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).
Isidore Nagler (1895-1959) came to the United States from Austria-Hungary in 1909 and joined Local 10 of the ILGWU in 1911. He held various positions within the ILGWU, including business agent of Local 10, manager of the New York Cloak Joint Board, international vice president, and manager of the New York Joint Board of the Cloak, Shirt, Skirt and Reefer Makers' Union. He was also involved in the work of the New York State Federation of Labor, American Federation of Labor, American Labor Party, Liberal Party, and the Jewish Labor Committee.
The Cutters of Local 10 can be traced back to the Gotham Knife Cutters of 1884 and the United Cloak Cutters in 1886 by the Knights of Labor. These were the predecessors of Local 15 and 6 which were chartered by the ILGWU in 1902 and merged to become Local 10 in 1906. Local 10 played a lead role in the 1910 cloakmakers' strike. Local 10 of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU), was also known as the Amalgamated Ladies' Garment Cutters' Union, and based in New York City. Isidore Nagler was Manager of the Amalgamated Ladies' Garment Cutters' Union, Local 10 of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union from 1939 to 1952.
The collection is composed of correspondence of Local 10 managers Isidore Nagler. Amalgamated Cutters' Union Local 10 was a member of the Joint Board of Cloak, Suit, Skirt and Reefer Makers' Union, as well as the Joint Board of the Dress and Waistmakers' Union. Local 10 held a unique position in that its members were split between both Joint Boards. Cutters of cloaks belonged to the Cloak Joint Board and cutters of dresses belonged to the Dress Joint Board. Local 10's dual position in the Joint Boards is reflected in the records.
There are administrative records of managing the local, including records, documents and correspondence from the International. Various departments are represented (Auditing, Education, Research), as well as other locals. There is the correspondence of Max Goldenberg, who was the secretary of Local 10.
Manufacturers' associations found in the collection include the Affiliated Dress Manufacturers, Inc., Associated Corset and Brassiere Manufacturers, Infants and Childrens' Coat Association, Merchants Ladies Garment Association, National Dress Manufacturers Association, and Industrial Council of Cloak, Suit and Skirt Manufacturers, Inc.
Available is material documenting local elections, including nominations and signed resignation cards. Of particular importance is the information regarding the ILGWU practice (according to Article 5 Section 28 of the ILGWU constitution) that required newly elected and installed officers to sign undated resignation forms to be deposited with the union. Similar material is also found in 5780/011. And there is also cases that were brought before the executive board, and the decisions of the Impartial Chairman.
Similar and complementary records can be found in 5780/011 Local 10 Managers' Correspondence.
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.
ILGWU. Local 10. Managers' correspondence #5780/012. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Related Collections:
Incl. statement by Dean Alfange before House of Representatives on the rescue of the Jewish people of Europe ; address by Dean Alfange, November 1943.
Corres. on negotiations w. independent firms, agreements.
Affiliated Dress Manufacturers, Inc..
Allied Underwear Association.
Incl. American Cloak & Suit Mfrs. Assoc.; Assoc. Corset & Brassiere Mfrs., Inc.; Industrial Assoc. of Juvenile Apparel Mfrs., Inc.
Incl. Infant's & Children's Coat Assoc., Inc. 1943-47; letters from Executive Director Charles Baker Informing Local on cutters employed by members of the Assoc.
Incl. Merchant Ladles Garment Assoc. 1943-47; National Assoc. of Blouse Mfrs., 1944-45.
Incl. National Dress Mfrs. Assoc., 1943-47; National Skirt & Sportswear Assoc.; Negligee Mfrs., 1943-45; Popular Priced Dress Mfrs., 1943-45; United Better Dress Mfrs. & United Popular Dress Mfrs. Assoc.
Incl. Corres. w. Mortimer C. Ritter.
Incl. Corres. w. Israel Feinberg on Union related matters & drive conducted by United Jewish Appeal; P. Herman manager Organization & Patrol Dept. on investigation of firms.
Isidor Stenzor & Israel Feinberg reports.
Incl. proposals to Associations for negotiations in the cloak & suit industry.
Hearings before Impartial chairman Charles Poletti on increase in wages, October 1946.
Corres. w. Herbert Zame, reports, rules and regulations of retirement fund, administrative committee minutes, 1944.
Incl. Union request for reargument on impartial chairman's decision, April 1941; Procedure of the Board of Control.
Corres. w. Congressmen on labor and non-labor legislation.
Corres. w. Nathaniel M. Minkoff,
Incl. photographs.
Samuel Perlmutter vs Isidore Nagler, campaign literature.
Samuel Perlmutter vs Isidore Nagler, campaign literature.
Fiftieth Birthday celebration.
Incl. Corres. w. Italian-American Labor Council Luigi Antonini president.
Corres. & decisions of George J. Mintzer, 1943; decisions of James J. Walker.
Decisions of Harry Uviller.
George J. Mintzer decision, case Local 62 & Negligee, Lingerie, Allied Underwear, United Underwear Associations.
Corres. on employment of cutters.
Corres. w. David Dubinsky; Fredrick P. Umhey; releases.
Incl. decision on Arnold Ames case, 1945.
Corres. w. Simeon Hamburger, audit report on Local, 1942- 43.
Literature, form letters, posters.
Corres. w. Mark Starr, articles.
Letter to firms on increases to cutters.
League for Industrial Democracy, 1944-46.
Arranged numerically by local, 9-60.
Arranged numerically by local, 62-155.
Incl. Corres. w. Local 84, Los Angeles.
Incl. Corres. w. Negro Labor Committee, 1943-47.
Releases.
Investigations.
Incl. N.Y.S. Bd. of Mediation letters.
Pioneer Youth of America, Inc., 1943-44.
Incl. Corres. w. Rand School of Social Science, 1943-44.
Incl. Schlesinger letter on eliminating office of General Business Agent of Misc. Division. 1947.
Commissioner, City of New York, Dept. of Investigation, to Fiorello LaGuardia on Mark Starr Case, April 1943.
Incl. Corres. w. local members in armed services.
Incl. Corres. w. local members in armed services.
Corres., Treasury Dept., releases on War Savings Bonds.
Incl. distribution of relief funds, 1943-45.
Incl. reports, 1942.47.
Incl. rulings by Wage Stabilization Board. 1946.
Cases on wage adjustments & bonus adjustments for firms.
Cases.
Cases.
Incl. Red Cross, Russian War Relief, Inc.
Corres. w. members in armed services.
Corres. w. members in armed services.