Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Lodge 1179 (Cadosia, NY ) Records, 1902-1921
Collection Number: 5448

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


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Lodge 1179 (Cadosia, NY ) Records, 1902-1921
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5448
Abstract:
This collection consists of records from the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Lodge 1179 in Cadosia, New York (formerly Lodge 257 of the Brotherhood of Railway Trackmen).
Creator:
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWE)
BMWE Lodge 1179
Quanitities:
0.5 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English

Biographical / Historical

The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes [BMWE] was organized by workers responsible for the physical condition of operational railway rights of way. The BMWE membership consisted of workers who built and maintained the tracks, bridges, buildings, and other railroad structures. It was founded in Alabama in 1887 as the Order of Railroad Trackmen by John T. Wilson.
In 1892, the Order merged with the Brotherhood of Railway Section Foremen of North America, a related organization, to form the Brotherhood of Railway Track Foremen of America. In 1896, the membership of the union was opened to white track laborers as well as foremen, and the organization became known as the Brotherhood of Railway Trackmen of America. In 1918, the Trackmen reintegrated a secessionist faction that had existed as a separate group since 1914 and became known as the United Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees and Railway Shop Laborers. The union adopted its current name in 1925 as part of an effort to settle jurisdictional problems with other American Federation of Labor unions.
In 2004, the BMWE merged with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and renamed themselves the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters [BMWED] to reflect the change in their organizational affiliation.

Inclusive date range: 1902-1921
Bulk dates: 1902-1921
This collection consists of the records of Lodge No. 1179 in Cadosia, NY (formerly Lodge No. 257) of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes. It includes one Minutes Book (1919-1921) that records the Lodge meeting where the members discussed general business, workers' issues such as the push for an eight hour work day, union finances, membership statistics, dues collection, the election of officers, and individual members' grievances. Also found in this collection are Members and Dues Books that list the names, ages, years of work experience, and union certificate numbers of local members. Additionally, the minutes of meeting in which the Lodge discussed how to support the widow of a deceased member and a certificate of membership signed by John T. Wilson are located in this collection.
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

Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Lodge 1179 (Cadosia, NY ) Records #5448. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.

Related Materials

Related Collections: 5347: Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, ICC, and Erie Lackawanna Briefs Regarding the Railroad Merger 5005: Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Miscellaneous Records

SUBJECTS

Names:
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes.
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees. Lodge 1179 (Cadosia).
New York, Ontario, and Western Railway Co.
Subjects:
Railroads -- Employees.
Trade-unions. Railroads. New York (State). Cadosia.
Trade-unions. United States. Local unions.

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Box 1 Folder 1
Lodge no. 257 Assessment Ledger
1902-1905
Scope and Contents
Dues paid; years in service; disbursements. Lodge 257 became Lodge 1179 (Cadosia, NY).
Box 1 Folder 2
Lodge no. 1179 Membership Ledger
1919-1920
Scope and Contents
Secretary-Treasurer: Thomas Crane, East Branch, NY. Alphabetical list of members; records of dues paid; disbursements; receipts
Box 1 Folder 3
Lodge no. 1179 Minute Book
1919-1921
Box 1 Folder 4
Lodge no. 1179 Minutes
1920
Scope and Contents
Handwritten on Cadosia Lodge no.1179 letterhead. As per Minute Book, dated October 16, 1920
Box 1 Folder 5
Lodge no. 257 Certificate of Membership
1902
Scope and Contents
Brotherhood of Railway Trackmen, Certificate no.17312: Owen Padden. Signed by John T. Wilson, Grand President, June 27, 1902.