James J. Murphy Papers, 1893-1919
Collection Number: 5260

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


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
James J. Murphy Papers, 1893-1919
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5260
Abstract:
Consist of scrapbooks of materials relating to the International Typographical Union (ITU) and to Murphy's service on the Shorter Work Day Committee of ITU Local 6.
Creator:
Murphy, James J.
Quanitities:
1 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English

Biographical / Historical

James J. Murphy was born in New York city in 1860. He attended the College of the City of New York for a brief period, but left to become a printer. In 1883 he joined Local 6, and in 1885 married Miss Abbe Pogarty, daughter of a long time member of Local 6 and a compositor herself. His brother, the Reverend William G. Murphy, attended the American College in Rome, where he was made vice-rector in 1903.
Murphy served as vice president of Local Six from 1891 to 1893 and as president from 1893 to 1896. In 1896 a resolution of the international called for the institution of the nine hour day in book and job shops, and created a committee of five to lead the Union toward this goal. Murphy was named chairman of this Shorter Work Week Committee. The New York Typothetae signed an agreement in December
of 1887, which provided for a nine-and-a-half hour day and a nine hour day on Saturday as of January 1, 1898.
Continued agitation by Murphy and his committee led the United Typothetae to call a general meeting of printing trades unions in October 1898 at Syracuse. An agreement was signed with the Int'l Typographical Union, the International Printing Pressmen and Assistants Union and the International Brotherhood of Bookbinders. The nine and a half hour day was to be instituted on November 21, 1898 and the nine hour day was to become standard in book and job shops on November 21, 1899.
In 1902 the International began working for a reduction of working hours to eight each day, leaving "eight for recreation and improvement of mind, eight for eating and sleeping." A resolution approved by the 1904 convention demanded that the eight hour day become standard in all book and job shops on January 1, 1906. Strikes against the Typothetae were stopped by court injunction and the union finally settled for a forty-eight-hour week with a half day on Saturday.
Murphy was then re-elected as President of Local Six and served until 1908. In 1908 he passed the New York State Civil Service examination for
Supervising Factory Inspector. He was demoted to-Factory Inspector in 1916, because of a shortage of funds, but was reinstated in 1919 and held the position until he died on June 10, 1922.

Biographical / Historical

While the association of typographical workers in a particular shop as chapels for mutual benefit is almost as old as printing itself, modern trade unions did not occur until the late 1840's. In January of 1850 the New York Printers Union was founded, with Horace Greeley, editor of the Tribune, as president. In Kay of 1852 representatives of the New York union met with members of other typographical unions to found the National Typographical Union which was renamed the International Typographical Union in 1869. The New York Printers' Union received a charter from the National Typographical Union as Typographical Union #6.
In 1862 Local Six began pressing for a shorter work day, which led to the formation of the New York Typothetae, an organization of "Master Printers," designed to counteract the growing strength of the union. In 1887, a similar demand by the International Union brought about the association of the Typothetae in several cities into the United Typothetae of America. This organization continued to block the International's efforts to reduce working hours in the book and job shops until 1897, although the use of labor saving machinery made the eight hour, six day week standard in newspaper shops.

Consist of scrapbooks of materials relating to the International Typographical Union (ITU) and to Murphy's service on the Shorter Work Day Committee of ITU Local 6. The materials in this collection consist of four scrapbooks which contain clippings, handbills, membership cards, postcards and other souvenirs regarding Murphy and the activities of the ITU (1893-1919); and a souvenir book testimonial of the members of the International Typographical Union to its Shorter Work Day Committee presented at the 1899 convention of the ITU.
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

James J. Murphy Papers #5260. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.

Related Materials

Related Collections: 6046: Archives Union File (AUF)

SUBJECTS

Names:
Murphy, James J., 1860-1922.
International Typographical Union of North America. Local 6 (New York, N.Y.)
International Typographical Union of North America. Shorter Work Day Committee.
International Typographical union of North America. Shorter Work Week Committee.
New York Typothetae
Subjects:
Eight-hour movement.
Hours of labor--United States.
Weekly rest-day--United States.
Printers.
Trade-unions. Printing industry. United States.

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Box 1 Folder 1
Clipping book, re, 10.5 x5.5x2 inches.
Scope and Contents
Clippings handbills, and other material on Murphy and Local #6 from the period 1893-1908 ca., in approximate chronological order.
Box 1 Folder 2
Clipping book, black, 13.5x10.5x2.
Scope and Contents
Clippings handbills, and other material on Murphy and Local #6 from the period 1907-1919 ca., in approximate chronological order.
Box 1 Folder 3
Roll Book, black, 103/4x73/4x2 inches.
Scope and Contents
Postcards and souvenirs of a trip from Minneapolis to Milwaukee, by way of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Colorado Springs and Chicago, August to November 1915.
Box 1 Folder 4
Roll book, black, 103/4x73/44x3/4 inches.
Scope and Contents
Itinerary and souvenirs of a "Cook's Tour" of Washington, Richmond, and Old Point Comfort in Virginia, 15-20 January 1917.