State Assembly, 1958-1988 relates to the thirteen years (1965-1978) that Posner served in the New York State Assembly. For most years, there is an inconsistent retention of correspondence. Included are files on legislative issues with which Posner was involved, as well as newsletters sent to constituents, and campaign materials. The Household Worker's Collective Bargaining legislation is particularly well documented.
Adelphi Hospital Strike, 1969, inclusive
Adelphi Hospital Strike - Clippings, 1969, inclusive
Albany Medical Center Incident, 1973, inclusive
Albany Medical Center Incident - Clippings, 1973, inclusive
Biographical Sketches, 1966, inclusive
Campaign, 1964, inclusive
Campaign, 1965, inclusive
Campaign, 1966, inclusive
Campaign, 1968, inclusive
Campaign, 1970, inclusive
Campaign, 1972, inclusive
Campaign (City Council), 1973, inclusive
Campaign, 1974, inclusive
Campaign, 1976, inclusive
Campaign, 1978, inclusive
Campaign, undated
Civil Service Press Clippings, 1965-1972, inclusive
Constituent Correspondence, 1977, inclusive
Correspondence, 1966-1969, inclusive
Correspondence, 1970-1975, inclusive
Correspondence, 1976-1978, inclusive
Correspondence, undated
Crime, 1969, inclusive
Department of Labor Application, 1977, inclusive
Education, undated
Glue-Sniffing, 1970, inclusive
Household Workers Articles and Reports, 1974-1983, inclusive
Household Workers Collective Bargaining, 1974, inclusive
Household Workers Collective Bargaining, 1975, inclusive
Household Workers Collective Bargaining, 1976-1979, inclusive
Household Workers Collective Bargaining, 1980-1981, inclusive
Household Workers Collective Bargaining, undated
Household Workers Collective Bargaining - Clippings, 1975, inclusive
Household Workers Minimum Wage, 1965-1971, inclusive
Housing, 1967-1971, inclusive
Housing - Clippings, 1961-1967, inclusive
Humane Slaughter - Clippings, 1965-1969, inclusive
Humane Slaughter, 1958-1969, inclusive
Labor - Clippings, 1965, 1968, inclusive
Labor, 1966-1976, inclusive
Legislative Record, 1958-1975, inclusive
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, 1975-1988, inclusive
Newsletters, 1965-1978, inclusive
NY State Bird - Bluebird, 1970, inclusive
Ombudsman Program, 1967, inclusive
Press Clippings, 1964, inclusive
Press Clippings, 1965, inclusive
Press Clippings, 1966, inclusive
Press Clippings, 1967, inclusive
Press Clippings, 1968, inclusive
Press Clippings, 1969, inclusive
Press Clippings, 1970, inclusive
Press Clippings, 1971, inclusive
Press Clippings, 1973, inclusive
Press Clippings, 1974, inclusive
Press Clippings, 1975, inclusive
Press Clippings, 1976, inclusive
Press Clippings, undated
Proclamation from City Council, 1988, inclusive
Resumes, 1964-1966, inclusive
Sabbath Observance, 1966-1967, inclusive
Speeches, 1971, inclusive
Tuition Legislation, 1976, inclusive
United Bronx Tenants, 1976, inclusive
Vietnam, 1967, inclusive
Workman's Compensation Legislation, 1973-1976, inclusive
Series II: New York State Workman's Compensation Board, 1960-1988.
Scope and Content Note
Series II: New York State Workman's Compensation Board, 1960-1988 documents Board procedures, case files and legislation affecting the Board's operation. There is near complete documentation on the Temporary State Commission on Workman's Compensation, a review committee which was formed in 1985 to look into the Board's spending patterns.
Cooperman, Arthur, 1979, inclusive
Correspondence, 1979-1984, inclusive
Correspondence, 1985-1988, inclusive
Editorials, 1979-1986, inclusive
Full Board Reviews, 1968-1981, inclusive
Hearing Loss, 1980, inclusive
Hills v. NYS Police, 1987, inclusive
Irish Arts Center, 1986, inclusive
Johnston, Diana, 1982-1983, inclusive
Labor College, 1982, inclusive
Labor Theater, 1982, inclusive
Legislative Resolution from the State of New York, 1988, inclusive
Maritime Port Council, 1979-1982, inclusive
NY Committee for Occupational Safety & Health, 1978-1981, inclusive
NY Committee for Occupational Safety & Health, 1982-1984, inclusive
NY Committee for Occupational Safety & Health - Research, 1981, inclusive
Omnibus Bill, 1987, inclusive
Resumes, 1978-1988, inclusive
Review Board Procedures, 1977, inclusive
Sojurner Truth Centennial, 1983-1984, inclusive
Steingut, Robert, 1984-1986, inclusive
Temporary State Commission, 1985-1987, inclusive
Temporary State Commission Report, 1985, inclusive
Temporary State Commission Report, 1986, inclusive
Temporary State Commission Report, 1986, inclusive
Temporary State Commission Research Papers, 1986, inclusive
Turbish v. New York Institute of Technology, 1982-1984, inclusive
Workers Defense League, 1985, inclusive
WC Bills Pending, 1982-1984, inclusive
WCB Appointment, 1978, inclusive
WCB Articles, 1984-1986, inclusive
WCB Codes For Officers, 1960-1977, inclusive
WCB Management and Productivity, 1987, inclusive
WC Case Opinions, 1978-1980, inclusive
WC Legislation, 1981-1982, inclusive
Series III: General Files, 1940-1989.
Scope and Content Note
Series III: General Files, 1940-1989 contains documents which do not fall into the categorizations above; they are mostly mementos and papers from the pre-Assembly years (1940-1964). Posner's work with the Urban League and American Jewish Congress is briefly featured, in addition to post-Workman's Compensation Board materials, including a memorial offered in the New York State Assembly after Posner's death.
American Jewish Congress, 1955-1964, inclusive
Cartoon, 1974, inclusive
Factors Affecting NYC Housing Market - thesis, 1957, inclusive
Housing - Reports, 1958-1958, inclusive
March on Washington, Reminiscences, 1981, inclusive
Memorabilia, 1940-1949, inclusive
Memorabilia, 1950-1959, inclusive
Memorials, 1988-1989, inclusive
Political Activity, 1948-1955, inclusive
Proclamation from the State of New York (International Women's Day), 1975, inclusive
Public Relations Material: Housing, 1958-1961, inclusive
Resumes, 1957-1963, inclusive
Urban League of Greater New York, 1957-1961, inclusive
Series IV: Photographs, 1949-1977.
Scope and Content Note
Series IV: Photographs, 1949-1977 consists of approximately 600 photographs of or with Seymour Posner. It is comprised of portraits, images of Posner speaking or protesting, and group shots of meetings, public events, and demonstrations in which he is included. The majority of the photographs are black and white prints. Very few photographs are dated, but most appear to have been shot between 1968 and 1977.