ILGWU. Research Department records, 1884-1948
Collection Number: 5780/045

Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
ILGWU. Research Department records, 1884-1948
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5780/045
Abstract:
The collection contains records of predecessor unions and locals of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.
Creator:
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
Quanitities:
2 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English

Biographical / Historical

Founded in 1900 by local union delegates representing about 2,000 members in cities in the northeastern United States, the ILGWU grew in geographical scope, membership size, political influence to become one of the most powerful forces in American organized labor by mid-century. Representing workers in the women's garment industry, the ILGWU worked to improve working and living conditions of its members through collective bargaining agreements, training programs, health care facilities, cooperative housing, educational opportunities, and other efforts. In 1995, the ILGWU merged with the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU) to form the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE).

Biographical / Historical

Formed in 1937, the Research Department of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) supported the administrative operations of the Union and coordinated the ILGWU's investigative operations. It provided union leaders with information on wages, working conditions, economic conditions, and other matters in the women's garment industry; analyzed information for the union; and monitored developments in the industry.
In addition to providing research for union leadership, Research Department staff prepared materials for Congressional testimony, presented cases on behalf of local unions to the War Labor Board, and worked to administer the Fair Labor Standards Act. At times, the director of the Research Department represented the ILGWU in national forums.
The Department also maintained an extensive library, collecting and housing documents from Union administrative staff that were deemed substantive and of lasting value to the Union, whether produced internally or externally. The information gathered by the Department was of particular value during labor disputes and contract negotiations.
Lazare Teper was the founding director of the ILGWU's Research Department, working in that position from 1937 to 1980. Born in Russia sometime between 1906 and 1908, Teper later studied at the University of Paris and earned his doctorate at Johns Hopkins University. He died in New York City in 1985.

The Research Department records reflect the department's varied functions, documenting its role in gathering and analyzing information for international and local union leadership, representing the union before government and labor organizations, and gathering materials of research, and oftentimes historical, value. Some segments of the records focus on one aspect of the department's work, and others include documentation across the department's functions.
Research Department director Lazare Teper's papers, for example, include files relating to the Wage Stabilization Board (5780/105). The department also maintained records focused on the National Coat and Suit Industry Board (statements of receipts and disbursements, label division reports, meetings minutes, bulletins to members, and other reports and resolutions), as well as some related legal files (5780/123). Also among the documents collected by the Research Department are the New York Coat and Suit Industry Reports between 1934 and 1960. (5780/168)
Parts of the Research Department records consist primarily of collected documents from ILGWU affiliates. In this way, they resemble and, in some instances, complement the parts of the Archives Department Records (5780/121, 5780/121 PUBS), records generated by local unions (Series III), and the general collection of ILGWU publications (5780 PUBS). Research Department records of this kind contain records of predecessor unions to the ILGWU and ILGWU local union records (5780/045), or the annual report, "Conditions in the Women's Clothing Industry" (5780/078).
Other parts of the Research Department records document all of the department's functions. These records include financial and administrative reports, meeting minutes, and correspondence (5780/056, 5780/209), collected printed material (5780/168), and ILGWU statements on issues related to the garment industry (5780/209).
The Research Department records contains records of predecessor unions and locals of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, including the United Brotherhood of Cloakmakers, Local 1; Knights of Labor, Sanctuary Local Assembly 3038; Unity House Committee of Locals 22, 25, 60, and 66; United Progessive League of Cloak and Dressmakers; United Progressive League of Local 1; Skirtmakers' Union, Local 5; ILGWU Research Department; Cincinnati Joint Board; Local 60, and Local 63.
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference archivist for access to these materials.
Conditions Governing Use

This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and Procedures for Document Use.

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Preferred Citation

ILGWU. Research Department records #5780/045. Kheel Center for Labor- Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.

Related Materials

Related Collections: 5780: ILGWU records 5780/056: ILGWU. Research Department collected documents 5780/078: ILGWU. Research Department reports 5780/105: ILGWU. Research Department records 5780/123: ILGWU. Research Department records 5780/168: ILGWU. Research Department records 5780/209: ILGWU. Research Department records

SUBJECTS

Names:
International Ladies' Garment Workers Union. Local 23-25 (New York, N.Y.)
International Ladies' Garment Workers Union. Local 60.
International Ladies' Garment Workers Union. Local 63.
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Local 1 (New York, N.Y.)
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Local 22 (New York, N.Y.)
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Local 66 (New York, N.Y.)
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Research Dept.
Subjects:
Women's clothing industry -- United States
Women's clothing industry--New York (State)--New York.
Labor unions-- Clothing workers--United States.
Labor unions--Clothing workers--New York (State)--New York.
Clothing workers -- United States
Clothing workers--New York (State)--New York.
Industrial relations -- United States
Industrial relations--New York (State)--New York.
Form and Genre Terms:
Records.

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Box 1 Folder 1
Minutes. Knights of Labor. Sanctuary Local Assembly 3038
1884
Scope and Contents
Bound volume.
Box 1 Folder 2
Minutes. Knights of Labor. Sanctuary Local Assembly 3038
1887-1888
Scope and Contents
July 1887 - May 1888. Bound volume.
Box 1 Folder 3
Minutes. Knights of Labor. Sanctuary Local Assembly 3038
1889-1890
Scope and Contents
June 1889 - Sept 1890
Box 1 Folder 4
Dues Book. Knighst of Labor. Sanctuary Local Assembly 3038
1884
Scope and Contents
Bound volume.
Box 1 Folder 5
Dues Book. Knighst of Labor. Sanctuary Local Assembly 3038
1888-1892
Scope and Contents
Bound volume.
Box 1 Folder 6
Dues Book. Knights of Labor. Sanctuary Local Assembly 3038
1893-1896
Scope and Contents
Bound volume.
Box 1 Folder 7
Payroll Book. Employees in Mississippi. [1 of 2]
1946-1948
Scope and Contents
Sept 13, 1945.
Box 1 Folder 8
Payroll Book. Employees in Mississippi. [2 of 2]
1946-1948
Scope and Contents
Sept 13, 1945.
Box 1 Folder 9
Shop List by U.S. Industry
Scope and Contents
Undated. Bound volume.
Box 2 Folder 1
Payroll and Expense Book. Finance department. ILGWU
1918
Scope and Contents
Bound volume.
Box 2 Folder 2
Notes and Minutes. Cloakmakers Union, Local 63
1910-1913
Scope and Contents
Cincinnati, Ohio. Bound volume.
Box 2 Folder 3
Cincinnati Joint Board. Minutes.
1926-1928
Scope and Contents
Written in an "Outgoing Members" register. Bound volume.
Box 2 Folder 4
United Brotherhood of Cloakmakers, Local No. 1 of New York and Vicinity
1898
Scope and Contents
Dues books, Contract, and Constitution.
Box 2 Folder 5
Minutes. Local 5. Skirtmakers Union, NYC.
1901-1905
Scope and Contents
Yiddish. May 1901 - May 9, 1905. Local 5 later known as Local 23. Bound volume.
Box 2 Folder 6
Dues Book. Unidentified.
1907-1909
Scope and Contents
Sept 16, 1907 - May 24, 1909. Bound volume.
Box 2 Folder 7
Minutes. Progressive League of Local 1, N.Y.
1930-1933
Scope and Contents
United Progress League of Cloak and Dressmakers, N.Y., Oct 1930-1931; Local 1, 1931-1933. Bound volume.
Box 2 Folder 8
Minutes. Unity House Committee.
1923
Scope and Contents
Locals 22, 25, 60, and 66. Bound volume.
Box 2 Folder 9
Minutes. Dress and Waist Pressers Union. Local 60
1935-1940
Scope and Contents
Yiddish. Bound volume.