ILGWU Mary Goff Schuster Papers, 1912-1982
Collection Number: 5780/074
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
ILGWU Mary Goff Schuster Papers, 1912-1982
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5780/074
Abstract:
The collection contains correspondence, notes and other writings by Mary Goff Schuster,
documenting her varied work in Local 62.
Creator:
Schuster, Mary Goff
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
Quanitities:
1 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English
The International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union was once one of the largest labor
unions in the United States founded in 1900 by local union delegates representing
about 2,000 members in cities in the northeastern United States. It was one of the
first U.S. Unions to have a membership consisting of mostly females, and it played
a key role in the labor history of the 1920s and 1930s. The union is generally referred
to as the "ILGWU" or the "ILG". The ILGWU grew in geographical scope, membership size,
and political influence to become one of the most powerful forces in American organized
labor by mid-century. Representing workers in the women's garment industry, the ILGWU
worked to improve working and living conditions of its members through collective
bargaining agreements, training programs, health care facilities, cooperative housing,
educational opportunities, and other efforts. The ILGWU merged with the Amalgamated
Clothing and Textile Workers Union in 1995 to form the Union of Needle trades, Industrial
and Textile Employees (UNITE). UNITE merged with the Hotel Employees and Restaurant
Employees Union (HERE) in 2004 to create a new union known as UNITE HERE. The two
unions that formed UNITE in 1995 represented only 250,000 workers between them, down
from the ILGWU's peak membership of 450,000 in 1969.
Mary Goff Schuster was born in Russia on October 16, 1898, and arrived in New York
City in 1905. Having joined Local 62, also known as the Underwear and White Goods
Workers' Union, in 1913, Schuster served as a member of the Executive Board, Business
Agent, Educational Director, and Organizer. Schuster was also a member of the Young
People's Socialist League, Socialist Party, Women's Trade Union League, and the Liberal
Party, among other political organizations.
The White Goods Workers' Union Local 62, also known as the Underwear and White Goods
Workers Union, was chartered in 1909, but was not fully organized until 1913. Rose
Schneiderman and the Women's Trade Union League assisted with the early organizing
efforts of the White Goods Workers. These workers consisted mainly of young immigrant
girls. Early leaders of the local included Samuel Shore. On March 1913, 15,000 workers
went on strike against the sweatshop conditions. A six week strike ensued in which
many of the girls on the picket lines were attacked and arrested. Gains won included
a 54 hour week, no Sunday, sanitary conditions and an 18 cent an hour minimum wage.
This strike made the local.
The local and its workers were originally called white goods workers as they manufactured
camisoles, chemises, cambric drawers with lace ruffles and drawstrings, and corset
covers. Through the years, styles changed and production shifted to panties and slips.
In the 1960s, the local became the Undergarment and Negligee Workers' Union Local
62.
The collection contains correspondence, notes and other writings by Mary Goff Schuster,
documenting her varied work with Local 62. Included are her personal notes when she
attended membership meetings. Information on clubs, and organizations that she was
a part of, as well as meetings and articles on items related to senior citizens. There
is also collected material including pamphlets and broadsides, and an article in the
Work World Telegram about white goods workers that features Schuster.
Also available is her personal correspondence, documentation of her work with the
National Women's Trade Union League of America and the Israel Histadrut Foundation.
There is election material when she was running for office and appeared on ballots
and records when she studied at the Brookwood Labor College.
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
ILGWU Mary Goff Schuster Papers #5780/074. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation
and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Names:
Gordon, Anthony
Schuster, Mary Goff
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Local 62 (New York, N.Y.)
Subjects:
Clothing workers -- Labor unions -- New York (State) -- New York
Clothing workers--Labor unions--United States.
Clothing trade--New York (State)--New York.
Clothing trade--United States.
Textile industry--New York (State)--New York.
Textile industry--United States.
CONTAINER LIST
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
Box 1 |
Photos
|
1912-1922 | |
Scope and Contents
[Removed to 5780 P]
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Handwritten Notes
|
1975-1982 |
Box 1 | Folder 2 |
Notes on Israel
|
1978 |
Box 1 | Folder 3 |
The Golden Ring Council of Senior Citizens Clubs
|
1974-1978 |
Box 1 | Folder 4 |
Broadsides Yiddish - Originals
|
1925 |
Box 1 | Folder 5 |
Pamphlets
|
1923-1933 |
Box 1 | Folder 6 |
Poems on Israel
|
1978-1979 |
Box 1 | Folder 7 |
Work Word Telegram: Article on ILGWU Local 62
|
1949 |
Box 1 | Folder 8 |
Allied Underwear Association Agreement with Unions
|
1947-1950 |
Box 1 | Folder 9 |
Misc. Documents
|
1928-1982 |
Box 2 |
Photographs. Brookwood and Bermuda
|
1921-1925 | |
Scope and Contents
Also undated photo [Removed to 5780 P]
|
|||
Box 2 | Folder 1 |
Letters
|
1927-1982 |
Box 2 | Folder 2 |
Anthony (Larry) Gordon
|
1924-1927 |
Box 2 | Folder 3 |
Mary Goff Correspondence
|
1921-1950 |
Box 2 | Folder 4 |
Correspondence
|
1924-1956 |
Box 2 | Folder 5 |
Women's Trade Union League
|
1923-1954 |
Box 2 | Folder 6 |
Correspondence
|
1925-1964 |
Box 2 | Folder 7 |
Equal Rights Amendment
|
1923-1924 |
Box 2 | Folder 8 |
Speeches and Other Documents
|
1929-1960 |
Box 2 | Folder 9 |
Personal Letters
|
1937-1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 10 |
Certificates and Citations
|
1944-1980 |
Box 2 | Folder 11 |
General Union and Local 62
|
1927-1944 |
Box 2 | Folder 12 |
Brookwood
|
1923-1931 |