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AFTRA Detroit President's Office: Mary Lou Zieve Records

 Collection
Identifier: LR002248

Scope and Content

This collection includes the records of Mary Lou Zieve, an active member and officer of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) from the 1960s-1990s. It reflects Zieve’s growing involvement with AFTRA through the decades of her career as well as documents union administration, activities, and events both at the Detroit local and the national level. While the focus of the collection is on the years Zieve served as president and of the Detroit local, it does include material collected by Zieve both before and after her tenure.



Important Subjects: American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), national and Detroit local union AFTRA and SAG merger negotiations Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Broadcast journalism

Dates

  • 1950 - 2011
  • Majority of material found within 1980 - 1999

Creator

Language of Materials

Material 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

Mary Lou Simons Zieve entered the broadcasting industry in the 1950s. Her career as an actress and announcer for radio, TV, film and advertising was based in the metropolitan Detroit area. From the 1960s through the 1990s, she appeared in, produced and directed numerous advertisements, radio shows and TV shows. She became a member of AFTRA in 1956. The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) merged in 2012 with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and is now known as SAG-AFTRA. The union represents more than 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcasters journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other media professionals.

For the Detroit local, Zieve served on the fundraising committee and agents relations committee, eventually co-chairing the latter. She served as president of the local from approximately 1985-1988 and as first vice-president from 1988-1989. This period in the union’s history included several strikes and long-lasting efforts to accomplish a merger of AFTRA and SAG. From the late 1980s through the 1990s, Zieve served the union on the national level as a representative to the AFTRA National Board, approximately 1986-1989; AFTRA Memorial Foundation, board of directors and fundraising committee (1987-1998); AFTRA National Coordinating Committee for Merger (1987-1989); AFTRA Health and Retirement Committee (1987-1989). As of 2012, Zieve serves on the local Detroit SAG-AFTRA board as president emerita.

Extent

8.5 Linear Feet (13 MB, 2 SB)

Abstract

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) merged in 2012 with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and is now known as SAG-AFTRA. The union represents more than 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcasters, journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other media professionals. Mary Lou Zieve entered the broadcasting industry in the 1950s, becoming a member of AFTRA in 1956. She served as president of the Detroit local in the mid to late 1980s during a period in the union's history that saw several strikes and long-lasting efforts to accomplish a merger of AFTRA and SAG.

The Detroit President's Office records focuses on Zieve's tenure as president of the Detroit local, but does include material collected by Zieve both before and after this time period documenting her activity within the organization on a local and national level. It highlights the union's administration, activities, and event.

Arrangement

Folders are listed by their location within each box. They are not necessarily arranged, so any given subject may be dispersed throughout the entire collection.

Acquisition

Records from AFTRA Detroit President's Office were deposited at the Reuther Library by Mary Lou Zieve on January 25, 2012.

Processing History

Processed and finding aid written by Aimee Ergas on September 18, 2012.
Title
Guide to the AFTRA Detroit President's Office: Mary Lou Zieve Records
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Aimee Ergas.
Date
2012-09-18
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