Summary Information

Title: Ralph Helstein Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1933-1985

Creator:

• Helstein, Ralph, 1908-1985

Call Number: Mss 867; Tape 1163A

Quantity: 4.8 c.f. (12 archives boxes) and 7 tape recordings

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Personal correspondence, speeches and notes, oral history interviews, labor history teaching materials, and subject files of Ralph Helstein, a long-time progressive leader and president of the United Packinghouse Workers of America. Correspondence documents his private law practice (1942-1964), work as general counsel of the Packinghouse Workers Organizing Committee and as president of the UPWA (1946-1968), and activities and speaking engagements outside the labor movement and after his retirement with organizations such as Israel Histadrut, the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee, and the Committee for Rural Democracy in Crystal City, Texas. There are also by-laws, minutes, and financial reports of the Rath Packing Company collected while Helstein was a member of the company's board of directors; documents about an internal investigation prompted by A.T. Stephen's charges in 1958 of Communist influence within the UPWA; and a notebook used by Helstein during the contract bargaining in the 1960s. Prominent correspondents include Saul Alinsky, Patrick Gorman, Michael Harrington, Hubert H. Humphrey, Eppie Lederer (Ann Landers), Carey McWilliams, George Meany, Leslie Orear, and Edwin Witte.

Note:

There is a restriction on use of some of this material; see the Administrative/Restriction Information portion of this finding aid for details.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00867

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