Sally Genn Papers
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Abstract
Sally Genn (1920-1985) was a labor publicist and activist. She worked as an assistant to several secretaries of the New York City Central Labor Council, edited the Council's Trade Union Handbook, and was managing editor of its monthly Labor Chronicle. Genn was also active in the Newspaper Guild of New York and the Labor Theater. Notes, correspondence, programs, news clippings, conference materials, photographs, posters and fliers, and other materials highlight Genn's role in the New York City Central Labor Council, particularly her collaboration with various theatrical unions on behalf of the Council, and also document the Council, performing arts groups, and the labor movement in New York City more generally.
Historical/Biographical Note
Sally Genn (1920-1985) was a labor publicist and activist. After graduating from Hunter College in 1942, she worked for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers. She later became assistant to Morris Iushewitz, secretary-treasurer of the New York City Labor Council, CIO. She continued working for Iushewitz when he became secretary of the merged New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and later worked for Harry Avrutin when he succeeded Iushewitz as secretary.
Sally Genn edited the Trade Union Handbook for the Council and was managing editor of its monthly Labor Chronicle. She was active in the Newspaper Guild of New York and served as secretary for both the Labor Theatre (from 1973-1985) and the Libertarian Book Club (from 1975-1978).
Arrangement
The order in which these materials were sent to the Tamiment Library has been maintained.
Scope and Content Note
The collection documents Sally Genn's involvement in the labor movement in New York City through her employment with the New York City Central Labor Council and her leadership in other organizations. Notes, correspondence, programs, news clippings, conference materials, photographs, posters and fliers, and other materials highlight Genn's role in the NYC Central Labor Council, particularly her collaboration with various theatrical unions on behalf of the Council. Genn's writings and editorial work are represented in the 1975, 1977, and 1981 edition of the Trade Union Handbook, which Genn edited, and in an article she wrote for Labor Today. Other pamphlets, photographs, and news clippings collected by Genn document the Council and the labor movement in New York City more broadly.
Two United Housing Foundation scrapbooks of news clippings provide evidence of Genn's interest in the co-op movement. Also of note are notices, correspondence, and clippings from the anarcho-syndicalist organization the Libertarian Book Club, which Genn served as secretary; Labor Theater programs, posters, and reviews; and correspondence related to Genn's appointment as the Newspaper Guild of New York's representative to the Women's Trade Union League.
Most folders have titles that were likely provided by the donor, Irving Genn.
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Donors
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection, created by Sally Genn was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date; Sally Genn Papers; WAG 330; Box number; Folder number; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Irving Genn at an unknown date. The accession number associated with this gift is 2014.023.
Appraisal
No materials were separated from this collection.
Other Finding Aids
A folder-level inventory conducted by Irving Genn, which provides contextual information and further details about Sally Genn's relationship to the collection materials, is available in the repository.
About this Guide
Processing Information
This collection was discovered in the repository in 2014. At that time, a collection-level finding aid was created to describe the materials. A framed photograph of United Automobile Workers president Walter Reuther was removed from its frame and placed in an archival folder. All other materials remain in their original folders.
Repository
Container
This finding aid does not include an online listing of contents.
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