ILGWU. Newspapers,, 1913-1980
Collection Number: 5780/125

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


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
ILGWU. Newspapers, 1913-1980
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5780/125
Abstract:
This collection consists of publications either produced or collected by the ILGWU. It includes periodicals of local unions, joint boards, and the international periodicals, as well as publications from other organizations.
Creator:
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.
Quanitities:
1.5 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English and Yiddish.

Biographical / Historical

The International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union was founded in New York City in 1900 by mostly Socialist immigrant workers who sought to unite the various crafts in the growing women's garment industry. The union soon reflected changes in the sector and rapidly organized thousands of unskilled and semi-skilled women, mostly Jewish and Italian young immigrants. Exemplifying the "new unionism," the ILGWU led two of the most widespread and best-known industrial strikes of the early Twentieth Century: the shirtwaist makers' strike of 1909 in New York City and the cloak makers' strike of 1910 in Chicago. The union also tried to adapt to the fragmented and unstable nature of the industry. It adopted the "protocol of peace," a system of industrial relations that attempted to ensure stability and limit strikes and production disruption by providing for an arbitration system to resolve disputes.
The ILGWU exemplified the European-style social unionism of its founding members. They pursued bread and butter issues but provided educational opportunities, benefits, and social programs to union members as well. In 1919, the ILGWU became the first American union to negotiate an unemployment compensation fund that was contributed to by its employers. The ILGWU also pioneered in the establishment of an extremely progressive health care program for its members which included not only regional Union Health Centers but also a resort for union workers, known as Unity House. The Union also had an imaginative and pioneering Education Department which not only trained workers in traditional union techniques, but provided courses in citizenship and the English language.
David Dubinsky, an immigrant from Belarus who came to the US in 1911, provided strong leadership that led to unprecedented growth in the union during his presidency from 1932 to 1966. He led the union through successful internal anti-communist struggles, built on the ascendancy of industrial unionism by encouraging the formation of the Committee for Industrial Organization, and helped the union become an important political force in New York City and state politics, and in the national Democratic Party and Liberal Party as well.
In the period following the Second World War, the union suffered a decline in membership as manufacturers avoided unionization and took advantage of less expensive labor by moving shops from the urban centers in the northeast to the south, and later abroad. The ethnic and racial character of the ILGWU also changed as European immigrants were supplanted by Asians, Latin Americans, African- Americans, and immigrants from the Caribbean.
In July 1995 the ILGWU merged with the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU) at a joint convention, forming UNITE (Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees). At the time the new union had a membership of about 250,000 in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

This collection consists of publications either produced or collected by the ILGWU. It includes periodicals of local unions, joint boards, and the international periodicals, as well as publications from other organizations.
The ILGWU Records, except for publications and materials produced for publication, are restricted. Materials created prior to twenty years from the current date are open to researchers only with prior written permission from the Director of the Kheel Center; materials created during the past twenty-years are closed; the minutes of the General Executive Board are closed. For more information contact the Kheel Center.

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Preferred Citation

ILGWU. Newspapers. 5780/125. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Martin P. Catherwood Library, Cornell University.

Related Materials

5780. ILGWU records
5780 PUBS. ILGWU publications
5780/125 G. ILGWU. Photographs and ad boards

SUBJECTS

Names:
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.
Subjects:
Women's clothing industry--United States.
Clothing workers--Labor unions--United States.
Clothing workers--United States.
Industrial relations--United States.

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Box 1 Folder 1
Der Arbeter Kamf
1930-1933
Scope and Contents
Yiddish; The Workers' Struggle; published by the Communist Party of the United States
Box 1 Folder 2
Bulletin
Scope and Contents
English and Yiddish. Issued by the Progressive Group of the ILGWU
Box 1 Folder 3
Calling All Shops
1936
Scope and Contents
Dressmakers' General Strike Bulletin no.1 (1936:Feb. 7)
Box 1 Folder 4
Dress Bulletin
1932
Scope and Contents
v.1:no.2 (1932:July). Official Organ of the Allied Dress Manufacturers Association.
Box 1 Folder 5
Dos Freie Wort
1926-1941
Scope and Contents
Yiddish; The Free Word; published by the Group of Cloakmakers, ILGWU
Box 1 Folder 6
The I.L.G.er
1946-1960
Scope and Contents
v.2:no.7 (1946:Aug./Sep.); v.14:no.3 (1960:Summer).
Box 1 Folder 7
In Kampf
1926
Scope and Contents
Yiddish; In Struggle; v.1:no.3 (1926:Dec.); published by the New York Joint Board Furriers Union
Box 1 Folder 8
The Ladies' Garment Cutter
1913-1917
Scope and Contents
v.1:no.4-5 (1913); v.2:no.12,48-49 (1914); v.3:no.4,6-7,13-15,27,29-31 (1915); v.4:no.15 (1916); v.5:no.7 (1917)
Box 1 Folder 9
The Ladies' Garment Worker
1953-1954
Scope and Contents
v.5:no.2 (1953:Dec.); v.6:no.1 (1954:July).
Box 1 Folder 10
The Local 22 Dressmaker
1963
Scope and Contents
English and Spanish.
Box 1 Folder 11
Local 23-25 News
1980
Scope and Contents
February, 1980
Box 1 Folder 12
Local 99 News
1954-1966
Scope and Contents
v.1:no.1-3 (1954); v.2:no.2-4 (1957); v.6:no.2 (1959); v.11:no.1,5-6 (1965); v.12:no.1 (1966)
Box 1 Folder 13
Local 105 Reports
1953-1961
Scope and Contents
v.5:no.1 (1953:Mar.); v.5:no.3 (1955:Sep.); April 1961.
Box 1 Folder 14
Monatlakher Idisher Buletin
1930
Scope and Contents
Yiddish; Monthly Jewish Bulletin; published by the Community Party of the United States
Box 1 Folder 15
The Needle Worker
1924-1933
Scope and Contents
English and Yiddish. v.1:no.4 (1924); v.2:no.6 (1931); v.3:no.6-8 (1932); Dressmakers Bulletin no.1 (1933)
Box 1 Folder 16
The New Post
1927-1928
Scope and Contents
Yiddish. v.1:no.1-5,7-8 (1927); v.1:no.10-11 (1928).
Box 1 Folder 17
Nineteen Twenty-Three
1922
Scope and Contents
English and Yiddish. v.1:no.1 (1922). Jobbers Edition.
Box 1 Folder 18
Pennsylvania Labor Record
1943
Scope and Contents
v.11:no.33 (1943:Dec.)
Box 1 Folder 19
Progresiver Dresmaker
1934-1935
Scope and Contents
English and Yiddish. v.1:no.1 (No Date); v.1 (1934); v.1:no.1-2 (1935)
Box 1 Folder 20
Der Progresiver Kapn un Milinery Arbeter
1927
Scope and Contents
Yiddish; The Progressive Caps and Millinery Workers; published by the Caps and Millinery Workers Section of the Trade Union Educational League
Box 1 Folder 21
The Progressive Unionist
1936
Scope and Contents
English and Yiddish. v.1:no.1-4 (1936)
Box 1 Folder 22
Sew-Sew News
1940
Scope and Contents
v.1:no.7 (1940:May); v.1:no.8 (1940:Oct).
Box 1 Folder 23
The Shipping Clerk
1957
Scope and Contents
v.5:no.2 (1957:June).
Box 1 Folder 24
Shop News
1941
Scope and Contents
English and Spanish. no.6-7,9,20-21 (1941)
Box 1 Folder 25
Treyd Yunyon Zenter
1930
Scope and Contents
Yiddish; Trade Union Center; v.1:no.1-2 (1930); published by the Trade Center Union Group, Local 1, ILGWU
Box 1 Folder 26
The Union Dressmaker
1934
Scope and Contents
English and Yiddish. v.1:no.1-3 (1934)
Box 1 Folder 27
Union Vanguard
1938-1944
Scope and Contents
v.1:no.1-6 (1938); v.2:no.8- 9 (1938); v.3:no.14-15 (1939); v.2:no.21 (1944)
Box 1 Folder 28
United Dressmaker
1935
Scope and Contents
English and Yiddish. v.1:no.1 (1935). Campaign Organ of the Left Wing and Active Members Groups.
Box 1 Folder 29
Unzer Wort
1926-1938
Scope and Contents
Yiddish; Our Word; includes Unzer Wort published in Montreal, Quebec, and Unzer Wort, published by the Local 1, United Progressive Trade Union Center
Box 1 Folder 30
Workers Age
1937-1941
Box 2 Folder 1
Bulletin
1944
Scope and Contents
no.1 (1944:Jan. 2). The Progressive Trade Union Committee.
Box 2 Folder 2
The Chicago Needle Worker
1928
Scope and Contents
v.1:no.9 (1928:Apr.)
Box 2 Folder 3
The Cutter
1926-1937
Box 2 Folder 4
The Dress Presser
1942
Scope and Contents
English and Yiddish. v.6:no.2 (1942:Mar.)
Box 2 Folder 5
Der Dresmaker
1938-1939
Scope and Contents
English and Yiddish. Communist Party. v.1:no.1 (1938:Jan.); v.2:no.1 (1939:Jan.)
Box 2 Folder 6
Der Dresmaker
1932
Scope and Contents
Yiddish. Dresmaker Welfeyr Klub
Box 2 Folder 7
Dressmakers' Bulletin
1931
Box 2 Folder 8
Dressmakers! Prepare for the General Strike
Scope and Contents
English and Italian. 2 copies
Box 2 Folder 9
The Dressmakers' Voice
1932
Scope and Contents
English and Yiddish. v.1:no.2 (1934:Mar. 12)
Box 2 Folder 10
Einigkeit
1927
Scope and Contents
Yiddish. v.1:no.1-15 (1927:Mar.-July)
Box 2 Folder 11
Einigkeit
1927-1928
Scope and Contents
Yiddish. V.1:no.16-v.2:no.6 (1927:July-1928:Apr.)
Box 2 Folder 12
Gerechtigkeit
1929
Scope and Contents
Yiddish. Justice, v.11:no.2 (1929:Jan. 25)
Box 2 Folder 13
Hofenung
1939-1940
Scope and Contents
English and Yiddish. v.1:no.1 (1939:Dec.); v.2:no.2 (1940:Feb.)
Box 2 Folder 14
Hot Speeches and Wild Talk
Box 2 Folder 15
Justice
1937-1940
Scope and Contents
v.19:no.6 (1937:Mar. 16); v.22:no.7 (1940:Mar. 18)
Box 2 Folder 16
Klok Opereytors Buletin
1939
Scope and Contents
Yiddish. no.1-2 (1939)
Box 2 Folder 17
Der Klouk Finisher
1942
Scope and Contents
English and Yiddish. v.1:no1-5 (1942)
Box 2 Folder 18
Klouk-Finishers Shtime
1942
Scope and Contents
Yiddish. v.1:no.1 (1942:Jan.)
Box 2 Folder 19
Der Klouk un Dresmaker
1931
Scope and Contents
Yiddish. v.1:no.1-3 (1931)
Box 2 Folder 20
Knitgoods Workers Voice
1966
Scope and Contents
v.30:no.5 (1966:Oct.). 2 copies.
Box 2 Folder 21
Konvenshon Buletin
1928
Box 2 Folder 22
Labor Unity
1929
Scope and Contents
v.3:no.21 (1929:Aug. 17)
Box 2 Folder 23
The Ladies' Garment Cutter
1939-1940
Scope and Contents
v.1:no.11 (1939:May); v.2:no.9 (1940:March); v.2:no.11 (1940:May)
Box 2 Folder 24
Let's Teach the Truth About Unions.
1942
Scope and Contents
Reprinted from American Teacher, March 1942.
Box 2 Folder 25
Mode O'Day News
1942
Scope and Contents
no.25 (1942:Feb. 18). 2 copies. V.2:no.26 (1942:Feb. 23)
Box 2 Folder 26
Di Naye Welt
1921
Scope and Contents
Yiddish. v.8:no.33 (1921:Sep. 16)
Box 2 Folder 27
The Needle Worker
1930-1931
Scope and Contents
English, Yiddish, and Spanish. v.1:no.1-2 (1930:Aug.-Oct.); v.2:no.710 (1931:July-Oct.)
Box 2 Folder 28
The Newsette
1941-1942
Scope and Contents
v.1:no.1 (1941:Dec.); v.1:no.4 (1942:Jan.)
Box 2 Folder 29
Nodl Arbeter
1924-1927
Scope and Contents
Yiddish. v.1:no.2/3 (1924:Feb./Mar.); v.2:no.4 (1926
Box 2 Folder 30
Di Nodl-Arbeter Shtime
1930
Scope and Contents
Yiddish
Box 2 Folder 31
The Organizer
Scope and Contents
English and Spanish. v.1:no.1-2,7
Box 2 Folder 32
Our Local 66
1947
Scope and Contents
v.6:no.3 (1947:Mar.)
Box 2 Folder 33
Progressive Youth
1937
Scope and Contents
June, 1937
Box 2 Folder 34
Rank and File Cutter
1937
Scope and Contents
v.3:no.3 (1937:Mar.)
Box 2 Folder 35
The Red Needle
1929
Scope and Contents
English and Yiddish. V.1:no.1-4 (1929)
Box 2 Folder 36
A Report to the Members: Knitgoods Workers Voice
1942-1944
Box 2 Folder 37
Di Rifermaker Shtime
Scope and Contents
Yiddish
Box 2 Folder 38
Safeguard Your Union Against Disruption
Box 2 Folder 39
Der Tsentrist
1929
Scope and Contents
Yiddish. v.1:no.1-2 (1929)
Box 2 Folder 40
Undzer Yodl
Scope and Contents
Yiddish. 2 copies
Box 2 Folder 41
The Union Voice
Scope and Contents
v.1:no.2
Box 2 Folder 42
The Voice of Unity
1928
Scope and Contents
English and Yiddish. v.1:no.1-6 (1928)
Box 2 Folder 43
The Word of the Dressmakers
1938
Scope and Contents
English and Italian. v.2:no.3 (1938:May)