Guide to the Columbia Conserve Company Employee Council Minutes,
1932-1933

Collection Number: 5232

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
Fax: (607) 255-9641
kheel_center@cornell.edu
http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/library/kheel
Compiled by:
Kheel Center staff
EAD encoding:
Casey S. Westerman, December 5, 2002

© 2002 Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Columbia Conserve Company. Employee Council minutes, 1932-1933.
Collection Number:
5232
Creator:
Columbia Conserve Company. Employee Council.
Quantity:
1 linear ft.
Forms of Material:
Minutes.
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Records consist chiefly of the minutes (1932-1933) of the Employee Council of the Columbia Conserve Co. of Indianapolis, Ind.


ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

The Columbia Conserve Company, canners of soups and catsups, was owned and managed since 1902 by members of the Hapgood family.
Mr. William P. Hapgood, president of the Columbia Conserve Company believed that industrial democracy meant "government of the workers, by the workers, for the workers." In 1917 Mr. Hapgood started his plan, by giving the workers the right to make rules governing their hours, incomes, hiring and firing and to decide upon all policies of the company.
Various measures adopted by the plant reflect the improvement of the workers. The 55 hour week was reduced to 50 in 1917 and 45 in 1924 when a five day week and a 9 hour day were reestablished.
The maximum salary was set at $5,000. per year. Minimum salaries were established were $22 per week for unmarried and $33 per week for married men, with an additional $2 for each child, married women, where husbands were also employed received $19 per week in 1931.
Dividends were paid to employees at the same rate as on capital stock based on the payroll until 1925 when an agreement was reached for the employees to purchase common stock with their share of the profits.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Records consist chiefly of the minutes (1932-1933) of the Employee Council of the Columbia Conserve Co. of Indianapolis, Ind. In addition, this collection includes a brochure describing the Columbia Conserve Company's products and organization; and a pamphlet by Norman Hapgood entitled "The Columbia Conserve and the Committee of Four" (1922).

SUBJECTS

Names:
Columbia Conserve Company.

Subjects:
Works councils--United States.
Cannery workers.

Form and Genre Terms:
Minutes.


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:
Columbia Conserve Company. Employee Council minutes, 1932-1933. 5232. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.