Switchmen's Union of North America Memorabilia

Collection Number: 5034 MB

Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Switchmen's Union of North America Memorabilia,
Collection Number:
5034 MB
Creator:
Switchmen's Union of North America (SUNA)
Quantity:
3.9 linear ft.
Forms of Material:
Memorabilia.
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Switchmen's Union of North America Memorabilia including badges, buttons, bandana, plaques, certificates and other miscellaneous items
Language:
Collection material in English

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

The Switchmen's Union of North America is among the older of the railway brotherhoods. Beginning in 1877 with the formation of a local Switchmen's organization in Chicago, the movement became national when the Switchmen's Mutual Aid Association of North America held its first meeting nine years later.
This association was destroyed, as a result of a disastrous lockout by the Chicago Northwestern and the 1888 strike against the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy which had equally unfortunate results. Building on what was left of the S.M.A.A., several lodges met in Kansas City in October of 1854 and formed the Switchmen's Union of North America.
By the time of its merger into the United Transportation Union in 1969, the single Chicago labor organization of 1877 had grown to international status with 275 lodges in the United States and Canada having a combined membership of 12,000.
CHRONOLOGY
1877 Switchmen's Mutual Aid Association of North America organized
1886 Switchmen's Association organized
1889 Switchmen's Association affiliated with the Supreme Council of United Orders of Railway Employees
1894 Switchmen's Association dissolved in July
Switchmen's Union of North America organized on October 13
1906 Switchmen's Union of North America affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
1926 Switchmen's Union of North America becomes charter member of the Railway Labor Executives Association
1935 Switchmen's Union of North America affiliated with the Canadian Labor Congress
1969 Switchmen's Union of North America joined with the B.R.T., B.L.F. and E., and O.R.C.B. to form the United Transportation Union
SUBJECTS

Names:
Switchmen's Union of North America
Switchmen's Union of North America--Collectibles

Form and Genre Terms:
Memorabilia

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Access Restrictions:
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference archivist for access to these materials.
Restrictions on Use:
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and Procedures for Document Use.
Cite As:
Switchmen's Union of North America Memorabilia #5034 MB. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
RELATED MATERIALS

Related Collections:
5034: Switchmen's Union of North America Records
5034 P: Switchmen's Union of North America Photographs
5084: Switchmen's Union of North America Additional Records
5405 mf: Switchmen's Union of North America Constitutions on Microfilm
5406 mf: Switchmen's Union of North America Arbitration on Microfilm
5447: Switchmen's Union of North America Additional Unification Minutes and Convention Proceedings
5556: Switchmen's Union of North America Additional Records
5556 AV: Switchmen's Union of North America Audio-Visual Materials
5590: Switchmen's Union of North America Lake Shore Lodge 55 Membership Registers
5613: Switchmen's Union of North America Oakland Lodge 158 Meeting Minutes
5630: W.B. Meyers Papers
CONTAINER LIST

Container
Description
Date
Box 1 Folder 1 1968
Badge- "Conductor" for "Chicago, Lodge, No. 199, S.U. of N.A., Chicago, Ill." (two sided) side two is a "In Memoriam" [side one is green, red & white, side two is black] ; badge-"St. Columba's, Rosary and Altar Society" (also two sided, with side two
Box 1 Folder 2
Badge- For "Chicago, Lodge, No. 199, S.U. of N.A., Chicago, Ill." (two sided) side two is a "In Memoriam" [side one is green, red & white, side two is black] - one for "Past President" one for "Vice President" and one for "President"
Box 1 Folder 3
Badge- For "Chicago, Lodge, No. 199, S.U. of N.A., Chicago, Ill." (two sided) side two is a "In Memoriam" [side one is green, red & white, side two is black] - one for "Treasurer" one for "Secretary" and one for "Board of Directors"
Box 1 Folder 4
Badge- For "Chicago, Lodge, No. 199, S.U. of N.A., Chicago, Ill." (two sided) side two is a "In Memoriam" [side one is green, red & white, side two is black] - one for "Outside Guard" one for "Inside Guard" and one for "Chaplain"
Box 1 Folder 5 1963
Badge - "Guest" (one with slot for name) - "Twenty-Sixth Regular Session Seventh Quadrennial Convention Switchmen's Union of North America, AFL-CIO, Buffalo, N.Y., July 15-20 1963"
Box 1 Folder 6 1959-1963
Badge - (with slot for name) - "Twenty-Sixth Regular Session Seventh Quadrennial Convention Switchmen's Union of North America, AFL-CIO, Buffalo, N.Y., July 15-20 1963" ; "Guest S.U. of N.A., 6th Quadrennial Convention1959" & "Guest" for "7th Quadren
Box 1 Folder 7
Badges - "Member" for "Maple Leaf, Lodge No. 84, Switchmen's Oelwein, IA" (two sided, side two is "In Memoriam") ; push pins - oval pins for "Roll of Honor Member" ; "SU of NA" (one gold, one white) ; gold with "Switchmen's Union of North America"
Box 1 Folder 8
badges - two sided each with side two being "In Memoriam" ; side ones - "Maple Leaf Lodge No. 84, Switchmen'sOelwein, IA." ; "Sedalia Lodge No. 20 S.U. of N.A., Sedalia, Missouri" ; "M.J. Naughton Lodge, No.11, Switchmen'sCleveland, Ohio"
Box 1 Folder 9 1921-1941
"Constitution of Twin City District Council" ; "Employer's Certificate" ; badges - "5th Triennial Convention, Switchmen's Buffalo, N.Y., 1930" , "Delegate" for "Toledo, Ohio, May 1921", "S.U. of N.A., International Convention, June 9, 1941" ; "Seal of
Box 1 Folder 10 1962-1966
Buttons - [black w/gold leaves] "AFL-CIO, Switchmen's1962" ; "SU of NA Member" ; "Switchmen's , AFL-CIO 1966" ; "Switchmen's Union" ; "Switchmen'sS.U. for U, Join Now" ; "We Like Our Independence, Join S.U. of N.A." ; pen buttons - "Switchmen's...
Box 1 Folder 11 1916-1918
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors,
Box 1 Folder 12 1918-1920
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors ; "Switchmen's Union174"
Box 1 Folder 13 1920-1921
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors ; "Switchmen's Union174"
Box 1 Folder 14 1922-1923
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors
Box 1 Folder 15 1923-1925
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors
Box 1 Folder 16 1925-1927
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors
Box 1 Folder 17 1927-1929
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors
Box 1 Folder 18 1929-1931
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors
Box 1 Folder 19 1931-1932
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors
Box 1 Folder 20 1932-1934
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors
Box 1 Folder 21 1935-1936
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors
Box 1 Folder 22 1936-1938
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors
Box 1 Folder 23 1938-1939
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors
Box 1 Folder 24 1939-1941
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors
Box 1 Folder 25 1941-1943
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors
Box 1 Folder 26 1943-1944
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors
Box 1 Folder 27 1945-1946
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors
Box 1 Folder 28 1947-1948
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors
Box 1 Folder 29 1948-1949
Buttons - "A.F.L. [month] SUNA [year]" - assorted colors
Box 1 Folder 30 1962
Buttons - "A.F.L. C.I.O. [month] [year] Switchmen's Union of North America" - assorted colors ; one button, black with gold lettering/gold leaves, "AFL-CIO, Switchmen's Union of North America, 1962"
Box 1 Folder 31 1963
Buttons - "A.F.L. C.I.O. [month] [year] Switchmen's Union of North America" - assorted colors ; button, green with white lettering, "AFL-CIO, Switchmen's Union of North America, Our 69th Year 1894-1963""
Box 1 Folder 32 1967
Buttons - "A.F.L. C.I.O. [month] [year] Switchmen's Union of North America Serving Switchmen since 1894" - assorted colors
Box 1 Folder 33 1968
Buttons - "A.F.L. C.I.O. [month] [year] Switchmen's Union of North America" - assorted colors (many duplicates) ; "Join SU of NA, The Switchmen's Choice" ; "We Like Our Independence, Vote S.U. of N.A.", "The Switchmen's Choice"
Box 2 Folder 1
Red bandanna owned by Dan Collins, black arm band worn by union member.
Box 2 Folder 2
Wooden plaque, black with gold lettering - "International Union of S U of N A"
Box 2 Folder 3
Smoked glass plate with gold and red lettering, and design, "Switchmen's Union of North America" , "Organized Oct. 23, 1894"
Box 2 Folder 4
Gold keys - stamped with lettering "L. & N.R.R." ; Rubber stamp lettered "Switchmen's Union of North America"
Box 3 Folder 1 1959-1963
"Constitution and By-Laws, S.U. of N.A., A.F.L.-C.I.O." for both 1959 and 1963
Box 3 Folder 2 1902-1969
Orange - "Official Card" ; green - "Delegate's Credential" card ; pink and yellow - "Rates of Pay - Yard Service" cards ; schedule of pay for "Leadville Yard, July 1901" ; "CH Beegle's train routes" ; railway passes from "Lake Shore and Michigan Southern
Box 3 Folder 3 1892-1945
Certificate of membership for SUNA to the "National Fraternal Congress of America" (1945) ; Official commendation from "US Treasury" for the operation of the payroll savings plan (Buffalo Lodge 266) ; Insurance certificate from Switchmen's Mutual Aid Asso
Box 3 Folder 4
Bumper stickers - black and orange "VOTE for Switchmen's Union of N.A."
Box 3 Folder 5 1959
Cartoons - 1959 cartoon about feather-bedding by member of SUNA Local 157 ; cartoon captions on others - "A Democratic Union!" ; "A Growing Union" ; "In the Interests of Switchmen" ; "Improved working conditions, higher wages, safety" ; "A Better Deal" ;
Box 3 Folder 6 1894
SUNA decals/stickers - black, red, green, white with SUNA symbol in center and "Organized Oct. 23, 1894" on bottom
Box 3 Folder 7 1953-1957
"Official" receipt books for SUNA (1953-1957).
Box 3 Folder 8 1907
Cypher Code books for No. 283, Buffalo, NY, January 1, 1907 and Times Press (2nd edition)
Box 3 Folder 9 1924-1951
Ritual books (1924 & 1951) - "Ritual of the Switchmen's Union of North America"
Box 3 Folder 10 1909-1941
Convention booklets - Souvenirs from the following conventions - "Twenty-First Regular and Second Quadrennial, International Convention" ; "Fourth Biennial Convention" ; "Twentieth Regular and First Quadrennial, International Convention" ; "Eighteenth Int
Box 3 Folder 11 1884-1967
Schematic diagram of engine parts ; Design plans & sample button, 1963, with instructions to manufacture ; Invitation to Grand Annual Ball of the Switchmen's Mutual Aid Assoc. of Chicago, Dec. 23, 1884 ; Propaganda "Attention Erie-Lackawanna Switchmen
Box 4 Folder 1
Wooden black ball box used for initiation, white and black marbles included inside box
Box 5
Box 5 Folder 1
White felt with red trim and green lettering, gold tassels hang from support rod at each end of banner ; 46" x 110"
Box 5 Folder 1
[Felt - white w/red trim and lettering, gold tassels] - "International Lodge, Switchmen's Union of North America, AFL-CIO"
Box 6 Folder 1
Box 7