Detroit Revolutionary Movements Records
Collection
Identifier: LR000874
Scope and Content
Part I:
Series I of this collection consists of the papers donated by General Baker, who worked in Chrysler Corporation's Dodge Main Plant. They are mainly concerned with the Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement (DRUM) and the League of Revolutionary Black Workers (LRBW).
Series II is comprised of papers donated by Ronald Glotta, a Detroit attorney. These papers relate to the Eldon Revolutionary Union Movement (ELRUM) at Chrysler's Eldon Avenue plant and other Revolutionary Union Movement groups; workmen's compensation cases; social service workers' organizing activities in Detroit; the National Lawyers Guild; the Motor City Labor League; the Control, Conflict, Change Book Club; and mass party movements in Detroit and elsewhere, particularly the Communist League and Communist Labor Party.
Important subjects in the collection: Black dissidents within the UAW Black radicals Chrysler Corporation Communist League Communist Labor Party Corruption of union officials Detroit radical activity, 1960's-1970's Detroit unemployment Drugs: political and economic aspects Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement Eldon Revolutionary Union Movement Industrial pollution James Johnson, Jr. case League of Revolutionary Black Workers Motor City Labor League National health care National Lawyers Guild Old Left vs. New Left Plant safety Poverty Racial and ethnic antagonism within plants Racial discrimination in jobs Rank-and-file movements Shop floor conditions UAW Local 3 UAW Local 961 UAW unresponsiveness to worker grievances Wildcat strikes Workmen's compensation law
Important correspondents in the collection: Michael Adelman; George Merrelli; William J. Beckham; Victor Rabinowitz; Kenneth Cockrel; Ronald Reosti; David Dellinger; Rachel Scott; Bernadine Dohrn; Jordan U. Sims; Peter Franck; H. John Taylor; Ronald Glotta; Leonard Woodcock; William B. Gould; Joseph A. Yablonski; Art Hughes; Donald Jackson; Frank Joyce; Alicia Kaplow; Emil Mazey
Series Description: Series I, Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement (DRUM), 1968-1972: Papers, mainly handbills and policy statements, donated by General Baker dating from the formation of DRUM at the Chrysler Corporation Dodge Main plant, Hamtramck, Michigan, in 1968. There is some material on elections in which DRUM candidates ran for UAW posts and also some on the League of Revolutionary Black Workers.
Series II: Series II consists of papers donated by Ronald Glotta. This series is divided into six subseries by subject.
Subseries A: Chrysler Eldon (ELRUM) and Other Revolutionary Union Movements, 1967-1975: Papers, mainly flyers, open letters, legal papers, meeting notes, grievances, plant files, and correspondence relating to the activities of ELRUM at the Chrysler Eldon Avenue plant, DRUM at the Dodge Main plant, and Revolutionary Union Movement groups at other plants. There is also material on the Eldon Workers Safety Committee and Chrysler Eldon UAW Local 961 elections from 1971-73.
Subseries B: Workmen's Compensation and Social Service Workers, 1970-1975: Papers on workmen's compensation, specifically the case of James Johnson. It also covers attempts to organize social service workers in the Detroit area in the early seventies. This subseries consists mainly of handbills, newsletters and some correspondence.
Subseries C: National Lawyers Guild, 1963-1974: Mainly correspondence and reports relating to the National Lawyers Guild during the period 1963 74. There is material on the Detroit chapter, the NLG Labor Committee and the 1972 Detroit National Labor Conference.
Subseries D: Motor City Labor League and Control, Conflict, Change Book Club, 1970-1976: These papers, mainly correspondence, policy statements and reports concern the Motor City Labor League and the Control, Conflict, Change Book Club. The majority of the reports deal with specific topics. There is also material on MCLL factional disputes.
Subseries E: New Mass Party Movements, 1970-1976: These papers are concerned with attempts in the early seventies to form a mass party to replace the Communist Party USA. Most of the material is in the form of policy statements, reports, meeting notes and correspondence and relates to Detroit unemployment, the Communist League and the Communist Labor Party.
Subseries F: Other Organizations: This subseries consists of papers and literature from a variety of groups, predominantly those with a radical objective.
Series V: The audiovisual series consists of material donated by General Baker, primarily ephemera, including stickers and memorabilia promoting social concerns and political activities. A handful of photographs and photocollages document the activities of D.R.U.M., General Baker, Slick Campbell, Bobby Seale, and members of the Gulf Coast Pulpwood Association, among others, and includes an example of the work of Carl Hampton of the United Front (Cairo, IL). Video recordings of the 2002 League of Revolutionary Workers reunion are available for research by appointment.
Series II is comprised of papers donated by Ronald Glotta, a Detroit attorney. These papers relate to the Eldon Revolutionary Union Movement (ELRUM) at Chrysler's Eldon Avenue plant and other Revolutionary Union Movement groups; workmen's compensation cases; social service workers' organizing activities in Detroit; the National Lawyers Guild; the Motor City Labor League; the Control, Conflict, Change Book Club; and mass party movements in Detroit and elsewhere, particularly the Communist League and Communist Labor Party.
Important subjects in the collection: Black dissidents within the UAW Black radicals Chrysler Corporation Communist League Communist Labor Party Corruption of union officials Detroit radical activity, 1960's-1970's Detroit unemployment Drugs: political and economic aspects Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement Eldon Revolutionary Union Movement Industrial pollution James Johnson, Jr. case League of Revolutionary Black Workers Motor City Labor League National health care National Lawyers Guild Old Left vs. New Left Plant safety Poverty Racial and ethnic antagonism within plants Racial discrimination in jobs Rank-and-file movements Shop floor conditions UAW Local 3 UAW Local 961 UAW unresponsiveness to worker grievances Wildcat strikes Workmen's compensation law
Important correspondents in the collection: Michael Adelman; George Merrelli; William J. Beckham; Victor Rabinowitz; Kenneth Cockrel; Ronald Reosti; David Dellinger; Rachel Scott; Bernadine Dohrn; Jordan U. Sims; Peter Franck; H. John Taylor; Ronald Glotta; Leonard Woodcock; William B. Gould; Joseph A. Yablonski; Art Hughes; Donald Jackson; Frank Joyce; Alicia Kaplow; Emil Mazey
Series Description: Series I, Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement (DRUM), 1968-1972: Papers, mainly handbills and policy statements, donated by General Baker dating from the formation of DRUM at the Chrysler Corporation Dodge Main plant, Hamtramck, Michigan, in 1968. There is some material on elections in which DRUM candidates ran for UAW posts and also some on the League of Revolutionary Black Workers.
Series II: Series II consists of papers donated by Ronald Glotta. This series is divided into six subseries by subject.
Subseries A: Chrysler Eldon (ELRUM) and Other Revolutionary Union Movements, 1967-1975: Papers, mainly flyers, open letters, legal papers, meeting notes, grievances, plant files, and correspondence relating to the activities of ELRUM at the Chrysler Eldon Avenue plant, DRUM at the Dodge Main plant, and Revolutionary Union Movement groups at other plants. There is also material on the Eldon Workers Safety Committee and Chrysler Eldon UAW Local 961 elections from 1971-73.
Subseries B: Workmen's Compensation and Social Service Workers, 1970-1975: Papers on workmen's compensation, specifically the case of James Johnson. It also covers attempts to organize social service workers in the Detroit area in the early seventies. This subseries consists mainly of handbills, newsletters and some correspondence.
Subseries C: National Lawyers Guild, 1963-1974: Mainly correspondence and reports relating to the National Lawyers Guild during the period 1963 74. There is material on the Detroit chapter, the NLG Labor Committee and the 1972 Detroit National Labor Conference.
Subseries D: Motor City Labor League and Control, Conflict, Change Book Club, 1970-1976: These papers, mainly correspondence, policy statements and reports concern the Motor City Labor League and the Control, Conflict, Change Book Club. The majority of the reports deal with specific topics. There is also material on MCLL factional disputes.
Subseries E: New Mass Party Movements, 1970-1976: These papers are concerned with attempts in the early seventies to form a mass party to replace the Communist Party USA. Most of the material is in the form of policy statements, reports, meeting notes and correspondence and relates to Detroit unemployment, the Communist League and the Communist Labor Party.
Subseries F: Other Organizations: This subseries consists of papers and literature from a variety of groups, predominantly those with a radical objective.
Series V: The audiovisual series consists of material donated by General Baker, primarily ephemera, including stickers and memorabilia promoting social concerns and political activities. A handful of photographs and photocollages document the activities of D.R.U.M., General Baker, Slick Campbell, Bobby Seale, and members of the Gulf Coast Pulpwood Association, among others, and includes an example of the work of Carl Hampton of the United Front (Cairo, IL). Video recordings of the 2002 League of Revolutionary Workers reunion are available for research by appointment.
Part II:
Series Description:
Series III, Communist Labor Party, 1975-1980:
Papers, mainly newsletters and publicity items, relating to the activities of the Communist Labor Party in promoting a variety of causes and agitating for improved working conditions in a number of industries and occupational groups. There is also material on the election campaigns of General Baker for Michigan state representative in 1976 and 1978.
Series IV, Publications, 1968-1970s: Newsletters, pamphlets, newspapers, and magazines
Series IV, Publications, 1968-1970s: Newsletters, pamphlets, newspapers, and magazines
Acronyms:
AAAFA Afro American Alliance for Action
A/P (or A and P) Agitation and Propaganda - Agit Prop
BEDC Black Economic Development Conference (earlier NBEDC National Black Economic Development Conference)
BLM Black Liberation Movement
BWC Black Workers' Congress
CC Central Committee (MCLL) or Continuations Committee
CCC Control, Conflict, Change Book Club
CETA Comprehensive Employment and Training Act
CFF Crusade for Freedom
CL Communist League
CLP Communist Labor Party
CPSU Communist Party Soviet Union
CPUSA Communist Party U.S.A.
DFT Detroit Federation of Teachers
DGH Detroit General Hospital
DLCC Detroit Local Continuations Committee (or LCC)
DRUM Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement
DUC Detroit Unemployed (or Unemployment) Council
EC Executive Committee
ELRUM Eldon Revolutionary Union Movement
EWSC Eldon Workers Safety Committee
FN(P) Freedom Now (Party)
FPCC Fair Play for Cuba Committee
GAD Glotta, Adelman and Dinges (law firm)
GADTDM Glotta, Adelman, Dinges, Taylor, Davis, and Middleton (law firm)
Health PAC Health Policy Advisory Center
IBA International Black Appeal
ILD International Labor Defense
IPC Indochina Peace Campaign
IS International Socialists
JARUM Jefferson Avenue Revolutionary Union Movement
LCC Local Continuations Committee (or DLCC)
LDC Labor Defense Coalition
LRBW League of Revolutionary Black Workers
MAC Memb rship Action Committee
MCC Motor City Coalition
MCLL Motor City Labor League
MERUM Mound Road Engine Plant Revolutionary Union Movement
M-L Marxist Leninist
MTLA Michigan Trial Lawyers Association
NAM New American Movement
NCA National Conference of Artists
NEB National Executive Board (NLG)
NIC National Interim Committee for a Mass Party of the People
NLG National Lawyers Guild
NOC National Organizing Committee
OC Organizing Committee
OG On Guard (Committee for Freedom)
OL October League
OPEIU Office and Professional Employees International Union
P & A Program and Administration Committee (NLG)
PPT People's Peace Treaty
PT Peoples Tribune (CLP)
PWOC Philadelphia Workers Organizing Committee
RAFT Rank and File Team (USWA)
RAM Revolutionary Action Movement
RU Revolutionary Union
SDS Students for a Democratic Society
TURF Teamsters United Rank and File
UAW United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America
UFW United Farm Workers
UNC United National Caucus (UAW)
USCP U.S. Communist Party
USDL U.S. Dept. of Labor
USNA U.S. of North America
USWA United Steel Workers of America
UU Uhuru, Uhuru
WCDSS Wayne County Dept. of Social Services
WEU Welfare Employees Union
WSU Wayne State University
WUPA Workers United for Political Action
WUPES Workers United for Political and Economic Survival (CCC successor)
YCL Young Communist League (CLP)
Dates
- 1968 - 1976
- Majority of material found within 1970 - 1974
Creator
- Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement (Organization)
Language of Materials
Material entirely in English.
Access
Researchers must use positive microfilm or digitized copy. Availability of paper originals contingent on approval of the Reference Archivist. Paper originals of Box 2, Folder 10 and Box 4, Folder 6 are closed from 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
Ronald Glotta's law firm, Glotta, Adelman and Dinges, was established with a revolutionary objective. The members actively participate in the revolutionary groups which they counsel and represent in arbitration and in the courts.
Extent
9 Linear Feet ((17 MB, 1 .5 MB, 1 OS), 34 microfilm reels)
32.73 Gigabytes
Abstract
The Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement was formed in May, 1968 at the Chrysler Dodge Main Plant in Hamtramck, Michigan. Among those active in its founding were General Baker, Mike Hamlin, John Watson, Ron March, Luke S. Tripp, Jr.,
Kenneth Cockrel, John Williams and Charles J. Wooten.
The collection has multiple parts. Part one primarily covers the Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement (DRUM) and the League of Revolutionary Black Workers (LRBW). Part two primarily covers the Communist Labor Party.
Subjects include: Detroit Revolutionary Union Movements (DRUM); ELRUM; League of Revolutionary Black Workers; black power; plant safety; Motor City Labor League; CLP; DRUM
Available on microfilm and online.
The collection has multiple parts. Part one primarily covers the Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement (DRUM) and the League of Revolutionary Black Workers (LRBW). Part two primarily covers the Communist Labor Party.
Subjects include: Detroit Revolutionary Union Movements (DRUM); ELRUM; League of Revolutionary Black Workers; black power; plant safety; Motor City Labor League; CLP; DRUM
Available on microfilm and online.
Arrangement
PLEASE NOTE: For microfilm copies, each reel corresponds to each box in sequential order and reel 17 includes the publications listed at the end of the finding aid.
Part I:
Arranged in 3 series – Series 1 (Box 1), Series 2 (Boxes 2-15), and Series 5 (Box 18-19). Folders are arranged by subject, and further arranged chronologically in series 2.
Series 2 is further divided into six subseries by subject.
Series 2 is further divided into six subseries by subject.
Part II:
Arranged in 2 series - Series 3 (Box 16), and Series 4 (Box 17). Folders are arranged alphabetically by name or subject.
Acquisition
Part I:
The Detroit Revolutionary Movements Collection was placed in the Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs by General Gordon Baker and Ronald Glotta in January of 1978.
Part II:
Additional material was received from Mr. Glotta in March of 1981.
Other Copies
The records were microfilmed in 2012 and are now available on 17 reels. Both positive and negative reels are retained by the Reuther Library. The microfilm has been scanned and is available online. Detroit Revolutionary Movements Records [electronic]
Processing History
Part I:
Processed and finding aid written by Walter P. Reuther Library in December 1979.
Audiovisual series added July 2022.
Part II:
Part 2 processed and finding aid updated by Walter P. Reuther Library in March 1982.
Creator
- Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement (Organization)
- League of Revolutionary Black Workers (Organization)
- Glotta, Ronald D. (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Detroit Revolutionary Movements Records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Walter P. Reuther Library.
- Date
- 1979-12
- 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