United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Locals 171, 892
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Locals 171, 892
and Carpenters' District Council of Mahoning, Trumbull, and Mercer Counties records, 1936-1975
Finding Aid
Prepared by Carol A. Beal July 16, 1979; Prepared for the Web by Mikhail Slobodinskii, June 22, 1999
11 boxex, 8 cubic feet, 11th floor
Scope and Content
This collection consists of the records of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners, Local 171 and 892, and those of the Mahoning, Trumbull, and
Mercer County District Council (MTMDC), which has its headquarters on Rayen
Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio. Transferred to the Kent State University Archives
by Raymond R. Piaski, Financial Secretary, they were delivered on February
9, 1979, to the University by Roger Meade, Director of the Ohio Labor History
Project. The processing was completed with the help of student aides Mary
P. Mason and Sandra Greene.
This collection helps to document the labor movement in America, especially
the uphill battle for attaining labor's fair share of the products of an
increasingly industrialized society. In the nineteenth century, unions
often sought far-reaching social reform. By the time the American Federation
of Labor (AFL) was formed in the 1890's, however, the goals became more
pragmatic and were aimed at better working conditions, better wages, and
shorter hours. By the 1930's unions were legitimated by the Wagner Act
and therefore accepted as a necessary counterbalance to an expanding federal
government and a powerful industrial and business community. To solidify
their power, labor organizations have increased their complexity and scope,
and have developed a modern bureaucratic structure, especially since the
merger of the AFL with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in
1955. Despite this united front, there exists intense rivalry among individual
unions to insure the security of their own members. The result of this
competition has been a growing emphasis on job jurisdiction within geographic
or occupational areas as shown by the proliferation of locals and of trade
councils and other affiliated bodies to insure regional or occupational
supremacy.
Within this collection, the nature and variety of the records demonstrate
the concerns of modern unions. Local 171, for example, was formed in 1886
to protect the interests of carpenters and other skilled workers in related
trades. At the time, there were only two firms in Youngstown that hired
union men. Pioneer members negotiated with employers for improvements in
wages and hours in a non-union and often hostile atmosphere. By 1954, the
number of workers in the local who engaged in floor laying and tile installation
increased sufficiently to warrant the establishment of a separate local,
892, to deal with conditions peculiar to these trades. The two locals nevertheless
continued to share a building as well as affiliation on the United Brotherhood
of Carpenters and Joiners. In 1956, Locals 171 and 892 joined with several
other locals from Mahoning and Trumbull Counties in Ohio, and Mercer County
in Pennsylvania, to form the Mahoning, Trumbull, and Mercer County District
Council. In addition, they affiliated with state and national councils
such as the Ohio Council of Carpenters.
The organization of these records proved a formidable task. Due to the
long time span covered by these records (1939 - 1975), there were certain
inconsistencies in filing that necessitated considerable rearrangement
of materials. In addition, many of the records have been salvaged after
a fire which contributed to their somewhat disorganized state.
To make this collection more accessible to researchers, the materials
have been first arranged topically and then either alphabetically or chronologically
within each of the subject areas. All documents except correspondence for
the two locals and for the MTMDC have been put into separate folders, but
have been interfiled under the subject headings. Although correspondence
has usually been filed chronologically, certain categories of correspondence,
such as charges, trials and fines have been filed separately and have received
special mention in the inventory listing. In addition, some subject files
may contain correspondence along with other materials. Several cases in
point are the folders pertaining to disciplinary actions against union
officials. Preprinted correspondence was categorized as a form letter,
bulletin, or newsletter and was removed from the chronological arrangement.
Similarly, advertising and sales brochures, along with requests for charitable
and political contributions, were filed separately under printed materials.
Minutes are also in two places. In unbound form, they are in box six. Two
volumes in bound form are in the last box. Last, the photographs in this
collection may be transferred to the Audio-Visual (AV) file at some future
date. Thus if they are not with the collection, the researcher should consult
this file.
There are many aspects of this collection that offer rich potential
to researchers in sociology and history, particularly those interested
in unionism and labor history, the functioning of bureaucratic organizational
structures, relations of unions with the government, fair employment practices,
and apprenticeship programs. The completeness of the minutes, the financial
records, and the correspondence enhance the prospects for a longitudinal
study of topics such as the allocation of union funds or the growing jurisdictional
concerns among members. There is also a plethora of information on the
benefit structure within the union.
Of special interest is the material detailing the construction of the
union headquarters in the 1950's. These include specifications for the
building, (listed under the subject files); receipts for building materials
and monthly statements of account (filed in the financial records); photographs
(found in the av folders near the end of the collection); and oversized
blueprints (located in box ten).
For convenience of the researcher, the general organization of the collection
is as follows:
History
Constitutions and bylaws.
Resolutions regarding bylaws.
Correspondence, general.
Form letters, announcements, and requests.
Special files.
Contracts.
Minutes.
Financial records.
Membership lists.
Resolutions from conventions.
Resolutions from local union.
Printed material, bulletins.
Printed material, miscellaneous.
Miscellaneous, material.
Photographs.
Bound volumes.
The Union has agreed to donate property rights to the Archives.
Researchers should note that the present collection contains only one
copy of the Signal (vol. 1, no. 2, Sept., 1975), the Federation's
newsletter. As Future editions are received, they will be added to the
appropriate folder.
BOX 1
Folder
History, miscellaneous notes for Local 171: 1961.
Constitution, Local 171: 1961.
Constitution, Greater Canton American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial
Organizations (AFL-CIO) Council: undated.
AFL-CIO Constitution: 1970.
Bylaws, Local 171: 1960.
Bylaws, Local 171: 1964.
Resolutions regarding bylaws: 1952 - 1958.
Bylaws, Youngstown Building and Construction Trades Council: 1962.
Correspondence, general: July 21 - December 4, 1939.
Correspondence, general: March 7 - December 13, 1940.
Correspondence, general: February 3 - December 2, 1941.
Correspondence, general: February 2 - September 29, 1942.
Correspondence, general: March 23 - December 10, 1943.
Correspondence, general: March 9 - December 27, 1944.
Correspondence, general: January 9 - October 11, 1945.
Correspondence, general: January 16 - December 13, 1946.
Correspondence, general: January 3 - May 21, 1947.
Correspondence, general: January 23 - December 28, 1948.
Correspondence, general: January 11 - December 22, 1949.
Correspondence, general: January 10 - November 20, 1950.
Correspondence, general: January 18 - November 29, 1951.
Correspondence, general: April 21 - December 30, 1952.
Correspondence, general: January 14 - December 9, 1953.
Correspondence, general: January 8 - November 24, 1954.
Correspondence, general: February 4 - December 30, 1955.
Correspondence, general: February 22 - November 26, 1956.
Correspondence, general: February 21 - December 31, 1957.
Correspondence, general: January 30 - December 4, 1958.
Correspondence, general: January 26 - December 11, 1959.
Correspondence, general: January 19 - April 29, 1960.
Correspondence, general: May 2 - July 8, 1960.
Correspondence, general: July 11 - October 1, 1960.
Correspondence, general: October 5 - December 30, 1960.
Correspondence, general: January 6 - February 17, 1961.
Correspondence, general: February 17 - April 18, 1961.
Correspondence, general: April 20 - August 16, 1961.
Correspondence, general: August 21 - October 19, 1961.
Correspondence, general: November 2 - December 29, 1961.
Correspondence, general: January 2 - January 30, 1962.
Correspondence, general: February 1 - February 21, 1962.
Correspondence, general: February 23 - May 4, 1962.
Correspondence, general: May 8 - June 27, 1962.
Correspondence, general: June 28 - August 3, 1962.
Correspondence, general: August 21 - October 10, 1962.
Correspondence, general: October 15 - December 31, 1962.
Correspondence, general: January 2 - February 27, 1963.
Correspondence, general: March 1 - April 19, 1963.
Correspondence, general: May 1 - July 29, 1963.
Correspondence, general: August 1 - September 30, 1963.
Correspondence, general: October 1 - November 29, 1963.
Correspondence, general: December 2 - December 26, 1963.
Correspondence, general: January 4 - February 27, 1964.
Correspondence, general: March 2 - April 30, 1964.
Correspondence, general: May 1 - April 30, 1964.
Correspondence, general: June 1 - July 28, 1964.
Correspondence, general: August 1 - September 24, 1964.
Correspondence, general: October 2 - November 12, 1964.
Correspondence, general: December 8 - December 12, 1964.
Correspondence, general: January 6 - March 18, 1965.
Correspondence, general: April 7 - May 26, 1965.
Correspondence, general: June 1 - August 30, 1965.
Correspondence, general: September 7 - October 26, 1965.
Correspondence, general: November 1 - November 30, 1965.
Correspondence, general: December 1 - December 23, 1965.
Correspondence, general: January 4 - February 27, 1966.
Correspondence, general: March 1 - April 26, 1966.
Correspondence, general: May 3 - June 18, 1966.
Correspondence, general: July 7 - July 27, 1966.
Correspondence, general: August 2 - September 29, 1966.
Correspondence, general: October 22 - November 30, 1966.
Correspondence, general: December 1 - December 29, 1966.
Correspondence, general: January 4 - February 27, 1967.
Correspondence, general: March 4 - May 22, 1967.
Correspondence, general: June 2 - August 30, 1967.
Correspondence, general: September 6 - November 30, 1967.
Correspondence, general: December 4 - December 27, 1967.
BOX 2
Folder
Correspondence, general: January 23 - May 27, 1968.
Correspondence, general: June 4 - November 26, 1968.
Correspondence, general: December 4 - December 26, 1968.
Correspondence, general: January 3 - April 29, 1969.
Correspondence, general: May 1 - August 22, 1969.
Correspondence, general: September 2 - November 20, 1969.
Correspondence, general: December 9 - December 31, 1969.
Correspondence, general: January 2 - January 28, 1970.
Correspondence, general: February 3 - February 26, 1970.
Correspondence, general: March 2 - April 29, 1970.
Correspondence, general: May 1 - July 29, 1970.
Correspondence, general: August 3 - September 30, 1970.
Correspondence, general: October 1 - December 28, 1970.
Correspondence, general: January 1 - January 28, 1971.
Correspondence, general: February 1 - february 26, 1971.
Correspondence, general: March 3 - March 30, 1971.
Correspondence, general: April 5 - May 25, 1971.
Correspondence, general: June 3 - August 31, 1971.
Correspondence, general: September 3 - December 27, 1971.
Correspondence, general: January 7 - April 24, 1972.
Correspondence, general: May 10 - September 21, 1972.
Correspondence, general: September 7 - December 26, 1972.
Correspondence, general: February 1 - November 30, 1973.
Correspondence, general: February 4 - August 30, 1974.
Correspondence, general: September 5 - December 26, 1974.
Correspondence, general: January 24 - December 30, 1975.
Correspondence: undated.
Correspondence: postcards.
Correspondence: cards.
Form letters and announcements, Greater Youngstown AFL-CIO Council: 1950
- 1963.
Form letters and announcements, Greater Youngstown AFL-CIO Council: 1964
- 1966.
Form letters and announcements, National Executive Offices: 1939 - 1960.
Form letters and announcements, National Executive Offices: 1961 - 1965.
Form letters and announcements, National Executive Offices: 1966 - 1969.
Form letters and announcements, National Executive Offices: 1970 - 1974.
Form letters and announcements, Ohio AFL-CIO: 1959 - 1963.
Form letters and announcements, Ohio AFL-CIO: 1964 - 1966.
Form letters and announcements, Ohio AFL-CIO: 1967 - 1968.
Form letters and announcements, Ohio AFL-CIO: 1969 - 1972.
Form letters and announcements, Ohio State Building and Construction Trades
Council: 1960 - 1965.
Form letters, Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council: 1971
- 1974.
Form letters and announcements, Ohio State Council: 1953 - 1964.
Form letters and announcements, Ohio State Council: 1965 - 1966, undated.
Form letters and announcements, Youngstown and Mahoning County Building
and Trades Council: 1963 - 1966.
Bids and Quotations: 1953 - 1960.
Bids and Quotations: 1961 - 1966.
Bids accepted: 1960 - 1966.
BOX 3
Folder
Annual anniversary parties and picnics: 1946.
Annual anniversary parties and picnics: 1950.
Annual anniversary parties and picnics: 1951.
Annual anniversary parties and picnics: 1952.
Annual anniversary parties and picnics: 1953.
Annual anniversary parties and picnics: 1955.
Annual anniversary parties and picnics: 1956.
Annual anniversary parties and picnics: 1957.
Annual anniversary parties and picnics: 1959.
Annual anniversary parties and picnics: 1966.
Annual anniversary parties and picnics: 1969.
Annual Christmas parties: 1962, 1963, 1964.
Applications, miscellaneous: 1951, 1956.
Apprenticeship, agreements: 1966 - 1967.
Apprenticeship, Agreement and Declaration of Trust for MTMDC Educational
and Trust Fund: 1962.
Apprenticeship, general rules and regulations: 1972.
Apprenticeship, Ohio State Apprenticeship Council: 1971.
Minutes, Mahoning, Trumbull, and Mercer County District Council (MTMDC)
Business Agents' Meeting: 1956 - 1957.
Minutes, MTMDC Business Agents' Meeting: 1958.
Minutes, MTMDC Business Agents' Meeting: 1959.
Minutes, MTMDC Business Agents' Meeting: 1960.
Minutes, MTMDC Business Agents' Meeting: 1961.
Minutes, MTMDC Business Agents' Meeting: 1962.
Minutes, MTMDC Business Agents' Meeting: 1963.
Minutes, MTMDC Business Agents' Meeting: 1964.
Minutes, MTMDC Business Agents' Meeting: 1965.
Minutes, MTMDC Business Agents' Meeting: 1966.
Minutes, MTMDC Business Agents' Meeting: 1967.
Minutes, MTMDC Business Agents' Meeting: 1968.
Minutes, MTMDC Business Agents' Meeting: 1969.
Minutes, MTMDC Business Agents' Meeting: 1970.
Minutes, MTMDC Business Agents' Meeting: 1971.
Minutes, MTMDC Business Agents' Meeting: 1972.
Minutes, MTMDC Executive Committee Meeting: 1961.
Minutes, MTMDC Executive Committee Meeting: 1962.
Minutes, MTMDC Executive Committee Meeting: 1963.
Minutes, MTMDC Executive Committee Meeting: 1964.
Minutes, MTMDC Executive Committee Meeting: 1965.
Minutes, MTMDC Executive Committee Meeting: 1966.
Minutes, MTMDC Executive Committee Meeting: 1967.
Minutes, MTMDC Executive Committee Meeting: 1968.
Minutes, MTMDC Executive Committee Meeting: 1969.
Minutes, MTMDC Executive Committee Meeting: 1970.
Minutes, MTMDC Executive Committee Meeting: 1971.
Minutes, MTMDC Executive Committee Meeting: 1972.
Minutes, MTMDC Meeting: 1956.
Minutes, MTMDC Meeting: 1957.
Minutes, MTMDC Meeting: 1958.
Minutes, MTMDC Meeting: 1959.
Minutes, MTMDC Meeting: 1960.
Minutes, MTMDC Meeting: 1961.
Minutes, MTMDC Meeting: 1962.
Minutes, MTMDC Meeting: 1963.
Minutes, MTMDC Meeting: 1964.
Minutes, MTMDC Meeting: 1965.
Minutes, MTMDC Meeting: 1966.
Minutes, MTMDC Meeting: 1967.
Minutes, MTMDC Meeting: 1968.
Minutes, MTMDC Meeting: 1969.
Minutes, MTMDC Meeting: 1970.
Minutes, MTMDC Meeting: 1971.
Minutes, MTMDC Meeting: 1972.
Minutes, miscellaneous meetings: 1947, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1967,
undated. Note: Minutes of Local 171 are bound volumes and are located in
box ten.
BOX 7
Folder
Financial records, arrearage notices, Local 92: 1952 - 1960.
Financial records, audits, Mahoning, Trumbull, and mercer County Building
Trades welfare Fund (MTM Welfare Fund): 1959 - 1964.