The IAM collection includes records of the International President's Office, 1901-1954, collective bargaining agreements from the Research Department, 1961-1974, and a few publications from the Organizing Department. The International President's and Research Department records are contained on 740 reels of 16mm positive microfilm; Organizing Department publications consist of two folders of original material. The film was produced by the IAM and later donated to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. The arrangement of the records and the numbering system on the film are those employed by the union. Also produced by the IAM is the extensive contents list for the International President's Records. Spot checking of this list against the microfilm revealed occasional errors, generally consisting of files appearing one or two places out of the order indicated by the contents list. When discovered these errors were corrected, but it is probable that not all mistakes were detected in the examination.
The microfilm reel numbers overlap--International President's Office microfilm reels are numbered Reel 1 through Reel 398; Research Department microfilm reels are numbered Reel 1 through Reel 251 and Reel 1-B through Reel 103-B. Therefor when requesting microfilm, it is necessary for example to specify whether President's Office Reel 1 is wanted or Research Department Reel 1.
This finding aid itself is also available on microfilm produced by the Wisconsin Historical Society and cataloged as Micro 1019.
The INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT'S RECORDS series consists primarily of correspondence files, although minutes, publications, reports, and other types of material are also present. Only one subseries (Jurisdictional Disputes) contains 1901 material, and just a few others hold anything pre-dating 1920. The files are organized under a complex numerical system. 46 separate subseries are in this series; some consist of only a single file and others contain hundreds of individual files and fill many reels of microfilm. Papers within individual files are generally in reverse chronological order.
Each file carries its own designation consisting of a combination of numbers, or of numbers and letters, separated by dashes. The first number in the sequence signifies the subseries. The subsequent numbers and/or letters may designate the sub-subseries or simply the numerical sequence into which the file falls within the larger subseries. Thus, in the file number 62-13-7, the 62 designates the subseries (General Organizing), the 13 represents the sub-subseries (Pulp and Paper Industry), and the 7 signifies the individual company which the file concerns. Those subseries containing more than one file are subdivided by names and/or subjects in either alphabetical or numerical order. Subseries which are subdivided numerically can create significant problems for users since this is essentially a random organization bearing no relationship to either an alphabetical or chronological order. To aid researchers, alphabetical keys or indexes which correlate file headings with file numbers have been prepared for some of the larger numerically ordered series. These keys are included in the appendices.
Despite the large number of subseries, most of the International President's Records fall within three general areas: records documenting the IAM's relationship with employers with whom it negotiated contracts and/or where it conducted organizing drives and strikes; records concerning the IAM's interactions with other national and international labor organizations; and files concerning the local and district lodges within the union. Many of the first group are contained in the Companies subseries (No. 11) while others are grouped into separate subseries according to industry: Fire Fighting Equipment (No. 14), Railroads (No. 18), Automotive Industry (No. 48), and Aircraft and Airline Industry (No. 49). Also consisting primarily of files on individual companies are General Organizing (No. 62) and, despite a title which might indicate otherwise, Amalgamation (No. 43).
Records pertaining to other national and international labor organizations include information on the IAM's role in the American Federation of Labor and in some of the industrially oriented departments of that organization, as well as information on jurisdictional disputes, attempts at cooperation, and other matters. These types of files are also spread among a number of different subseries including Jurisdictional Disputes (No. 9), Railway Labor Executives' Association (No. 16), American Federation of Labor (No. 20), and International Unions (Nos. 21 and 22).
Cutting across all phases of IAM activities are files dealing with the grand lodge's relations with the local and district lodges. Contrary to the practice of most unions, the IAM locals and districts negotiated most contracts. Consequently the Local Lodge and District Lodge series (Nos. 1 and 2) contain significant documentation on bargaining and strikes as well as the day-to-day relationship of these bodies with the grand lodge.
The RESEARCH DEPARTMENT RECORDS consist of Collective Bargaining Agreements. These are arranged in two groups. Contracts dated 1961-1969 are on research reels 1-251, and those dating 1970-1974 are on reels 1B-103B. The dates refer to the date of signing; thus some of the contracts remained in effect well after 1974. Within each of the two groups individual contracts are arranged alphabetically by company. Each agreement is preceded by an “agreement report form” which provides data about the company including name of parent firm, principal product or service, number of total employees, number of employees under contract to the IAM, wages by job classification, and whether or not the contract was signed after a strike.
The ORGANIZING DEPARTMENT RECORDS series, the only original paper material in the collection, includes the script for “Boomer Jones,” a 1950 radio play based on the history of the union, and several miscellaneous publications.
FURTHER DETAILS ON THE INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT'S OFFICE RECORDS
Following is a list of the subseries which make up the records of the international president's office. In many instances the subseries title and the file headings found in the contents list adequately describe the content of the series. Consequently, narrative series descriptions are primarily intended to highlight particularly significant records, to point out files which one might not logically expect to find in a subseries, to explain the organization of particularly complex groups of records, and to indicate the existence of supplemental finding aids. The 41 subseries held by the Society actually comprise less than half the total number of international president's subseries at IAM headquarters. For a complete listing, including the titles of those subseries not donated to the Society, see Appendix 1.
1. Local Lodges, 1927-1954 (Reels 1-72)
Included here are correspondence and other materials concerning IAM locals, arranged by local lodge number. Appendix 2 contains a state by state listing of locals keyed to their numbers. Records pertaining to most locals are subdivided into categories including “general,” “bylaws,” “dispensation,” and “agreements.” “Bylaws” correspondence generally deals with changes and amendments in the local bylaws. All alterations in bylaws had to be approved by the grand lodge. “Dispensation” files concern the securing of grand lodge permission to waive or reduce initiation or reinstatement fees. Waiving of fees was frequently used as an inducement during organizing drives. “Agreements” correspondence primarily covers local negotiations and includes strike authorizations, National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election correspondence, and other material. For the most part, the files do not include the contracts themselves.
2. District Lodges, 1925-1954 (Reels 72-109)
District lodges are of two types. They may encompass a geographical area or they may be organized around an individual company. In this collection most of the company-oriented districts concern railroad companies. The subseries is headed by a few special files including general data and correspondence, and correspondence on some specific issues in grand lodge policy toward districts. The bulk of the subseries is organized by district lodge number. Appendix 3 includes a state-by-state key matching geographical lodges with their district lodge number and an alphabetical listing providing the same function for company-oriented districts. The files for each district generally include correspondence divided among several subject categories, as well as district minutes, and quarterly audit reports.
9. Jurisdictional Disputes, 1901-1954 (Reels 119-140)
These are subdivided into two groups: general and railroad jurisdiction. Reels 120-131 concern general jurisdictional disputes with approximately sixty different international unions. Arrangement is alphabetical by union and thereunder by specific cases. Group two (reels 131-140) covers the railroads, and organization within this group varies. Initially (on reel 131) there are a number of files on the general area of “diesel work” which are subdivided by railroad company. The diesel work files are most easily recognized by their file numbers, 9-(18-2) for example, with the last number in the sequence changing for each company. Next (on reels 131-132) is a group of six files organized by competing international unions. These concern disputes with that union on various railroad lines. File designations for these and the balance of the files in group two begin with the number 18, despite the fact that they are in the jurisdiction subseries. Following (also on reel 132) is another small group of files organized alphabetically by the name of the railroad company on which the disputes occurred, and thereunder by the name of the international union with which the IAM was in conflict. The last and largest segment of the railroad jurisdictional files is found on reels 132-140 and is also arranged by railroad company name and thereunder by international union. However, in this segment the railroad companies are in a numerical rather than alphabetical order. See Appendix 4 for an alphabetical list of railroads keyed to their file numbers.
The organization of the Jurisdictional Disputes impedes certain types of research. To find files on disputes between IAM and any particular international union one must check the general jurisdictional files (group one) and three of the four segments of the railroad jurisdictional files (group two). To locate files on all jurisdictional problems on a particular railroad line the researcher must examine all four segments of the railroad jurisdictional files.
11. Companies, 1925-1954 (Reels 140-230)
This is the largest single subseries in the international president's office records, filling approximately 90 reels of microfilm. It includes files on companies under contract with the IAM which had more than 100 members. The content is primarily correspondence of grand lodge officials with officers of local and district lodges which had jurisdiction over the company. Occasional correspondence with company officials is also included. Subjects include negotiations, strikes, contracts, and other facets of the union's relation-ship with the company. The organization of the subseries is by the first letter of the company name and numerical thereunder. The subseries does not include files on railroad companies or companies in some other specific industrial areas. See also subseries 14, 18, 43, 49, and 62.
12. Railway Employees Department (AFL), 1921-1954 (Reels 230-231)
Included here are correspondence and papers regarding the IAM's role in this department. Also included is a very complete set of minutes of the department's executive council and some financial information.
13. Moody's Investors Service, 1933-1954 (Reel 231)
The IAM subscribed to the service to obtain railroad financial data. Files include correspondence and some copies of Moody's publications.
13-2. Railway Express Agency (REA), 1926-1954 (Reels 231-233)
Similar in content to the files in the Companies subseries (No. 11), this subseries consists of correspondence with local lodges engaged in negotiations with and job actions against REA.
14. Fire Fighting Equipment, 1926-1954 (Reel 233)
Files on nine companies documenting IAM organizing drives and resulting strikes and boycotts. The files in this subseries are also similar in scope to those in the Companies subseries (No. 11). Particularly noteworthy are the files on the American La France Company where the IAM conducted an important and highly successful organizing drive in the early 1930's.
15. Agreement Data, 1942-1954 (Reel 233)
This subseries includes files on major contract issues including profit sharing, guaranteed annual wage, and severance pay. Also included is comparative data on IAM agreements and a listing, by type of industry, of employers under contract with the union.
16. Railway Labor Executives' Association (RLEA), 1925-1954 (Reels 233-236)
Correspondence and subject files and financial data concerning, as well as minutes of, an organization composed of the chief officers of railway labor unions. Organized in 1926 as a response to the Railway Labor Act, the RLEA represented both AFL affiliates and non-affiliated unions and was intended to foster cooperation among the organizations.
17. IAM Conventions, 1928-1954 (Reel 236)
This subseries contains information on convention planning and arrangements, election of delegates, officers' reports, and a file on the resolutions committee. Convention proceedings are not included in the collection.
18. Railroads, 1919-1954 (Reels 237-259)
Similar in scope to the Companies files, this subseries contains a separate file for many of the railroads under contract with IAM. The subseries has three subdivisions. First, on reels 236-238, are a dozen or so files on general issues of contention between the union and the companies such as shorter work week, postwar planning, vacations, and overtime. Following, on reels 238-239, are files on 67 different companies organized alphabetically by company name. The final segment, on reels 239-259, also consists of files on individual railroad companies, but these are organized in numerical sequence. See Appendix 4 for an alphabetical key correlating company names with file numbers.
20. American Federation of Labor (AFL), 1927-1954 (Reels 259-260)
This subseries consists of topically arranged files including information on the IAM's withdrawal from the AFL at the end of World War II, jurisdictional problems with the carpenters' union, and other issues. Also included are files on the Metal Trades Department, Railway Employees' Department, and the Maritime Trades Department. Additional files concerning the Railway Employees' Department and the Building Trades Department, as well as files on the Building Trades Department and Label Trades Department, are found in other subseries (Railway Employees - No. 12, Building Trades - No. 24, Metal Trades - No. 25, and Label Trades - No. 26).
In addition, this subseries contains grand lodge correspondence with city and county central labor bodies. These files are organized by state, with letters of the various central bodies in that state arranged chronologically thereunder.
21. International Unions (AFL Affiliates), 1909-1954 (Reels 260-263)
These are numerically organized correspondence files. Due to the periodic affiliation and disaffiliation of some organizations, this subseries contains files on some unions, such as the Teamsters and the Auto Workers, which are not currently affiliated with the AFL-CIO. The subseries also contains a file on radio commentator H. V. Kaltenborn.
22. International Unions (Not Affiliated with the AFL), 1926-1954 (Reel 263)
Notable by their absence from this subseries are files on any of the non-affiliated railroad brotherhoods.
23. State Federations of Labor, 1927-1954 (Reels 263-264)
The subseries includes files for each state and for Puerto Rico.
24. Building and Construction Trades Department (AFL), 1908-1954 (Reel 264)
See also the AFL subseries (No. 20).
25. Metal Trades Department (AFL), 1924-1954 (Reels 264-265)
General files concerning the department, followed by alphabetically organized files on local and regional metal trades councils.
26. Label Trades Department (AFL), 1934-1954 (Reel 265)
This subseries actually contains two distinctly different files: one concerning the Label Trades Department, and one concerning the issuance of the IAM's own union label. The latter consists primarily of information on authorization and withdrawal of authorization to use the IAM label.
27. Sympathetic Organizations, 1923-1954 (Reels 265-267)
In this subseries are files on numerous types of organizations including labor related bodies such as the International Conference of Free Trade Unions, the Labor League for Human Rights, the American Labor Education Service, and the National Women's Trade Union League; political organizations such as the League for Industrial Democracy and the Americans For Democratic Action; charitable groups like the American Red Cross and American Heart Association; and research and educational organizations such as the National Bureau of Economic Research and Consumers' Union. Arrangement of the files is numerical.
28. U.S. Government Departments, 1931-1954 (Reels 267-268)
In addition to files on numerous federal agencies, departments, and bureaus, this subseries contains records on programs such as the income tax and workmen's compensation, and on international trade. Also included are files on the government of Puerto Rico and on the American Arbitration Association. For NLRB files see the Labor Legislation subseries (No. 30).
29. Labor Papers (Press), 1931-1954 (Reels 268-269)
Files on the IAM journal, The Machinist, and on other labor publications. See also the Machinists Monthly Journal subseries (No. 42) and Publications subseries (No. 52).
30. Labor Legislation, 1929-1954 (Reels 269-270)
This subseries consists of extensive files on the NLRB, files on federal legislation, including the Taft-Hartley Act and “anti-labor” legislation in numerous states.
31. National Security Cases, 1950-1954 (Reel 270)
This subseries deals with the appeals of IAM members discharged from government contract work on the grounds that they were security risks. In large measure, it concerns attempts to provide prompt hearings on these appeals. Government bodies involved included the Loyalty Review Board, the Army, Navy, Air Force Personnel Security Board, and the Industrial Employment Review Board.
32. Political Activities, 1930-1954 (Reel 270)
Files on the Railway Labor Political League, the issue of time off for voting, and on several states are included in this subseries. In addition there is correspondence of the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League, a body created after Taft-Hartley to provide support for candidates friendly to the union, and the National Issues Committee. The latter, a non-partisan group chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, was intended to research and interpret major public issues.
34. IAM General Correspondence, 1916-1954 (Reels 270-275)
For the most part these numerically arranged files concern IAM internal affairs: per capita tax, pension plan, investment of funds, audits, anniversary celebrations, research bulletins, and the like. Notably, the subseries also includes a file on the eligibility of non-whites for membership (34-11) and on the IAM Ritual (34-26), long the basis for excluding non-whites. Also noteworthy are the official circulars (34-27). These are proclamations and policy statements issued by the grand lodge on topics of general interest, such as constitutional interpretation, holding of elections, and other matters.
35. Amalgamated Engineering Union of Great Britain, 1926-1953 (Reel 275)
37. Labor Banks, 1932-1950 (Reel 275)
All files here concern the Mount Vernon bank of Washington, D.C. which was chartered and controlled by the IAM. The institution was founded in 1920, but failed in 1933.
38. Anti-Labor Organizations, 1946-1953 (Reel 275)
This subseries contains records relating to only one group, the Tool Owners' Union. That organization was chartered in 1946 and claimed to represent investors, small business persons, and those who lived on savings or income from property. The organization was headed for a time by Fred Hartley, Jr., co-author of the Taft-Hartley Act.
40. Union Labor Life Insurance Company, 1938-1954 (Reel 275)
41. Division No. 4 - Railway Employees' Department - Canada, 1927-1954 (Reel 275)
Files concerning the Canadian division of the AFL department. See also the Railway Employees' Department subseries (No. 12) and the AFL subseries (No. 20).
42. Machinists Monthly Journal, 1927-1954 (Reel 275)
The Machinists Monthly Journal was one of two major publications issued by the IAM. The other, The Machinist, is a weekly publication. Correspondence in this subseries generally pertains to requests by locals for copies of the journal for organizing purposes, comment and articles, and occasional policy matters such as size and scope of the publication. See also the Labor Papers subseries (No. 29) and the Publications subseries (No. 52).
43. Amalgamation, 1928-1954 (Reels 275-278)
This subseries contains files on eight individual employers and, although titled “amalgamation,” appears to deal primarily with organizing activities. Included is information on organizing conflicts with the CIO, NLRB supervised elections at several of the companies, and negotiations.
45. Insurance Information, 1951-1954 (Reel 278)
This very small subseries consists primarily of correspondence with Murray D. Lincoln of the Farm Bureau Automobile Insurance Company. Lincoln apparently was a personal friend and associate of IAM President Albert J. Hayes. A substantial number of the letters concern cooperatives.
48. Automotive Industry, 1926-1954 (Reels 278-292)
Included here are files on employers engaged in bus and trucking businesses. Like the Companies subseries (No. 11) these files consist largely of correspondence with local and district lodges having jurisdiction over the companies, and occasional correspondence with company officials themselves. Most of the records are organized into two major subdivisions: files preceded by number 48-A concerning bus companies, and those headed by 48-AA concerning trucking companies. Also included are files on the California Automotive Machinists Council, the American Trucking Association, and on the organizing of auto mechanics and auto parts workers.
49. Aircraft and Airlines Industry, 1927-1954 (Reels 292-367)
Included here are files on airlines and aircraft manufacturing concerns under contract with the IAM, as well as other files on issues related to the industry. The subseries is divided into four major groups. Group 1, comprising reels 292-329, contains alphabetically organized files on airlines. Files in group 2, reels 329-341, are all headed with the designation 49-C and concern the aircraft manufacturing industry. These are in numerical order (i.e. 49-C-1, 49-C-2, etc.). Third, on reels 341-349, is a group of issue-related files including aircraft jurisdiction (49-G) and the training of aircraft mechanics (49-Q). The final group, on reels 349-367, consists of additional numerically arranged aircraft company files.
51. Communistic Activities, 1927-1954 (Reel 367)
52. Publications, 1943-1954 (Reels 367-368)
Primarily routine correspondence regarding IAM subscriptions to various journals. Occasionally included is comment and criticism on articles which appeared in the IAM journals.
53. Dual Organizations, 1937-1954 (Reel 368)
Although titled Dual Organizations, this subseries contains a file on the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company and another on the National Urban League. The Tennessee Coal and Iron Company was a subsidiary of the United States Steel Corporation. This files contains information on organizing and bargaining and on an NLRB election in which the employees chose the IAM over a CIO union. Race seems to have been an important factor in the election as the IAM expected to receive the votes of white workers while conceding the black vote to the CIO affiliate.
The National Urban League file largely concerns a cooperative effort of the League and organized labor to combat discrimination in labor organizations. In the early 1950's, IAM General President Albert J. Hayes was a member of an AFL committee appointed to work with the League on the problem.
56. Licensing Auto Mechanics, Steamfitters, etc., 1928-1954 (Reel 368)
58. Union Shop Card Agreements, 1928-1954 (Reels 368-369)
Union shop cards were issued to employers who maintained a union shop and who signed a supplemental union shop working rules agreement. The subseries largely concerns the application for and issuance of these cards.
60. Canadian and World Labor Congress, 1929-1954 (Reel 369)
This subseries consists of two distinct files. The first concerns the IAM's relations with the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada, the Canadian equivalent of the AFL. The second concerns AFL and IAM representation in several international labor bodies including the British Trade Union Congress and the World Labor Congress. The latter group was to meet in Europe in 1945, but the AFL refused to be represented because the CIO was invited. That refusal resulted in a good deal of criticism from some IAM locals and districts.
62. General Organizing, 1926-1954 (Reels 369-398)
This is a numerically organized subseries subdivided by industry and by specific employer. Larger groups of files include: Shipyards (62-4); Aluminum Company of America (62-8); Pulp and Paper Industry (62-13); Tool and Dye Industry (62-14); Remington Rand Company (62-25-1); and Cutting Dye Shops (62-40). Interspersed are smaller files on numerous industries and individual employers.
