Guide to the ILGWU. Legal Department. Donnelly Garment Company v. ILGWU records

Collection Number: 5780/162

Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library

Contact Information:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives
Martin P. Catherwood Library
227 Ives Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3183
kheel_center@cornell.edu
http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/library/kheel
Compiled by:
R. Miles
EAD encoding:
Kheel Staff, May 25, 2012

© 2012 Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
ILGWU. Legal Department. Donnelly Garment Company v. ILGWU records, 1935-1942
Collection Number:
5780/162
Creator:
International Ladies' Garment Union Records
Quantity:
6 linear ft.
Forms of Material:
Articles, reprints, pamphlets, correspondence, photographs.
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Contains transcripts, briefs, and other legal documents relating to Donnelly Garment Company v. ILGWU.
Language:
Collection material in English


ILGWU ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

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).

LEGAL DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

From very early on in its existence, the ILGWU had need for legal counsel, and this was handled in the union’s main offices in cooperation with hired attorneys. As the union grew and especially after the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act in 1947, the union found cause to establish a Legal Department. The department provided general legal counsel to the union and its affiliates, worked to develop collective bargaining agreement terms, and represented the ILGWU in litigation and arbitration. After the formation of the Master Agreements Department in 1965, the responsibilities for developing CBA terms shifted to the new department.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The Legal Department records do not comprehensively document the ILGWU legal activities, instead focusing on specific cases or series of cases.
Two ILGWU cases are documented in the Legal Department records. The first case involved the Kellwood Corporation, and the second involved the Donnelly Garment Company. The records relating to the Kellwood case (5780/107, 5780/107 AV, 5780/107 P) include court documents, correspondence and memoranda, surveys of strikers, organizing leaflets and newsletters (from both the union and the company), Steve Honeyman's draft accounts of the strike, audio and transcripts of Honeyman's interviews with ILGWU members and staff, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other printed material. The Donnelly Garment Company's case against the ILGWU is documented primarily through transcripts of the case, legal briefs, and related court documents.
Records on series of cases are the most general and extensive of the Legal Department records. They include records on ILGWU cases in the U.S. courts (5780/081), records documenting cases before the National War Labor Board (5780/085), and records relating to a wide variety contract negotiations, arbitration proceedings, and courts cases (5780/063).
Researchers may find complementary material in the other parts of the ILGWU records, such as the papers of the international leadership, especially the papers of ILGWU presidents (Series IV); the records of local unions in instances where these affiliates were involved in litigation or arbitration (Series III); and the collective bargaining agreements (Series VI). Related collections at the Kheel Center include decisions of the Coat and Suit Industry's Impartial Chairman (6036/015) and decisions of the Dress Industry's Impartial Chairman (6036/017).
This collection soley focuses on legal documents relating to the Donnelly Garment Company, including transcripts, briefs, and cases.

SUBJECTS

Names:
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.

Subjects:
Women's clothing industry--United States.
Labor unions--Clothing workers--United States.
Clothing workers--United States.
Industrial relations--United States.

Form and Genre Terms:
Records.


INFORMATION FOR USERS

Access Restrictions:
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference archivist for access to these materials.
Restrictions on Use:
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and Procedures for Document Use.
Cite As:
ILGWU. Legal Department. Donnelly Garment Company v. ILGWU records #5780/162. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.

RELATED MATERIALS

Related Collections:
5780: ILGWU records
5780/107: ILGWU. Legal Department records
5780/107 AV: ILGWU. Legal Department audio-visual materials
5780/107 P: ILGWU. Legal Department photographs
5780/081: ILGWU. Legal Department records
5780/063: ILGWU. Legal Department records

CONTAINER LIST

Date
Description
Container
1937
Transcript
Box 1 Folder 1
1943
Transcript. Vol.1
Box 1 Folder 2
Pgs. 1-967.
1943
Transcript. Vol.2
Box 1 Folder 3
Pgs. 968-1835.
1943
Transcript. Vol.1
Box 1 Folder 4
Pgs. 1-967. Second copy
1943
Transcript. Vol.2
Box 1 Folder 5
Pgs. 968-1835. Second copy
1943
Transcript. Vol.3
Box 2 Folder 1
Pgs. 1836-2218
1943
Transcript. Vol.4
Box 2 Folder 2
Pgs. 2219-3030
1943
Transcript. Vol.5
Box 2 Folder 3
Pgs. 3031-4190
1943
Transcript.
Box 2 Folder 4
Pgs. 1836-2791
1943
Transcript.
Box 2 Folder 5
Pgs. 2792-3566
1943
Transcript. Vol.6
Box 3 Folder 1
Pgs. 4191-5103.
1943
Transcript. Vol.7
Box 3 Folder 2
Pgs. 5104-5752.
1943
Transcript. Vol.8
Box 3 Folder 3
Pgs. 5753-6580
1943
Transcript. Vol.6
Box 3 Folder 4
Pgs. 4191-5103. Second copy
1943
Transcript. Vol.7
Box 3 Folder 5
Pgs. 5104-5752. Second copy
1939
Index.
Box 4 Folder 1
1939
Plaintiff's Case. Transcript. Vol.1
Box 4 Folder 2
Pgs. 1-138(10)
1939
Plaintiff's Case. Transcript. Vol.2
Box 4 Folder 3
Pgs. 138(11)-388
1939
Plaintiff's Case. Transcript. Vol.3
Box 4 Folder 4
Pgs. 389-552
1939
Plaintiff's Case. Transcript. Vol.4
Box 4 Folder 5
Pgs. 553-638
1939
Plaintiff's Case. Transcript. Vol.5
Box 4 Folder 6
Pgs. 639-777
1939
Plaintiff's Case. Transcript. Vol.6
Box 4 Folder 7
Pgs. 778-852
1939
Plaintiff's Case. Transcript. Vol.7
Box 4 Folder 8
Pgs. 853-1034
1939
Intervener's Case. Transcript
Box 4 Folder 9
Pgs. 1035-1282
1939
Defendant's Case Transcript. Vol.1
Box 4 Folder 10
Pgs. 1283-1365
1939
Defendant's Case Transcript. Vol.2
Box 4 Folder 11
Pgs. 1366-1411(91-e)
1939
Defendant's Case Transcript. Vol.3
Box 5 Folder 1
Pgs. 1413-1670
1939
Defendant's Case Transcript. Vol.4
Box 5 Folder 2
Pgs. 1671-1927(1)
1939
Defendant's Case Transcript. Vol.5
Box 5 Folder 3
Missing
1939
Defendant's Case Transcript. Vol.6
Box 5 Folder 4
Pgs. 2156(1)-2397
1939
Defendant's Case Transcript. Vol.7
Box 5 Folder 5
Pgs. 2398-2556(1)
1937
Statement of Evidence. Vol.1
Box 5 Folder 6
Pgs. 1-340
1937
Statement of Evidence. Vol.2
Box 5 Folder 7
Pgs. 341-659
1935
National Labor Relations Board Case. Vol.1
Box 5 Folder 8
Pgs. 1-200
1935
National Labor Relations Board Case. Vol.2
Box 5 Folder 9
Pgs. 201-318
1935
National Labor Relations Board Case. Vol.3
Box 5 Folder 10
Pgs. 319-443
1935
National Labor Relations Board Case. Vol.4
Box 5 Folder 11
Pgs. 444-663
1935
National Labor Relations Board Case. Vol.5
Box 5 Folder 12
Pgs. 664-813
1935
National Labor Relations Board Case. Vol.6
Box 5 Folder 13
Pgs. 814-957
1935
National Labor Relations Board Case. Vol.7
Box 5 Folder 14
Pgs. 958-1053
1935
National Labor Relations Board Case. Vol. 8
Box 5 Folder 15
Pages 1054-1115
1943
David Dubinsky, et al. [Folder 1 of 4]
Box 6 Folder 1
Pgs. 1-228
1943
David Dubinsky, et al. [Folder 2 of 4]
Box 6 Folder 2
Pgs. 229-495
1943
David Dubinsky, et al. [Folder 3 of 4]
Box 6 Folder 3
Pgs. 496-693
1943
David Dubinsky, et al. [Folder 4 of 4]
Box 6 Folder 4
Pgs. 694-782
1938
Injuction Case. Vol. 1
Box 6 Folder 5
1938
Injuction Case. Vol. 2
Box 6 Folder 6
1938
Injuction Case. Vol. 3
Box 6 Folder 7
1938
Injuction Case. Vol. 4
Box 6 Folder 8
1938
Injuction Case. Vol. 5
Box 6 Folder 9
1938
Briefs
Box 6 Folder 10
1939
Labor Board Case
Box 6 Folder 11