Jennie Matyas and the ILGWU: An Oral History., 1955-1955
Collection Number: 6036/007
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Jennie Matyas and the ILGWU: An Oral History., 1955-1955
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
6036/007
Abstract:
The collection consists of oral history interviews conducted with Jennie Matyas.
Creator:
Matyas, Jennie
Gilb, Corinne L.
Quanitities:
0.5 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English
Founded in 1900 by local union delegates representing about 2,000 members in cities
in the northeastern United States, the ILGWU grew in geographical scope, membership
size, 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. In 1995, the ILGWU merged with the Amalgamated
Clothing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU) to form the Union of Needletrades, Industrial
and Textile Employees (UNITE).
Born in Hungary in 1895 and after traveling in steerage with her mother and brothers
to New York City, Jennie Matyas Charters began work in a garment factory as a child
before eventually rising to become one of the first women vice presidents of the ILGWU.
She became a member of Waistmakers' Local 25 in 1910 and during the strike of 1913
was placed in charge of one of the large gathering halls. Matyas went on to become
a shop chairperson in every shop she worked and helped establish education activities,
but while her union career flourished, she never lost sight of her desire to continue
her education. In 1922, Matyas left the ILGWU to attend college. Having relocated
to the west coast, she found herself eager to help the union and began working as
an organizer and educational director of the then Pacific Coast Office from 1934 to
1941. Wanting to return to school, at age 47, Matyas enrolled at the University of
California and graduated cum laude in economics in 1943. She was soon back to work
with the union at the San Francisco Joint Board as education director and elected
a vice president and member of the General Executive Board in 1944.
Matyas retired in 1961 and was back in the classroom to receive her teaching credentials
In 1970 at 75 years old, she started teaching adult education at a San Francisco community
college. Matyas died on January 31, 1988 at the age of 93.
The collection consists of a bound volume of oral history interviews of Jennie Matyas
Charters conducted by Corinne L. Gilb for a project to gather source material on California's
cultural history. The interviews were tape recorded at Matyas' home in Marin County,
California on April 20, May 5, June 14, June 29, July 26, August 9, and October 28,
1955. Topics discussed by Matyas and reflected in the table of contents include: early
life in Hungary, coming to America, working in the garment factories at the age of
14, joining the union and her early activities with the union, discussions on socialism,
women's suffrage and the communist infiltration, organizing, the union in California,
and her continuing education.
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
Matyas, Jennie, and the ILGWU: An Oral History. #6036/007. Kheel Center for Labor-Management
Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Related Collections: 5780: ILGWU records
Names:
Matyas, Jennie.
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
Subjects:
Labor unions -- United States -- Officials and employees -- Biography.
Clothing workers -- United States -- Labor unions -- History.
CONTAINER LIST
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Jennie Matyas and the ILGWU
|
1957 |