Stenzor, Isidor. Collection., 1922-1977
Collection Number: 6036/020
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Stenzor, Isidor. Collection, 1922-1977
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
6036/020
Abstract:
This collection includes correspondence, an autobiographical sketch, and files on
the Communist Party and the Communist Party of the USA.
Creator:
Stenzor, Isidor
Quanitities:
0.33 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).
Isidor Stenzor (spelling variations include Isidore and Steinzor) was born on March
3, 1893 in Kassov, Poland, and arrived in the United States in October of 1909. Soon
after, he found work in a men's clothing factory as an operator, enduring long hours,
low wages, and horrible conditions. After initially becoming involved in various garment
operator unions and locals from the United Garment Workers to the Amalgamated Clothing
Workers, in 1915, Stenzor joined the ILGWU and New York Cloak Operators Local 1. He
held numerous union positions in New York, including an Executive Board member of
Local 1, Chairman of the Cloak and Dress Joint Board, and Manager of the Price Adjustment
Department of the New York Cloak Joint Board. He then moved to Canada to become the
Manager of the Montreal Cloak Joint Board from 1939-1943. In 1950, Stenzor was appointed
the Manager of the Los Angeles Cloak Joint Board, a position he held until his retirement.
Stenzor was active in many organizations, including Chairman of the Jewish Labor
Committee for the Pacific Coast Region and active in the Workmen's Circle and Jewish
Socialist Federation. Stenzor died on March 27, 1988 at the age of 95.
The collection of Isidor Stenzor covers the years between 1920 through the 1970s providing
information on both his professional activity for the ILGWU as well as his personal
activities and engagements. A large portion of the collection is in Yiddish. There
is general union correspondence, reports and statements for various committees and
Joint Boards of which Stenzor was involved. Also included are clippings, articles
and statements regarding the centralization of control in the garment industry. The
Uniform Industrial Control Plan aimed at allowing one business agent to gain control
over a manufacturer as well as the inside shop and contractors. According to the plan
and the included report, the business agent would have complete supervision by holding
meetings, listening to complaints, and settling prices.
Additionally, a significant amount of the collection contains material collected
during Stenzor's time as a communist. From the Communist Party and Communist Party
of the USA, there are mailings, letters, statements, information from meetings, doctrines,
bulletins, and expulsion of members. Much of the correspondence involves Jay Lovestone
and Charles Zimmerman. There are requests for Stenzor to appear before the party in
regards to the merger of the Cloakmakers Progressive League with the Trade Union Center
and other involvements with Cloakmakers Local 1. Also included is material from the
Council of Needle Trades Progressive Groups and the Independent Labor League of America
(a Constitution and a Discussion Bulletin). The collection contains material regarding
anti-war activities, including information, correspondence, flyers and meeting minutes
for the group "Keep America Out of War," in which Stenzor was a member of the New
York Council before resigning.
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
Stenzor, Isidor. Collection. #6036/020. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation
and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Related Collections: 5780: ILGWU records 5780/014: ILGWU. Local 22. Charles Zimmerman papers 5780/046: ILGWU. Los Angeles Joint Board records 6036/028: Lovestone, Jay.
Names:
Stenzor, Isidor.
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union -- Archives.
CONTAINER LIST
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
Box 1 | Folder 1a |
General correspondence
|
1920-1936 |
Scope and Contents
Includes case against Elias Marks (indicted for criminal anarchy), 1920; letters to
Morris Sigman appealing GEB decision removing him as local 1 officer, 1924; report
on the general strike in the cloak industry of New York, submitted by the minority
of the GEB, 1926.
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 1b |
General correspondence
|
1951-1969 |
Box 1 | Folder 2 |
Autobiographical sketch
|
1977 |
Scope and Contents
In Yiddish.
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 3 |
Communist Party and Communist Party of the USA (Majority Group, also known as opposition
or Lovestone group) [folder 1 of 2]
|
1922- 1929 |
Box 1 | Folder 4 |
Communist Party and Communist Party of the USA (Majority Group, also known as opposition
or Lovestone group) [folder 2 of 2]
|
1922- 1930 |
Box 1 | Folder 5 |
Communist Party and Communist Party (Majority Group)
|
1930-1933 |
Box 1 | Folder 6 |
Communist Party and Communist Party (Majority Group)
|
1934-1939 |
Box 1 | Folder 7 |
Erlich-Alter 25th Anniversary Memorial
|
1967 |
Box 1 | Folder 8 |
Keep America Out of War Committee (aka Congress) and other anti-war groups
|
1938-1940 |
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence with Jay Lovestone and Stenzor letter explaining his resignation
from committee, 1940.
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 9 |
Local 1 and 17 controversy
|
1934 |
Box 1 | Folder 10 |
Los Angeles Bund, Workmens Circle and Socialist Farband
|
1955-1966 |
Box 1 | Folder 11 |
Uniform Industrial Control Plan (centralization)
|
1938-1939 |
Scope and Contents
Plan to give one business agent control over a given jobber and all his production.
|