Guide to the Gus Tyler Additional Records,
1959-1996 [bulk 1975-1995]

Gus Tyler was born in New York in 1911. He attended New York University on a scholarship in the early 1930s, where he became involved in left-wing political activities. After graduating in 1933, Tyler briefly worked as a writer for the Jewish Daily Forward. His sharp intellect and socialist politics caught the attention of ILGWU president David Dubinsky, who hired Tyler to work in the union's Education Department. Tyler left the ILG after a few years to work with the Socialist Party, but returned in the late 1930s. He held a number of positions in the union and in 1945 became Assistant President, which position he held until 1989. Tyler is the author of many articles and books on labor, labor history, economics, and other topics, and for many years has hosted his own radio program on station WEVD in New York. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member at a number of universities and colleges in the U.S. He continues to work with the ILGWU's successor union, UNITE, as an assistant to the president.

Series I consists of both ILGWU and non-union correspondence. Series II is made up of subject files, dealing with both union and non-union matters. Series III contains publications, writings, transcripts of radio and television broadcasts, and other materials. Series IV consists of miscellaneous materials, including photographs, cassette tapes, and ILGWU publications.

Individuals represented in the correspondence include: Mortimer Adler; William Brennan; Sol Chaikin; David Dinkins; David Dubinsky; Henry Foner; Moe Foner; Philip Foner; Jesse Jackson; Jay Lovestone; Jay Mazur; Bill Moyers; Jack Sheinkman; and Paul Volcker.

Organizations included in the correspondence and subject files include: the AFL-CIO; the American Veterans Committee; the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies; the Brookings Institution; Histadrut; the Institute for the Future; the National Endowment for the Humanities; conventions, locals and departments of the ILGWU; various committees of the U.S. House and Senate; Workmen's Circle; WEVD (radio station, New York); WNET (Channel 13, New York); and the World Veterans Federation.

Subjects addressed include: economic policy and conditions in the U.S.; international politics; the labor movement in the U.S. and abroad; employment of minorities; multinational corporations; politics and government in the U.S., especially in New York City and State; social conditions in the U.S.; veterans' affairs; and worker training and education.

Collection is arranged alphabetically by subject within each series.