UAW Chrysler Department Records
Collection
Identifier: LR000106
Scope and Contents
Important subjects in the collection:
Afro-American automobile industry workers
Automobile industry workers--Canada
Automobile industry workers--Health and hygiene
Chrysler Corporation
Collective bargaining--Automobile industry--United States
Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement (DRUM)
Eldon Revolutionary Union Movement (ELRUM)
Factories--Safety measures
Grievance arbitration--United States
Pensions--United States
Plant shutdowns--United States
Retirees--United States
Skilled labor--United States
Strikes and lockouts--Automobile industry--United States
Supplemental unemployment benefits--United States
Trade-unions--Organizing--United States
Trade unions and communism--United States
UAW--Community Action Program
United States.--National War Labor Board (1942-1945)
United States.--War Production Board
Important correspondents in the collection: George Addes Richard Frankensteen Douglas Fraser Arthur Hughes Leo LaMotte Norman Matthews Emil Mazey Walter Reuther Marc Stepp
Series Description: Series I: General Subject Files, 1938-1988 Series II: Local Files, 1941-1984 Series III: Negotiations and Grievance Files, 1939-1985
Important correspondents in the collection: George Addes Richard Frankensteen Douglas Fraser Arthur Hughes Leo LaMotte Norman Matthews Emil Mazey Walter Reuther Marc Stepp
Series Description: Series I: General Subject Files, 1938-1988 Series II: Local Files, 1941-1984 Series III: Negotiations and Grievance Files, 1939-1985
Dates
- 1938 - 1985
Creator
- International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America. Chrysler Department (Organization)
Language of Materials
Materials entirely in English.
Access
Collection is open for research.
Use
Refer to the Walter P. Reuther Library
Rules for Use of Archival Materials.Restrictions: Researchers may encounter records of a sensitive nature – personnel files, case records and those involving investigations, legal and other private matters. Privacy laws and restrictions imposed by the Library prohibit the use of names and other personal information which might identify an individual, except with written permission from the Director and/or the donor.
History
A May 1938 Walter Reuther proposal led to the creation of separate UAW departments to service union members employed by the major automobile manufacturers. General Executive Board Member Richard T. Frankensteen became the UAW Chrysler Department’s first director, after having helped to negotiate the UAW’s contract with the Chrysler Corporation following the tumultuous sit-down strikes of 1937.
Since Frankensteen’s departure as department director in 1940, Leo LaMotte, Emil Mazey, Norman Matthews, Douglas Fraser and Marc Stepp have headed the UAW’s Chrysler Department, which is responsible for planning, developing, negotiating, and administering collective bargaining agreements for Chrysler workers in the United States and Canada.
In 1953, Chrysler purchased Briggs Manufacturing, and five years later the UAW Chrysler Department merged with the Briggs UAW Council. From the 1940s until his retirement in 1978, Arthur Hughes acted as either administrative assistant or assistant director of the Chrysler Department, and many of the files that comprise this collection, containing correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, grievances, contract negotiations and convention material, clippings and other publications, emanated from his office.
Since Frankensteen’s departure as department director in 1940, Leo LaMotte, Emil Mazey, Norman Matthews, Douglas Fraser and Marc Stepp have headed the UAW’s Chrysler Department, which is responsible for planning, developing, negotiating, and administering collective bargaining agreements for Chrysler workers in the United States and Canada.
In 1953, Chrysler purchased Briggs Manufacturing, and five years later the UAW Chrysler Department merged with the Briggs UAW Council. From the 1940s until his retirement in 1978, Arthur Hughes acted as either administrative assistant or assistant director of the Chrysler Department, and many of the files that comprise this collection, containing correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, grievances, contract negotiations and convention material, clippings and other publications, emanated from his office.
Extent
102 Linear Feet (102 SB)
Abstract
The UAW Chrysler Department was formed in the year following the tumultuous sit-down strikes of 1937. Responsible of the department included planning, developing, negotiating, and administering collective bargaining agreements for Chrysler workers in the United States and Canada. The records of the department reflect its administration and activities and largely include the files of Arthur Hughes, an administrative assistant and assistant director in the department from 1940-1978.
Arrangement
Arranged in three series. Series 1 (Boxes 1-18), Series 2 (Boxes 18-29), and Series 3 (Boxes 30-102).
Separated Materials
A large number of books, contracts and newspapers were transferred to the Archives Library, and some photographs and political campaign memorabilia have been placed in the Archives Audiovisual Collection.
Processing History.
Processed by Walter P. Reuther Library.
- African Americans
- Automobile industry and trade
- Automobile industry and trade
- Automobile industry workers
- Collective bargaining
- Contract negotiations
- Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement
- Grievance procedures
- International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America
- Labor unions
- Plant shutdowns
- Strikes and lockouts
- Title
- UAW Chrysler Department Records
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Walter P. Reuther Library Repository
Contact:
5401 Cass Avenue
Detroit MI 48202 USA
5401 Cass Avenue
Detroit MI 48202 USA