Switchmen's Union of North America Additional Records, 1933-1969
Collection Number: 5084

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


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Switchmen's Union of North America Additional Records, 1933-1969
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5084
Abstract:
Documents of the Switchmen's Union of North America, including expired insurance policies, deeds, bonds, blueprints, legal opinions, and correspondence.
Creator:
Switchmen's Union of North America (SUNA)
Quanitities:
1.5 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English

Biographical / Historical

The Switchmen's Union of North America is among the older of the railway brotherhoods. Beginning in 1877 with the formation of a local Switchmen's organization in Chicago, the movement became national when the Switchmen's Mutual Aid Association of North America held its first meeting nine years later.
This association was destroyed, as a result of a disastrous lockout by the Chicago Northwestern and the 1888 strike against the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy which had equally unfortunate results. Building on what was left of the S.M.A.A., several lodges met in Kansas City in October of 1854 and formed the Switchmen's Union of North America.
By the time of its merger into the United Transportation Union in 1969, the single Chicago labor organization of 1877 had grown to international status with 275 lodges in the United States and Canada having a combined membership of 12,000.
CHRONOLOGY
1877 Switchmen's Mutual Aid Association of North America organized
1886 Switchmen's Association organized
1889 Switchmen's Association affiliated with the Supreme Council of United Orders of Railway Employees
1894 Switchmen's Association dissolved in July
Switchmen's Union of North America organized on October 13
1906 Switchmen's Union of North America affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
1926 Switchmen's Union of North America becomes charter member of the Railway Labor Executives Association
1935 Switchmen's Union of North America affiliated with the Canadian Labor Congress
1969 Switchmen's Union of North America joined with the B.R.T., B.L.F. and E., and O.R.C.B. to form the United Transportation Union.

Includes expired insurance policies, deeds, bonds, blue prints, one folder entitled "Legal Opinions" on Resolution #22-1930, Convention and Resolution #4-1920 Strike."; notebook entitled "Corresp-Unification" Suwa D. Collins
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

Switchmen's Union of North America Additional Records #5084. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.

Related Materials

Related Collections: 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 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 5556 AV: Switchmen's Union of North America Audio-Visual Materials 5590: Switchmen's Union of North America Lake Shore Lodge 55 Membership Registers 5613: Switchmen's Union of North America Oakland Lodge 158 Meeting Minutes 5630: W.B. Meyers Papers

SUBJECTS

Names:
Switchmen's Union of North America.
United Transportation Union
Subjects:
Railroads > Employees > Labor unions > United States
Railroads

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Box 1 Folder 1
Application for and Certificate of Incorporation
1901-1914
Box 1 Folder 2
Correspondence and Minutes, SUNA
1947
Box 1 Folder 3
Dan Collins, SUNA, Correspondence, Unification
1967-1968
Box 2 Folder 1
Legal Opinions on Resolution 22-1930 Convention, Resolution 4-1920 Strike
1931
Box 2 Folder 2
Certificate of Insurance, Safety Deposit Box
1962-1964
Box 2 Folder 3
Sales Contract, Switchmen's Union of North America
1920-1966
Box 2 Folder 4
Blue Print, Other Papers
1920-1926
Box 2 Folder 5
Workmen's Compensation Policy No. 15C 46013
Box 2 Folder 6
Deed 31 North Street, 39 North Street, 3 Linwood
1886-1937
Box 2 Folder 7
Owners', Landlords' and Tenants' Liability Policy
Box 2 Folder 8
Insurance Policies
Box 3 Folder 1
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company Policies
1958-1961
Box 3 Folder 2
Aetna Life and Casualty
Box 3 Folder 3
Workmen's Compensation Insurance
1953-1965
Box 3 Folder 4
Workmen's Compensation and Lease
1963-1969
Box 3 Folder 5
Fire Policy, Master Policy Labor Organization Board
1933-1966
Box 3 Folder 6
Internal Revenue Service, Ruling
1936-1964
Box 3 Folder 7
Recommendations and Directives
1951-1955
Box 3 Folder 8
John F. Kennedy Voting Correspondence
1960
Scope and Contents
August 30 1960