ILGWU Company Files, 1971-1995
Collection Number: 5780/205

Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
ILGWU Company Files, 1971-1995
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5780/205
Abstract:
Contains Dun and Bradstreet Report on companies, reports on the companies' activities with non-ILGWU firms, memoranda on companies and efforts to organize workers therein, as well as some authorization cards.
Creator:
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
Quanitities:
2.5 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English

Biographical / Historical

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.

Biographical / Historical

The ILGWU established the Department of Organization and Field Services in 1980. The department was responsible for, among other things, the coordination and survey of organizing activities, coordination and administration of information services including computer utilization, and the administration of all OSHA-related matters. It also coordinated the identification and implementation of new services.
As the ILGWU's central office for organizing, the Department of Organization and Field Services worked with affiliates of the international (e.g., local unions, district councils, and regional departments) in dealing with issues in their locations. In addition to working with union affiliates, the department also worked on legal and legislative fronts to ensure safe conditions for garment workers. Insofar as the department conducted surveys and gathered information, its work resembled that of the Research Department, and insofar as it supported pro-labor legislative efforts. To make clear the primary purpose of the Department of Organization and Field Services, the Report and Proceedings from the 1983 ILGWU Convention noted that, "The central concern is organization, and from this has stemmed the other broad activities which require skills, knowledge and information to be successful."

Taken together, the two collections comprising the records of the Department of Organization and Field Services provide a general sense of the work of the department, though they are not physically extensive. Organizing efforts by affiliate organizations of the ILGWU, and on which department staff assisted, may be documented in that affiliate's records or elsewhere in the ILGWU records.
Arranged alphabetically, these records (5780/144) include correspondence, memoranda, reports, printed material created or collected by the Organizing and Field Services Department, and other material relating to its activities dating from between 1961 and 1989. In addition to documenting routine operations of the department, these records also include documentation of efforts to roll back imports, including reports on congressional visits on a resolution on the subject. Also included are monthly reports on organizing activities from joint boards and regional departments, as well as periodic reports submitted by local unions', joint boards', and regional departments' organizing departments to the central organizing department; these reports include names of organizers and shops organized, and descriptions of current, future, and abandoned campaigns that were to be included in the Organizing Department's reports to the General Executive Board.
The ILGWU's company files (5780/205) contain Dun and Bradstreet Report on companies, reports on the companies' activities with non-ILGWU firms, memoranda on companies and efforts to organize workers therein, as well as some authorization cards.
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference archivist for access to these materials.
Conditions Governing Use

This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and Procedures for Document Use.

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Preferred Citation

ILGWU Company Files #5780/205. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.

Related Materials

Related Collections: 5780: ILGWU records 5780/144: ILGWU Organizing Department Records 5619/012: ACTWU Company Files

SUBJECTS

Names:
Air Filters, Inc.
Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union.
Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union. Research Dept.
Beldoch Industries
Bill Coat
Billy Jack for Her
Camden Tannery
Country Miss
Dexter Shoe
Expo, Inc.s
Franklin Mushroom Farms, Inc. (Williamantic, Conn.)
Gem Knits, Inc.
Gianni Sportswear
Glamour Blouse
Her Majesty Industries
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.
JA Knitting Mills
King Sales
Mousefeathers, Inc.
Royal Silk
Ruby International
Sawyer of Napa
Sawyer of Napa/Press
Smoler Brothers Wicker Park
Union of Needletrades, Industrial, and Textile Employees
UNITE HERE (Organization)
Winter Coat

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Box 1 Folder 1
A & A Manufacturing
1988-1991
Box 1 Folder 2
A & S Sportswear
1990
Box 1 Folder 3
A Brod, Inc.
1990
Box 1 Folder 4
AD & ME (Hialeah, FL)
1988-1989
Box 1 Folder 5
Action Apparel
1989-1990
Box 1 Folder 6
ADA Outerwear
1990
Box 1 Folder 7
Adena Sportswear
1989
Box 1 Folder 8
Air Filters, Inc.
1982-1990
Box 1 Folder 9
Alema Knits
1985
Box 1 Folder 10
Alixandre
1989
Box 1 Folder 11
All Kind Quilting
1986
Box 1 Folder 12
Allison Tracy
Box 1 Folder 13
Alyce Designs
1988
Box 1 Folder 14
American Bazaar
1991
Box 1 Folder 15
Animal Crackers
1987
Box 1 Folder 16
Apex Box
1990
Box 1 Folder 17
Apparel Affiliates
1990
Box 1 Folder 18
Applied Accessories
1987
Box 1 Folder 19
At Last
1985
Box 1 Folder 20
AVI Sewing Corp.
1987
Box 1 Folder 21
B F D Industries
1990
Box 1 Folder 22
Baby Fair Inc.
1988-1990
Box 1 Folder 23
Bara Fashions
1990
Box 1 Folder 24
Baronessa John
1986-1989
Box 1 Folder 25
Barrow Industries Inc.
1990
Box 1 Folder 26
Beau-David (Expo, Inc.)
1983-1994
Box 1 Folder 27
Beldoch Industries
1983-1991
Box 1 Folder 28
Billy Coat
1981-1993
Box 1 Folder 29
Billy Jack for Her
1981-1993
Box 1 Folder 30
Bloomingdale by Mail Ltd., Inc.
1990
Box 1 Folder 31
Body Spirit
1990
Box 1 Folder 32
Bolero Clairtex
1988
Box 1 Folder 33
Bomaine Corp.
1990
Box 1 Folder 34
Brenner International
1988-1990
Box 1 Folder 35
Camden Tannery
1983-1991
Box 1 Folder 36
Camelot Creations
1988
Box 1 Folder 37
Cameo Courtures, Inc.
1988-1990
Box 1 Folder 38
Caron/Caprino
1988-1990
Box 1 Folder 39
Carroll Reed
1990
Box 1 Folder 40
Certified Lumber (IDA Loan)
1989
Box 1 Folder 41
Chang Lung Ind.
1991
Box 1 Folder 42
Charles Jourdan
1987
Box 1 Folder 43
Charlotte Neville
1987-1990
Box 1 Folder 44
City Girl
1988-1989
Box 1 Folder 45
Colbert
1988-1989
Box 1 Folder 46
Collegetown
1984-1987
Box 1 Folder 47
Costume Gallery
1984-1989
Box 1 Folder 48
Country Miss
1981-1990
Box 1 Folder 49
Cullinane Maureen
1988-1990
Box 1 Folder 50
DMAS Corp.
1989
Box 1 Folder 51
DEB Shops
1989-1990
Box 1 Folder 52
Dexter Shoe/ Pam Am Shoe
1983-1989
Box 1 Folder 53
Di Fini, Inc.
1988-1989
Box 1 Folder 54
Don Elliot
1989
Box 1 Folder 55
Eastern Apparel
1989
Box 1 Folder 56
Elan
1990
Box 1 Folder 57
EMSIG Mfg.
1988
Box 1 Folder 58
Fairview Paper Box
1990
Box 1 Folder 59
Fashion Rite
1990
Box 1 Folder 60
Franklin Mushroom Farms, Inc.
1990
Box 1 Folder 61
Fuller Brush
1989
Box 1 Folder 62
G & G Uniform Co., Inc.
1990
Box 1 Folder 63
G T Sportswear
1989
Box 1 Folder 64
Gem Knits Inc. Gem Knitting Mills
1988-1993
Box 1 Folder 65
Gianni Sportswear
1990-1995
Box 1 Folder 66
Gibor Knitting
1990
Box 1 Folder 67
Ginger Peachy
1990
Box 1 Folder 68
Glamour Blouse
1975-1989
Box 1 Folder 69
Goodbuys/Lockewill
1987-1989
Box 1 Folder 70
Goodwill-Evansville
1990
Box 1 Folder 71
Graff California wear, Inc.
1990
Box 1 Folder 72
Greater El Paso Corp.
1990
Box 1 Folder 73
Grumbacher, S. and Son, Inc.
1989
Box 1 Folder 74
H&M of California
1988
Box 1 Folder 75
HR Kaminsky and Sons
1990
Box 1 Folder 76
Her Majesty Industries
1976-1987
Box 1 Folder 77
Hickory Hills
1988-1989
Box 1 Folder 78
High Fashion Garment/D.G.D.
1990
Box 1 Folder 79
Hi Lo Mfg Co.
1990
Box 1 Folder 80
Horchow Mail Order, Inc.
1991
Box 1 Folder 81
Hotsy Totsy
1990
Box 1 Folder 82
House of Perfection
1986-1987
Box 1 Folder 83
Howard B. Wolf, Inc.
1990
Box 1 Folder 84
In Group Limited
1986-1990
Box 1 Folder 85
Its Jack
1987
Box 1 Folder 86
Ivy Brown
1990
Box 2 Folder 1
J & B Knitting Mills
1988-1992
Box 2 Folder 2
J & L Mfg.
1988-1990
Box 2 Folder 3
JA Knitting Mills
1984-1989
Box 2 Folder 4
JRE, Inc.
1989
Box 2 Folder 5
Jasper Sportswear
1990
Box 2 Folder 6
Jay Dee Sportswear
1989-1990
Box 2 Folder 7
Jeanette Maternities
1989
Box 2 Folder 8
Jessica Howard
1990-1992
Box 2 Folder 9
Jet Styles
1987-1990
Box 2 Folder 10
Johnny Apple Seed
1988-1990
Box 2 Folder 11
Joyce
1988-1989
Box 2 Folder 12
Kids-At-Large
1990
Box 2 Folder 13
Kids R Us
1987-1989
Box 2 Folder 14
King Sales
1971-1990
Box 2 Folder 15
Klein and Co.
Box 2 Folder 16
Knit waves (Ellen Gang)
1990
Box 2 Folder 17
Kutty Fashions
1990
Box 2 Folder 18
L Luria and Sons
1988
Box 2 Folder 19
La Clase
1989
Box 2 Folder 20
La Mode
1990
Box 2 Folder 21
Lease ways
1987-1989
Box 2 Folder 22
Live-It-Up
1986-1987
Box 2 Folder 23
Loral Packaging, Inc.
1986
Box 2 Folder 24
MAG/MDP
1990
Box 2 Folder 25
Manny Industries
1986-1988
Box 2 Folder 26
Members Only
1987-1988
Box 2 Folder 27
Miss Challenge Inc.
1990
Box 2 Folder 28
Moonlighting Studio, Inc.
Box 2 Folder 29
Mopac
1989
Box 2 Folder 30
Mouse feathers, Inc.
1983-1993
Box 2 Folder 31
Muri-Lu Knitting Mills
1990
Box 2 Folder 32
Nancy Johnson/ Press
1988
Box 2 Folder 33
National Embroidered Emblem Inc.
1988
Box 2 Folder 34
New Yorker Dance Frocks
1985
Box 2 Folder 35
Newark Auto Tops
1988
Box 2 Folder 36
Omni Knit
1990-1991
Box 2 Folder 37
Orbit Instrument
1990
Box 2 Folder 38
Paulette Fashions
1988-1990
Box 2 Folder 39
Periwinkle
1990
Box 2 Folder 40
Pick Your Part Auto Wrecking
1990
Box 2 Folder 41
Plastiflex
1990
Box 2 Folder 42
Portier Rene, Inc.
1989
Box 2 Folder 43
Prophecy Corp.
1988-1990
Box 2 Folder 44
R & M Kaufman
1990-1991
Box 2 Folder 45
RBA Mfg
1983
Box 2 Folder 46
RJMJ
1987-1989
Box 2 Folder 47
Rangell Blas Co.
1986
Box 2 Folder 48
Realite Optical
1988
Box 2 Folder 49
Roam Corp Roberta, Inc., Hollywood Nites
1990
Box 2 Folder 50
Rousso Apparel Group
1990
Box 2 Folder 51
Royal Silk
1984-1990
Box 2 Folder 52
Rubies Costumes
1989-1990
Box 2 Folder 53
Ruby International
1983-1988
Box 2 Folder 54
St. Anna, Inc.
1989
Box 2 Folder 55
Sawyer of Napa
1990-1994
Box 2 Folder 56
Sawyer of Napa/General Company Information
1989-1991
Box 2 Folder 57
Sawyer of Napa/Campaign Documents
1990
Box 2 Folder 58
Sawyer of Napa/Press
1990
Box 2 Folder 59
Sawyer of Napa/Customers
1990
Box 2 Folder 60
Sawyer of Napa/Suppliers
1990
Box 2 Folder 61
Scandia Trading Co.
1987-1990
Box 2 Folder 62
SEMA Dist, Inc.
1989
Box 2 Folder 63
Shaker Sportswear
1988
Box 2 Folder 64
Sharlee MFG/Inner World
1990
Box 2 Folder 65
Shufra Chocolate Food
1986
Box 2 Folder 66
Simpatica LTD/St. Gillian
1990
Box 2 Folder 67
Smart Novelty Blouse and Contractors (Darwood)
1988-1990
Box 2 Folder 68
Smoler Brothers Wicker Park
1985-1990
Box 2 Folder 69
Snow White/American
1987-1986
Box 2 Folder 70
Somerset Knit, Philadelphia
1987-1988
Box 3 Folder 1
Sport Pillows
1987-1989
Box 3 Folder 2
Steven Michaels
1990
Box 3 Folder 3
Suitables, ETX.
1989-1990
Box 3 Folder 4
Sun Distributions, Inc.
1988-1989
Box 3 Folder 5
Sunrise Fashions
1988
Box 3 Folder 6
Swede Los Angles
1986
Box 3 Folder 7
Sweet Sage
Box 3 Folder 8
Synari Ltd.
1989-1991
Box 3 Folder 9
Tanner Companies
1990
Box 3 Folder 10
Technical Coated Fabric
1987
Box 3 Folder 11
T H M Strike [Folder 1 of 2]
1988-1989
Box 3 Folder 12
T H M Strike [Folder 2 of 2]
1988-1989
Box 3 Folder 13
Tif and Griff Designs
1990
Box 3 Folder 14
TLC for Girls, Inc.
1990
Box 3 Folder 15
Tococco
1989-1990
Box 3 Folder 16
Trend Knits
1990
Box 3 Folder 17
Tri Chen, Inc.
Box 3 Folder 18
Tribecca Corp
1990
Box 3 Folder 19
Trimtex Knitting Mills
1990
Box 3 Folder 20
Tripple O Enterprise
1989
Box 3 Folder 21
Trutrim Corp.
1988
Box 3 Folder 22
Ultra Knit
1988
Box 3 Folder 23
Ursela of Switzerland
1990
Box 3 Folder 24
Victoria Royal
1990
Box 3 Folder 25
Virginia Metals
1987-1988
Box 3 Folder 26
Vogue Alley
1990
Box 3 Folder 27
Walsh Super Service
1984
Box 3 Folder 28
Weinmac Mfg.
1988
Box 3 Folder 29
West End Affiliate
1990
Box 3 Folder 30
Winter Coat
1983-1990