Paul Brissenden, "The First Decade of the I.W.W." Notes.
Collection Number: 5440
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Title:
Paul Brissenden, "The First Decade
of the I.W.W." Notes., 1913-1960
Collection Number:
5440
Creator:
Brissenden, Paul
Quantity:
0.5 linear ft.
Forms of Material:
Bibliographies, clippings (information artifacts)
.
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and
Archives, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Notes and raw data for "The First Decade of the I.W.W." by
Paul F. Brissenden.
Language:
Collection material in English
Labor historian and professor of labor economics, whose research included the history
of the Industrial Workers of the World, the first major American industrial and
syndicalist union.
Brissenden (Ph.D. Columbia University) served as a special investigator for the US
Bureau of Labor Statistics (1915-1920), taught labor economics and history at New
York University (1920-1921) and at Columbia University, where he remained until his
retirement. In addition to a number of publications in labor economics, Professor
Brissenden wrote two major histories of the Industrial Workers of the World.
Established in Chicago, 1905, by sponsors of socialism and the remnants of radical
labor unions, including the Knights of Labor, Western Federation of Miners and the
American Labor Union, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) or "Wobblies",
evolved into a radical industrial union which waged campaigns for improved working
conditions, wages and hours of work, as well as workers' control in mines, mills,
lumber camps and factories.
Consists chiefly of incoming letters, newspaper and journal articles and clippings,
documents, and notes of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) from its founding
in 1905 to 1928. The bulk of the information derived from these sources was used by
Brissenden in researching a book he was at the time engaged in writing (eventually
published as THE IWW; A STUDY OF AMERICAN SYNDICALISM). General topics covered by
the collection include the membership of the IWW; the structure of the union,
particularly with reference to locals; theories of syndicalism and "direct action";
free speech fights in varoius cities; and the criminal syndicalism and sabotage acts
passed by various states in tye years 1917-1919. Also included are numerous drafts
of portions of the book.
Specifically, the collection includes letters to Brissenden from Archie Robertson,
IWW organizer, criticizing the title of Brissenden's book and taking exception to
Brissenden's description of the IWW as syndicalist (1922); E. Pfister (Socialist
Labor Party) requesting copies of Brissenden's book to be used in an unnamed trial
(1922); Vincent St. John giving estimates, by year, of IWW membership, number of
local charters granted, number of locals disbanding, and distribution of membership
by industry (1915); Sidney Osborne (Arizona secretary of state) informing Brissenden
that a state sabotage law had been vetoed by Governer Lister (1918); and William D.
Haywood from Moscow, Russia, answering in detail Brissenden's queries about the
history of the Western Federation of Miners and giving locations of documents
relating to that organization (1923). Also, letter of William D. Haywood to C.
McCarty (US Commission on Industrial Relations) regarding free speech fights in
Kansas City, Kans., Los Angeles, Calif., Aberdeen, S.D., Denver, Colo., and Minot,
N.D.
Also included in the collection are numerous copies of anti-syndicalist and
anti-sabotage legislation from various states. Included, as well, are numerous
newspaper and article clippings on anti-syndicalist legislation.
In addition, collection includes copies of IWW convention proceedings and
constitutions; essays by Brissenden on a variety of topics, including amnesty for
IWW members convicted under anti-syndicalism laws, the IWW attitude toward the
state, and the development of syndicalism in the IWW after 1909; and notes on many
aspects of the development of the IWW and American radicalism, including comments on
the formation of the United Harbor and Marine Workers of America, on the splits and
differences among the left-wing parties in America, on Elizabeth Gurley Flynn's
attitude toward William Haywood's leaving for Russia (1921), on the attitude of the
IWW toward Soviet Russia (specifically the Red Traade Union International, 1921), on
strikes conducted by the IWW, and syndicalism in Germany, France, and Italy.
Finally, copies of a notice served on behalf of the Durst Brothers to the County
Boards of Directors of Yuma, Sutter, and Placer counties, declaring an imminent
threat to property in those counties as a result of a proposed strike by IWW
agricultural workers (1914); a copy of demands made by strikers at the Stone and
Webster Construction Company in Big Creek (1913); and a questionnaire on conditions
in logging camps (n.d.), among other documents.
Portions of collection in French and German.
Names:
Brissenden, Paul F.(Paul Frederick), 1885-1974
Flynn, Elizabeth Gurley, 1890-1964
McCarty, C.
Robertson, Archie
St. John, Vincent, 1876-1929.
Industrial Workers of the World
United Harbor and Marine Workers of America
Subjects:
Criminal syndicalism -- United States
Freedom of speech -- United States
Radicalism -- United States
Sabotage -- United States
Sedition -- United States
Syndicalism -- United States
Strikes and lockouts. Agricultural workers.
California.
Working conditions. Lumber industry. United
States.
Form and Genre Terms:
Bibliographies
Clippings (information artifacts)
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:
Paul Brissenden, "The First Decade of the I.W.W." Notes. #5440. Kheel Center for
Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Related Collections:
IWW Collection
IWW Collection
|
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | 1960 | |
|
Includes: "Human Relations and Efficient Production," "Satisfying the
Salaried Employee," "Employee Communications for Better Understanding,"
"Improving Human Relations," "Dealing with Employees as Individuals,"
"Checkpoints for Sound Collective Bargainin
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | 1922 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | 1913-1928 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | 1917-1918 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | ||
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | ||
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | ||
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | ||
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | ||