ILGWU. Local 62. Managers' correspondence, 1941-1981
Collection Number: 5780/079

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


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
ILGWU. Local 62. Managers' correspondence, 1941-1981
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5780/079
Abstract:
The collection consists primarily of correspondence of Local 62's manager, Matthew Schoenwald. Corrrespondents include staff in several of the ILGWU departments, as well as Louis Stulberg, David Dubinsky, and Executive Director of The Lingerie Manufacturers Association Jack Gross. Also included are records documenting the work of the Liberal Party, including correspondence and mailing lists.
Creator:
Schoenwald, Matthew
Local 62
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
Quanitities:
4 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English

Biographical / Historical

Founded in 1900 by local union delegates representing about 2,000 members in cities in the northeastern United States, the ILGWU grew in geographical scope, membership size, 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. In 1995, the ILGWU merged with the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU) to form the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE).

Biographical / Historical

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 consists primarily of correspondence of Local 62's manager Matthew Schoenwald. Correspondents include staff in several of the ILGWU departments, as well as Presidents Louis Stulberg and David Dubinsky, James Lipsig (Assistant Executive Secretary) and Jack Gross. Gross was the Executive Director for The Lingerie Manufacturers Association, Inc. and The Negligee Manufacturers Association, Inc. and his files include correspondence and agreements. Additionally, there is correspondence and agreements with the manufacturer association for the undergarment industry, the Allied Underwear Association, Inc.
General administrative records detailing the work of Local 62 includes correspondence regarding the benefit and retirement funds. Associated Hospital Service refers to the Blue Cross Plan of the local, and there are terms of benefits, claims, payments, and providers. There are Local 62 reports to the General Office, documents of the Office Workers Division of Local 62, meetings, and collective agreements for office employees in shops. Celebrations are documented through anniversaries, Unity House outings, and luncheons.
There are a large amount of files and correspondence with the lawyers that represented Local 62 on arbitration cases, including the firms of Lieberman, Aronson and Rosenberg as well as Lieberman, Katz and Aronson, which were headed by Elias Lieberman. The Lieberman, Katz and Aronson firm were also counsel to the Retirement Fund and were present at Fund meetings. The records contain meeting minutes, retirement applicants, finances, and rules and regulations.
Departments represented in the collection include the Auditing Department (year end and annual reports, strike collections and receipts, tally sheets on investments and dues, signed and completed annual forms) and the Northeast Department. Local 62 worked closely with this department regarding underwear and lingerie shops outside of New York City, and communicated locations of shops and their agreements to the Northeast Department.
There is much information documenting the work of the Liberal Party and elections, as Matthew Schoenwald was a candidate for the 27th Assembly District for Queens County. Available is correspondence on meetings, contributions, campaigns, fundraising, and lists of individuals residing in districts.
In his role as a union vice president, Shoenwald also helped organize undergarment and lingerie shops in other areas, particularly Puerto Rico.
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

ILGWU. Local 62. Managers' correspondence #5780/079. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.

Related Materials

Related Collections: 5780: ILGWU records 5780/021: ILGWU. Local 62 records 5780/022: ILGWU. Local 62 correspondence 5780/074: ILGWU. Mary Goff Schuster papers 5780/089: ILGWU. Local 62-32 agreements

SUBJECTS

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
Labor unions--Clothing workers--New York (State)--New York.
Clothing workers -- United States
Clothing workers--New York (State)--New York.

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Box 1 Folder 1
Wage-Hour Schedules (4 copies), no dates
Box 1 Folder 2
ILGWU - James Lipsig
1974-1976
Box 1 Folder 3
ILGWU - James Lipsig
1970-1973
Box 1 Folder 4
ILGWU - James Lipsig
1965-1969
Box 1 Folder 5
Liberal Party
1968
Box 1 Folder 6
Liberal Party
1967
Box 1 Folder 7
Liberal Party
1966
Box 1 Folder 8
Liberal Party
1965
Box 1 Folder 9
Liberal Party
1964
Box 1 Folder 10
Liberal Party
1962-1963
Box 1 Folder 11
Jewish Occupational Council
1965-1966
Box 1 Folder 12
Jewish Labor Committee
1963-1967
Box 1 Folder 13
Office Employees (165A) Local 62 Shops
1970-1978
Box 1 Folder 14
Office Workers Division Collective Agreements (Assn's) (165A)
1969-1970
Box 1 Folder 15
Office Employees (165A) Local 62 Shops
1969
Box 1 Folder 16
ILGWU Auditing Department
1970
Box 1 Folder 17
ILGWU Auditing Department
1969
Box 1 Folder 18
ILGWU Auditing Department
1968
Box 1 Folder 19
ILGWU Auditing Department
1967
Box 1 Folder 20
ILGWU Auditing Department
1966
Box 1 Folder 21
ILGWU Auditing Department
1965
Box 1 Folder 22
ILGWU Auditing Department
1962-1963
Box 1 Folder 23
ILGWU Northeast Department
1967-1968
Box 1 Folder 24
ILGWU Northeast Department
1965-1966
Box 1 Folder 25
ILGWU Northeast Department (special)
1965-1966
Box 1 Folder 26
ILGWU Northeast Department
1964
Box 1 Folder 27
ILGWU Northeast Department
1962-1963
Box 1 Folder 28
ILGWU Northeast Department Agreement
Box 1 Folder 29
ILGWU Puerto Rico Region
1971-1973
Box 1 Folder 30
ILGWU Puerto Rico Region
1970
Box 1 Folder 31
ILGWU Puerto Rico Region
1968-1969
Box 1 Folder 32
ILGWU Research Department
1971-1973
Box 1 Folder 33
ILGWU Research Department
1965-1966
Box 1 Folder 34
ILGWU Retiree Services Department
1968-1975
Box 1 Folder 35
Retirees - Misc. Locals Meeting
1966-1967
Box 1 Folder 36
ILGWU Special Assistance Fund
1967-1977
Box 1 Folder 37
ILGWU Special Assistance Fund
1966-1968
Box 1 Folder 38
Impartial Chairman
1978-1981
Box 1 Folder 39
Miscellaneous Member Correspondence
1974-1977
Box 1 Folder 40
Miscellaneous Member Correspondence
1970
Box 1 Folder 41
Miscellaneous Member Correspondence
1969
Box 1 Folder 42
Miscellaneous Member Correspondence
1968
Box 2 Folder 1
Vanity Fair
1976-1977
Box 2 Folder 2
U.S. Lingerie [folder 1 of 2]
1966-1968
Box 2 Folder 3
U.S. Lingerie [folder 2 of 2]
1966-1968
Box 2 Folder 4
U.S. Pay Board
1973
Box 2 Folder 5
U.S. Pay Board [folder 1 of 2]
1972
Box 2 Folder 6
U.S. Pay Board [folder 2 of 2]
1972
Box 2 Folder 7
Associated Hospital Service
1973
Box 2 Folder 8
Associated Hospital Service
1972
Box 2 Folder 9
Associated Hospital Service
1971
Box 2 Folder 10
Associated Hospital Service
1970
Box 2 Folder 11
Associated Hospital Service
1969
Box 2 Folder 12
Associated Hospital Service
1968
Box 2 Folder 13
Blue Cross
1970-1971
Box 2 Folder 14
Celebrations
1972-1975
Box 2 Folder 15
Celebrations [folder 1 of 2]
1941-1971
Box 2 Folder 16
Celebrations [folder 2 of 2]
1941-1971
Box 2 Folder 17
Chairladies' Notices
1974-1975
Box 2 Folder 18
Chairladies' Notices
1973
Box 2 Folder 19
Chairladies' Notices
1972
Box 2 Folder 20
Chairladies' Notices
1970
Box 2 Folder 21
Miscellaneous Correspondence
1964
Box 2 Folder 22
Miscellaneous Correspondence
1963
Box 2 Folder 23
Contributions
1978
Box 2 Folder 24
Contributions
1977
Box 2 Folder 25
Contributions
1976
Box 2 Folder 26
Contributions
1975
Box 2 Folder 27
ILGWU - Louis Stulberg
1967
Box 2 Folder 28
ILGWU - Louis Stulberg
1966
Box 2 Folder 29
ILGWU - Louis Stulberg
1965
Box 2 Folder 30
ILGWU - Louis Stulberg
1964
Box 2 Folder 31
ILGWU - Louis Stulberg
1962-1963
Box 2 Folder 32
ILGWU - David Dubinsky
1964
Box 2 Folder 33
ILGWU - David Dubinsky
1963
Box 2 Folder 34
ILGWU - David Dubinsky
1966-1967
Box 2 Folder 35
ILGWU - David Dubinsky
1965
Box 2 Folder 36
Fifth Avenue Robes
1975-1977
Box 2 Folder 37
ILGWU - Local 122
1965
Box 2 Folder 38
ILGWU - Local 107
1965-1967
Box 2 Folder 39
ILGWU - Louis Stulberg
1972
Box 2 Folder 40
ILGWU - Louis Stulberg
1971
Box 2 Folder 41
ILGWU - Louis Stulberg
1970
Box 2 Folder 42
ILGWU - Louis Stulberg
1969
Box 2 Folder 43
ILGWU - Louis Stulberg
1968
Box 3 Folder 1
Lieberman, Aronson and Rosenberg
1977
Box 3 Folder 2
Lieberman, Aronson and Rosenberg
1976
Box 3 Folder 3
Lieberman, Aronson and Rosenberg
1975
Box 3 Folder 4
Lieberman, Aronson and Rosenberg
1974
Box 3 Folder 5
Lieberman, Aronson and Rosenberg
1973
Box 3 Folder 6
Lieberman, Aronson and Rosenberg
1972
Box 3 Folder 7
Lieberman, Aronson and Rosenberg
1971
Box 3 Folder 8
Lieberman, Katz and Aronson
1970
Box 3 Folder 9
Lieberman, Katz and Aronson
1969
Box 3 Folder 10
Lieberman, Katz and Aronson
1968
Box 3 Folder 11
Lieberman, Katz and Aronson
1965
Box 3 Folder 12
Lieberman, Katz and Aronson
1964
Box 3 Folder 13
Lieberman, Katz and Aronson
1963
Box 3 Folder 14
Lieberman, Katz and Aronson
1962
Box 3 Folder 15
Lieberman, Katz and Aronson
1967
Box 3 Folder 16
Lieberman, Katz and Aronson
1966
Box 4 Folder 1
Retirement Fund Meetings
1965
Box 4 Folder 2
Retirement Fund Meetings
1964
Box 4 Folder 3
Retirement Fund Meetings
1963
Box 4 Folder 4
For Retirement Fund Meeting
1962
Box 4 Folder 5
Retirement Fund
1962
Box 4 Folder 6
Retirement Fund - Finance Committee re Investments
1963
Box 4 Folder 7
Retirement Fund - Rules
Box 4 Folder 8
Child-Fit
1966-1969
Box 4 Folder 9
Barsa, Odette (Fresoeur)
1972-1973
Box 4 Folder 10
Betty Page Togs
1965
Box 4 Folder 11
Baker, Zorita (member)
1967-1968
Box 4 Folder 12
Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers
1977
Box 4 Folder 13
Allied Underwear Association
1970
Box 4 Folder 14
Allied Underwear Association
1968-1969
Box 4 Folder 15
Allied Underwear Association
1967
Box 4 Folder 16
Allied Underwear Association
1966
Box 4 Folder 17
Allied Underwear Association
1965
Box 4 Folder 18
Allied Underwear Association
1964
Box 4 Folder 19
Allied Underwear Association
1963
Box 4 Folder 20
Allied Underwear Association
1974-1975
Box 4 Folder 21
Allied Underwear Association
1973
Box 4 Folder 22
Allied Underwear Association
1972
Box 4 Folder 23
Allied Underwear Association
1971
Box 4 Folder 24
Contractors' Association
1972-1975
Box 4 Folder 25
Jack Gross
1973-1975
Box 4 Folder 26
Jack Gross
1972
Box 4 Folder 27
Jack Gross
1971
Box 4 Folder 28
Jack Gross
1970
Box 4 Folder 29
Jack Gross
1969
Box 4 Folder 30
Jack Gross
1968
Box 4 Folder 31
Jack Gross
1967
Box 4 Folder 32
Jack Gross
1966
Box 4 Folder 33
Jack Gross
1965
Box 4 Folder 34
Jack Gross
1964
Box 4 Folder 35
Jack Gross
1963
Box 4 Folder 36
Jack Gross
1962
Box 4 Folder 37
Style Undies
1965-1970
Box 4 Folder 38
Style Undies
1964
Box 4 Folder 39
Style Undies
1962
Box 4 Folder 40
Style Undies
1963
Box 4 Folder 41
Superior Petticoat
1970-1975
Box 4 Folder 42
Superior Petticoat
1965-1969
Box 4 Folder 43
Superior Petticoat - memo by and between Local 62
1963-1968