The collection provides considerable information on routine internal functions but little on attitudes and issues. The perspective is generally that of the leadership. Inferences on barbers and the barbering trade, such as job, geographic, and status mobility, may be made from the responses given on membership forms and records. Much of that information may also be exploitable by aggregate data analysis techniques or be linked with other records in a local community study. There are, unfortunately, significant time gaps in every type of record.
The collection is divided into two series: Correspondence and Records. CORRESPONDENCE, 1921-1972, is arranged in three subseries. General correspondence from Journeymen Barbers' International Union to Local 379 relates mainly to the routine affairs of forms, applications, dues, benefits, and office supplies. There is some discussion of issues relating to organizing and strike policy, relations with other unions, and threats from the right--The Master Barbers' Association--and the left--the Communist Party. There is little of detail or private opinion on the Pension Fund Scandal. (See also Box 7, Folder 1.) The grievance folder of the International's correspondence relates to disputes about the membership status of four members of the Local, one of whom was accused of malfeasance in office, and the sick benefits due a fifth. The correspondence of Journeymen Barbers' Local 379 is again mostly routine with some revealing information on a few issues. The final subseries, Wisconsin Barbers No. 1, includes circular letters, reports of conventions, and minutes of meetings. Almost one-third of it is for the years 1946-1947.
RECORDS are subdivided into General and Procedural, and Financial. There is some overlap here: monthly reports have some financial information and the Daily Cashbooks have some membership information. The General and Procedural subseries contains bound and loose material relating to the initiation, apprentice-ship, transfer, dues, benefits, and “retirement” (that is, inactive membership while working at a different occupation) of members of Local 379. There is some documentation of the Local's labor activities and civic and charitable participation. One thin folder of historical information has a scattering of clippings, artifacts, and one very brief account (1935?) of the granting of the first charter in 1904. There is some mention of such issues as prices and closing times in the Minute Books. There are some reports and circulars regarding state and national issues in Box 6, Folder 7 and Box 7, Folders 1-4.
Financial Records contain a number of bookkeeping forms and volumes, some of which have overlapping information. Receipts and expenditures for the Local are documented in varying detail. It is not the Archives' usual practice to save cancelled checks and check stubs but in this case they provide an important substitute for years when reports and summaries are missing. These check records and particularly the benefit check receipts from the International give an important measure of the finances and relief program of the Union during the early Depression. Additional information on relief at that time is given inside the covers of Ledgers, Vol. XI and XII (Folders 4 and 5 in Box 4).
