Guide to the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. Frederick F. Umhey, Executive Secretary. Correspondence,
1934-1955

Collection Number: 5780/005

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:
Robert E. Lazar
Date completed:
March 1976
EAD encoding:
Casey S. Westerman, July 9, 2002

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

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
International Ladies Garment Workers Union. Frederick F. Umhey, Executive Secretary. Correspondence, 1934-1955 [bulk 1940-1950].
Collection Number:
5780/005.
Creator:
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Executive Secretary.
Quantity:
28 linear ft.
Forms of Material:
Correspondence
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
The Umhey Executive Secretary records consist primarily of organizational records, subject files, and correspondence dealing with union administrative matters.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Frederick Umhey was born in New York City in 1895. Unlike most officials in the ILGWU, Umhey was never employed as a garment maker. He began working in the office of Morris Hillquit, the labor lawyer, while still a teenager, and remained there until Hillquit's death in 1933. The following year, ILGWU President David Dubinsky appointed Umhey to the newly-created post of Executive Secretary. In that role, he served as administrator for such ILGWU programs as the Union Health Center, Unity House, and the death benefit fund. He also served as secretary to all of the standing committees of the union's General Executive Board. Frederick Umhey died in office in 1955.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Much of the collection is made up of routine correspondence. There is, however, significant material documenting such ILGWU activities as the annual convention, Union Health Center, Unity House (the ILGWU resort), and Unity Broadcasting Corporation, which owned a number of radio stations across the country. In addition, the collection contains correspondence with government officials about labor situations in the garment industry during World War II, and information about health care, benefits, and pensions for workers. Some of Umhey's personal records are also included.
Significant individuals in the collection include Luigi Antonini, David Dubinsky, Morris Hillquit, and Meyer Perlstein. Among the notable organizations represented in the collection are the joint boards and local unions of the ILGWU, Labor League for Human Rights, Labor's League for Political Education, the Liberal Party of New York, the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and the U.S. Department of Labor.
SUBJECTS

Names:
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.
Antonini, Luigi, 1883-1968.
Dubinsky, David, 1892-
Hillquit, Morris, 1869-1933.
Perlstein, Meyer, 1884-1958.
Umhey, Frederick F., 1895-1955.
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union--Management.
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Union Health Center.
Labor League for Human Rights.
Labor's League for Political Education.
Liberal Party of New York State.
New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
United States. Department of Labor.
Unity Broadcasting Corporation.
Unity House.

Subjects:
Clothing trade--United States.
Clothing workers--Medical care--United States.
Clothing workers--Labor unions--United States.
Labor unions--Officials and employees.
Labor union locals.
Survivors' benefits--United States.
Women's clothing industry--United States.
Workers' compensation--United States.
World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects--United States.

Form and Genre Terms:
Correspondence
Organization files

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:
International Ladies Garment Workers Union. Frederick F. Umhey, Executive Secretary. Correspondence, 1934-1955 [bulk 1940-1950]. #5780/005. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
SERIES LIST

Series I. Executive Secretary correspondence. Boxes 1-55
Series II. Personal correspondence. Box 56

CONTAINER LIST

Description
Container
I. Executive Secretary correspondence.
American Federation of Labor
1950-55.
Box 1 Folder 1
1948-49.
Box 1 Folder 2
Convention: 1952-54.
Box 1 Folder 3
New York State Federation of Labor: 1946-51.
Box 1 Folder 4
Includes Union resolutions to Convention.
Health Plans: 1952-54.
Box 1 Folder 5
Includes Umhey statement before the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Jan. 1954; correspondence with Committee members.
Health Plans: 1948-49.
Box 1 Folder 6
correspondence re American Medical Assoc. in cooperation with consumer cooperatives and labor groups to work out a program for medical care and services.
Questionnaires: 1944-55.
Box 1 Folder 7
American Labor Conference on International Affairs, Inc.: 1945.
Box 1 Folder 8
Includes by-laws.
Annuities
The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the U.S.: 1938-51.
Box 1 Folder 9
correspondence
Equitable Life Assurance Society of the U.S.: 1938-51.
Box 1 Folder 10
Equitable Assurance: 1941-46.
Box 1 Folder 11
Includes Antonini's Policy, 1946.
Reports and Form Letters: 1945-47.
Box 1 Folder 12
Retirement Inquiries: 1946
Box 2 Folder 1
Statistical Tables and Employee Records (n.d.).
Box 2 Folder 2
Miscellaneous: c. 1938.
Box 2 Folder 3
Applications, Employment: 1946-49.
Box 2 Folder 4
Attorneys
D.
Box 2 Folder 5
Jacob J. Edelman: 1934-47.
Box 2 Folder 6
F
Box 2 Folder 7
G.
Box 2 Folder 8
G.
Box 2 Folder 9
Includes correspondence with Morris Glushien and other members of General Counsel office.
G.
Box 2 Folder 10
Includes correspondence with Morris Glushien, 1947-50.
H-I.
Box 2 Folder 11
Jack Johannes: 1938-46.
Box 2 Folder 12
K.
Box 2 Folder 13
Clif. Langsdale: 1938-43.
Box 2 Folder 14
Morris Levin: 1943-48.
Box 3 Folder 1
L.
Box 3 Folder 2
Includes correspondence with Abe Levy, 1938-49.
Elias Lieberman: 1936-51.
Box 3 Folder 3
Markewich and Null: 1933-44.
Box 3 Folder 4
George E. Roewer: 1943-48.
Box 3 Folder 5
George E. Roewer: 1936-51.
Box 3 Folder 6
S.
Box 3 Folder 7
Emil Schlesinger: 1938-49
Box 3 Folder 8
Includes correspondence with Abraham Schlesinger.
Harry Sherr (Los Angeles): 1933-44.
Box 3 Folder 9
David Sokol: 1945-51
Box 3 Folder 10
T-Z.
Box 3 Folder 11
Blood Bank, Union and American Red Cross: 1952-53.
Box 4 Folder 1
Bonds
Analysis of Portfolios: 1944-47
Box 4 Folder 2
Purchases, General Office: 1953-54.
Box 4 Folder 3
Purchases: 1940-43, 1949-52.
Box 4 Folder 4
Purchases, Joint Boards and Locals: 1945-51.
Box 4 Folder 5
Purchases, Canada: 1940-50.
Box 4 Folder 6
Purchases, Defense Bonds: 1951.
Box 4 Folder 7
Inquiries re Payment: 1949-51.
Box 4 Folder 8
Manufacturers Trust Co., Custodian Account: 1943-48.
Box 4 Folder 9
Records (Canada): 1952-53.
Box 4 Folder 10
1937-50. Misc. correspondence
Box 4 Folder 11
Cabled Moneys, foreign.
Box 5 Folder 1
California Sportswear and Dress Assoc., Inc.: July 25, 1955
Box 5 Folder 2
Cancer Committees 1952-54.
Box 5 Folder 3
Correspondence and minutes of American Cancer Society
Central High School of Needle Trades: 1944-50.
Box 5 Folder 4
Central Trades and Labor Council: 1948-55
Box 5 Folder 5
Includes greetings in the Labor Chronicle.
City Center: 1951-55.
Box 5 Folder 6
City Center: 1952.
Box 5 Folder 7
correspondence re Laszlo Halasz incident.
Commission on Intergovernmental Relations: 1954-55.
Box 5 Folder 8
correspondence with Commission members.
Committees
Attendance Records of Union Officers: 1948-49.
Box 5 Folder 9
Attendance: 1939-43.
Box 5 Folder 10
Attendance: 1937-38.
Box 5 Folder 11
Members: 1934-47.
Box 5 Folder 12
(Standing Committees)
Beach Wear: 1938.
Box 5 Folder 13
Includes report.
Dress Survey Committee: 1943-46.
Box 6 Folder 1
Committee for the Nation's Health, Inc.: 1950-54.
Box 6 Folder 2
Comparative Schedules: 1942-49.
Box 6 Folder 3
Consumers League of New York: 1951-52.
Box 6 Folder 4
Constitution of Union: 1952-53.
Box 6 Folder 5
Includes inquiries.
ILGWU conventions
1953.
Box 6 Folder 6
Call and credentials; constitutional amendments; minutes of Convention Arrangements Committee.
1953.
Box 6 Folder 7
Delegate list, entertainment, form letters, financial matters.
1953.
Box 6 Folder 8
Guests; Hotel Morrison.
1953.
Box 6 Folder 9
Appeals from Los Angeles.
1953.
Box 6 Folder 10
Plumbers Hall and misc. correspondence
1953
Box 6 Folder 11
Printed material.
1953.
Box 6 Folder 12
GEB ratification for paid officers to remain in office past retirement age.
1950.
Box 7 Folder 1
Hotel Ambassador; arrangements, badges and banners.
1950.
Box 7 Folder 2
Committees, constitutional amendments, constitutional revision.
1950.
Box 7 Folder 3
Convention hall, delegates' list, correspondence with J.W.de R.-Quistgaard re D.D. portrait.
1950.
Box 7 Folder 4
correspondence on entertainment, exhibits and form letters.
1950.
Box 7 Folder 5
Misc.
1950.
Box 7 Folder 6
correspondence re movies, photos, printed material.
1950.
Box 7 Folder 7
Publicity, reports, resolutions.
1937.
Box 7 Folder 8
Cotroneo, Jennie: 1941-57.
Box 7 Folder 9
Re Esther Vitro and ILGW of the World, Inc. case.
Death Benefits
General matters, 1943-54.
Box 7 Folder 10
Includes correspondence re assessments, inquiries, eligibility.
1937-42.
Box 7 Folder 11
Committee Rulings: 1938-54.
Box 8 Folder 1
1937-50.
Box 8 Folder 2
Includes reports, minutes of meetings, research data.
Disability Benefits: 1949-55.
Box 8 Folder 3
Includes statement made by James Lipsig to N.Y. State Joint Legislative Committee on Industrial and Labor conditions, Dec. 1950.
Displaced Persons: 1949-50.
Box 8 Folder 4
Includes letters and releases from Citizens Committee on Displaced Persons.
Displaced Persons: 1947-48.
Box 8 Folder 5
Donnelly Garment Co. vs ILGWU
Correspondence and general memoranda, 1937-48.
Box 8 Folder 6a-6b
Correspondence with attorneys
 Box 8 Folder 7
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent
Correspondence with Acheson firm, 1939-46.
Box 9 Folder 1
Correspondence with Clif. Langsdale firm, 1937-54.
Box 9 Folder 2a-2c
Correspondence with Frank B. Walsh, Attorney, April 1939-41.
Box 9 Folder 3
Frank B. Walsh, 1937-March 1939.
Box 9 Folder 4
Legal matters, 1947-50.
Box 9 Folder 5
Includes analysis of ten-year controversy.
Production data. 1930's.
Box 9 Folder 6
Newspaper clippings file.
Box 10 Folder 1
Dubinsky, David.
1951.
Box 10 Folder 2
correspondence re pictorial biography.
Party: Feb. 1952.
Box 10 Folder 3
1934-49.
Box 10 Folder 4
Eastern Region Retirement Fund: 1952-54.
Box 10 Folder 5
Includes rules and regulations, by-laws and related correspondence
Economic Controls: 1951-53.
Box 10 Folder 6
Includes Research Department bulletins.
Education Committee
1953-56.
Box 10 Folder 7
Includes minutes of meetings, reports.
1950-52.
Box 10 Folder 8
1945-49.
Box 10 Folder 9
Educational Foundation for the Apparel Industry: 1949-52.
Box 11 Folder 1
Equitable Life Assurance Society of the U.S.: 1938, 1940.
Box 11 Folder 2
Financial records.
Fashion Institute of Technology: 1953-54.
Box 11 Folder 3
F.I.T.: 1951-52.
Box 11 Folder 4
Finance Committee: 1951-55.
Box 11 Folder 5
Includes minutes, reports, organizational requests.
Finance Committee: 1945-50.
Box 11 Folder 6
Financial Assistance: 1944-46.
Box 11 Folder 7
Form letters
A-C.
Box 11 Folder 8
D-H.
Box 11 Folder 9
I-Z.
Box 11 Folder 10
Freydberg, G.H.& E., Co. Strikes 1954.
Box 12 Folder 1
General Executive Board
1953 (Sept.)
Box 12 Folder 2
Includes minutes, reports from GEB committees and related correspondence
1952 (Mar., Sept.).
Box 12 Folder 3
1951 (Feb., Sept.).
Box 12 Folder 4
1950 (Aug.).
Box 12 Folder 5
1949 (June, Nov.).
Box 12 Folder 6
1948 (Jan., June, Dec.).
Box 12 Folder 7
1947 (Jan., April, Sept.)
Box 12 Folder 8
1946 (April, Sept.).
Box 12 Folder 9
1945 (Dec.).
Box 12 Folder 10
1945 (April).
Box 12 Folder 11
1944 (May, Oct.).
Box 13 Folder 1
1943 (Nov.).
Box 13 Folder 2
1941 (Apr.).
Box 13 Folder 3
General Office
1944-50.
Box 13 Folder 4
Application for assessment reduction.
Building Service Employees International Union, Local 32J: 1946-54.
Box 13 Folder 5
Includes collective agreements.
Group Insurance.
Box 13 Folder 6
Health Insurances 1950-54.
Box 13 Folder 7
Office Employees International Union, Local 153: 1939-55.
Box 13 Folder 8a-8b
correspondence pertaining to negotiations for agreements.
1948-53.
Box 13 Folder 9
Office Employees (misc.).
Hughes-Brees Bill, unemployment Insurance: 1951.
Box 13 Folder 10a-10b
Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences (N.Y.C. Community College):
July 1933-55.
Box 14 Folder 1
F.F.U., member, Board of Trustees.
Nov. 1951-May 1953.
Box 14 Folder 2
1949-Oct. 1951.
Box 14 Folder 3
Institutions and Hospitals: 1939-49.
Box 14 Folder 4
ILGWU Campaign Committees:
1954.
Box 14 Folder 5
correspondence, James Lipsig reports, pursuant to Title III of the Federal Corrupt Practices Act of 1925, correspondence on campaign.
1952.
Box 14 Folder 6
1949.
Box 14 Folder 7
1944.
Box 14 Folder 8
ILGWU Departments
Auditing
1935-50.
Box 15 Folder 1
1935-50.
Box 15 Folder 2
Education
1954-55.
Box 15 Folder 3
Includes correspondence, reports, programs, publications, releases; Mark Starr ( (Director).
1952-53.
Box 15 Folder 4
1950-51.
Box 15 Folder 5
Health and Welfare
Funds: 1947-54.
Box 15 Folder 6
1944-46.
Box 15 Folder 7
1952-54.
Box 15 Folder 8
1949-51.
Box 15 Folder 9
Death Benefits: 1945-48.
Box 15 Folder 10
Justice; 1938-54.
Box 16 Folder 1
Includes correspondence, releases , reports relating to printing of publication.
Mailing: 1945-48.
Box 16 Folder 2
Management-Engineering, 1943-53.
Box 16 Folder 3
Includes reports.
Political: 1952-54
Box 16 Folder 4
Includes releases issued by dept.
Promotion (advertising): 1950-54.
Box 16 Folder 5
Research
1952-55. Includes reports.
Box 16 Folder 6
1948-51.
Box 16 Folder 7
ILGWU Housing, East River Housing Corporation
Financial matters. 1951-54.
Box 17 Folder 1
Legal matters. 1952-55.
Box 17 Folder 2
Subscriptions from locals for purchasing housing bonds. 1955.
Box 17 Folder 3a-3b
Inquiries: 1948-54.
Box 17 Folder 4
Requests for information.
Ives Committee, Joint Legislative Committee on Industrial and Labor Relations (Irving M. Ives, Chairman): Relations (Irving M. Ives, Chairman): 1938-46
Box 17 Folder 5
correspondence, reports, releases, hearings, minutes of meetings.
Investments: 1953-55.
Box 17 Folder 6
Joint Board, Boston: 1947-49.
Box 17 Folder 7
Boston Ladies' Garment Workers Center.
Joint Board, Boston: 1939-55.
Box 18 Folder 1
Includes correspondence with local managers in Boston.
Joint Board, Chicago: 1948-54.
Box 18 Folder 2
correspondence with Morris Bialis.
Joint Board, Chicago: 1940-47.
Box 18 Folder 3
Joint Board, Cleveland: 1940-50.
Box 18 Folder 4
Joint Board, Cloak Out-of-Town: 1954.
Box 18 Folder 5
Includes Dominic DiCalbo vs. ILGWU.
Joint Board, Eastern Out-of-Town: 1952-55.
Box 18 Folder 6
Joint Board, Eastern out-of-town: 1951-52.
Box 18 Folder 7
Harrisburg, Allentown and Easton Locals: 1954
Box 18 Folder 8
Misc. correspondence
Joint Board, Kansas City: 1940-54.
Box 18 Folder 9
Joint Board, Los Angeles Cloak: 1944-50.
Box 18 Folder 10
Joint Board, Los Angeles Dress: 1946-49.
Box 18 Folder 11
Joint Board, Los Angeles: 1954.
Box 18 Folder 12
Legal matters
Miami Joint Council: 1954-55.
Box 19 Folder 1
Midwest Region: 1947-50.
Box 19 Folder 2
Joint Board, Milwaukee (and affiliated locals): 1935-48.
Box 19 Folder 3
Joint Board, Montreal: 1940-50.
Box 19 Folder 4
Joint Board, New York Dress (and upstate locals): 1953-54.
Box 19 Folder 5
Ohio-Kentucky Region (and local affiliates): 1950-54.
Box 19 Folder 6
Pacific Coast Area: 1947-50.
Box 19 Folder 7
Includes correspondence with Louis Levy (Director).
Joint Board, Philadelphia Cloak: 1935, 1939-54.
Box 19 Folder 8
Joint Board, Philadelphia Dress: 1944-54.
Box 19 Folder 9