The records in this collection span the years 1960-1975 and are divided into the following series: Representative Council Minutes, 1964-1971; Board of Directors Minutes, 1966-1971; Subject File, 1960-1968; Executive Director's Records, 1963-1975; PNC Records, 1964-1969; and PR&R Committee Files, 1965-1974. The period 1960-1967 is the most sparsely documented. Increased activity and centralization of records keeping were by-products of the appointment of the Executive Director and are reflected in the increased volume of records for 1968-1973. Only a few of the files contain material dating as late as 1974 and 1975.
The SUBJECT FILE, 1960-1968, covers the period up to the appointment of a full-time Executive Director and is arranged alphabetically by file heading. Included are some budgets and treasurers' reports, files from several committees, correspondence (primarily of the President and Secretary), and other files.
The EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S RECORDS include a general subject and correspondence file, 1968-1975, and specialized subject files concerning the NEA, 1963-1974, and the WEA, 1964-1974. Of central importance in the collection is this general subject and correspondence file. It is the largest segment of the collection and contains information on all phases of MTI's activities. Particularly well covered are actions of the various MTI committees, pupil assaults on teachers which occurred in the schools, and the organization's state and national legislative interests. Also significant are the files on negotiations; these contain copies of both MTI and Board of Education proposals and copies of PNC minutes and memoranda. Other particularly noteworthy files are The A.B.C. of M.T.I., “Faculty Representative Council Reaction,” and “Board of Directors Reaction.” The first is a booklet containing the organization's constitution, by-laws, grievance procedure, and information on services provided to members. The other two contain information on issues and problems which the Executive Director brought to the attention of the Representatives and/or Board for their reaction and comment.
The specialized NEA and WEA subject files are also alphabetically arranged. Included are correspondence, studies, convention materials, and committee records which reflect MTI's and John Matthews' involvement with the two organizations.
The PNC RECORDS contain copies of agreements from other systems, PNC minutes, 1967-1968, general files on negotiations (proposals, memoranda, and other materials) and files on several specific issues of contention between the committee and Board of Education negotiators. Researchers interested in contract negotiations should also see negotiations files in the Executive Director's general subject and correspondence file.
Grievances and employment complaints filed by members, and copies of negative evaluations received by members make up the PR&R COMMITTEE FILES. Grievances concern alleged violations of the master contract while employment complaints concern non-contract matters. Both are resolved in the same manner except that employment complaints can use only the first two steps of the four-step grievance procedure. Individual files usually include a formal statement of the grievance or employment complaint as well as correspondence, notes, and memoranda concerning the settlement of the case. Teachers in the Madison Metropolitan School District are evaluated by their principal or supervisor. By terms of the contract MTI receives copies of any evaluations which are in any way negative, unless the teacher specifically requests that they not be sent to the union. Arrangement of this series is by type of record (grievances, employment complaints, and negative evaluations) and alphabetically thereunder by the name of the person or issue involved.
