ILGWU David Dubinsky Memorabilia
Collection Number: 5780/179 MB
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Title:
ILGWU David Dubinsky Memorabilia,
1961
Collection Number:
5780/179 MB
Creator:
International Ladies' Garment
Workers' Union (ILGWU);
Dubinsky, David
Dubinsky, David
Quantity:
1.3 linear ft.
Forms of Material:
Memorabilia, artwork.
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and
Archives, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Consists of one 15" x 20" charcoal drawing of David
Dubinsky, signed by Seth Hoffman in 1942, a portrait of Dubinsky, other memorabilia
and drawings.
Language:
Collection material in English
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.
1892 Born February 22nd in Brest-Litovsk, then in Russia, son of Bezalel and Shaie
Wishingrad Dobnievski. Moved to Lodz, where the family operated a bakery. 1903 Began
to work in father's bakery after attending three terms in Hebrew Zionist school.
1907 Qualified as master baker and joined bakers' union, organized by the General
Jewish Workers Union, the Bund. Served as secretary of the bakers' union. Arrested,
together with 60 other members of the union, in the course of a strike; released
after payment of 25 rubles by father. Left Lodz to live with an uncle in
Brest-Litovsk; after three months returned to Lodz and rejoined the bakers' union.
1908 Arrested while attending an illegal meeting of the bakers and, as a second
offender, exiled to a small Siberian village. Escaped and made his way to
Chelyabinsk and from there to Lodz, working as a baker under an assumed name.
1910--Sailed, with an older brother, Chaira, to New York City. 1911--Arrived in NYC
on January 1st. Lived on Lower East Side and became apprenticed to learn the
cutter's craft. Accepted as a member of Local 10, Cutters' Union of the
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, on July 13th. 1914 Married Emma
Goldberg, an undergarment operator and member of the ILGWU. (The couple had one
child, a daughter, Jean). 1918--Elected to executive board of Local 10.
1919--Elected vice-president of Local 10. 1920--Elected chairman of Local 10.
1921--Elected president of Local 10. Elected general manager (a new office combining
duties of manager and secretary) of Local 10 in December. 1922--Elected vice
president of ILGWU and member of General Executive Board. 1929 Elected General
Secretary-Treasurer of ILGWU. Served as Acting President of ILGWU. 1932 Elected by
GEB in June as President, following death of President Benjamin Schlesinger.
1934--Elected vice president of American Federation of Labor in October. 1935--Joined
with John L. Lewis of Mine Workers and Sidney Hillman of Amalgamated Clothing
Workers to form a Committee for Industrial Organization. First U.S. labor
representative to the International Labor Organization. 1936--Joined in founding the
American Labor Party in New York State. Served as Democratic Party elector for the
ticket of Franklin D. Roosevelt and John N. Garner. 1944--Joined in founding Liberal
Party. 1945--Elected vice president of American Federation of Labor. 1966--Offered
resignation as President to GEB at meeting of March 14th, to take effect April 12th.
Resignation effective June 15th, anniversary of date on which he was first elected
President.
Names:
Dubinsky, David, 1892-1982.
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.
Subjects:
Women's clothing industry--United States.
Clothing workers--Labor unions--United States.
Clothing workers--United States.
Industrial relations--United States.
Form and Genre Terms:
Memorabilia.
Artwork.
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:
ILGWU David Dubinsky Memorabilia #5780/179 MB. Kheel Center for Labor-Management
Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
Box 1 | |||
Box 1 | Folder 1 | 1942 | |
15" x 20" charcoal drawing of DD, signed by Seth Hoffman
|
|||
Box 2 | Folder 1 | 1957 | |
Box 2 | Folder 2 | 1940 | |
Box 2 | Folder 3 | 1940 | |
Box 2 | Folder 4 | ||
Box 2 | Folder 5 | 1961 | |
cover engraved with David Dubinsky
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 1 |