Repository

ULS Archives & Special Collections

Title

Mike Bonn Papers

Creator

Bonn, Michael R.

Collection Number

AIS.2017.08

Extent

0.42 Linear Feet (1 document case)

Date

1961-2001

Abstract

The Mike Bonn Papers document the career and activities of Mike Bonn, a steelworker, Union leader and labor activist, who served as president of United Steelworkers Local 2227 from 1979 to 1985.

Language

English

Author

Processed by Jonathan Liberatore in February 2018.

Publisher

ULS Archives & Special Collections

Address

University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Biography

Mike Bonn was a labor union leader and political activist in the Pittsburgh area. He served as President of United Steelworkers of America, Local Union 2227, from 1979 to 1985, representing the Irvin Works (now Mon Valley Works-Irvin Plant) in West Mifflin, PA.

Bonn's union activities included protest of the divestment by major banks from American steel manufacturing to their investment in overseas steel that was in direct competition with local manufacturing. Bonn was active in the Denominational Ministry Strategy (DMS), which worked closely with the Network to Save the Mon/Ohio Valley and was a partnership between local labor leaders, clergy and jobless workers and was involved in a series of protests against corporations such as Mellon Bank and demonstrations at regional church services.

Bonn graduated from McKeesport High School in 1958 and then joined the United States Navy, where he graduated from Submarine School. Upon the completion of his military service, he worked in the steel industry, where he became involved in union activities. After his term as President of Local 2227 in 1985, Bonn attended Robert Morris College where he studied paralegal services and went on to found Bonn Legal Services in Dunlevy, PA. Bonn was also an accomplished accordionist and bass player and served as president of the Mon Valley Tamburitzans, which was affiliated with the CFU Adult Tamburitzan Federation.

Scope and Content Notes

The Mike Bonn papers contain correspondence, news clippings, and reports that document the career and activism of Mike Bonn, a steelworker and union leader. The papers also detail Bonn's involvement in protests as part of the Denominational Ministry Strategy, a group formed through a partnership with regional labor activists and clergy aimed at publicizing and halting the decline of the steel industry.

Copyright

The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.

Related Material

Denominational Ministry Strategy Collection, 1973-1995, AIS.1989.07, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh

Robert Jurich Scrapbooks, 1981-1990, AIS.1990.15, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Arrangement

The Mike Bonn Papers are arranged in four series:

Series I. United Steelworkers Union, 1975-1987

Series II. Denominational Ministry Strategy, 1984-1990

Series III. Personal Materials, 1961-2001

Series IV. Correspondence, 1980-1987

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mike Bonn on April 25, 2017.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions

Preferred Citation

Mike Bonn Papers, 1958-2002, AIS.2017.08, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Subjects

Corporate Names

• United Steelworkers of America. Local 2227 (West Mifflin, Pa.)
• Tamburitzans

Personal Names

• Bonn, Michael R.

Geographic Names

• Monongahela River (W. Va. and Pa.)

Other Subjects

• Religion -- Social aspects
• Labor movement -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh Region
• Ohio River Valley -- Economic conditions
• Christianity
• Labor unions

Container List

Series I. United Steelworkers Union, 1975-1987

Scope and Content Notes

Contains correspondence, memos and newsclippings that document Bonn's time as a steelworker and active member in United Steelworkers, where he served as president of Local #2227 from 1979-1985.

Correspondence and Memos, 1984

Containers

box 1, folder 1

Newspaper Clippings, undated

Containers

box 1, folder 2

Newspaper Clippings, 1975-1980

Containers

box 1, folder 3

Newspaper Clippings, 1981

Containers

box 1, folder 4

Newspaper Clippings, 1982

Containers

box 1, folder 5

Newspaper Clippings, 1982

Containers

box 1, folder 6

Newspaper Clippings, 1984

Containers

box 1, folder 7

Newspaper Clippings, 1985-1987

Containers

box 1, folder 8

Series II. Denominational Ministry Strategy, 1984-1990

Scope and Content Notes

Contains new clippings, correspondence, and background information detailing the formation and activities of the Denominational Ministry Strategy (DMS). The DMS was a partnership between local labor leaders, activists, clergy, and jobless workers who sought to apply faith-based principles to labor activism. The group was involved in several public protests focusing on local corporations, such as Mellon Bank. Several of these acts were in the form of disruption of church services in the Pittsburgh area, most notably on Easter Sunday in 1984 and 1985 at Shadyside Presbyterian Church (primarily because several Mellon Bank executives worshipped there). The group worked closely alongside the Network to Save the Mon/Ohio Valley and was known in its later years as Confessing Synod Ministries (CMS). The series also contains documents and correspondence surrounding Bonn's arrest during protest activities at Shadyside Presbyterian Church in 1985, as well as, news clippings detailing the arrest of television actor David Soul who also participated in the protest.

Mellon Bank Protest Clippings, 1983

Containers

box 1, folder 9

Pittsburgh Press article, "Fanning the Flames", May 27, 1984

Containers

map-case 32-4, oversize 1

Newspaper Clippings, 1984

Containers

box 1, folder 10

Newspaper Clippings, 1985

Containers

box 1, folder 11

Newspaper Clippings, 1986

Containers

box 1, folder 12

Newspaper Clippings, 1987-1990

Containers

box 1, folder 13

Arrest and Release, 1985-1986

Containers

box 1, folder 14

Christian Consolidation Report, 1985-1986

Containers

box 1, folder 15

Series III. Personal Materials, 1961-2001

Scope and Content Note

Contains news clippings, correspondence and publications detailing Bonn's various personal activities. Bonn served as president of Mon Valley Adult Tamburitzans, Inc. and was involved with organizing musical performances as well as basketball and soccer tournaments surrounding Ethnic Day activities in his hometown of Dunlevy, PA. Also contained in the series are news clippings and correspondence that document Bonn's move into paralegal services along with his service at VFW Post 167 in Charleroi, PA and Dulevy Borough Council, where he served as councilman from 1980-1989.

Sport and Cultural Activities, 1961-1994

Containers

box 1, folder 16

Retraining and Paraleagal clippings, 1987-2001

Containers

box 1, folder 17

Dunlevy Council and Charleroi VFW Clippings, 1980-1985

Containers

box 1, folder 18

Series IV. Correspondence, 1980-1987

Scope and Content Notes

Contains correspondence addressed to Mike Bonn, including US President Jimmy Carter, US Congressman Joseph M. Gaydos, Pennsylvania House Representative Ivan Itkin and US Congressman Austin J. Murphy.

President Jimmy Carter to Mike Bonn, October 29, 1980

Containers

box 1, folder 19

Joseph M. Gaydos to Mike Bonn, Febuary 25, 1982

Containers

box 1, folder 20

Ivan Itkin to Mike Bonn, October 3, 1984

Containers

box 1, folder 21

Austin J. Murphy to Mike Bonn, Septmber 29, 1987

Containers

box 1, folder 22