Daniel Soyer. ILGWU Heritage Project., 2008-2009
Collection Number: 6036/076 OH

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

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Daniel Soyer. ILGWU Heritage Project., 2008-2009
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
6036/076 OH
Abstract:
This collection contains oral history transcripts conducted by Daniel Soyer for the ILGWU Heritage Project.
Creator:
ILGWU Heritage Project
Soyer, Daniel
Quanitities:
0.72 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English
Biographical / Historical

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).
The ILGWU Heritage Project aims to document the history of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union by collecting oral histories from retired union officers and staff. Daniel Soyer, a professor in the History Department at Fordham University, conducted the interviews in 2008 and 2009. This collection contains the audio recordings and the transcripts from the oral histories as well as providing biographical information on the subjects and an abstract of the interview. Those interviewed include: Henry Foner, Barbara Laufman, Emanuel Leventhal, Walter Mankoff, Ralph Reuter, Saul Rosen, Beverly Shulman, Irwin Solomon, David Wells, and Max Zimny. Many of the interviews have various levels of restrictions for use.
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

Daniel Soyer. ILGWU Heritage Project. #6036/076 OH. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Related Materials

Related Collections: 5780: ILGWU records 5780 OH: ILGWU. Oral History 5780/110 OHT: ILGWU. Oral histories
SUBJECTS

Names:
Foner, Henry.
Laufman, Barbara.
Leventhal, Emanuel.
Mankoff, Walter.
Reuter, Ralph.
Rosen, Saul.
Shulman, Beverly.
Solomon, Irwin.
Soyer, Daniel.
Wells, David.
Zimny, Max.
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union -- Computer files.
Subjects:
Clothing workers -- Labor unions -- New York (State) -- New York
Textile workers -- Labor unions -- New York (State) -- New York.
CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Box 1 Folder 1
Henry Foner
 2009
Scope and Contents
Interviewed on June 10, 2009. 37 pages.
Box 1 Folder 2
Barbara Laufman
 2008
Scope and Contents
Interviewed on December 18, 2008. 40 pages.
Box 1 Folder 3
Emanuel Leventhal
 2009
Scope and Contents
Interviewed on March 13, 2009. 62 pages.
Box 1 Folder 4
Walter Mankoff
 2009
Scope and Contents
Interviewed on June 3, 2009. 47 pages.
Box 1 Folder 5
Ralph Reuter
 2009
Scope and Contents
Interviewed on March 4, 2009. 51 pages.
Box 1 Folder 6
Saul Rosen
 2009
Scope and Contents
Interviewed on June 12, 2009. 39 pages.
Box 1 Folder 7
Beverly Shulman
 2009
Scope and Contents
Interviewed on July 6, 2009. 38 pages.
Box 1 Folder 8
Irwin Solomon
 2009
Scope and Contents
Interviewed on August 12, 2009. 35 pages.
Box 1 Folder 9
David Wells
 2009
Scope and Contents
Interviewed on April 1, 2009. 40 pages.
Box 1 Folder 10
Max Zimny
 2009
Scope and Contents
Interviewed on May 22, 2009. 78 pages.