International Ladies Garment Workers Union. Benjamin Schlesinger, President. Records, 1928-1932
Collection Number: 5780/010
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Title:
International Ladies
Garment Workers Union. Benjamin Schlesinger, President. Records,
1928-1932.
Collection Number:
5780/010
Creator:
International Ladies'
Garment Workers' Union. President's Office.
Quantity:
2 linear ft.
Forms of Material:
Correspondence, subject
files.
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management
Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Correspondence and subject files relating to
Schlesinger's term, October 1928 to June 1932.
Language:
Collection material in English
Files of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU)
president Benjamin Schlesinger during his final term as president, from October
1928 to June 1932.
Schlesinger was a Jewish immigrant from Lithuania who began working in
the garment industry in Chicago as a teenager. He became a union organizer soon
after and rose quickly in the ranks of the Chicago Cloakmakers' Union. He
served as president of the ILGWU for a brief time in 1903, and again from 1914
to 1923. Later, he was business manager of the Jewish Daily Forward in Chicago.
He died in office on June 6, 1932.
Topics covered in these materials include: communist activity in the
garment industry unions; contract negotiations; Schlesinger's role as business
manager of the Jewish Daily Forward (Chicago); labor disputes in the women's
garment industry of New York City; racketeering; socialism; garment industry
strikes in New York City (including the 1929 Cloakmakers' Strike and the 1930
Dressmakers' Strike); the Tom Mooney Defense Committee; relations between
manufacturers' associations and the union; union conventions; union elections;
union finances; and worker education.
Individuals and organizations represented in the collection include:
the Amalgamated Bank of New York; the Affiliated Dress Manufacturers'
Association; the AFL (including letters from William Green); the Associated
Raincoat Manufacturers of New York; Brookwood Labor College; Abraham Cahan;
Thomas C.T. Crain; Eugene Debs; David Dubinsky; ILGWU Locals 8, 10 and 50;
Sidney Hillman; Morris Hillquit; Charles Kreindler; Salvatore Ninfo; the Rand
School of Social Science; Franklin D. Roosevelt; Arnold Rothstein; Jacob H.
Schiff; Mortimer L. Schiff; Norman Thomas; Samuel Untermyer; B.C. Vladeck; and
the Wholesale Dress Manufacturers' Association.
Names:
International Ladies' Garment Workers'
Union.
Cahan, Abraham,
1860-1951.
Crain, Thomas C. T.
(Thomas Crowell Taylor), 1860-1942.
Debs, Eugene V. (Eugene
Victor), 1855-1926.
Dubinsky, David,
1892-
Green, William,
1872-1952.
Hillman, Sidney,
1887-1946.
Hillquit, Morris,
1869-1933.
Ninfo,
Salvatore.
Roosevelt, Franklin D.
(Franklin Delano), 1882-1945.
Rothstein, Arnold,
1882-1928.
Schiff, Jacob H. (Jacob
Henry), 1847-1920.
Schiff, Mortimer
L.
Schlesinger, Benjamin,
1876-1932.
Thomas, Norman,
1884-1968.
Untermyer, Samuel,
1858-1940.
Vladeck, B. (Baruch
Charney), 1886-1935.
Affiliated Dress
Manufacturers' Association.
Amalgamated Bank of New
York.
Amalgamated Ladies'
Garment Cutters' Union.
American Federation of
Labor.
Associated Raincoat
Manufacturers of New York.
Brookwood Labor College
(Katonah, N.Y.)
International Clothing
Workers' Federation.
International Ladies'
Garment Workers' Union--Elections.
International Ladies'
Garment Workers' Union--Finance.
International Ladies'
Garment Workers' Union--Convention.
International Ladies'
Garment Workers' Union--Presidents.
International Ladies'
Garment Workers' Union.
International Ladies'
Garment Workers' Union. Local 8 (San Francisco, Calif.)
International Ladies'
Garment Workers' Union. Local 50 (New York, N.Y.)
Mooney Molders Defense
Committee.
Rand School of Social
Science.
Waterproof Garment
Manufacturers' Association.
Wholesale Dress
Manufacturers' Association.
Titles:
Forverts (Chicago, Ill.)
Subjects:
Labor unions--Clothing workers--United
States.
Labor unions--Clothing workers--New
York--New York.
Labor unions--Clothing workers.
Women's clothing industry--United
States.
Women's clothing industry--New York--New
York.
Clothing trade--United States.
Clothing trade--New York--New
York.
Clothing workers--United
States.
Clothing workers--New York--New
York.
Strikes and lockouts--Clothing trade--New
York--New York.
Strikes and lockouts--Clothing
trade--United States.
Industrial relations--United
States.
Industrial relations--New York--New
York.
Working class--Education--New York--New
York.
Labor unions and communism--United
States.
Socialism--United States.
Form and Genre Terms:
Correspondence
Organization files
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:
International Ladies Garment Workers Union. Benjamin Schlesinger,
President. Records, 1928-1932. #5780/010. Kheel Center for Labor-Management
Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
5780/009. Benjamin Schlesinger. President's records, 1914-1923.
Correspondence and subject files are arranged alphabetically within
each section.
Series I. General correspondence. | Box 1 |
Series II. Subject files. | Boxes 1-4 |
Series III. Miscellaneous items. | Box 4 |
Container
|
Description
|
|
I. General correspondence.
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 1 |
A. 1928-31.
|
Includes correspondence between Associated Raincoat
Manfacturers of N.Y. and Local 20 (Waterproof Garment Workers Union) on
negotiations for agreement, 1928-30.
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 2 |
B.
|
General Correspondence
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 3 |
C.
|
Includes letters from Thomas C.T. Crain (N.Y. District
Attorney) on racketeering, 1930
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 4 |
D.
|
General Correspondence
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 5 |
E-F.
|
General Correspondence
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 6 |
G.
|
General Correspondence
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 7 |
H-L:.
|
Includes list of bonds purchased by affiliated locals,
1929.
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 8 |
M.
|
Includes ltr. from William Mack offering impartial
assistance, 1929; Tom Mooney Defense Committee, 1929.
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 9 |
N.
|
Includes letters to N.Y. Times and N.Y. World on
Communist appeal in Daily Worker for Communists to participate in mass
picketing in the dress industry, Feb. 1929.
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 10 |
O-P.
|
Box 1 | Folder 11 |
R.
|
Includes Rand School letters, 1929-30.
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 12 |
S.
|
Box 1 | Folder 13 |
T.
|
Ltrs. from Norman Thomas (4).
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 14 |
U-V.
|
Includes letters to B. C. Vladeck (Manager), Jewish
Daily Forward, 1929-30.
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 15 |
W-Z.
|
II. Subject files.
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 16 |
Amalgamated Bank of N.Y.; 1924-31.
|
Correspondence, financial matters; agreement between
Union and bank; shares of Int'l. Union Bank as collateral for Union loan.
|
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Box 1 | Folder 17 |
Amalgamated Ladies Garment Cutters Union, Local 10.
|
Ltr. urging Schlesinger to assume presidency, upon
Morris Sigman's resignation, Nov. 14, 1928; Maurice Jacobs (Chairman), David
Dubinsky (Manager), Local 10.
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 18 |
American Federation of Labor: Oct. 1928-July 1929.
|
Includes letters from William Green.
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 19 |
AFL: Aug. 1929-32.
|
Associations.
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 20 |
Affiliated Dress Manfacturers Association, Inc.
|
Correspondence re negotiations for agreements,
1929-32.
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 21 |
American Cloak and Suit Manfacturers Association, Inc.
|
Benjamin Schlesinger conference address, March 1932.
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Box 1 | Folder 22 |
Couturiers Association of N.Y., 1930
|
Box 1 | Folder 23 |
Wholesale Dress Manfacturers Association 1929-32.
|
Box 1 | Folder 24 |
Brandeis, Louis.
|
Birthday greetings to Schlesinger 1926, 1931.
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||
Box 1 | Folder 25 |
Brookwood Labor College: 1928-32.
|
Ltrs. from A.J. Muste (Chairman of Faculty); releases,
statements issued by College re controversy with AFL over teaching policies,
1928; correspondence with Roger Baldwin and A.J. Muste on American Fund for
Public Service loan to Union during N.Y. : Cloakmakers strike of 1926, 1929-32.
|
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Box 1 | Folder 26 |
Cahan, Abraham: 1928-31.
|
Correspondence (non-Union matters).
|
||
Box 1 | Folder 27 |
Chicago Joint Board: 1928-30.
|
Includes correspondence with Morris Bialis (Manager).
|
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Box 1 | Folder 28 |
Congratulatory Messages. Birthday, 1929.
|
Box 1 | Folder 29 |
Congratulatory Messages.
|
Election to Union presidency, Oct. 1929
|
||
Convention (20th), Union: 1929.
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Box 2 | Folder 1 |
Convention call; memoranda to affiliates; telegrams to
Raymond Ingersoll, James J. Walker, and Franklin D. Roosevelt (and his
responses) on their help in terminating N.Y. Cloakmakers' strike of 1929.
|
Box 2 | Folder 2 |
Schlesinger's and Abraham Cahan's Convention
addresses, Dec.
|
Box 2 | Folder 3 |
Ballots electing Convention delegates of Local 2
(Cloak and Suit Operators Union) and Local 9 (Cloak Finishers
Union).
|
Box 2 | Folder 4 |
Committees.
|
Includes lists of committee members; report of
Committee on Law.
|
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Box 2 | Folder 5 |
Committees
|
Citizens Committee to supervise elections for
Convention delegates; Committee members (Jacob Billikopf, Arthur Garfield
Hayes, Roger Baldwin) correspondence; report.
|
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Box 2 | Folder 6 |
Committees.
|
Credential Committee. Includes correspondence between
Isidore Nagler (Chairman) and local affiliates on local indebtedness to Union;
reports.
|
||
Box 2 | Folder 7 |
Invitations and responses; includes William Green,
John L. Lewis, Morris Sigman, Norman Thomas, B.C. Vladeck.
|
Convention (21st), Union: 1932.
|
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Box 2 | Folder 8 |
General files.
|
Box 2 | Folder 9 |
General files.
|
Box 2 | Folder 10 |
Delegates and Alternates. Includes ballots electing
delegates to Convention.
|
Box 2 | Folder 11 |
Invitations and responses, arranged alphabetically by
correspondence
|
Box 2 | Folder 12 |
Dubinsky, David (and Hannah Haskel): 1928-30, 1932.
|
Correspondence between Dubinsky and Benjamin
Schlesinger, when Schlesinger is away from office.
|
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Box 2 | Folder 13 |
Form Letters and Circulars: 1929-32.
|
Box 2 | Folder 14 |
General Executive Board.
|
Ltr. from Special Committee informing Schlesinger of
their decision to Separate Cloak and Dress Joint Board, April 1930; Dubinsky
(Chairman), Salvatore Ninfo (Secretary).
|
||
Box 2 | Folder 15 |
Greetings (New Year's).
|
Box 2 | Folder 16 |
Hillquit, Morris: Nov. 1928-29.
|
Correspondence on legal matters, negotiations for
collective agreements.
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Box 2 | Folder 17 |
Hillquit, Morris: 1930-32.
|
Includes copies of letters on loan by Int'l. Madison
Bank and Trust Co. to 130 E. 25th St. Corporation, 1930.
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Box 2 | Folder 18 |
International Association of Machinists: 1930-31.
|
Correspondence re Machinists' loan to Union.
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Box 2 | Folder 19 |
International Unions: 1928.
|
Union request for loan from various unions to help
rehabilitate ILGWU.
|
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Box 2 | Folder 20 |
Jewish Daily Forward, Chicago: 1923-28.
|
Benjamin Schlesinger (Manager). Includes letters from
Abraham Cahan and Eugene Debs
|
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Box 2 | Folder 21 |
Kreindler, Charles: 1928-31.
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Box 2 | Folder 22 |
Local 8: 1928.
|
San Francisco, Calif. Correspondence with J. Mencoff.
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N.Y. Cloakmakers Strike of 1929
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Box 3 | Folder 1 |
July 2-15.
|
Correspondence is arranged in chronological order;
pre-strike items; includes ltr. to Cloak and Suit Manfacturers on negotiation
for agreement; replies from individuals to whom copies of ltr. were forwarded;
statement to Cloakmakers
|
||
Box 3 | Folder 2 |
May 28-July 4.
|
Correspondence includes Shop Chairmen's meeting, May;
General Executive Board manifesto to Cloakmakers, June? messages from local
affiliates and individuals wishing Union success; letters pledging cooperation
in aiding strikers; correspondence includes August Claessens with enclosed list
of services for aiding strike; FDR ltr. inviting Union and manufacturers for
conference in attempt to reach settlement, July 2.
|
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Box 3 | Folder 3 |
July 15-July 16.
|
Copy of ltr. to FDR from Industrial Council of Cloak
Manfacturers stating their position, July 5; letters of support and
congratulatory messages upon conclusion of strike; includes letters from Sidney
Hillman, Norman Thomas.
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Box 3 | Folder 4 |
July 7-24.
|
Congratulatory messages and correspondence
|
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Box 3 | Folder 5 |
July 25-Dec. 2.
|
Includes congratulatory message from FDR, Aug. 1.
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Box 3 | Folder 6 |
General items; includes list of General Strike
Committee individuals; Union statements.
|
N.Y. Dressmakers Strike, 1930
|
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Box 3 | Folder 7 |
Feb. 4-12.
|
Jan. 31-Feb. 16, correspondence; FDR ltr. inviting
Union to conference with manufacturers to settle strike, Feb. 4; Schlesinger
statement at conference, Feb. 7? Herbert H. Lehman ltr. re Jobbers Association,
Feb. 16.
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Box 3 | Folder 8 |
Feb. 17-Mar. 16.
|
Correspondence; congratulatory messages upon
conclusion of strike.
|
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Box 3 | Folder 9 |
Jan. 28.
|
D.D. and Schlesinger addresses at Dressmakers mass
meeting
|
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Box 3 | Folder 10 |
Ninfo, Salvatore (Manager), Local 48 (Italian Cloak
Makers Union): 1929-31.
|
Box 3 | Folder 11 |
Philadelphia: 1928, 1930.
|
Includes correspondence on strike in Local 50.
|
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Box 3 | Folder 12 |
Poland: 1920-31.
|
Includes correspondence with Garment Workers Union;
financial support to Jewish cultural institutions and newspapers.
|
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Box 3 | Folder 13 |
Referendum for Electing General Officers: Jan. 7, 1930.
|
Includes correspondence between Louis Reiff (Chairman),
National Election Committee and local officers.
|
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Box 3 | Folder 14 |
Referendum Election: 1930.
|
Includes local letters informing Election Committee of
election results.
|
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Box 3 | Folder 15 |
Referendum Election: 1930.
|
Same as above.
|
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Box 3 | Folder 16 |
Rothstein, Arnold: Nov. 1928.
|
D.D. telegrams to Schlesinger re District Attorney's
evidence that Rothstein was connected with communist strikes in industry.
|
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Box 3 | Folder 17 |
Schiff, Mortimer L. and Jacob H.
|
Letter from Jacob on Union activities in relief for war
sufferers in Europe (n.d. prior to 1920); letter from Mortimer on donation to
Union.
|
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Box 3 | Folder 18 |
Schlesinger, Speeches and Statements: 1928-Jan. 1929.
|
Box 3 | Folder 19 |
Schlesinger, Speeches and Statements: Feb. 1929-30.
|
Box 4 | Folder 1 |
Tailors and Garment Workers Union, London.
|
Includes pub., Garment Workers, 1928; agreement between
Wholesale Manfacturers Federation and Tailors Union, 1921.
|
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Box 4 | Folder 2 |
Untermyer, Samuel: 1926, 1928.
|
III. Miscellaneous items, 1897-30.
|
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Box 4 | Folder 3 |
Newspaper Clipping Files. Articles by Schlesinger
(n.d.)
|
Box 4 | Folder 4 |
Newspaper Clipping Files. Articles re Schlesinger or
Union.
|
Box 4 | Folder 5 |
Notes (holograph).
|
16 items (n.d.).
|
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Box 4 | Folder 6 |
Photographs.
|
50 items.
|
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Box 4 | Folder 7 |
Includes Socialist Party membership cards; membership
dues card, Local 1; certificate of membership in Forward, 1916-25; military
certifications, 1917-18 (3 items).
|
Box 4 | Folder 8 |
Includes Union constitution and by-laws, 1916; visas;
autobiographical sketch, Dec. 1931.
|
Box 4 | Folder 9 |
Includes correspondence with family members in U.S.A.
and Poland.
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Box 4 | Folder 10a-10b |
Originals.
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