Neil P. Speirs Collection of U.S. Railroad Retirement Board Memorabilia, 1953-1977
Collection Number: 6215 MB
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Neil P. Speirs Collection of U.S Railroad Retirement Board Memorabilia, 1953-1977
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
6215 MB
Abstract:
This collection contains the memorabilia of Neil P. Speirs, former president of the
Switchmsn's Union of North America [SUNA], assistant president of the United Transportation
Union [UTU], and labor member of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board.
Creator:
Speirs, Neil P.
United States. Railroad Retirement Board
Quanitities:
1 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English
Neil P. Speirs was born in Alberta, Canada, on December 25, 1912 and moved to the
United States with his parents in 1919. He became a naturalized citizen in 1942. Mr.
Speirs graduated from the University of Idaho in 1934, having majored in business
and education.
Mr. Speirs began his railroad career with Southern Pacific Railroad, working in the
railroad's train yards. He was first elected to the local Grievance Committee of Adjustment
for the Switchmen's Union of North America [SUNA], Local 98 (San Francisco, CA) in
1950. In 1952, he was elected as a full-time officer, serving as chairman of the General
Grievance Committee of Adjustment, Southern Pacific Railroad [SP]. Mr. Speirs served
in this capacity until 1955, when he was elected to serve as SUNA International Vice-President.
In 1959, he was elected to be President of SUNA and served as President until January
1, 1969.
On January 1, 1969 SUNA, along with the Order of Railway Conductors and Brakemen,
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, and the Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen formed the United Transportation Union [UTU]. Upon the merger, Mr. Speirs
became Assistant President of UTU.
In 1969, President Richard Nixon appointed Mr. Speirs as the Labor Member of the
Railroad Retirement Board. In 1974, President Gerald Ford re-appointed him to that
position. He retired from the Railroad Retirement Board in 1977, but served on the
Arbitration Panel of the National Mediation Board on a part-time basis until 1978.
Inclusive date range: 1953-1977, undated
Bulk dates: 1953-1977
This collection contains memoribilia collected by Neil P. Speirs over the course
of his career. Numerous pins, both pin-back buttons and enameled stick pins, from
SUNA are located in this collection. These pins either mark important milestones of
Speirs' membership in SUNA or publicize SUNA initiatives and camapigns. Other SUNA
memoribilia found in this collection include a commemorative plate and a zippered
vinyl pouch. Because of his position as the president of SUNA and as assisstant president
of UTU, Mr. Speirs also collected numerous guest badges and medals for the conventions
of other unions. Also found in this collection are three enamel pins from the National
Railway Workers' Union of Japan [NRU], given to Mr. Speirs during a visit NRU members
made to SUNA headquarters in Buffalo, NY. A medal commemorating the founding of the
UTU, with a portrait of Mr. Speirs on the front, is found in this collection. Finally,
a pen used by President Lyndon B. Johnson to sign an act to facilitate research into
high-speed ground transportation.
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference
archivist for access to these materials.
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and
Procedures for Document Use.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
Neil P. Speirs Collection of U.S. Railroad Retirement Board Memorabilia #6215 MB.
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Related Collections: 6215: Neil P. Speirs Collection of U.S. Railroad Retirement Board Member Files 6215 P: Neil P. Speirs Collection of U.S. Railroad Retirement Board Member Photographs 5034: Switchmen's Union of North America Records 5034 MB: Switchmen's Union of North America Memorabilia 5034 P: Switchmen's Union of North America Photographs 5084: Switchmen's Union of North America Additional Records 5405 mf: Switchmen's Union of North America Constitutions on Microfilm 5406 mf: Switchmen's Union of North America Arbitration on Microfilm 5447: Switchmen's Union of North America Additional Unification Minutes and Convention
Proceedings 5556: Switchmen's Union of North America Additional Records 5139: UTU Records 5139 AV: UTU Audio-Visual Material 5139 MB: UTU Memorabilia 5139 P: UTU Photographs
Names:
Speirs, Neil P.
Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973
United States. Railroad Retirement Board
AFL-CIO
Gilbert, H. E.
Lane, C. F.
Subjects:
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees
Brotherhood of Railway Clerks
International Brotherhood of Firemen and Oilers
Switchmen's Union of North America
United Transportation Union
Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of North America
Gompers, Samuel, 1850-1924
Meany, George, 1894-1980
Schnitzler, William F.
Luna, Charles
CONTAINER LIST
|
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
| Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Samuel Gompers Coins - Amalgamated Meat Cutters & Butcher Workmen of N.A.
|
|
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Scope and Contents
2 coins
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 2 |
President Lyndon B. Johnson's Pen
|
1965 |
|
Scope and Contents
"One of the pens used by the President, September 30, 1965, in signing S. 1588, An
Act to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to undertake research and development in
high-speed ground transportation, and for other purposes.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 3 |
Speirs' UTU Commemorative Medal
|
1969 |
|
Scope and Contents
3 medals with portraits of the presidents of the four unions which united to form
the UTU: N. P. Speirs, Charles Luna, H. E. Gilbert, C. F. Lane
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 4 |
International Brotherhood of Firemen and Oilers special guest medal and Brotherhood
of Railroad Trainmen pin
|
1971 |
|
Scope and Contents
Special guest medal from the 26th Convention of the International Brotherhood of Firemen
and Oilers, held in Miami Beach, Florida, May 3-7, 1971.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 5 |
Brotherhood of Railway Carmen convention guest medals
|
1973 |
|
Scope and Contents
2 guest medals for the 25th Convention of the Brotherhood of Railroad Carmen of America,
Kansas City, Missouri, July 30-August 11, 1973
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 6 |
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees convention guest medals
|
1970-1974 |
|
Scope and Contents
Two guest medals from Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employs conventions. One is
from the 36th Regular Convention, Detroit, Michigan, 1970; the other is from the 37th
Regular Convention, Denver, Colorado, 1974
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 7 |
UTU pins, tie clips, golf divot tool, golf ball markers
|
|
| Box 1 | Folder 8 |
AFL-CIO Convention Badges and cuff links
|
1959-1977 |
|
Scope and Contents
Conventions: San Francisco, California, 1959; New York, New York, 1963; San Francisco,
California, 1965 (2 badges); Bal Harbour, Florida, 1967; Los Angeles, California,
1977
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 9 |
SUNA - badges and pin-back buttons
|
1959 |
|
Scope and Contents
Member badge (front) Maple Leaf Lodge No. 84, Switchmen's Union of North America,
Oelwein, Iowa (back) In Memoriam, Maple Leaf Lodge No. 84, Switchmen's Union of North
America, Oelwein, Iowa; Vice-president badge and Delegate badge from 6th Quadrennial
Convention, June, 1959; 2 pin-back buttons;
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 10 |
SUNA and National Railway Workers' Union of Japan [NRU] buttons
|
1953-1966 |
|
Scope and Contents
pin-back and enamel buttons; 3 buttons from the NRU. See collection 6215 P, box 1
folder16, for a photograph of their visit to SUNA headquarters in Buffalo, NY
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 11 |
SUNA plate
|
|
| Box 1 | Folder 12 |
SUNA zippered case
|
|
| Box 1 | Folder 13 |
UTU Plaque honoring N.P. Speirs on his retirement
|
1974 |
|
Scope and Contents
see letter in collection 6215, box 1, folder 10
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| Box 1 | Folder 14 |
N.P. Speirs stamp; UTU paper weight
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