Central Labor Union of Freeport Records, 1901-1983 | Northern Illinois University

Collection Overview

Title: Central Labor Union of Freeport Records, 1901-1983

ID: RHC/RC/177

Extent: 7.5 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 07/26/1984

Subjects: Central Labor Union of Freeport, Construction industry, Construction workers-- Labor unions, Freeport (Ill.), Freeport Building and Construction Trades Council, International Association of Machinists, Labor, Labor unions, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Records in the Central Labor Union of Freeport collection date 1901-1983, with the bulk of the records dating from the 1930’s to the late 1970’s. The Central Labor Union’s activities, from 1934-1981, are documented through its constitution, minutes, financial records, correspondence, delegate’s credentials, and lists of affiliated unions. Records from several affiliated unions are included in the collection. Among these are documents from the local, district, state, and national organizations of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA). UBCJA Local 719 of Freeport has records that pre-date the Central Labor Union. These records include its constitution, minutes, financial records, agreements with employers, and membership information. UBCJA Northwestern Illinois District and State Councils are documented through minutes and proceedings, agreements with employers, the state publication Carpenter and Builder, and correspondence. National UBCJA records document executive board meetings, jurisdictional decisions, and agreements. Another affiliated union whose records are included in the collection, is the International Association of Machinists Local 1096 of Freeport. This union’s activities are recorded in minutes and correspondence detailing agreements and grievances with area companies. In addition, the collection includes some records from the Freeport Building and Construction Trades Council, 1928-1970.

The Central Labor Union is affiliated with the Illinois State Federation of Labor (IFL) and the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). Records from both organizations are in the collection. IFL activities from 1942-1982 are documented through convention proceedings, executive board reports, announcements, notices, and correspondence with the Central Labor Union. AFL-CIO activities from 1941-1983 are documented through executive council reports, policy resolutions, financial statements, announcements, notices, and correspondence with the Central Labor Union.

The collection also contains labor-related pamphlets and publications put out by the AFL-CIO, the UBCJA, the U.S. Government, and the Illinois State Government. In addition, charters and certificates of affiliation for local Freeport unions are in the collection.

Collection Historical Note

The Central Labor Union of Freeport was organized in the 1930’s. It was chartered by the American Federation of Labor, and received a certificate of affiliation from the Illinois State Federation of Labor in 1936. Local trade and labor unions are represented in the Central Labor Union by delegates, elected members of locals whose numbers are based on the size of their respective unions. The number of affiliated unions has varied over the years from 26 to the current 6. Active delegates, today, represent rubber and electrical workers, carpenters, teachers, and machinists.

The Central Labor Union’s original objectives were: to encourage formation of local unions; to unite local unions; to help settle disputes between unions and employers; to provide support to unions involved in labor-management conflicts; to support legislation and candidates favorable to workers and unions. These objectives continue to guide the Central Labor Union’s activities as it serves as an information exchange for workers, politically educates area workers, supports legislation favorable to workers and unions, and aids its affiliated locals ". . .in their common and individual endeavors." (Taken from the Constitution of the Freeport Central Labor Union, 1936 and 1974 editions.)

Subject/Index Terms

Central Labor Union of Freeport
Construction industry
Construction workers-- Labor unions
Freeport (Ill.)
Freeport Building and Construction Trades Council
International Association of Machinists
Labor
Labor unions
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America

Administrative Information

Repository: Northern Illinois University

Access Restrictions: There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Use Restrictions: Property rights in the collection are held by the Regional History Center. Literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Acquisition Source: Steven Jennings

Acquisition Method: Steven Jennings, president of the Central Labor Union of Freeport, donated the Union’s records to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center on July 26, 1984.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series I.: Central Labor Union of Freeport (CLU)],
[Series II.: Affiliated Unions and Organizations],
[Series III.: Illinois State Federation of Labor],
[Series IV.: American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)],
[Series V.: Publications, Charters and Photographs],
[All]

Series I.: Central Labor Union of Freeport (CLU)

Box 1

Folder 1: Constitution and By-laws, 1936 , 1958, 1974
Folder 2: List of Affiliated Unions and Members, 1942-1952
Folder 3: Delegate's Credentials, 1941-1948, 1960-1970
Folder 4-8: Correspondence, 1939-1948, 1951-1981
Folder 9: Minutes, 1963-1978

Box 2

Volume 1-2: Minutes (2 volumes), 1937-1963
Volume 3-4: Dues Books (2 volumes), 1957-1970
Volume 5-6: Roll Books (2 volumes), 1934-1962
Volume 7: Day Book, Receipts and Expenditures (1 volume), 1940-1945

Box 3

Folder 1: Journals, 1943, 1972-1977
Folder 2: Ledgers, 1962-1969
Folder 3: Cash Books, 1962-1972
Folder 4: Financial Papers, 1936, 1945-1946, 1959-1960

Series II.: Affiliated Unions and Organizations

Sub-Series A.: United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA)

Box 4

Folder 1: Local 719: Constitution and Financial Statements, 1954, 1958-1971, 1977
Folder 2: Local 719: Treasurer s Cash Book, 1963-1966
Folder 3: Local 719: Income Tax Returns, 1959-1964, 1977
Folder 4: Local 719: Agreements, 1958-1966
Folder 5: Local 719: Bond and Labor Organization Reports, 1958-1974
Folder 6: Local 719: Blank Forms, no date
Folder 7-11: Local 719: Minutes, 1901-1904, 1930-1952

Box 5

Folder 1: Local 719: Correspondence and Membership List, 1936, 1960-1961
Folder 2-3: Local 719: Membership Applications, 1958-1970, 1974
Folder 4-10: Local 719: Membership Accounts, B-Z, 1957-1971
Folder 11: Local 719: Membership Accounts Statements, 1972-1974, 1980

Box 6

Folder 1-2: Local 719: Membership Dues Day Book, 1965-1972, 1975-1979

Box 7

Folder 1: Northwestern Illinois District Council: By-laws and Minutes, 1960, 1978-1981
Folder 2: Northwestern Illinois District Council: Financial Reports, 1977-1981
Folder 3: Northwestern Illinois District Council: Agreements and Correspondence, 1977-1981
Folder 4: Illinois State Council:. Constitution and Proceedings, 1962, 1965, 1967
Folder 5: Illinois State Council:. Notices and Correspondence, 1978-1981
Folder 6-14: Illinois State Council:. Carpenter and Builder, 1948, 1958-1965
Folder 15: National United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA): Constitution and Financial Statements, 1955, 1959-1964, 1978-1980
Folder 16: National United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA): General Executive Board Minutes, 1963, 1967, 1971, 1978, 1980
Folder 17-18: National United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA): Jurisdictional Decisions, 1956-1958, 1961-1970, 1974-1980
Folder 19: National United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA): Agreements, 1953-1980
Folder 20: National United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA): Password Quarterly, 1972, 1978-1981
Folder 21: National United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA): Notices and Correspondence, 1953-1954, 1975, 1978-1981
Folder 22: National United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA): Coordinated Housing Organizing Program, 1973

Sub-Series B.: International Association of Machinists (IAM)

Box 7

Folder 23: Local Union 1096: Cash Books, 1938

Box 8

Folder 1-2: Local Union 1096: Cash Books, 1943-1945
Folder 3-7: Local Union 1096: Minutes, December 1941-November 1943, February 1948-December 1949, November 1953-Sep
Folder 8: Local Union 1096: Correspondence, 1959-1960
Folder 9: Local Union 1096: Hoefer Manufacturing Company: Correspondence, 1945-1953
Folder 10: Local Union 1096: Hoefer Manufacturing Company: Agreements, 1945-1963
Folder 11: Local Union 1096: Industrial Combination, Incorporated, 1958-1961
Folder 12-14: Local Union 1096: Stover Steel Tank and Manufacturing Company: Correspondence, 1943-1953, 1956-1959
Folder 15: Local Union 1096: Stover Steel Tank and Manufacturing Company: Agreements, 1940-1959
Folder 16: Local Union 1096: Structo Manufacturing Company: Grievances, 1962-1963
Folder 17: Local Union 1096: Structo Manufacturing Company: Correspondence, July-November 1963
Folder 18: Local Union 1096: Structo Manufacturing Company: Contract Meetings and Background Information, 1961, 1963
Folder 19-21: Local Union 1096: T. Raleigh Company: Correspondence, 1945, 1947-1953, 1960-1964
Folder 22: Local Union 1096: T. Raleigh Company: Agreements, 1947-1964

Box 9

Folder 1: Grand Lodge Convention Proceedings, 1980

Sub-Series C.: Freeport Building and Construction Trades Council

Box 9

Folder 2: Constitution, Financial Paper and Form, 1928, 1958, 1960, 1969
Folder 3: Correspondence, 1947-1948, 1970
Folder 4-6: Minutes, August 1940-May 1962
Folder 7: Ledger, 1946-1957

Sub-Series D.: Local and Regional Organizations

Box 9

Folder 8: Bartenders' International League of America: Local Union 607, 1947

Box 10

Folder 1: Bartenders' International League of America: Illinois State Culinary Alliance, 1946
Folder 2: Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, Constitution and By-laws, 1953, 1959, 1969
Folder 3: Freeport Chamber of Commerce, 1944-1945, 1947-1948
Folder 4: Quad-Cities Labor Advisory Committee, 1944-1945
Folder 5: Union and Trade and Labor Assembly Constitutions, 1940-1967

Series III.: Illinois State Federation of Labor

Box 10

Folder 6-13: Convention Proceedings, 1944, 1947-1956, 1958, 1961, 1963, 1976, 1982
Folder 14-16: Executive Board Report, 1945, 1947-1952, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1977, 1982
Folder 17: Announcements and Notices, 1944-1948, 1981
Folder 18: Freeport Central Labor Union Correspondence and Receipts, 1942-1948

Series IV.: American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)

Box 10

Folder 19: Constitution, 1965, 1973, 1975, 1979, 1983
Folder 20: Financial Reports, 1952, 1979-1983
Folder 21: Executive Council Report and Statements, 1951, 1981-1983
Folder 22: Policy Resolutions, 1957, 1977, 1981, 1983
Folder 23: Building and Construction Trades Department, 1947, 1957-
Folder 24: National Legislative Council, Union Label & Service Trades Department and Industrial Union Department, 1949, 1958, 1979
Folder 25-26: List of Affiliated Organizations, 1977, 1979-1983
Folder 27: Announcements and Notices, 1944-1948, 1960, 1975, 1978, 1979
Folder 28: Convention Announcements and Notices, 1946-1948, 1980
Folder 29: Freeport Central Labor Union Correspondence and Receipts, 1941-1948
Folder 30: Fact Sheets, 1960, 1964
Folder 31: Labor's Monthly Surveyand Research Report, 1948

Series V.: Publications, Charters and Photographs

Box 11

Folder 1: American Federation of Labor- Congress of Industrial Organizations: General Publications, 1944-1973
Folder 2: American Federation of Labor- Congress of Industrial Organizations: Legislative Publications, 1951, 1978, 1980
Folder 3: American Federation of Labor- Congress of Industrial Organizations: Building and Construction Trades Department and Union Label Trades Department Publications, 1948, 1950, 1961, 1969
Folder 4: American Federation of Labor- Congress of Industrial Organizations: George Meany Publications, 1953-1959, 1978

Box 12

Folder 1: United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA) Publications, 1960, 1979-1981
Folder 2: Various Unions' Publications, 1944, 1948, 1961
Folder 3: Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations - Reports and Publications, 1948-1957
Folder 4-5: Various Organizations' Publications, 1944-1984
Folder 6: Insurance and Welfare Fund Publications, 1953, 1961-1963, 1972, 1977
Folder 7: United States Government: Legislative Acts, 1938, 1939, 1948, 1959

Box 13

Folder 1: United States Government: Department of Labor and Labor-Management Committees Publications, 1948-1960
Folder 2: United States Government: Director of Defense Mobilization-Quarterly Reports, 1951-1952
Folder 3: Illinois State Government: Workers Compensation and Wages Publications, 1945, 1960, 1980
Folder 4: Illinois State Government: Department of Labor Publications, 1950-1961

Box 14

Folder 1: Photographs: Building and Construction Trades Council Convention, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1957

Folder 2

Item 1: Photographs: United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA) Carpenters Home, Lakeland, Florida, no date
Item 2: Charters: Metal Polishers, Buffers, Platers and Helpers International Union-Local 221 Freeport, 1937
Item 3: Charters: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators-Local 207 Freeport, 1923
Item 4: Charters: Retail Clerks' International Protective Association-Local 644 Freeport, 1937
Item 5: Charters: International Brotherhood of Bookbinders-Local 218 Freeport, 1941
Item 6: Illinois State Federation of Labor-Certificates of Affiliation: Central Labor Union of Freeport, 1936
Item 7: Illinois State Federation of Labor-Certificates of Affiliation: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees of America-Local 207 Freeport, 1927
Item 8: Illinois State Federation of Labor-Certificates of Affiliation: International Molders' Union of North America-Local 195 Freeport, 1939
Item 9: Illinois State Federation of Labor-Certificates of Affiliation: International Printing Pressmen's and Assistant's Union of North America-Local 501 Freeport, 1948

Oversize 1

Item 1: United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA) Logo-painted, wooden sign, no date