Springer Kemp, Maida. Oral History Interview., 1978-1978
Collection Number: 6036/024
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Springer Kemp, Maida. Oral History Interview., 1978-1978
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
6036/024
Abstract:
This collection consists of a transcript of an interview with Maida Springer Kemp,
conducted by Elizabeth Balanoff in 1977. The interview was part of The 20th Century
Trade Union Woman: Vehicle for Social Change Oral History Project, in cooperation
with The Black Woman Oral History Project, the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe College.
Creator:
Springer Kemp, Maida
Balanoff, Elizabeth
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).
Maida Springer Kemp was born on May 12, 1910 in Panama and moved to New York City
at the age of seven with her mother. After receiving an education in where she attended
a black boarding school, Kemp became a licensed beautician, though never worked in
that trade. Her earliest experience in the garment industry was when she worked as
a pinker while in school. Because of the Depression, in 1932 as a young wife with
a small child, Kemp became employed as a finisher doing hand sewing in a garment shop
and joined the ILGWU. During the 1933 general strike, she was a member of a strike
committee. She continued to work in the shop for the next eight years and became very
active in the union. Kemp held various roles in Local 22 of the Dressmakers' Union,
including executive board member, chairman of the education committee and shop representative.
In 1942, Kemp became union staff and was appointed education director of Local 132,
the Plastic Button and Novelty Workers' Union (an accessory local of the ILGWU) focusing
on educating the new membership that consisted of refugees, recently released prisoners,
women and minorities.
Kemp became the first black business agent of ILGWU Local 22 in 1947 and held that
position for thirteen years. As a business agent, she was often sent out as a representative
or attended educational programs. Kemp developed international interests and studied
and traveled to increase her knowledge of the world labor movement. She received an
American Scandinavian Foundation scholarship to study workers' education in Sweden
and Denmark and through an Urban League fellowship studied at Ruskin College at Oxford.
During her tenure with the ILGWU, Kemp devoted time to other organizations as well.
She often worked on projects for A. Philip Randolph, such as helping with a City Council
campaign and putting on a rally in Madison Square Garden for the Fair Employment Practices
Commission. Kemp became the first black woman to represent American labor abroad when
the AFL sent her to England in 1945.
In 1955, Kemp was sent as an AFL representative to an International Confederation
of Free Trade Unions conference in Africa for a three week seminar. Inspired, Kemp
soon became tireless in her work in Africa. She developed training programs for workers,
secured funds for constructing trade union centers such as the Solidarity House in
Nairobi, and educating the leadership of the African labor movement. Her extensive
travel to Africa prompted her to intermittently live in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Kemp received many awards and honors during her lifetime and was a member of numerous
organizations including the NAACP, National Organization of Women (NOW), the Coalition
of Labor Union Women (CLUW), the National Council of Negro Women, and the Urban League.
Kemp died on March 29, 2005 at the age of 94.
The collection contains the bound oral history of Maida Springer Kemp. The interview
was conducted by Elizabeth Balanoff as part of the oral history project "The 20th
Century Trade Union Women: Vehicle for Social Change" in cooperation with "The Black
Women Oral History Project" of the Schlesinger Library at Radcliffe College. The oral
history took place over the course of multiple interviews beginning on January 4,
1977. Kemp discusses her family background and early history of coming from Panama
and the alienation of being both a foreigner and black. She comments on the closeness
with her mother and their introduction into America and its culture, and early influences,
especially in the black community.
Kemp recounts her early work history and how she became involved with the ILGWU,
her activism and participation within the union and the various positions she held
and roles she played. She focuses on the importance of social issues of the union
including health and education. Kemp also touches on subjects such as racial and sex
discrimination. Contacts and acquaintances of the women from other unions and labor,
including Pauline Newman and Rose Schneiderman are mentioned.
Her work outside the ILGWU is examined, including the early trips overseas for the
AFL, and projects with A. Philip Randolph. Much emphasis in the interview is placed
on Kemp's international efforts, especially Africa. Discussed is the labor movement
in Africa and the support and organization by American labor in those efforts, the
importance of workers' education, the progress made in educating the leadership of
the African labor movement, and the building and organizing of trade union centers,
mainly Solidarity House in Nairobi.
Kemp provides her personal thoughts on the women's movement, she states that she
is a supporter but not an activist, and believes it is misunderstood in a similar
way as the labor movement. The interviewer asks Kemp what she would have told or done
if she had a daughter, and the conversation turns to advice for young women regarding
education, career, sex and marriage. Other topics discussed in detail include Kemp's
involvement in organizations such as the NAACP and the Urban League.
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
Springer Kemp, Maida. Oral History Interview. #6036/024. Kheel Center for Labor-Management
Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Related Collections: 5780: ILGWU records 5780/062: ILGWU. International Relations Department records
Names:
Kemp, Maida Springer.
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
Subjects:
Women labor union members -- United States -- History -- Sources.
CONTAINER LIST
|
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
| Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Oral History Interview with Maida Springer Kemp, International Ladies' Garment Workers'
Union by Elizabeth Balanoff
|
1977 |