Guide to the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. Local 155 records,
1933-1968 [bulk 1940-1960].

Collection Number: 5780/054

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/kheelcenter
Compiled by:
Kheel Center staff
EAD encoding:
Casey S. Westerman, October 30, 2002

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

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
International Ladies Garment Workers Union. Local 155 records, 1933-1968 [bulk 1940-1960].
Collection Number:
5780/054
Creator:
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Local 155 (New York, N.Y.)
Quantity:
7.5 linear ft.
Forms of Material:
Correspondence, articles, speeches.
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
The Local 155 records consist primarily of the correspondence of Louis Nelson, manager of Local 155 during the period. There are also articles, speeches, and other materials, as well as a small amount of Nelson's personal correspondence.

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

Local 155, International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU), also known as the Knitgoods Workers' Union, was based in New York City.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

These items document the activities and concerns of the Local's leadership from the depression years through the late 1960s. In addition to routine Local administrative matters, the materials cover a wide variety of topics, including anti-Semitism, civil rights issues, health and retirement benefits, the women's clothing industry, New York City elections, political activities of the Local, relations with other unions, forced labor in the Soviet Union, the Spanish Civil War, strikes, and union elections.
Individual correspondents represented in the collection include Angela Balabanoff, Fred Beal, B.J. Bialostotzky, David Dubinsky, Melech Epstein, Fiorello LaGuardia, Elias Lieberman, Jay Lovestone, Norman Thomas, and Carlo Tresca. Organizations include the AFL-CIO, the American Labor Party, the Italian-American Labor Council, the Jewish Labor Committee, the Liberal Party of New York, the National Urban League, the Socialist Party, the Union for Democratic Socialism, the United Textile Workers Union of America, and Workmen's Circle.
SUBJECTS

Names:
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.
Balabanoff, Angelica, 1878-1965.
Beal, Fred Erwin, 1896-1954.
Bialostotzky, B. J. (Benjamin Jacob), 1892-1962.
Dubinsky, David, 1892-
Epstein, Melech.
La Guardia, Fiorello H. (Fiorello Henry), 1882-1947.
Lieberman, Elias, b. 1888-
Nelson, Louis.
Thomas, Norman, 1884-1968.
Tresca, Carlo, 1879-1943.
AFL-CIO.
American Labor Party.
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Local 155 (New York, N.Y.)
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Local 155 (New York, N.Y.)--Elections.
Italian-American Labor Council.
Jewish Labor Committee (U.S.)
Liberal Party of New York State.
National Urban League.
Socialist Party (U.S.)
Union for Democratic Socialism.
United Textile Workers of America.
Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring.

Subjects:
Antisemitism--United States.
Civil rights--United States.
Clothing workers--Labor unions--New York (State)--New York.
Elections--New York (State)--New York.
Forced labor--Soviet Union.
Insurance, Health--New York (State)--New York.
Labor unions--Officials and employees.
Labor unions--Political activity.
Labor union locals.
Pension trusts--New York (State)--New York.
Strikes and lockouts--New York (State)--New York.
Women's clothing industry--New York (State)--New York.

Places:
New York (N.Y.)--Politics and government--20th century.
Spain--History--Civil War, 1936-1939.

Form and Genre Terms:
Articles
Correspondence
Speeches

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:
International Ladies Garment Workers Union. Local 155 records, 1933-1968 [bulk 1940-1960]. #5780/054. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
RELATED MATERIAL

5780. International Ladies Garment Workers Union.
5780/129. Local 155. Records, 1971-1972.
CONTAINER LIST

Description
Container
I. Subject files.
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations: 1936-40. Controversy.
Box 1 Folder 1
American Jewish League Against Communism, Inc. 1948-49, 1954.
Box 1 Folder 2
American Labor Party: 1936-44
Box 1 Folder 3
American Labor for Peace and Democracy, and American Peace Mobilization: 1938-41.
Box 1 Folder 4
American Youth Congress: 1940.
Box 1 Folder 5
Anti-Semitism: 1940's.
Box 1 Folder 6
Arbitration Proceedings: c. 1946. Between Industrial Council of Cloak, Suit and Shirt Manufacturers, Inc., et. al. and Joint Board of Cloak, Suit, Skirt and Reefer Makers Union.
Box 1 Folder 7
Arrests For Striking: 1937-38.
Box 1 Folder 8
Articles, Speeches, Statements: 1930's-50's. Louis Nelson and others on Union and non-Union matters.
Box 1 Folder 9
B: 1939-65
Box 1 Folder 10
Balabanoff, Angelica: 1939-45.
Box 1 Folder 11
Beal, Fred E.: 1940-54.
Box 1 Folder 12
Bialostotzky, B.J.: 1954-56.
Box 1 Folder 13
Brooklyn Association for Rehabilitation of Offenders, Inc. (B.A.R.D.): 1954-56.
Box 1 Folder 14
"Bund: 1942-56. Includes American Representation of the General Jewish Workers Union of Poland; Coordinating Committees of the Bund, and Affiliated Jewish Socialist Organizations in various countries
Box 1 Folder 15
Business Agents: 1944-45, 1948.
Box 1 Folder 16
C: 1940-56.
Box 2 Folder 1
Cleveland Strike: 1937. Includes letters from Emile DeLeo (organizer) on strikes in knitgoods mills and AFL and CIO involvement.
Box 2 Folder 2
Communist Party: 1935-49
Box 2 Folder 3
Communist Party: 1939-54. Morning Freiheit.
Box 2 Folder 4
Congratulatory Messages: April 1952. Re Louis Nelson's election as V.P. of the Union.
Box 2 Folder 5
Contributions: 1936, 1942-43. Includes relief during war period.
Box 2 Folder 6
Contributions: 1964-70.
Box 2 Folder 7
Conventions, Union: 1934-37, 1940. Includes Local resolutions.
Box 2 Folder 8
Credit Union: 1944, 1955. Knitgoods Workers.
Box 2 Folder 10
D: 1940-54.
Box 2 Folder 11
Day Strike: 1941.
Box 2 Folder 12
Deborah Tuberculosis Sanatarium and Hospital: 1950-56.
Box 2 Folder 13
DeLeo, Emile J.: 1939-52.
Box 2 Folder 14
Dubinsky, David: 1942-55.
Box 2 Folder 15
E: 1941-56.
Box 3 Folder 1
Education Committee of G.E.B.: 1940, 1952-55. Includes ILGWU Training Institute.
Box 3 Folder 2
Elections, Liberal Party: 1965. Endorsement of John V. Lindsay for Mayor of New York City.
Box 3 Folder 3
Elections, Liberal Party: 1966.
Box 3 Folder 4
Elections, Progressive Group 1935.
Box 3 Folder 5
Elections, Rank and File Group: 1935.
Box 3 Folder 6
Elections, Progressive Group: 1937.
Box 3 Folder 7
Elections, Rank and File Group: 1937.
Box 3 Folder 8
Elections, Nominations of Candidates: 1939.
Box 3 Folder 9
Elections, Progressive Group: 1939.
Box 3 Folder 10
Elections, Progressive Group: 1939.
Box 3 Folder 11
Elections, Rank and File Group: 1939.
Box 3 Folder 12
Elections, Progressive Group: 1940.
Box 4 Folder 1
Elections, Progressive Group: 1940.
Box 4 Folder 2
Elections, Progressive Group: 1942.
Box 4 Folder 3
Elections, Rank and File Group: 1942.
Box 4 Folder 4
Elections, Progressive Group: 1944.
Box 4 Folder 5
Elections' Rank and File Group: 1944.
Box 4 Folder 6
Elections: 1940. Progressive and Rank and File Groups.
Box 4 Folder 7
Elections, Progressive Slate, and Rank and File Group: 1950-53.
Box 4 Folder 8
Elections, Progressive Slate and Rank and File Group 1956.
Box 4 Folder 9
Elections, Progressive Slate and Rank and File Group 1959.
Box 4 Folder 10
Elections, Progressive Slate and Rank and File Group 1962-65.
Box 4 Folder 11
Epstein, Melech: 1941-51.
Box 5 Folder 1
Erlich, Henryk, and Victor Alter: 1942-43.
Box 5 Folder 2
F: 1940-55.
Box 5 Folder 3
Firms: 1946-47.
Box 5 Folder 4
France: 1940's.
Box 5 Folder 5
Free Jewish Club, New York: 1940's-50's.
Box 5 Folder 6
Free Trade Union Committee: 1948-55.
Box 5 Folder 7
Freeland League: 1946-57. Includes I.N. Sternberg letters.
Box 5 Folder 8
G: 1939-55.
Box 5 Folder 9
Gantner and Mattern Strike, San Francisco: 1940.
Box 5 Folder 10
General Executive Board: 1952. Includes local report.
Box 5 Folder 11
Germany: 1935, 1937, 1946.
Box 5 Folder 12
Goldberg, Harry and Rose: 1950-54.
Box 5 Folder 13
H: 1940-54.
Box 5 Folder 14
Health, Welfare and Retirement: 1939-55.
Box 5 Folder 15
Heller, Philip A. (& Evelyn): 1942-July 1951. Letters and reports from Heller, (Labor Information Officer) Economic Cooperation Administration (EC in Austria and Germany.
Box 6 Folder 1
Heller, Philip (& Evelyn): October 1951-1954.
Box 6 Folder 2
Hornlek, Louis, and Co., N.Y.C.: 1940, 1946-47.
Box 6 Folder 3
I: 1949-50.
Box 6 Folder 4
Il Martello: 1943.
Box 6 Folder 5
Il Progresso Italo-American: April 8, 1943.
Box 6 Folder 6
International Indemnity Committee: 1946-50. Includes letters from Philip Heller; reports on Spanish situation.
Box 6 Folder 7
Israel: 1952, 1955.
Box 6 Folder 8
Italian-American Labor Council: 1943-52.
Box 6 Folder 9
Italy: 1940's-1950.
Box 6 Folder 10
J: 1940-54.
Box 6 Folder 11
Jewish Labor Committee: 1942-43.
Box 6 Folder 12
Jewish Labor Committee: 1944-46.
Box 6 Folder 13
Jewish Labor Committee: 1947-56. Includes correspondence with Jacob Pat and David Dubinsky re Nelson's resignation from JLC (Nov. 1947), and articles.
Box 6 Folder 14
Jewish Newsletter: 1949-56.
Box 7 Folder 1
Jurisdictional Disputes: 1939-43.
Box 7 Folder 2
K:1936-56.
Box 7 Folder 3
Kampelman, Max: 1942-56.
Box 7 Folder 4
Knitgoods Industry: 1937-55. Miscellaneous.
Box 7 Folder 5a-5b
Knitgoods Unions. Includes Knitgoods Workers Industrial Union of the Needle Trades Workers Industrial Union.
Box 7 Folder 6
Knitted Outerwear Times: 1936. Published by National Knitted Outerwear Association.
Box 7 Folder 7
Knitwear Manufacturers League, Inc., United: 1937-55. Correspondence.
Box 7 Folder 8
Knitwear Manufacturers League, Inc. United:. 1940-Feb. 1943. Publication, United Knitwear Reporter.
Box 7 Folder 9a-9b
Knitwear News, Associated: Published by the Associated Knitwear Contractors Includes 1940-41.
Box 7 Folder 10
L: 1941-55.
Box 8 Folder 1
Labor Department, U.S.: 1941
Box 8 Folder 2
LaGuardia, Fiorello: 1942-43.
Box 8 Folder 3
League for Industrial Democracy: 1941-54.
Box 8 Folder 4
Legislation, Labor: 1936-38.
Box 8 Folder 5
Liberal Party: 1944-54.
Box 8 Folder 6
Lieberman, Elias: 1940-56.
Box 8 Folder 7
Locals, (Misc.): 1942-56.
Box 8 Folder 8
Local 22: 1939-55.
Box 8 Folder 9
Local 89: 1947-56.
Box 8 Folder 10
Lovestone, Jay: 1938-49.
Box 8 Folder 11
M: 1940-55.
Box 8 Folder 12
May Day: 1937-52.
Box 8 Folder 13
N: 1940-56.
Box 8 Folder 14
National Urban League: 1941-47. Includes corres. with A. Philip Randolph and Frank B. Crosswaith; draft article by L. Nelson.
Box 8 Folder 15
Needle Trades Progressive Group: 1935. Council Meetings.
Box 8 Folder 16
Negotiations: 1938-56.
Box 8 Folder 17
Nelson Family: 1940-50.
Box 8 Folder 18
New York Joint Board of Cloak, Suit, Skirt-and Reefer Makers' Union: 1939-55.
Box 8 Folder 19
New York Dress Joint Board: 1944-52.
Box 8 Folder 20
Nold, John E.: 1945-54. Correspondence re his case (clemency for murder).
Box 8 Folder 21
O: 1941-49.
Box 8 Folder 22
Office and Professional Workers of America, United: 1930's.
Box 8 Folder 23
Ohio-Kentucky Region: 1955. Correspondence with Nicholas Kirtzman.
Box 8 Folder 24
P: 1939-52.
Box 9 Folder 1
Personnel: 1933-41.
Box 9 Folder 2
R: 1940-66.
Box 9 Folder 3
Racism: 1943-47.
Box 9 Folder 4
Refugees, Anti-Fascist: 1939-42.
Box 9 Folder 5
Resolution from workers in knitting mills in support of Local 155 and against the United Textile Workers Union: 1933.
Box 9 Folder 6
Russia: Includes material on labor camps, 1941-49.
Box 9 Folder 7
S: 1940-56.
Box 9 Folder 8
Socialist Party, U.S.A.: 1943-50.
Box 9 Folder 9
Soderberg, Jack: 1941-42.
Box 9 Folder 10
Spanish Civil War: 1938-53.
Box 9 Folder 11
Strikes: 1936-40. Knitgoods industry.
Box 9 Folder 12
T: 1942-56.
Box 9 Folder 13
Taksen, Jack: 1940-56.
Box 9 Folder 14
Textile Workers Union of America, United: 1933-45.
Box 9 Folder 15
Thomas, Norman: 1941-54. Includes corres. re Carlo Tresca murder and Memorial.
Box 10 Folder 1
Tresca, Carlo (& Margaret De Silver): 1940-48. Includes corres. re Carlo Tresca Memorial Fund.
Box 10 Folder 2
U: 1944-56.
Box 10 Folder 3
Union for Democratic Socialism: 1953-55. Includes James T. Farrell letter to Norman Thomas outlining a general political program (n.d.).
Box 10 Folder 4
Unions: 1940's. Printed material.
Box 10 Folder 5
Unity House: 1941-54.
Box 10 Folder 6
V: 1943-48.
Box 10 Folder 7
W: 1940-56.
Box 10 Folder 8
Wallerstein, Jacob: 1939-56. And his poems.
Box 10 Folder 9
Workmen's Circle: 1942, 1954. Knitgood Workers branch.
Box 10 Folder 10
World War II: 1937-40. Includes statements from Keep America Out of War Congress and Other anti-war groups.
Box 10 Folder 11
World War II: 1948-49. Displaced Persons.
Box 10 Folder 12
World War II: 1940-45. Government and labor.
Box 10 Folder 13
World War II: 1941-43. Russian War Relief.
Box 10 Folder 14
X, Y, Z: 1940-53.
Box 10 Folder 15
Yiddish Scientific Institute (YIVO): 1940-54.
Box 10 Folder 16
Zionism: 1947-49.
Box 10 Folder 17
II. Minutes, 1933-1966.
Minutes, Executive of membership: 1949-60.
Box 12
Minutes, Executive of membership: 1961-68.
Box 13
Various committee minute books, 1934-54.
Box 13
III. Publications and Case Files, 1937-1965.
Knitgoods Workers Voice (11 vols.): 1937-65.
Box 14
Wage and Hours Division, U.S. Dept. of Labor -Hearings and recommendations of Committees for the Knitted Outerwear Industry, 1939, 1941.
Box 14
Amerton Knitting Mills, Inc., case, N.Y., (9 vols.): 1962. Includes material on knitgoods industry.
Box 15