Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen Local 807 (Auburn, NY) Records, 1919-1973
Collection Number: 5467
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen Local 807 (Auburn, NY) Records, 1919-1973
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5467
Abstract:
This collection consists of the records of Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen,
Local 807, located in Auburn, New York. Consists chiefly of correspondence regarding
employee claims and grievances, the wage-rules movement, mergers, and routine business
matters; also, routine administrative documents, forms, certificates and schedules,
and financial records.
Creator:
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen (BLF&E)
BLF&E Local 807
Quanitities:
4.61 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen was founded on December 1, 1873 in Port Jervis,
New York by Erie Railroad firemen in order to provide mutual support for railroad
firemen. Their first convention was in 1874, at which they adopted their first constitution.
The Brotherhood initially emphasized insurance, but by the late nineteenth century
had branched out into labor-management relations.
In 1907, the organization changed its name to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen [BLF& E], reflecting the changes in its membership as former firemen
were promoted to engineers and permitting locomotive engineers to join its ranks.
In 1969, the union merged with the Order of Railway Conductors and Brakemen, the Brotherhood
of Railroad Trainmen, and the Switchmen's Union of North America to form the United
Transportation Union [UTU].
Lodge 807 of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, now defunct, was
located in Auburn, New York. It was composed of employees of the Lehigh Valley Railroad
Company [LVRR] working on the Lehigh Valley, Auburn, Cortland, and Auburn-Ithaca branches.
These employees were represented by Lodge 807 until its dissolution in 1966 at which
point they were represented by Lodge 379, located in Sayre, Pennsylvania. After the
merger of the railroad brotherhoods, they were represented by UTU Local 810. Finally,
in the 1970s, the operating employees joined the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
[BLE], Division 380, Auburn-Cortland Division.
Inclusive date range: 1919-1973
Bulk dates: 1925-1958
This collection consists of the records of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen [BLFE], Local 807, located in Auburn, New York. The members of this
Lodge were employees on the Lehigh Valley Railroad [LVRR] on the Lehigh Valley, Auburn,
Cortland, and Auburn-Ithaca branches. This collection, when examined along with Collection
5869, offers a mostly complete historical portrait of a BLFE Lodge and a glimpse into
the day to day work of railroad employees in upstate new York during the first half
of the 20th Century.
This collection contains the log books of Local 807's recording secretary, which
contains the records of the Lodge's meetings, members, dues, and elections. The collection
also contains the minutes of meetings for the General Grievance Committee of the Lehigh
Valley Railroad, which offers a broader view of both the BLFE and the LVRR system.
The records from the General Grievance Committee also contain the records of an on-going
dispute between the Auburn and Cortland factions of the Local 807 firemen and enginemen
regarding their seniority districts, work rosters, mileage equity, and rights to specific
runs on branch lines. The two factions, each responsible for separate branch lines,
had their rosters merged in 1932. This led to an ongoing conflict between the members
of Local 807 for the remainder of its existence. As the LVRR was forced to abandon
branch lines in the mid-20th Century, these disputes grew more contentious, finally
culminating in having the International President decide on the matter (see box 6,
folders 6 and 7). Extensive records of mileage worked by the various employees were
kept by the local to argue their individual cases. The situation was further exacerbated
by conflicts between the BLFE and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers [BLE], and
who had the standing to represent the LVRR employees. As a result, there were multiple
local chairmen, both de facto and official, who worked on behalf of their own factions.
As a result, the correspondence files have a great deal of crossover between the LVRR
General Grievance Committee and the various Lodge officials, who all kept separate
correspondence files but were oftentimes writing to each other.
These correspondence files make up the bulk of this collection. Major correspondents
include: William H. Sullivan and Louis Edelmayer (BLFE general chairmen, Lehigh Valley
System); James R. Lathrop, Harry Glowacki, William Welhaf, and F.W. Fehr (local chairmen,
Lodge 807); J.N. Haines, C.W. Wagner, and various officials of the Lehigh Valley Railroad;
and the financial secretaries of Lodge 807. Subjects discussed include grievance cases,
violations of the union shop agreement (1956), the abandonment of lines, discontinuance
of passenger service, fringe benefits, vacation agreements, and internal union issues,
including the Auburn and Cortland conflict. The correspondence files of the financial
secretaries contain records of the expenses of running a BLFE Lodge. The monthly financial
reports are also found in this collection as well as the annual filings with the IRS
and the Railroad Retirement Board. The financial records also contain complete membership
lists, information of insurance policies, and applications for membership.
Additional documents include various union organizers' forms, rosters for LVRR divisions,
contracts and agreements between the BLFE and the LVRR, and publications of the BLFE.
Collections consisted of numerous partially processed correspondence folders, arranged
in no coherent order, and by both date range and by name of correspondent. In both
cases, numerous papers were found in files that fit neither the date range nor the
name of the correspondent. The collection has been re-processed and arranged to create
a coherent file structure based on the contents of the papers.
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
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen Local 807 (Auburn, NY) Records #5467.
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Related Collections: 5141: Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen Records 5141 G: Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen Graphics 5141 MB: Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen Memorabilia 5176: Grand Lodge of the Ladies Society of the Former Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen Records 5467: Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen Local 807 (Auburn, NY) Records 5475: Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen General Chairman, Boston and
Maine Railroad Records 5611: Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen Honorary Register of Disabled 5646: Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen Additional Records 5869: Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen Local 807 (Auburn, NY) Additional
Records 6176: Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen Additional Records
Names:
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen.
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen. Local 807 (Auburn, N.Y.)
Lehigh Valley Railroad
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
Subjects:
Railroads--Employees.
Railroads--Employees--New York (State)--Auburn.
Grievance procedures. Railroads. New York (State)
Locomotive engineers
Locomotive firemen
Railroads--Employees
Labor Unions--Mergers--United States
Labor Unions--Consolidations--United States
Arbitration, Industrial -- United States
CONTAINER LIST
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Recording Secretary's Record, Lodge 807, Auburn, NY
|
1919-1937 |
Scope and Contents
Officer Roll, Minutes, and Member Lists
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 2 |
Recording Secretary's Record, Lodge 807, Auburn, NY
|
1945-1950 |
Scope and Contents
Officer Roll, Minutes, and Member Lists
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 3 |
Recording Secretary's Record, Lodge 807, Auburn, NY
|
1951-1961 |
Scope and Contents
Officer Roll, Minutes, and Member Lists
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 4 |
General Grievance Committee, LVRR, Minutes of Meetings
|
1925-1951 |
Scope and Contents
1925-1930, 1934, 1936-1940, 1943-1945, 1946, 1948, 1951
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 5 |
General Grievance Committee Action on E&C and L&NY Branch Line dispute
|
1925-1938 |
Scope and Contents
Regarding mileage disputes and employ of enginemen and firemen from the two branches,
headquartered in Cortland and Auburn, New York.
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 6 |
Correspondence re E&C and L&NY Branch Line dispute
|
1927-1943 |
Scope and Contents
Conflict between Auburn and Cortland employees re mileage, seniority, and rostering.
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 7 |
Auburn Mileage Reports
|
1937-1958 |
Scope and Contents
In re disputes between Auburn and Cortland divisions; and between committees of enginemen
and firemen. Reports are in regards to the merger of the Auburn and Cortland rosters
in 1932 on the LVRR.
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 8 |
Cortland Mileage Reports
|
1938-1958 |
Scope and Contents
In re disputes between Auburn and Cortland divisions; and between committees of enginemen
and firemen. Reports are in regards to the merger of the Auburn and Cortland rosters
in 1932 on the LVRR.
|
|||
Box 2 | Folder 1 |
Cortland Branch Correspondence, Grievances, William Welhaf, Lodge 807
|
1927-1945 |
Scope and Contents
Correspondence mostly in regards to the merger of the Auburn and Cortland rosters
in 1932 on the LVRR and dispute between the two branches.
|
|||
Box 2 | Folder 2 |
Cortland Branch Correspondence, General, F.W. Fehr, committeeman, Lodge 807
|
1947-1951 |
Scope and Contents
Correspondence mostly in regards to the merger of the Auburn and Cortland rosters
in 1932 on the LVRR and the dispute between the two branches
|
|||
Box 2 | Folder 3 |
Cortland Branch Correspondence, General, Nicolas Fiske, committeeman, Lodge 807
|
1951-1956 |
Scope and Contents
Includes series of letters between Sullivan, Lathrop, Wagner, and Fiske re a fireman
(Ryan) who is in violation of the Union Shop Agreement.
|
|||
Box 2 | Folder 4 |
Seneca Falls Branch, Correspondence
|
1950-1953 |
Scope and Contents
Dispute regarding seniority districts and rosters of firemen
|
|||
Box 2 | Folder 5 |
Correspondence, J.N. Haines, LVRR General Manager, and Louis Edelmeyer, general chairman,
BLFE
|
1929-1941 |
Scope and Contents
Docketed grievances; decisions; general bulletins for distribution
|
|||
Box 2 | Folder 6 |
Correspondence, J.N. Haines, LVRR General Manager, and Louis Edelmeyer, general chairman,
BLFE
|
1942-1945 |
Scope and Contents
Docketed grievances; decisions; general bulletins for distribution. (W. H. Sullivan
takes over as BLFE General Chairman in October of 1945)
|
|||
Box 2 | Folder 7 |
Correspondence, Docketed Cases and Decisions
|
1946-1952 |
Scope and Contents
Between C.L. Wagner, chief of personnel LVRR, and W.H. Sullivan, general chairman,
BLFE
|
|||
Box 2 | Folder 8 |
Correspondence, W.H. Sullivan, General Chairman BLFE
|
1947-1948 |
Scope and Contents
Docketed cases, decisions, bulletins, personal correspondence
|
|||
Box 2 | Folder 9 |
Correspondence, W. H. Sullivan, General Chairman BLFE
|
1949-1950 |
Scope and Contents
Docketed cases, decisions, bulletins, personal correspondence
|
|||
Box 2 | Folder 10 |
Correspondence, W. H. Sullivan, General Chairman BLFE
|
1951-1954 |
Scope and Contents
Docketed cases, decisions, bulletins, personal correspondence
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 1 |
Correspondence, W. H. Sullivan, General Chairman BLFE
|
1955 |
Scope and Contents
January-June, 1955. Docketed cases, decisions, bulletins, personal correspondence
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 2 |
Correspondence, W. H. Sullivan, General Chairman BLFE
|
1955 |
Scope and Contents
July-December, 1955. Docketed cases, decisions, bulletins, personal correspondence
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 3 |
Correspondence, W.H. Sullivan, general chairman BLFE
|
1955-1958 |
Scope and Contents
Docketed cases, decisions, bulletins, personal correspondence
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 4 |
Correspondence, General
|
1945 |
Box 3 | Folder 5 |
Correspondence, General
|
1946 |
Box 3 | Folder 6 |
Correspondence, General
|
1947 |
Box 3 | Folder 7 |
Correspondence, General (1 of 2)
|
1948 |
Box 3 | Folder 8 |
Correspondence, General (2 of 2)
|
1948 |
Box 4 | Folder 1 |
Correspondence, General
|
1935 |
Box 4 | Folder 2 |
Correspondence, General
|
1936 |
Box 4 | Folder 3 |
Correspondence, General
|
1937 |
Box 4 | Folder 4 |
Correspondence, General
|
1938 |
Box 4 | Folder 5 |
Correspondence, General
|
1939 |
Box 4 | Folder 6 |
Correspondence, General
|
1940 |
Box 4 | Folder 7 |
Correspondence, General
|
1941 |
Box 4 | Folder 8 |
Correspondence, General
|
1942 |
Box 4 | Folder 9 |
Correspondence, General
|
1943 |
Box 4 | Folder 10 |
Correspondence, General
|
1944 |
Box 5 | Folder 1 |
Correspondence, James R. Lathrop, Local Chairman Lodge 807, BLFE
|
1946-1948 |
Box 5 | Folder 2 |
Correspondence, James R. Lathrop, Local Chairman, Lodge 807, BLFE
|
1949-1950 |
Box 5 | Folder 3 |
Correspondence, James R. Lathrop, Local Chairman, Lodge 807, BLFE
|
1951-1952 |
Box 5 | Folder 4 |
Correspondence, James R. Lathrop, Local Chairman, Lodge 807, BLFE
|
1953 |
Box 5 | Folder 5 |
Correspondence, James R. Lathrop, Local Chairman, Lodge 807, BLFE
|
1955 |
Box 5 | Folder 6 |
Correspondence, James R. Lathrop, Local Chairman, Lodge 807, BLFE
|
1956 |
Scope and Contents
January-May, 1956
|
|||
Box 5 | Folder 7 |
Correspondence, James R. Lathrop, Local Chairman, Lodge 807, BLFE
|
1956 |
Scope and Contents
April-June, 1956
|
|||
Box 5 | Folder 8 |
Correspondence, James R. Lathrop, Local Chairman, Lodge 807, BLFE
|
1956 |
Scope and Contents
July-December, 1956
|
|||
Box 5 | Folder 9 |
Correspondence, James R. Lathrop, Local Chairman, Lodge 807, BLFE
|
1957 |
Scope and Contents
January-June, 1957
|
|||
Box 6 | Folder 1 |
Correspondence, James R. Lathrop, Local Chairman, Lodge 807, BLFE
|
1957 |
Scope and Contents
July-December, 1957
|
|||
Box 6 | Folder 2 |
Correspondence, James R. Lathrop, Local Chairman, Lodge 807, BLFE
|
1958 |
Box 6 | Folder 3 |
Correspondence, Harry Glowacki, Local Chairman, Lodge 807, BLFE
|
1950-1953 |
Scope and Contents
July 1950-June1953
|
|||
Box 6 | Folder 4 |
Correspondence, Harry Glowacki, Local Chairman, Lodge 807, BLFE
|
1953 |
Scope and Contents
July-December1953
|
|||
Box 6 | Folder 5 |
Correspondence, Harry Glowacki, Local Chairman, Lodge 807, BLFE
|
1954-1955 |
Box 6 | Folder 6 |
Correspondence re Track Abandonments On LVRR Auburn-Fair Haven Line
|
1952 |
Scope and Contents
February-May, 1952. Includes newspaper clippings and ICC filings
|
|||
Box 6 | Folder 7 |
Correspondence re Track Abandonments On LVRR Auburn-Fair Haven Line
|
1952-1955 |
Scope and Contents
Including correspondence regarding the changes in Seniority Districts and mileage
equity for firemen and enginemen from Auburn and Cortland and briefs filed by the
Auburn Lodge to support their seniority rights over the Sayre Lodge.
|
|||
Box 6 | Folder 8 |
Proposed Changes, Auburn Branch
|
1941-1950 |
Box 7 | Folder 1 |
Correspondence, Zell C. Porter, Financial Secretary Lodge 807
|
1943-1949 |
Box 7 | Folder 2 |
Correspondence, Harry Welch, Financial Secretary Lodge 807
|
1949 |
Box 7 | Folder 3 |
Correspondence, Harry Glowacki, Financial Secretary Lodge 807
|
1949-1951 |
Box 7 | Folder 4 |
Correspondence, Financial Secretary
|
1952-1957 |
Box 7 | Folder 5 |
Forms: Applications
|
1944-1949 |
Scope and Contents
Approval of Application for Insurance Certificates; Acceptance of Application for
Memberships; and Re-Admissions of Former Members
|
|||
Box 7 | Folder 6 |
Forms: Applications
|
1949-1951 |
Scope and Contents
Acceptance of Application for Memberships; and Re-Admissions of Former Members
|
|||
Box 7 | Folder 7 |
Forms: Monthly Financial Assessments
|
1946 |
Box 7 | Folder 8 |
Forms: Monthly Financial Reports
|
1947 |
Box 7 | Folder 9 |
Forms: Monthly Financial Reports
|
1948 |
Box 7 | Folder 10 |
Forms: Monthly Financial Reports
|
1949 |
Box 7 | Folder 11 |
Forms: Monthly Financial Reports
|
1950 |
Box 7 | Folder 12 |
Forms: Monthly Financial Reports
|
1951 |
Box 7 | Folder 13 |
Forms: Monthly Financial Reports
|
1952 |
Box 7 | Folder 14 |
Forms: Monthly Financial Reports
|
1953 |
Box 8 | Folder 1 |
Forms: Monthly Financial Reports
|
1954 |
Box 8 | Folder 2 |
Forms: Monthly Financial Reports
|
1955 |
Box 8 | Folder 3 |
Forms: Monthly Financial Reports
|
1956 |
Box 8 | Folder 4 |
Forms: Monthly Financial Reports
|
1957 |
Box 8 | Folder 5 |
Forms: Annual Financial Reports
|
1945-1957 |
Box 8 | Folder 6 |
Forms: Railroad Retirement Board, Number 8918
|
1947-1954 |
Scope and Contents
Quarterly payroll forms; mailers and instructions; blank forms; promotional materials.
|
|||
Box 8 | Folder 7 |
Forms: Railroad Retirement Board, Number 8918, Quarterly Tax Forms
|
1944-1956 |
Box 8 | Folder 8 |
Forms: Insurance
|
1954-1958 |
Scope and Contents
Death benefits, insurance pay-outs, and applications
|
|||
Box 8 | Folder 9 |
Forms: Semi-Annual Report of the General Secretary and Treasurer
|
1958-1961 |
Scope and Contents
1958, 1961
|
|||
Box 8 | Folder 10 |
Forms, blank
|
|
Scope and Contents
Undated
|
|||
Box 8 | Folder 11 |
Correspondence re Health Insurance for BLFE members
|
1958 |
Box 8 | Folder 12 |
Local Organizer's Receipt books, Report book, and Travelling Cards book
|
|
Scope and Contents
Blank books of tear-out forms. Undated.
|
|||
Box 8 | Folder 13 |
LVRR, Buffalo Division Rosters
|
1948-1950 |
Box 8 | Folder 14 |
LVRR, Agreement with
|
1950 |
Box 8 | Folder 15 |
LVRR, Proposed Insurance Pay, Rules, Regulations
|
1948 |
Box 8 | Folder 16 |
LVRR, bulletins and rosters
|
1948-1955 |
Box 9 | Folder 1 |
BLFE Correspondence regarding Strike on Canada Pacific Railway
|
1958 |
Box 9 | Folder 2 |
BLFE Pamphlets
|
1922-1963 |
Box 9 | Folder 3 |
BLFE Magazine, vol. 155, no.1
|
1963 |
Box 9 | Folder 4 |
"Ergonomics: Human factors in work, machine control, and equipment design" by Robert
S. Schwab
|
1957 |
Box 9 | Folder 5 |
Letter from UTU to LVRR
|
1973 |
Scope and Contents
Letter from LVRR employees at Geneva, New York regarding track condition
|