Repository: ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title: Beaver Valley Labor History Society Collection
Creator: Beaver Valley Labor History Society
Collection Number: AIS.1981.08
Extent: 5 Linear Feet (5 boxes)
Date: 1909-1981
Abstract: This collection contains material primarily documenting the successful 1930s organizing drive of the Steel Workers Organizing Committee of the Congress of Industrial Organizations at Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. The organizing drive resulted in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision, National Labor Relations Board v. Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation, which upheld the National Labor Relations Act and established the legal right to organize labor unions. The collection was created by members of the Beaver Valley Labor History Society who conducted oral history interviews, compiled subject files, and published a newsletter focused on the early history of what became United Steelworkers of America Local 1211. Recorded from 1978 to 1980, the collection's twenty-four oral histories also document the European immigrant experience in America; African American migration to the industrial north; work in a steel mill; and the social, political, economic, and cultural life of Aliquippa, 1900s-1930s.
Language: English .
Author: Ben Blake.
Publisher: ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address: University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

History

With the support of United Steelworkers of America Local 1211 and the Philip Murray Retirees Club, the Beaver Valley Labor History Society was established in 1978 to "inform people of the important role that our valley has played in American labor history" so that "they may be aware and proud of their heritage." For a four year period, the Society collected material, conducted oral history interviews, and published a journal focused on documenting the history of steelworkers in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. In 1981, the Beaver Valley Labor History Society transferred the organization's subject files, oral histories, and copies of its publications to the Archives of Industrial Society at the University of Pittsburgh and ceased publication of its journal.

Scope and Content Notes

This collection primarily covers the history of the 1930s Steel Workers Organizing Committee campaign at Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, through original and photocopied materials. It also includes material on local and national issues related to the United Steelworkers Union from 1943-1981. Additionally, twenty-four oral history interviews, most of which are transcribed, with steelworkers and their family members who were involved in the 1930s Aliquippa organizing campaign provide additional insights. Further scope and content notes are provided at the series level.

Arrangement

Series I. Subject Files, 1909-1981
Series II. Oral Histories, 1978-1980
Series III. Publications

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Acquisition Informaiton

Gift of Beaver Valley Labor History Society on October 1, 1981.

Preferred Citation

Beaver Valley Labor History Society Collection, 1909-1981, AIS.1981.08, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Previous Citation

Beaver Valley Labor History Society Collection, 1909-1981, AIS.1981.08, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Beaver Valley Labor History Society, 1934-1981 and Beaver Valley Labor History Society Collection, 1909-1981, UELAB.1981.08, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Archives Service Center staff in 1981, reprocessed by Ben Blake in 2006 and edited by David Rosenberg and Zachary L. Brodt in 2007.

Copyright

Property rights reside with the University of Pittsburgh. For information about permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Archives Services Center.

Existence and Location of Originals

The originals of some items in the collection are held by the Walter P. Reuther Library of Wayne State University and other repositories.

Related Material

Journal of the Beaver Valley Labor History Society, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

The Union Press (Aliquippa, Pa.), Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Separated Material

The microfilm reels can be found in cabinets in the Reading Room at the Archives Service Center.

Subjects

Corporate Names

United States. National Labor Relations Board -- Cases
Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers of North America. Beaver Valley Lodge 200 (Aliquippa, Pa.)
Steel Workers Organizing Committee (U.S.). Local 1211 (Aliquippa, Pa.)
Beaver Valley Labor History Society
Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation. Aliquippa Works
Steel and Metal Workers Industrial Union (U.S.). Ambridge Office (Ambridge, Pa.)
United Steelworkers of America. Local 1211 (Aliquippa, Pa.)

Personal Names

Bannik, Mike
Cobb, Clark
Colbert, Ella
Colonna, Nino
Cozzicoli, Mary
Del Turco, Dominic
Di Ciero, Joseph
Dunn, Ralph
George, Alex
Iacobucci, Bert
Kromerich, Frank
Lopata, Andy
Mandity, Joe
Modrack, Nick
Montini, Elizio
Montini, Ormond
Pienkowski, Frank
Riccitelli, Tony
Tadora, Lou
Tipper, Bartow
Tomeo, Tony
Uzelac, Eli
Zahorsky, Michael

Geographic Names

Ambridge (Pa.)
Aliquippa (Pa.)

Genres

Oral histories (Literary genre)
Transcripts
Audiotapes

Other Subjects

Iron and steel workers -- Labor unions -- Organizing
Iron and steel workers
Labor
Steel industry and trade -- Pennsylvania -- Aliquippa
Iron industry and trade -- Pennsylvania -- Aliquippa

Container List

Series I. Subject Files, 1909-1981

Scope and Content Notes

This series primarily documents the Steel Workers Organizing Committee campaign at Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation's Aliquippa Works during the 1930s. Also included is information on early labor relations in the Pennsylvania steel industry, the Steel and Metal Workers Industrial Union organizing drive in Ambridge from 1933-1935, and a selective history of the United Steelworkers Union spanning 1943-1981. The files are organized alphabetically by topic within each subseries and are almost entirely composed of photocopies of original documents held by other repositories.

Subseries 1. Steel Industry Labor Relations, Pennsylvania, 1909-1932

Scope and Content Notes

This subseries contains information on labor relations in the Pennsylvania steel industry prior to the union organizing drive of the 1930s. It contains photocopies of a variety of documents, including clippings.

American Federation of Labor, Smoky City Federal Local, Pittsburgh, Demands, 1917

Containers: box 1, folder 1

American Iron and Steel Institute, Iron Age, Steel Company Towns including Aliquippa, 1909-1913

Containers: box 1, folder 2

Joe Dallet and the Jones and Laughlin Steel, Aliquippa Works Supervisor Bribery Scandal, May-June, 1929

Containers: box 1, folder 3

Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation, "Pension System", July 24, 1923

Containers: box 1, folder 4

United States Department of Labor, Deportation of United States Steel Employees, June 21, 1920

Containers: box 1, folder 5

United States Department of Labor, Investigation of "Labor Trouble," Aliquippa, PA, October 9, 1918

Containers: box 1, folder 6

Woodlawn Gazette, Articles Regarding Steel Worker Union, Steel Industry and Ku Klux Klan, 1923-1924, 1936, undated

Containers: box 1, folder 7

Subseries 2. Steelworkers Organizing Drive, Aliquippa, 1933-1942

Scope and Content Notes

This subseries documents the union organizing drive at Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation's Aliquippa Works during the 1930s. It includes scattered documentation of local membership, finances, organization, and correspondence by union organizers and officers. Also included are proceedings, reports, and petitions related to U.S. National Steel Labor Relations Board hearings, 1934-1935, and U.S. National Labor Relations Board hearings, 1936. In addition, this subseries contains copies of clippings from labor and Pennsylvania newspapers related to this union campaign.

African Americans Expelled from Beaver County, PA, 1933

Containers: box 1, folder 8

Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers of North America, Aliquippa, 1933-1936, undated

Containers: box 1, folder 09-13

Ambridge, PA, Steel Strike, September, 1933-May, 1935, undated

Containers: box 1, folder 14

American Federation of Labor, The AFL Rank and File Federationist, March-April, 1935

Containers: box 1, folder 15

American Federation of Labor, List of Alleged Communist Party Members in SWOC, May 21, 1937

Containers: box 1, folder 16

American Iron and Steel Institute, Employee Representation in the Iron and Steel Industry, 1930s

Containers: box 1, folder 17

American Iron and Steel Institute, Iron Age, Employee Representation Plans, June, 1934-March, 1937

Containers: box 1, folder 18

American Iron and Steel Institute, Steel Facts, May 1935

Containers: box 1, folder 19

Bannik, Mike, December 1934-January 1935

Containers: box 1, folder 20

Beaver County Emergency Relief Board, Requests for Beaver Valley Lodge No. 200 Members, December, 1934

Containers: box 1, folder 21

Claessens, August and Rebecca E. Jarvis, ABC of Parliamentary Law, 1936

Containers: box 1, folder 22

Daily Worker, Steel Worker Union and Steel Industry, 1930s

Containers: box 1, folder 23

Democratic Party, Beaver County, 1934-1935

Containers: box 1, folder 24

Di Ciero, Joseph, Treasurer, SWOC Local 1211, Financial Scandal, July, 1938-December, 1939

Containers: box 1, folder 25

Federated Press, Steel Worker Union and Steel Industry, 1929-1934

Containers: box 1, folder 26

Foster, William Z., "Steel Workers - Organize!" from the Daily Worker, February 27, 1935

Containers: box 1, folder 27

Geographic and Demographic Material, Aliquippa, 1930s

Containers: box 1, folder 28

Gerstner, Martin, Financial Secretary, Correspondence, August, 1934-May, 1937

Containers: box 1, folder 29

Hoenstine, Harry, "Address "Foremen's Club Meeting," Ellwood Works, National Tube Co., October 30, 1933

Containers: box 1, folder 30

Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation, Company Spy Reports, February-May, 1937

Containers: box 1, folder 31

Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation, Discharges, March, 1936-May, 1937

Containers: box 1, folder 32

Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation, Employee Representation Plans, Aliquippa Works, 1934-1937

Containers: box 1, folder 33-35

Kane, M.J., Aliquippa Police Chief, undated

Containers: box 1, folder 36

League for Social Justice, "Report of the Ambridge Riot", 1933

Containers: box 1, folder 37

Marchione, L. and Frank, Correspondence in English and Italian, 1934

Containers: box 1, folder 38

Murray, Philip, "The Social and Economic Consequences of Technology", 1940

Containers: box 1, folder 39

Pennsylvania, Department of Labor and Industry, "Report....on Special Policing in Industry", October, 1934

Containers: box 1, folder 40

Philadelphia Record, Steel Worker Union and Steel Industry, 1934, undated

Containers: box 1, folder 41

Pinchot, Glifford, "Statement ...", October 24, 1934

Containers: box 1, folder 42

Pucci, Guiseppi, Treasurer, Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers, Finances, 1934

Containers: box 1, folder 43

Ruttenberg, Harold J., Correspondence, July, 1934 - July, 1935, November 19, 1959

Containers: box 1, folder 44

Song Sheets, 1930s

Containers: box 1, folder 45

Steel and Metal Workers Industrial Union, Aliquippa Local, Hot Billet, March 1934, undated

Containers: box 1, folder 46

Steel and Metal Workers Industrial Union, Steel Metal Worker, August, 1933 - June, 1935

Containers: box 1, folder 47-51

Steel and Metal Workers Industrial Union, Steel Workers Organize and Prepare to Strike, 1930s

Containers: box 1, folder 52

Steel Workers Organizing Committee, Handling Grievances, 1941

Containers: box 1, folder 53

Steel Workers Organizing Committee, "Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation Basic Contract", May 25, 1937

Containers: box 1, folder 54

Steel Workers Organizing Committee Lodge No. 1211, Organizing Drive, June, 1936-July, 1939

Containers: box 1, folder 55

Steel Workers Organizing Committee and Jones and Laughlin Steel Corp., Agreement, May 14, 1937

Containers: box 1, folder 56

Timko, Joseph J., "Report ...Steel Workers Organizing Committee, Beaver Valley District", January 17, 1941

Containers: box 1, folder 57

United States Bureau of Mediation, "Complaint, Beaver Valley Lodge No. 200", March 9, 1935

Containers: box 1, folder 58

United States Labor Relations Board, "Official Report ...Jones and Laughlin Steel Corp.", 1936

Containers: box 1, folder 59-76

United States National Steel Labor Relations Board, August, 1934-October, 1935, undated

Containers: box 2, folder 01-02

United States National Steel Labor Relations Board, "Findings... Jones and Laughlin Steel Corp.", 1935

Containers: box 2, folder 3

United States National Steel Labor Relations Board, "Petition for Re-Hearing...Lodge No. 200", 1935

Containers: box 2, folder 4

United States National Steel Labor Relations Board, "Report ...Jones and Laughlin Steel Corp.", 1934

Containers: box 2, folder 05-07

United States National War Labor Board, "Notice to Employees of Jones and Laughlin Steel Corp.", 1942

Containers: box 2, folder 8

United Steelworkers of America, Steel Labor, August, 1936-March, 1937

Containers: box 2, folder 09-10

Western Pennsylvania Unemployment Council, Hunger Fighter, Special Steel Strike Edition, June 19, 1934

Containers: box 2, folder 11

Young Worker, Steel Worker Union and Steel Industry, 1930s

Containers: box 2, folder 12

Subseries 3. United Steelworkers of America, Local 1211, 1943-1981

Scope and Content Notes

This subseries documents a broad range of local and national issues related to steel industry labor relations and the internal union politics of the United Steelworkers. Also included is some material related to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 201, Beaver, PA, from the 1970s. The bulk of this material consists of printed documents or clippings.

Affirmative Action and Civil Rights, 1978-1979

Containers: box 2, folder 13

Aliquippa Democratic Social Club, 1950, 1953, undated

Containers: box 2, folder 14

Beaver Valley Gazette, Steel Worker Union and Steel Industry, November 1950

Containers: box 2, folder 15

Historical Development, Aliquippa, ca.1970

Containers: box 2, folder 16

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 201, Beaver, PA, 1973-1979

Containers: box 2, folder 17-22

Johnson, J. Bruce, United States Steel Corporation, Ambridge Bridge Division, October, 1979

Containers: box 2, folder 23

National Steelworkers Rank and File Committee, "Convention Report", August, 1980

Containers: box 2, folder 24

North American Congress on Latin America Report on the Americas, "Steelyard Blues", 1979

Containers: box 2, folder 25

Steel Worker Union and Steel Industry Articles, 1910s-1940s, December, 1978-April, 1980, undated

Containers: box 2, folder 26-29

Story of the Woodlawn Land Company, 1970

Containers: box 2, folder 30

United States Labor Party, August, 1980

Containers: box 2, folder 31

United Steelworkers of America, "Agreement ... Jones and Laughlin Steel Corp.", 1962

Containers: box 2, folder 32

United Steelworkers of America, "Constitution of International Union, Manual ...", September 18, 1958

Containers: box 2, folder 33

United Steelworkers of America, Contract Negotiation, 1980

Containers: box 2, folder 34

United Steelworkers of America, Experimental Negotiating Agreement, 1967

Containers: box 2, folder 35

United Steelworkers of America, National Convention, August, 1980

Containers: box 2, folder 36

United Steelworkers of America, Proposed Constitutional Amendments, 1980

Containers: box 2, folder 37

United Steelworkers of America, Steel Labor, "Fortieth Anniversary Issue", May-June, 1976

Containers: box 2, folder 38

United Steelworkers of America Local 1211, Aliquippa Steelworker, 1964 -1966, undated

Containers: box 2, folder 39

United Steelworkers of America Local 1211 Elections, January, 1940-December, 1943

Containers: box 2, folder 40

United Steelworkers of America and the Coordinating Committee Steel Companies, "Contracting Out", 1979

Containers: box 2, folder 41

Series II. Oral Histories, 1978-1980

Scope and Content Notes

This series is comprised of twenty-three oral history interviews of steelworkers involved in the Steel Workers Organizing Committee union recognition drive in Aliquippa during the 1930s. In addition to the early history of unionism in the area, the interviews cover a broad range of topics including immigration from Europe; work in a steel mill; and the social, political, economic and cultural life of Aliquippa. The interviews were conducted by members of the Beaver Valley Labor History Society from 1978-1980. Seventeen of the interviews have been fully or partially transcribed.

Cobb, Clark

Containers: box 2, folder 42

Colonna, Nino

Containers: box 2, folder 43

Cozzicoli, Mary

Containers: box 2, folder 44

Del Turco, Dominic

Containers: box 2, folder 45

Di Ciero, Joe

Containers: box 2, folder 46

Dunn, Ralph

Containers: box 2, folder 47

George, Alex

Containers: box 2, folder 48

Iacobucci, Bert

Containers: box 2, folder 49

Kromerich, Frank

Containers: box 2, folder 50

Lopata, Andy

Containers: box 2, folder 51

Mandity, Joe

Containers: box 2, folder 52

Modrack, Nick

Containers: box 2, folder 53

Montini, Elizio

Containers: box 2, folder 54

Montini, Ormond

Containers: box 2, folder 55

Riccitelli, Tony

Containers: box 2, folder 56

Tadora, Lou

Containers: box 2, folder 57

Zahorsky, Michael

Containers: box 2, folder 58

Humeniuk, Paul

Containers: box 2, folder 59

Bannik, Mike

Containers: box 3, cassette 1

Cobb, Clark

Containers: box 3, cassette 2

Colbert, Ella

Containers: box 3, cassette 3

Colonna, Nino

Containers: box 3, cassette 4

Cozzicoli, Mary

Containers: box 3, cassette 5

Del Turco, Dominic

Containers: box 3, cassette 6

Di Ciero, Joe

Containers: box 3, cassette 7

Dunn, Ralph

Containers: box 3, cassette 8

Iacobucci, Bert

Containers: box 3, cassette 9

Kromerich, Frank

Containers: box 3, cassette 10

Lopata, Andy

Containers: box 3, cassette 11

Mandity, Joe

Containers: box 3, cassette 12

Modrack, Nick

Containers: box 3, cassette 13

Montini, Elizio

Containers: box 3, cassette 14

Montini, Ormond

Containers: box 3, cassette 15

Pienkowski, Frank

Containers: box 3, cassette 16

Riccitelli, Tony

Containers: box 3, cassette 17

Tadora, Lou

Containers: box 3, cassette 18

Tipper, Bartow

Containers: box 3, cassette 19

Tomeo, Tony

Containers: box 3, cassette 20

Uzelac, Eli

Containers: box 3, cassette 21

Zahorsky, Michael

Containers: box 3, cassette 22

unidentified

Containers: box 3, cassette 23

Humeniuk, Paul

Containers: box 3, cassette 24

Series III. Publications

Scope and Content Notes

This series contains microfilmed copies of Beaver Valley Labor History Journal, which was produced by the Beaver Valley Labor History Society, and The Union Press, which was produced by SWOC 1211 in Aliquippa, Pa. In addition to the microfilmed newspapers of The Union Press, the originals have been retained.

Beaver Valley Labor History Journal Volume 1-Volume 3, 1979-1981

Containers: microfilm-cabinet 3, drawer 9; microfilm-cabinet 3, drawer 9, reel 1

The Union Press, Aliquippa, Pa., August 11-October 29, 1937

Containers: microfilm-cabinet 4, drawer 3; microfilm-cabinet 4, drawer 3, reel 2

The Union Press, Aliquippa, Pa., Volume 1-Volume 3, August 11-October 29, 1937

Containers: microfilm-cabinet 4, drawer 3; microfilm-cabinet 4, drawer 3, reel 1

The Union Press, August 25-October 29, 1937

Containers: map-case 3, drawer 11

Series IV. Additions, 2009-2016

Scope and Content Notes

This series includes files pertaining to Service Employees International Union Local 585 and newsletters from their Beaver County Public Employee Coalition. Also present are issues of the Union Bug, the newsletter of the AFL-CIO Labor Council of Beaver County, dating from 1984 to 1994. The Social Democratic Club Banner represents Social Democratic Club where amalgamated unions met to organize into the CIO.

The highlight of this series is a photograph of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Raymond "Moose" Marsilio, President of Transportation Workers Union Local 2035 in Conway, Pennsylvania. The photo was taken at the 1961 TWU convention in New York City, where Dr. King was the keynote speaker. Dr. King autographed the photo: "Good Luck Moose M Luther King Jr."

Labor Council of Beaver County Newsletter, 1984

Containers: box 4, folder 1

Union Bug, Labor Council of Beaver County, 1984-1987

Containers: box 4, folder 2

Union Bug, Labor Council of Beaver County, 1988-1990

Containers: box 4, folder 3

Union Bug, Labor Council of Beaver County, 1991-1994

Containers: box 4, folder 4

SEIU Local 585, 1982-1983

Containers: box 4, folder 5

Beaver County Public Employee Coalition Bulletin, 1982-1983

Containers: box 4, folder 6

"Grass Roots" Report: A Political Action Newsletter, Butler County United Labor Council, 1982

Containers: box 4, folder 7

Labor Rallies and Events, 1982-1983

Containers: box 4, folder 8

Fact Sheets

Containers: box 4, folder 9

Petitions

Containers: box 4, folder 10

Elections, 1982-1983

Containers: box 4, folder 11

Newspaper Clippings, 1981-1982

Containers: box 4, folder 12

Photograph: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Raymond "Moose" Marsilio, TWU Convention, New York City, 1961

Containers: box 4, folder 13

Social Democratic Club Banner

Containers: box 5, item 1

Guide to the Beaver Valley Labor History Society Collection, 1909-1981 AIS.1981.08

Arrangement

History

Scope and Content Notes

Arrangement

Access Restrictions

Acquisition Informaiton

Preferred Citation

Previous Citation

Processing Information

Copyright

Existence and Location of Originals

Related Material

Separated Material

Subjects

Corporate Names

Personal Names

Geographic Names

Genres

Other Subjects

Container List

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes