Collections by Subject: Labor in America
A Selected List of Holdings in the Archives and Manuscripts Department, University of Maryland Libraries
For more information about how to access materials in this guide, please visit the Maryland Room web page or fill out an information request.
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Archives of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Maryland Division,
1935-2006.
46.00 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
State and local chapters of this national women's organization among whose concerns have been the roles women play in the workforce, minimum wage legislation, pay equity, and child labor.
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Archives of the Bakery, Confectionery and Tobacco Workers International Union,
1888-1982.
147.25 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
Founded in 1886 as the National Union of Journeymen Bakers of North America, united with confectioners in 1902, and merged with Tobacco Workers International Union in 1978. Documentation of union operations at the national and local levels, including correspondence, financial records, publications, legal files, contract negotiations and agreements, and organizers' reports.
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Archives of the Baltimore Federation of Labor,
1918-1969.
0.25 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
The Baltimore Federation of Labor (BFL), an affiliate of the American Federation of Labor, was formed in 1883 by delegates from industry-specific unions. The BFL's purpose was to improve the lives and working conditions of all laborers through unionization and legislative action on issues such as the eight-hour work day and eliminating child labor. The organization still exists today as the Baltimore Council of AFL-CIO Unions. The collection consists primarily of microfilmed minutes of meetings from 1918-1965, and other documents including a constitution, union publications, and two oral histories of Baltimore union members.
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Papers of Paul Brenner,
1821-1905.
3.00 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
Brenner's papers, consisting of minutes, constitutions, bylaws, reports, newspaper clippings, and other publications, document the early history of the Bakery, Confectionery, and Tobacco Workers International Union. The collection is unprocessed.
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Bureau of Business Practice Collection,
1944-2002.
4.50 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
The publishing company that eventually became the Bureau of Business Practice (BBP) began as a small, private venture, the National Foreman's Institute (NFI), in Essex, Connecticut, in 1915. For the first thirty-five years of its existence, NFI was exclusively a publisher of training materials for the first line of industrial supervision. The collection consists of publications dating from the years when the BBP was known as the National Foreman's Institute to just prior to the closing of the BBP Branch of Aspen Publishers. Publications such as the "Better Secretaries Series" from the early 1960s focus on training for office employees through instruction in secretarial principles, such as accounting or letter writing. Topics range from labor issues in Labor Relations Bulletin to common concerns of the secretary in such publications as Just Between Office Girls and Office Guide for Working Women.
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Archives of the Cigar Makers' International Union,
1856-1974.
30 reels of microfilm and 5.50 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
Formed in 1864 as the Cigar Makers National Union of the United States and became international in 1867 with the affiliation of Canadian locals. Merged with the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Workers Union in 1974. Samuel Gompers was instrumental in the growth of this union. CMIUA documentation includes administrative files, records of locals, financial records, convention proceedings, and publications.
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Papers of the Dawkins Family,
1883-1931.
1.25 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
Correspondence between family members concerning construction of the railroad station in Utica, New York.
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George Du Bois Collection of Maryland Labor History,
1865-1922.
3.50 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
Photocopies of newspapers articles from the Baltimore Sun and other Maryland newspapers relating to labor issues gathered by Du Bois during work on his dissertation at the University of Maryland, Search for a Better Life: Baltimore Workers 1865-1916.
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Archives of Robert Garrett and Sons,
1830-1863.
2.00 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
Business records of Robert Garrett and Sons, a Baltimore firm involved in wholesale grocery, transportation, and hotel ventures.
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Virginia Harrold Collection,
1864-1961.
0.50 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
Materials concerning the Hamilton and Hendrix families of Baltimore, in particular their dressmaking and mercantile activities.
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Papers of Jesse Hughes,
1861-1879.
0.25 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
Business records of Jesse Hughes, a manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes in Easton, Maryland.
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Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of America (IUMSWA) archives,
1934-1970.
188.75 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
Formed in 1934 to unite all shipyard workers, regardless of trade/craft or level of skill. Records include extensive documentation of locals' activities and contracts; national administration; organizing efforts; negotiations; conventions; National Labor Relations Board and National War Labor Board cases; actions taken to stabilize the shipbuilding industry; and relationships with other unions.
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Archives of the International Association of Siderographers,
1899-1991.
6.25 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
The siderographers, first organized in 1899, are printing plate engravers employed primarily in the printing of paper money, securities, bonds, and other similar documents. The union's archives consist of membership records; correspondence; minutes; constitutions; bylaws; programs; financial records; certificates; and newspaper clippings. The collection, which is unprocessed, also includes audio tapes, photographs, and memorabilia.
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Archives of the International Labor Communications Association,
1944-1997.
57 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
The International Labor Communications Association (ILCA), founded in 1955, is the professional organization of labor communicators in North America. The ILCA members work to strengthen and expand labor print publications, websites, and radio, television, and film productions by providing resources, expertise, and networking opportunities for labor communicators. The archives of the ILCA consists of financial records, correspondence, directories, and minutes of the organization, as well as audio-visual materials produced at ILCA's annual conferences.
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Archives of the League of Women Voters of Maryland,
1910-1985.
32.25 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
The League of Women Voters of Maryland, founded in 1921, has primarily dealt with issues relating to elections, voting, social and child welfare, government efficiency, education, women's rights, and world peace. The League has also addressed questions of child labor, employment, and labor-management relations. The organization's records consist of minutes, correspondence, reports, and publications.
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Maryland Federation of Business and Professional Women archives,
1940-2005.
248.50 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
Association founded in 1929 to foster development of business and professional women throughout the state of Maryland. Concerns addressed by the federation and documented in their records include expanding the role of women in business and the professions and recognizing women's achievements.
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Archives of the National Organizers Alliance,
1991-2004.
48 linear feet and 2 mapcase drawers.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
The National Organizers Alliance (NOA), founded in 1993 by organizers working across the spectrum of progressive social justice movements, has a two-fold purpose. NOA's mission is to advance progressive organizing for social, economic and environmental justice and to sustain, support and nurture the people of all ages who do it. The Archives of the National Organizers Alliance include working papers documenting the activities of the organization, including regional organizing, meeting notes, membership information, video and audio tapes, photographs, and posters. Also documented are recruitment efforts among minority groups, including African Americans and immigrants.
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Papers of the Richard P. Newton Family,
1925-1956.
0.75 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
Correspondence comprises the largest portion of the Papers of the Richard P. Newton Family and documents the daily lives of Richard Newton, Dorothy Speilman Newton, Lillian Boehm, and some of their friends in Baltimore during World War II and into the 1950s. Included in the collection is Dorothy's union membership card from the Soap and Glycerine Workers Union of the American Federation of Labor.
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Papers of Andrew Pettis,
1924-1972.
23.50 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
Former president of the Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of America who worked his way up through the ranks to positions in the union's national leadership. Papers include grievance files, shop steward reports, organizers' reports, conference proceedings, union publications, and photographs.
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Archives of the Tobacco Workers International Union (TWIU),
1896-1979.
136.00 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
Founded in 1885 as the National Tobacco Workers Union of America and merged with the Bakery and Confectionery Workers International Union in 1979. Records include administrative files, organizers' correspondence and reports, documentation of locals' activities, financial records, and publications.
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United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners (UBCJ) archives,
1840-2000.
643.50 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
Founded in 1881 as the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and affiliated with the United Order of American Carpenters and Joiners in 1888. Records include administrative files, correspondence and writings of UBC leaders, convention proceedings, publications, locals' charters, photographs, films, and artifacts. The collection is unprocessed.
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United Farm Workers Collection,
1963-1974.
0.50 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
This collection includes an incomplete run (circa 1960s and 1970s) of the English-language edition of El Malcriado, a newspaper published by the United Farm Workers. The collection also contains miscellaneous newspaper clippings and two publications regarding agricultural labor issues.
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Papers of Leonard Weinberg,
1934-1945.
1.50 linear feet.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
The papers of Leonard Weinberg consist of scrapbooks of newspaper clippings documenting legal cases involving labor issues, in particular a case involving the Baltimore firm of L. Greif & Bros. The collection is unprocessed.
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Archives of the Work Projects Administration in Maryland,
1933-1943.
20.00 linear feet + 50 reels microfilm.
Location: Historical Manuscripts
Documentation of construction, recreation, local history, and arts projects undertaken by the Works Projects Administration in Maryland. Administrative files, local history research materials, and extensive photographic records.