.
Collection Overview
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
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
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]