ILGWU. Paintings, photographs, and memorabilia
Collection Number: 5780/098
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives
Cornell
University Library
Title:
ILGWU. Paintings, photographs, and
memorabilia
Collection Number:
5780/098
Creator:
International Ladies'
Garment Workers' Union.
Quantity:
6.8 linear feet
Forms of Material:
Paintings, photographs, and memorabilia
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and
Archives, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Paintings, drawings, plaques, certificates, proclamations,
scrapbooks, and sketches generated or collected by the International Ladies' Garment
Workers' Union.
Language:
Collection material in English, Hebrew, and Italian.
The International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union was founded in New York City in 1900
by mostly Socialist immigrant workers who sought to unite the various crafts in the
growing women's garment industry. The union soon reflected changes in the sector and
rapidly organized thousands of unskilled and semi-skilled women, mostly Jewish and
Italian young immigrants. Exemplifying the “new unionism,” the ILGWU led two of the
most widespread and best-known industrial strikes of the early Twentieth Century:
the shirtwaist makers’ strike of 1909 in New York City and the cloak makers’ strike
of 1910 in Chicago. The union also tried to adapt to the fragmented and unstable
nature of the industry. It adopted the “protocol of peace,” a system of industrial
relations that attempted to ensure stability and limit strikes and production
disruption by providing for an arbitration system to resolve disputes.
The ILGWU exemplified the European-style social unionism of its founding members.
They pursued bread and butter issues but provided educational opportunities,
benefits, and social programs to union members as well. In 1919, the ILGWU became
the first American union to negotiate an unemployment compensation fund that was
contributed to by its employers. The ILGWU also pioneered in the establishment of an
extremely progressive health care program for its members which included not only
regional Union Health Centers but also a resort for union workers, known as Unity
House. The Union also had an imaginative and pioneering Education Department which
not only trained workers in traditional union techniques, but provided courses in
citizenship and the English language.
David Dubinsky, an immigrant from Belarus who came to the US in 1911, provided strong
leadership that led to unprecedented growth in the union during his presidency from
1932 to 1966. He led the union through successful internal anti-communist struggles,
built on the ascendancy of industrial unionism by encouraging the formation of the
Committee for Industrial Organization, and helped the union become an important
political force in New York City and state politics, and in the national Democratic
Party and Liberal Party as well.
In the period following the Second World War, the union suffered a decline in
membership as manufacturers avoided unionization and took advantage of less
expensive labor by moving shops from the urban centers in the northeast to the
south, and later abroad. The ethnic and racial character of the ILGWU also changed
as European immigrants were supplanted by Asians, Latin Americans, African-
Americans, and immigrants from the Caribbean.
In July 1995 the ILGWU merged with the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union
(ACTWU) at a joint convention, forming UNITE (Union of Needletrades, Industrial and
Textile Employees). At the time the new union had a membership of about 250,000 in
the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
Paintings, drawings, plaques, certificates, proclamations, scrapbooks, and sketches
generated or collected by the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.
Names:
International Ladies' Garment Workers'
Union.
Carey, Hugh L.
Dubinsky, David, 1892-1982.
Dubrow, Evelyn
Fiene, Ernest, 1894-1966
Gompers, Samuel, 1850-1924
Green, William, 1872-1952
Loeb, Mitchell
Schlesinger, Benjamin, 1876-1932
Sigman, Morris, 1880-1931
Stulberg, Louis, 1901-1977
Wells, David
AFL-CIO --Archives
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
--Archives
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
--Collectibles
Jewish Labor Committee (U.S.)
--Archives
Labor Federation of Jewish Workers
--Archives
National Coat and Suit Industry Recovery Board
(U.S.) --Archives
Subjects:
Women's clothing industry--United
States.
Labor unions--Clothing workers--United
States.
Clothing workers--United States.
Industrial relations--United States.
Form and Genre Terms:
Records.
Access Restrictions:
The ILGWU Records, except for publications and materials produced for
publication, are restricted. Materials created prior to twenty years from the
current date are open to researchers only with prior written permission from the
Director of the Kheel Center; materials created during the past twenty-years are
closed; the minutes of the General Executive Board are closed. For more
information contact the Kheel Center.
Cite As:
ILGWU. Paintings, photographs, and memorabilia. 5780/098. Kheel Center for
Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Martin P. Catherwood Library,
Cornell University.
5780. ILGWU records
"Permanent deposit"
|
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
| Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Morris Sigman painting
|
|
| Box 2 | Folder 1 |
Benjamin Schlesinger painting
|
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| Box 3 | Folder 1 |
David Dubinsky, black and white drawing
|
|
|
25" x 30"
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| Box 4 | Folder 1 |
Painting - President Louis Stulberg
|
1962 |
|
By Albert Myrr(?), NYC, 17" x 21"
|
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| Box 5 | Folder 1 |
Certificate from The Labor Federation of Jewish Workers
|
|
|
Certificate - The Labor Federation of Jewish Workers commemorating David
Dubinsky's 65th birthday with 65 trees planted in the Histadrut forest.
Hammered metal "matted" certificate by A. Merzer, in English and Hebrew; 14"
x 18"
|
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| Box 6 | Folder 1 |
Plaque with likeness of David Dubinsky's face.
|
1952 |
|
Likeness of David Dubinsky's face from ILGWU, Local 60, Dress Pressers, by
Arturo Sofo, Feb. 22, 1952
|
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| Box 7 | Folder 1 |
Plaque for Silver Anniversary Tribute to David Dubinsky
|
|
|
Silver Anniversary tribute to David Dubinsky from the National Coat and Suit
Industry Recovery Board; 14" x 16"
|
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| Box 8 | Folder 1 |
Certificate from Boys Republic of Italy
|
|
|
David Dubinsky named honorary founder of the Boys Republic of Italy by the
General Assembly of the Citizens
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| Box 8 | Folder 2 |
Proclamation by Governor Hugh Carey of New York State
|
1979 |
|
Proclamation by Gov. Hugh Carey of NYS declaring Oct. 10, 1979 as David
Dubinsky Day.
|
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| Box 8 | Folder 3 |
Certificate for the Four Freedoms Award
|
1961 |
|
David Dubinsky was given the Four Freedoms Award by the United Italian
American Labor Council, Dec. 21, 1961.
|
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| Box 8 | Folder 4 |
Certificate from AFL-CIO to David Dubinsky
|
1970 |
|
David Dubinsky is recognized by the AFL-CIO for his leadership and friendship
upon his retirement, Feb. 16, 1970.
|
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| Box 8 | Folder 5 |
Certificate from Federazione Unitaria Italiana Laboratori
Abbigliamento…to David Dubinsky
|
1957 |
|
David Dubinsky is recognized by Gov. Silvio Ascari of the Federazione
Unitaria Italiana Lavoratori Abbigliamento (FUILA) for 25 years as President
of the ILGWU. June 13, 1957. [In Italian]
|
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| Box 8 | Folder 6 |
Certificate from Jewish Labor Committee to David Dubinsky
|
1973 |
|
David Dubinsky is recognized for creating and sustaining the Jewish Labor
Committee, Nov. 16, 1973. [In English and Hebrew]
|
|||
| Box 9 | Folder 1 |
Plaque from Fellow of Brandeis University to David
Dubinsky
|
1956 |
|
David Dubinsky is named a Fellow of Brandeis University by the Board of
Trustees, Oct. 17, 1956
|
|||
| Box 9 | Folder 2 |
Plaque from International Rescue Committee to David
Dubinsky
|
1965 |
|
David Dubinsky received Leadership Award of the International Rescue
Committee, Jan. 27, 1965.
|
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| Box 9 | Folder 3 |
Plaque from Wilkes Barre, Pittston and Nanticoke ILGWU to David
Dubinsky
|
1958 |
|
David Dubinsky is honored by Wilkes Barre, Pittston and Nanticoke ILGWU
"Great Dress Strike", 1958
|
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| Box 9 | Folder 4 |
Plaque from Jewish Labor Committee to David Dubinsky
|
1975 |
|
David Dubinsky honored by the Jewish Labor Committee for his efforts on
behalf of survivors of Nazi persecution. May 4, 1975. [In English and
Hebrew]
|
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| Box 10 | Folder 1 |
Testimonial to David Dubinsky from ILGWU
|
|
|
Testimonial to David Dubinsky from ILGWU in appreciation of devoted
service.
|
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| Box 11 | Folder 1 |
[No box 11]
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| Box 12 | Folder 1 |
[Online description not yet available]
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| Box 13 | Folder 1 |
[Online description not yet available]
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| Box 14 | Folder 1 |
Sketches of Morris Sigman and Benjamin Schlesinger
|
1940 |
|
Morris Sigman and Benjamin Schlesinger - each by E. Fiene, 1940. Sketch for
wall murals at the Central High School of Needle Trades, NY
|
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