Burlington Railroad Strike Collection (Aurora), 1916-1982 | Northern Illinois University

Collection Overview

Title: Burlington Railroad Strike Collection (Aurora), 1916-1982

ID: RHC/RC/217

Extent: 3.75 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 11/08/1993

Subjects: Aurora (Ill.), Burlington Railroad, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, Labor, Labor unions, Railroads, Strikes and lockouts

Forms of Material: Oral history

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Burlington Railroad Strike records were collected by the donor in the course of his Ph.D. dissertation research. The records from the Burlington Railroad were donated to Mr. Flynn by a company official. These records include special agent reports, legal documents, and correspondence. The Burlington Railroad Strike records also consist of oral history interview transcriptions that the donor conducted during his research.

James R. Flynn completed his dissertation entitled, "The Railroad Shopmen's Strike of 1922 on the Industry, Company, and Community Levels" in July 1993. Copies of the dissertation may be found in Founders Memorial Library, the History Department, and the Regional History Center.

Collection Historical Note

During World War I the railroads were placed under federal rule. On March 1, 1920 they were returned to private operation but had changed greatly. Unionization was now widespread. Unions demanded increased wages, changes in rules and working conditions, and a continuation of existing national agreements and various innovations introduced during federal operations.

Unwilling to meet the demands, the railroad shopmen strike began at 10:00a.m. July 1, 1922 which threatened to bring the nation's railroads to a halt. Over 400,000 members of six shopcraft unions walked off their jobs, shutting down facilities for the construction, maintenance, and repair of rolling stock on virtually every major railroad in the country. In Aurora, Illinois 1700 shopmen struck the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy.

In Aurora, to accommodate the strikebreakers or "new men", the large paint shop was converted into a dormitory with complete kitchen facilities and a dining room where meals were prepared and served three times a day. The company also provided a convenience store which sold tobacco and sundries so the "new men" did not have to leave the area unless they wanted to.

The strike did turn violent. By the end of July, 2,200 deputy United States marshals had been appointed and National Guard troops were on duty in seven states amid reports of violence from Fresno, California, to Worcester, Massachusetts. Almost daily throughout July and August, newspapers reported the bombing of railroad property and workers' homes, the burning of bridges, and the attempted wrecking of trains, as well as, riots, assaults, and similar disturbances designed to intimidate strikebreakers.

The strike was ended by the Railway Employes' Department on February 1, 1925 but for most strikers in Aurora it just dwindled away.

Subject/Index Terms

Aurora (Ill.)
Burlington Railroad
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company
Labor
Labor unions
Railroads
Strikes and lockouts

Administrative Information

Repository: Northern Illinois University

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

Use Restrictions: Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Acquisition Source: James R. Flynn

Acquisition Method: James R. Flynn donated the Burlington Railroad Strike Collection to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center on November 8, 1993.

Related Materials: For further information regarding railroads the researcher should consult the W.W. Embree Collection (RC 2); the Chicago and North Western Railway Historical Society Records (RC 51); and the Finch-Marshall Railway Collection (RC 54).

Related Publications: James R. Flynn completed his dissertation entitled, "The Railroad Shopmen's Strike of 1922 on the Industry, Company, and Community Levels" in July 1993. Copies of the dissertation may be found in Founders Memorial Library, the History Department, and the Regional History Center.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Box 6],
[Box 7],
[Box 8],
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Box 1

Folder 1: Document Description, Box 12, July 20, 1920

Folder 2: United States Railroad Labor Board (USRLB), Decision Number

Folder 3: United States Railroad Labor Board (USRLB), Decision Number 119, April 14, 1921

Folder 4: United States Railroad Labor Board (USRLB), Decision Number 147, June 1, 1921

Folder 5: United States Railroad Labor Board (USRLB), Addendum Number 1 to Decision Number 147, June 25, 1921

Folder 6: United States Railroad Labor Board (USRLB), Decision Number 222, August 11, 1921

Folder 7: United States Railroad Labor Board (USRLB), Decision Number 222, October 8, 1921

Folder 8: United States Railroad Labor Board (USRLB), Addendum Number 6 to Decision 222, November 29, 1921

Folder 9: United States Railroad Labor Board (USRLB) vs Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Equity Number 3139, April 1922

Folder 10: United States Railroad Labor Board (USRLB), Decision Number 1036, June 5, 1922

Folder 11: Chicago Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) vs International Association of Machinists, Bill of Complaint, July 8, 1922

Folder 12: Chicago Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) vs International Association of Machinist, Temporary Restraining Order, July 8, 1922

Folder 13: Telegraphic correspondence (copies), August 10, 1922-August 19, 1922

Folder 14: Can the Continuance of the Shopmen's Strike Be Enjoined?, August 31, 1922

Folder 15: USA vs Railway Employes' Department of the AFL (American Federation of Labor), Equity Number 2943, Bill of Complaint, September 1, 1922

Folder 16: USA vs Railway Employees' Department of the AFL (American Federation of Labor), Equity Number 2943, September 1, 1922

Folder 17: USA vs Railway Employees' Department of the AFL (American Federation of Labor), Equity Number 2943, Statement and Opinion of the Court, September 23, 1922

Folder 18: USA vs Railway Employees' Department of the AFL (American Federation of Labor), Equity Number 2943, Hearing on Application for Temporary Injunction: Closing Argument in Behalf of Government, September 21, 1922

Folder 19: USA vs Railway Employees' Department of the AFL (American Federation of Labor), Equity Number 2943, Preliminary Injunction Order, September 25, 1922

Folder 20: Railway Employes' Department, Special Bulletin, Reference Government Injunction, September 30, 1922

Folder 21: USA vs Railway Employees' Department of the AFL (American Federation of Labor), Equity Number 2943, Abstract of the Evidence Offered by the USA on Final Hearing, July 12, 1923

Folder 22: USA vs Railway Employees Department of the AFL (American Federation of Labor), Equity Number 2943, Opinion of the Court on Final Hearing, July 12, 1923

Folder 23: USA vs Railway Employees Department of the AFL (American Federation of Labor), Equality Number 2943, Final Decree, July 12, 1923

Folder 24: Chicago Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) vs International Association of Machinists, Restraining Order, July 8, 1922

Folder 25: C&NW vs International Association of Machinists, Restraining Order, July 14, 1922

Folder 26: Chicago Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) vs International Association of Machinists, Civil Number 1293, Restraining Order, July 24, 1922

Folder 27: USA vs Railway Employees' Department of AFL (American Federation of Labor), Equity Number 2943, Temporary Restraining Order, September 1, 1922

Folder 28: Newspaper Articles, 1922

Folder 29: Contents of Mr. Bruce Scott's Cabinet, 1916-1926

Box 2

Folder 1-4: Contents of Mr. Bruce Scott's Cabinet, 1919-1923

Folder 5: Document Description, Box 2

Folder 6: Special Agents Reports: Alliance, Nebraska

Folder 7: Special Agents Reports: Aurora, Illinois

Folder 8: Special Agents Reports: Beardstown, Illinois

Folder 9: Special Agents Reports: Brookfield, Missouri

Folder 10: Special Agents Reports: Burlington, Iowa

Folder 11: Special Agents Reports: Casper, Wyoming

Folder 12: Special Agents Reports: Centerville, Iowa

Folder 13: Special Agents Reports: Centralia, Illinois

Folder 14: Special Agents Reports: Creston, Iowa

Folder 15: Special Agents Reports: Galesburg, Illinois

Folder 16: Special Agents Reports: Greybull, Wyoming

Box 3

Folder 1: Special Agents Reports: Hannibal, Missouri

Folder 2: Special Agents Reports: Havelock, Nebraska

Folder 3: Special Agents Reports: Kansas City, Missouri

Folder 4: Special Agents Reports: Lincoln, Nebraska

Folder 5: Special Agents Reports: McCook, Nebraska

Folder 6: Special Agents Reports: Milan, Missouri

Folder 7: Special Agents Reports: Miscellaneous Locations

Folder 8: Special Agents Reports: Omaha Nebraska

Folder 9: Special Agents Reports: Plattsmouth, Nebraska

Folder 10: Special Agents Reports: Savanna, Dayton Bluff, Grand Crossing

Folder 11: Special Agents Reports: Sheridan, Wyoming

Folder 12: Special Agents Reports: Sterling Colorado

Folder 13: Special Agents Reports: St. Joseph, Missouri

Folder 14: Special Agents Reports: St. Louis, Missouri

Folder 15-18: Legal Department Strike Correspondence, July 1, 1922-August 30, 1922

Box 4

Folder 1-6: Legal Department Strike Correspondence, September 1922

Folder 7-8: Strike ballots and Instructions from Legal Department

Folder 9: Document Description, Box 3

Folder 10-12: Injunction - Strike, Draft of Bill of Injunction, July 1922, no date

Box 5

Folder 1-3: Affidavits in Support of September 1, 1922 temporary restraining order, July 1922 - September 1922

Folder 4: Correspondence of O.M. Spencer, General Council of the Chicago Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) during 1922 strike, 1922

Folder 5: Contents of Volume I and II, now interview folders

Folder 6: Questions Used for Interviews, 1982-1983

Folder 7: Interview: Mr. Carl Hendricksen, September 11, 1982

Folder 8: Interview: Mr. Carl Hendricksen, September 20, 1982

Folder 9: Interview: Mr. Carl Hendricksen, November 2, 1982

Folder 10: Interview: Mr. Robert McDonald, September 27, 1982

Folder 11: Interview: Mr. Willard Carl Becker, September 28, 1982

Folder 12: Interview: Memorandum of Record, Interview, Mr. John H. Durham, October 29, 1982

Folder 13: Interview: Memorandum of Record, Interview, Mr. Harry L. Creviston, October 29, 1982

Folder 14: Interview: Transcript of video tape, Burlington Northern's Roundhouse, 1978

Box 6

Folder 1: Interview: Carl Hendricksen, Joe Schindlebeck, Augie Klein, November 18, 1982

Folder 2: Interview: Sheldon Witt, December 5, 1982

Folder 3: Interview: Duff Corbin, December 8, 1982

Folder 4: Interview: Mr. Ed Baum, December 8, 1982

Folder 5: Interview: Mr. Al Schoeberlein, December 10, 1982

Folder 6: Document Description, Box 4

Folder 7: I. Aurora Shops in 1922

Folder 8: II. Workforce in 1922

Folder 9: III. Skills and Training

Folder 10: IV. Union Activity in Aurora

Folder 11: V. KKK Activity in Aurora

Folder 12: VI. Causes of the Strike and Its Wisdom

Folder 13: VII. Strike Events and Activity

Folder 14: VIII. People in the Strike

Folder 15: IX. Attitude of Aurora City Government and Business Community

Box 7

Folder 1: X. Support from Other Unions

Folder 2: XI. Violence

Folder 3: XII. Mechanical Department Association

Folder 4: XIII. Fox Valley Industrial Association

Folder 5: XIV. After the Strike

Folder 6: XV. Elevation of Chicago Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) in Aurora

Folder 7: XVI. Reports of Special Agent O.H. Abbott

Folder 8: XVII. Statistics on Aurora in 1920

Folder 9: XVIII. Aurora Chicago Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) Shops - Maps

Folder 10: XVIII. Aurora Chicago Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) Shops - Photographs (22)

Folder 11: XVIII. Aurora Chicago Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) Shops - Negatives (14)

Folder 12: XIX. Publications: Aurora in the Beginning

Folder 13: XIX. Publications: Centennial Historical & Biographical Record of Aurora,Illinois for 100 Years and of the Chicago Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) Railroad for 86 Years

Folder 14: XIX. Publications: Aurora Roundhouse Complex Transportation Center Rehabilitation Feasibility Study, August 1980

Box 8

Folder 1: XIX. Publications: Aurora Illinois Illustrated, 1890

Folder 2: XIX. Publications: The Chicago Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) Roundhouse and Industrial Shops

Folder 3-4: XX. Workforce Statistics

Folder 5: XXI. Aurora Beacon News, Articles and News Items, June 1, 1922 - July 31, 1922

Folder 6: XXII. Aurora Beacon News, Articles and News Items, August 1, 1922 - March 31, 1923

Folder 7: XXIII. Essays by Carl Hendricksen and Items of Special Interest

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