The David Kaplan Papers, 1941-1965, mainly relate to his work with the Teamsters, but also include some personal papers and two folders concerning his work for the Economics of Distribution Foundation. The are arranged in three groups: Personal Papers, Teamsters' Records (the largest), and Economics of Distribution Foundation records.
Among the personal papers are correspondence and lecture files, both arranged chronologically. The general correspondence includes requests for information on meetings from labor union officials, from members of university departments studying the labor movement and its relationship to different phases of U.S. society, and from federal government officials, especially in the Department of Labor and the Bureau of the Budget. One folder documents Kaplan's role on an advisory committee appointed by The Brookings Institution.
Kaplan's records of his association with the Teamsters Union include correspondence, legal files, newsletters, reports, and a subject file. Arrangement is by type of document and chronologically thereunder. The correspondence is comprised of two folders of general letters relating to meetings, jurisdictional problems, and Kaplan's relationship to other Teamsters' officials and members and to the American Federation of Labor. Separated from these letters is correspondence with Teamster executives Daniel Tobin, 1942-1952; Dave Beck, 1946-1957; and Thomas Flynn, 1948-1951.
This section of the papers also includes material on a few of the numerous reports prepared by Kaplan's Research Department and one cubic foot of his subject files. These indicate Kaplan's involvement in Teamsters' contract negotiations and jurisdictional disputes as well as his trusteeship of Local No. 584, Milk Drivers and Dairy Employees, and his tenure as administrative secretary of the Retirement and Family Protection Plan.
Only two folders specifically relate to Kaplan's presidency of the Economics of Distribution Foundation, but additional material is scattered throughout his Teamsters' records.
