Leo Krzycki was born in Milwaukee in 1881. At a young age, his father's personal
experiences taught him about the violence that striking workers often faced at the turn of
the century. Kryzcki gradually became interested in the rights of laborers, and at 15 led
his first strike of fellow lithographers. This event led to his involvement with the
Lithographers Union.
Krzycki was a founding member of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America in 1914. He
served on its executive board in 1922 and later as vice president. He associated with many
other unions, including the United Auto Workers and the United Mine Workers.
Krzycki was actively involved in local and national politics, officially joining the
Socialist Party in 1908. He served as an alderman and sheriff in Milwaukee, and also ran
several times for Congress and the U.S. Senate. After this, he became a member of the
Socialist Party's executive board and then served as its national chair. Krzycki retired
from these activities in 1950 and died in 1966.
