Novik, Morris. Papers., 1931-1985
Collection Number: 6036/032
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Novik, Morris. Papers, 1931-1985
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
6036/032
Abstract:
This collection consists of records documenting Morris Novik's work as Broadcast Consultant
for the ILGWU, especially relating to the union's political campaign programs. Also
included are some materials relating to the ILGWU's Unity House.
Creator:
Novik, Morris
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
Quanitities:
2.11 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).
Morris S. Novik was born in Nevel, Russia on November 15, 1903. He emigrated with
his family to the U.S. as a young boy and settled in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
He joined the Young People's Socialist League in 1918, becoming chairman from 1921-1924.
Novik joined the staff of the ILGWU and was the director of Unity House (1927-1932),
the union vacation resort in the Poconos. After launching the Discussion Guild which
presented lectures and debates with leading scholars, he was director from 1925-1932.
In 1932 Novik was hired at WEVD and instituted programming that included lectures,
debates and discussions about politics and socialist and labor issues. His success
and innovation led to Novik becoming the director of WNYC, the New York City Municipal
Broadcasting System, during the administration of Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia from
1938-1945. Due to Novik's socialist and labor background, the station was investigated
for alleged Soviet and Communist propaganda. But, he continued to improve the reputation
of WNYC by adding programming including classical music, work by American composers,
plays about African-Americans, and shows focusing on the American life and family.
Winning numerous honors, the station received a Peabody Award for public service in
1945.
Beginning in 1945, Novik was a Broadcast Consultant for the UAW, the AFL, and the
ILGWU. He later started, bought and operated numerous radio stations including WLIB.
Novik died in November 1996 days before his 93rd birthday.
The majority of the collection focuses on records from the ILGWU erected and managed
FM radio stations around the countrythe Unity Broadcasting Corporation, of which Morris
Novik worked as a consultant. Contained in the records are general correspondence,
newspaper clippings and articles about union owned radio stations, and information
from various markets and stations in different states. There is also much material
on the shows and talent, transcripts from broadcasts, programming schedules, and clippings
and publicity for the stations owned by the ILGWU and the shows aired and produced.
Specific programming events such as the 1953 television broadcast of the film "With
These Hands," the 1958 dressmakers' general strike, and the gala celebration and concert
at Madison Square Garden honoring twenty five years of David Dubinsky's presidency
include correspondence, publicity and marketing material, and information on the broadcasts
in which the union utilized their radio stations for these events.
The bulk of the materials center on the use of the media for political purposes.
Included is information from networks and the government, laws and regulations, and
procedures regarding the issues of broadcasting political programs, including paid
political programs. The ILGWU was very active in sponsoring and promoting political
campaigns and began to employ the media by buying air time to endorse candidates.
There is correspondence, programming and transcripts for broadcasts for the Truman,
Kennedy, Johnson and Humphrey political campaign committees. Other various items pertaining
to political broadcasts contain complete transcripts for programs that included celebrities
and actors such as Tallulah Bankhead, Janet Leigh, and Henry Fonda, as well as the
correspondence and invitations for the individuals from Hollywood and Broadway to
appear on the ILGWU sponsored programs in conjunction with the politicians.
Another component of the collection includes documents on the ILGWU's Unity House,
as Novik was the director of the resort. Featured are programs with menus for weekend
and holiday events and themed dinner parties, pamphlets and brochures, information
on theater and plays performed at Unity House, and a collection of clippings from
the Jewish Daily Forward advertising Unity House and activities, mainly in Yiddish.
Also contained is printed material from conventions including programs, proposed amendments,
and resolutions.
Oversize posters include: The ILGWU 1968 Campaign Committee Humphrey Election poster,
WFDR FM poster advertising shows for Marquis Childs and Joseph C. Harsch, "With These
Hands" poster advertising the television broadcast, and the 1960, 1964 and 1968 Election
on Coast-to-Coast Radio posters advertising ILGWU political programs with speakers
including Adlai Stevenson, George Meany, Eleanor Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, John Kennedy,
Huber Humphrey, Harry Truman and the stars of Hollywood and Broadway.
A complimentary collection of the papers of Morris S. Novik can also be found at
the George Meany Archives.
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
Novik, Morris. Papers. #6036/032. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation
and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Names:
Novik, Morris S., -- 1903-
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union -- Archives.
Subjects:
Unity House -- Archives.
Young People's Socialist League -- Archives.
New York (N.Y.). Municipal Broadcasting System -- Archives.
CONTAINER LIST
|
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
| Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Unity House
|
1931-1932 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 |
Unity House
|
1932 |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 |
Unity Broadcasting Corporation
|
1944-1948 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 |
Local 89 against Massachusetts Broadcasting Company
|
1944-1945 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 |
ILGWU Education Department, "How can mass media more effectively serve the nation?"
|
1945 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 |
Unity Corporation of Pennsylvania
|
1946-1948 |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 |
Unity Broadcasting Corporation of Massachusetts
|
1946-1948 |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 |
Unity Broadcasting Corporation
|
1948-1955 |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 |
Unity Broadcasting Corporation of Missouri
|
1948 |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 |
Promotion folder for Washington Report, WFDR
|
|
|
Scope and Contents
Oversize items moved to box 3.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 11 |
Political
|
1948 |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 |
ILG Campaign
|
1948 |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 |
ILG Campaign
|
1948 |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 |
ILG broadcasts
|
1948 |
| Box 1 | Folder 15 |
Liberal Party
|
1948 |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 |
Radio
|
1949-1950 |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 |
Union Health Center
|
1949 |
| Box 1 | Folder 18 |
With These Hands, television showings
|
1952 |
|
Scope and Contents
Oversize items moved to box 3.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 19 |
With These Hands
|
1952 |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 |
ILGWU
|
1954-1955 |
|
Scope and Contents
Includes With These Hands; oversize items moved to box 3.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 21 |
ILGWU
|
1955 |
|
Scope and Contents
Includes material on cooperative housing
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 22 |
Frederick Umhey
|
1955 |
| Box 1 | Folder 23 |
Mark Starr
|
1955-1962 |
| Box 1 | Folder 24 |
Politics
|
1956 |
| Box 1 | Folder 25 |
ILG Campaign, radio programs
|
1956 |
| Box 1 | Folder 26 |
ILG Campaign, radio programs
|
1956 |
| Box 1 | Folder 27 |
Madison Square Garden
|
1957 |
|
Scope and Contents
June 13.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 28 |
Dressmakers strike
|
1958-1959 |
| Box 1 | Folder 29 |
Garment center rally
|
1960 |
| Box 1 | Folder 30 |
ILG broadcasts
|
1960 |
| Box 1 | Folder 31 |
ILG broadcasts
|
1960 |
| Box 1 | Folder 32 |
ILG broadcasts
|
1960 |
|
Scope and Contents
Oversize items moved to box 3.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 33 |
Civil rights
|
1960 |
| Box 2 | Folder 1 |
Politics, scripts, radio series
|
1960 |
| Box 2 | Folder 2 |
Politics, scripts, radio series
|
1960 |
|
Scope and Contents
Oversize items moved to box 3.
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 3 |
Ralph Yarborough
|
1960-1961 |
| Box 2 | Folder 4 |
ILGWU broadcast
|
1964 |
|
Scope and Contents
October 7.
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 5 |
ILGWU broadcast
|
1964 |
|
Scope and Contents
October 14.
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 6 |
Madison Square Garden rally
|
1964 |
|
Scope and Contents
October 15.
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 7 |
ILGWU broadcast
|
1964 |
|
Scope and Contents
October 21.
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 8 |
ILGWU broadcast
|
1964 |
|
Scope and Contents
October 28.
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 9 |
Garment center rally
|
1964 |
|
Scope and Contents
October 29.
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 10 |
Harry S. Truman and Harry Golden speech
|
1964 |
|
Scope and Contents
November 2.
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 11 |
NBC Political Broadcast Manual and FCC telegram
|
1964 |
| Box 2 | Folder 12 |
ILGWU series, miscellaneous
|
1964 |
| Box 2 | Folder 13 |
Campaign cut-ins
|
1964 |
| Box 2 | Folder 14 |
Apparel luncheon
|
1964 |
|
Scope and Contents
October 29.
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 15 |
ILGWU publicity
|
1964 |
|
Scope and Contents
Oversize items moved to box 3.
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 16 |
ILGWU radio series
|
1964 |
| Box 2 | Folder 17 |
Furman and Gotham bills
|
1964 |
| Box 2 | Folder 18 |
Campaign clippings
|
1964 |
| Box 2 | Folder 19 |
ILGWU broadcast
|
1968 |
|
Scope and Contents
October 17.
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 20 |
ILGWU broadcast
|
1968 |
|
Scope and Contents
October 24.
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 21 |
Garment center rally
|
1968 |
|
Scope and Contents
October 30.
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 22 |
ILGWU broadcast
|
1968 |
|
Scope and Contents
October 31; oversize items moved to box 3.
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 23 |
COPE
|
1968 |
| Box 2 | Folder 24 |
COPE
|
1968 |
| Box 2 | Folder 25 |
ILGWU
|
1968 |
| Box 2 | Folder 26 |
ILGWU
|
1968 |
|
Scope and Contents
Oversize items moved to box 3.
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 27 |
ILGWU broadcast
|
1968 |
|
Scope and Contents
October 10.
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 28 |
Politics
|
1968 |
| Box 2 | Folder 29 |
Miscellaneous
|
1968 |
| Box 2 | Folder 30 |
Liberal Party
|
1969 |
| Box 2 | Folder 31 |
Publicity
|
1939-1950 |
| Box 2 | Folder 32 |
Clippings
|
1940-1959 |
| Box 2 | Folder 33 |
Publicity
|
1940-1961 |
| Box 2 | Folder 34 |
Golden Jubilee Convention stationary
|
1950 |
| Box 2 | Folder 35 |
Printed material
|
1950-1959 |
| Box 2 | Folder 36 |
Publicity
|
1950-1982 |
| Box 2 | Folder 37 |
ILGWU Archives
|
1952-1985 |
| Box 3 | Folder 1 |
Posters
|
1954-1968 |
|
Scope and Contents
Includes posters for ILGWU Campaign and With These Hands.
|
|||