ILGWU Local 62 Records, 1913-1971
Collection Number: 5780/021
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
ILGWU Local 62 Records, 1913-1971
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5780/021
Abstract:
The collection contains minutes of Local 62's Executive Board's meetings between 1913
and 1971, as well as issues of the local's publication, Our Union, from 1935 to 1970.
Creator:
ILGWU Local 62
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
Quanitities:
4 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English, Yiddish
The International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union was once one of the largest labor
unions in the United States founded in 1900 by local union delegates representing
about 2,000 members in cities in the northeastern United States. It was one of the
first U.S. Unions to have a membership consisting of mostly females, and it played
a key role in the labor history of the 1920s and 1930s. The union is generally referred
to as the "ILGWU" or the "ILG". The ILGWU grew in geographical scope, membership size,
and political influence to become one of the most powerful forces in American organized
labor by mid-century. Representing workers in the women's garment industry, the ILGWU
worked to improve working and living conditions of its members through collective
bargaining agreements, training programs, health care facilities, cooperative housing,
educational opportunities, and other efforts. The ILGWU merged with the Amalgamated
Clothing and Textile Workers Union in 1995 to form the Union of Needle trades, Industrial
and Textile Employees (UNITE). UNITE merged with the Hotel Employees and Restaurant
Employees Union (HERE) in 2004 to create a new union known as UNITE HERE. The two
unions that formed UNITE in 1995 represented only 250,000 workers between them, down
from the ILGWU's peak membership of 450,000 in 1969.
The White Goods Workers' Union Local 62, also known as the Underwear and White Goods
Workers Union, was chartered in 1909, but was not fully organized until 1913. Rose
Schneiderman and the Women's Trade Union League assisted with the early organizing
efforts of the White Goods Workers. These workers consisted mainly of young immigrant
girls. Early leaders of the local included Samuel Shore. On March 1913, 15,000 workers
went on strike against the sweatshop conditions. A six week strike ensued in which
many of the girls on the picket lines were attacked and arrested. Gains won included
a 54 hour week, no Sunday, sanitary conditions and an 18 cent an hour minimum wage.
This strike made the local.
The local and its workers were originally called white goods workers as they manufactured
camisoles, chemises, cambric drawers with lace ruffles and drawstrings, and corset
covers. Through the years, styles changed and production shifted to panties and slips.
In the 1960s, the local became the Undergarment and Negligee Workers' Union Local
62.
The collection contains minutes of Local 62's Executive Board's meetings, as well
as issues of the local's publication, "Our Union," from 1935 to 1970. The earliest
minutes of the Executive Board of Local 62 date to 1913 and run until 1971. These
bound meeting minutes are in Yiddish. Later copies of minutes were bound with reports
and financial statements.
"Our Union" was the official publication of the local that began in February 1935.
The bulletin was printed monthly and includes information on the industry, agreements,
education, recreation, and culture. Later years include a section in Spanish.
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference
archivist for access to these materials.
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and
Procedures for Document Use.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
ILGWU Local 62 Records #5780/021. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation
and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Names:
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Local 62 (New York, N.Y.)
Subjects:
Women's clothing industry -- United States
Women's clothing industry--New York (State)--New York.
Clothing workers -- Labor unions -- United States
Clothing workers -- Labor unions -- New York (State) -- New York
Clothing workers -- United States
Clothing workers--New York (State)--New York.
CONTAINER LIST
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
Series Series I: Executive Board Minutes, 1913-1971
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1913-1915 |
Scope and Contents
Yiddish
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 2 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1915-1919 |
Scope and Contents
Yiddish
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 3 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1923-1930 |
Scope and Contents
Yiddish. Fragile
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 4 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1930 |
Scope and Contents
Yiddish
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 5 |
"Our Union" Vol. XXII, No.1-Vol.XXII, No.37
|
1963-1970 |
Box 2 | Folder 1 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1933-1936 |
Box 2 | Folder 2 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1937 |
Box 2 | Folder 3 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1938 |
Box 2 | Folder 4 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1939 |
Box 2 | Folder 5 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1940 |
Box 2 | Folder 6 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1941 |
Box 2 | Folder 7 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1942 |
Box 2 | Folder 8 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1943 |
Box 2 | Folder 9 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1944 |
Box 2 | Folder 10 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1945 |
Box 2 | Folder 11 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1946 |
Box 2 | Folder 12 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1947 |
Box 2 | Folder 13 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1948-1950 |
Box 2 | Folder 14 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1951-1955 |
Box 2 | Folder 15 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1956-1958 |
Box 2 | Folder 16 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1959-1960 |
Box 2 | Folder 17 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1961-1962 |
Box 3 | Folder 1 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1963-1964 |
Box 3 | Folder 2 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1965-1968 |
Box 3 | Folder 3 |
Executive Board Minutes.
|
1968-1971 |
Series Series II: Our Union. Periodical, 1935-1970
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 4 |
"Our Union" Vol.I, No.1- Vol. VIII, No.12
|
1935-1941 |
Box 3 | Folder 5 |
"Our Union" Vol. IX No.1- Vol. XII, No.10
|
1942-1944 |
Box 3 | Folder 6 |
"Our Union" Vol. XII, No.11-Vol.XIII, No.17
|
1945-1947 |
Box 3 | Folder 7 |
"Our Union" , No.11-Vol.XIII, No.17 [copy 2]
|
1945-1947 |
Box 3 | Folder 8 |
"Our Union" , No.18-Vol.XV, No.14
|
1948-1950 |
Box 3 | Folder 9 |
"Our Union" , No.18-Vol.XV, No.14 [copy 2]
|
1948-1950 |
Box 3 | Folder 10 |
"Our Union" , No.18-Vol.XV, No.14 [copy 3]
|
1948-1950 |
Box 3 | Folder 11 |
"Our Union" Vol. XVI, No.1-Vol XVII, No.12
|
1951-1955 |
Box 3 | Folder 12 |
"Our Union" Vol. XVI, No.1-Vol.XVII, No.12 [copy 2]
|
1951-1955 |
Box 3 | Folder 13 |
"Our Union" Vol. XVIII, No.1-Vol.XIX, No.8
|
1956-1959 |
Box 3 | Folder 14 |
"Our Union" Vol. XVIII, No.1-Vol.XIX, No.8 [copy 2]
|
1956-1959 |
Box 3 | Folder 15 |
"Our Union" Vol. XIX, No.9- Vol. XXI, No.10
|
1960-1962 |