Inventory of the Franklin and Penelope Rosemont Collection of IWW Publications and Ephemera, 1905-2005, bulk 1905-1935


The Newberry Library
Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections
60 West Walton Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610-7324
USA
Phone: 312-255-3506
Fax: 312-255-3646
E-Mail: specialcolls@newberry.org
URL: http://www.newberry.org

Machine-readable finding aid encoded by Lisa Janssen, 2006.

©2006.


Descriptive Summary of the Collection

Collector

Rosemont, Franklin

Title

Inventory of the Franklin and Penelope Rosemont Collection of IWW Publications and Ephemera

Dates

1905-2005

Dates

bulk 1905-1935

Extent

7 cubic ft. (14 boxes, 1 oversize box, and 1 oversize folder)

Abstract

Publications, official documents, song books, and other materials created by and related to the Industrial Workers of the World, an historic union and labor organization.

Language

Materials are in English.

Repository

Newberry Library, Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections

Collection Call Number

Case folio HD 8055 .I4 R67


Administrative Information

Cite As

Franklin and Penelope Rosemont Collection of IWW Publications and Ephemera, Midwest Manuscript Collection, The Newberry Library, Chicago.

Provenance

Purchased from Franklin and Penelope Rosemont, 2006.

Processed by

Lisa Janssen, 2006.

Access

The Franklin and Penelope Rosemont Collection of IWW Publications and Ephemera is open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 5 folders at a time maximum, and items in each folder will be counted before and after delivery to the patron (Priority I).

Ownership and Literary Rights

The Franklin and Penelope Rosemont Collection of IWW Publications and Ephemera is the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.


History of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)

Chicago based labor organization.

Founded in Chicago in 1905, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW, also known as the Wobblies), holds a special place in local and U.S. history. Locally, its prominence in Chicago labor and free speech history is second to none. With its strong links to the “Chicago Idea” labor radicalism of the Haymarket era, the IWW was an important influence on the Chicago Federation of Labor in the 1910's and 1920s, and a major force in the development of the workers’ education movement.

From 1905 through the 1930s the IWW was also a significant Chicago printer and publisher. Its printing facility in the large IWW building at 1001 West Madison Street printed large quantities of IWW books, pamphlets, newspapers, magazines, convention proceedings, sheet music, leaflets, posters, stickers, and books. Not surprisingly, this IWW printing office was long recognized as the most productive Left press in the country. The later IWW print shop at 3333 West Belmont, though smaller, also had an impressive output.

During the first three decades of the last century, Chicago was the nation’s largest industrial city; the nation’s hobo (migratory worker) capital; and the vital center of the U.S. labor movement. As the leading proponent of industrial (rather than craft) unionism, the IWW's impact on the broader labor movement was large and ongoing. The union was renowned from the start for its profoundly democratic character and militant egalitarianism; at a time when most AFL unions admitted white males only, and discouraged the foreign-born, the IWW welcomed African Americans, women, and immigrants from all over. And when the AFL insisted that migratory workers were “unorgan-izable,” the IWW proceeded to organize them by the many tens of thousands.

The IWW’s many strikes, the General Electric strike in Schenectady, 1906 (the first “sitdown strike”), the Lawrence strike of 1912, involving 25,000 strikers from over sixteen language groups; the widespread May Day Strike of 1923, and the Colorado Coal Strike of 1927, were noted for their innovative strategies, and are still recognized as major landmarks in our nation’s labor history.

The IWW international headquarters remained in Chicago throughout its most active years (1905-1940) and several decades beyond. Even when headquarters moved away in the early 1990s, the IWW’s Chicago Branch, one of its more sizeable affiliates, stayed on, and remains active to this day.


Scope and Content of the Collection

Pamphlets, fliers, periodicals, books, convention minutes and proceedings, stickers, song books, official documents, and other ephemera created by the IWW and other related organizations and members.

The collection contains many of the IWW’s essential documents from its most crucial years, 1905 through 1935, as well as some of its later literature. Included are classic IWW pamphlets and magazines, volumes of convention minutes, and several editions of the IWW’s famous “Little Red Song Book.” Many of the publications are by well known labor authors such as Eugene Debs, Mary Marcy, Ralph Chaplin, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn and William Trautman. In addition to the publications printed in Chicago, many of the pamphlets are in foreign languages such as Finnish, Hungarian, and Spanish, printed in IWW print shops in Duluth, Minnesota and Cleveland. The collection also contains several of the union’s numerous, varied and colorful dues and assessment stamps, buttons, stickers knows as "silent agitators," along with a wide range of other Wobbly paraphernalia. Materials pertaining to notable IWW members such as Joe Hill and Carlos Cortez and IWW related organizations round out the picture of the labor environment of the first half of the 20th century.

Narrative descriptions of the subject matter, types of material, and arrangement of each series are available through the Organization section of the finding aid.


Papers are organized in the following series:

Series 1: Publications, ca. 1905-1985. Box(es) 1-5

Pamphlets, fliers, leaflets and books published and printed by the IWW. In contrast to much orthodox Marxist literature, heavy with chapter-and-verse quotations and party-line rhetoric, these IWW publications, many of them written by the self-educated, are full of original ideas, humorous asides, and strong, persuasive writing. The pamphlets and flyers are also rich in graphic content, with bold design and often comic illustrations of union concepts.

Arranged alphabetically by title with foreign language publications following English language publications at the end of the series.

Series 2: Periodicals, 1924-1966. Box(es) 6-8

Newspapers, magazines, and bulletins published by the IWW. Periodicals such as the Industrial Pioneer, Rebel Worker, and One Big Union Monthly contain news, debate, theoretical articles, labor history, social criticism, short stories, plays, poetry, humor, cartoons (many of them full-page), and translations of texts from workers’ groups in other countries. There are several issues of the Hungarian language newspaper Bérmunkás as well as two bound volumes of bulletins from the General Construction Workers union and the Agricultural Workers I. U. No. 110.

Periodicals are arranged alphabetically followed by foreign language materials at the end of the series.

Series 3: Song Books and Sheet Music, 1914-1990. Box(es) 9

This series is made up primarily of several editions of the publication widely known as the "Little Red Song Book," in English as well as editions in Finnish, Swedish, and Russian. The content of these editions varies from year to year. The series also contains a few miscellaneous song books and pieces of sheet music. Notable is the full color illustrated sheet music of Joe Hill's "Don't Take my Papa Away from Me" found in Oversize.

Arranged chronologically and by format. English language song books are followed by foreign language editions with sheet music at the end of the series.

Series 4: Official Documents and Organizational Items, 1905-1984. Box(es) 10-11

Items pertaining to the official activities of the IWW, including membership applications, various editions of the by-laws and IWW Preamble, dues-books, dues stamps, organizers’ credentials, invitations to events, subscription blanks, receipts, letterheads, union shop cards, local union charter certificates, wall-charts, and posters. There are also minutes from the general conventions which contain officers’ and committee reports, correspondence, and some speeches from rank-and-filers, as well as much spirited face-to-face debate, a number of anecdotes and Wobbly humor. There are also minutes from some specific industrial unions.

Arranged alphabetically by type of document.

Series 5: IWW Member Subject Files, 1915-2005. Box(es) 12

Materials related to notable IWW members Carlos Cortez, Joe Hill, and Jack Sheridan. Carlos Cortez was best-known as an IWW artist, poet, and columnist who created many of the most recognizable images for IWW publications. His materials include periodicals and a few flyers for exhibits. Joe Hill was a legendary figure in the IWW, a songwriter and member whose songs for the movement are still performed today. He was considered a martyr of the labor movement after being killed in prison in Utah in 1915. Materials related to Hill include a program for his memorial in Chicago in 1915, and various publications which contain stories about Hill. There is one also folder of materials pertaining to Jack Sheridan, a longtime Wobbly who was active as platform speaker and soapbox speaker in New York and later in Chicago. A frequent contributor to the Industrial Worker, he was also involved in Chicago's Dill Pickle Club in the 1920s. The folder contains clippings, a newsletter, and a flyer for one of his speaking engagements.

Arranged alphabetically by IWW member.

Series 6: IWW Related Materials, 1902-1987. Box(es) 12

Pamphlets, flyers and other materials written by IWW members or relating to IWW issues.

Arranged alphabetically.

Series 7: Council for Union Democracy, ca. 1930s-1947. Box(es) 12

The Council for Union Democracy was a 1930s and 1940s Chicago-based and IWW-influenced group organized to help individual workers and groups of trade-unionists combat the corruption and violence that afflicted many labor organizations. Its cofounders included old-time Wobbly Myron “Slim” Brundage and Pat Read, editor of the Industrial Worker at the time, served on its Board. Its advisors included IWW orator Jack Sheridan along with other Wobbly-influenced unionists such as Sidney Lens, and labor attorney Francis Heisler. Materials in this series include meeting minutes, pamphlets, event flyers and other related items.

Arranged alphabetically.

Series 8: Photographs, 1928-1986. Box(es) 13

Snapshots mostly from the 1920s and 1930s. They include photos of the IWW’s in-house historian, Fred Thompson, IWW General Secretary-Treasurer Walter Westman, General Executive Board Chairman Charles Velsek, Industrial Worker editor Carl Keller, IWW cartoonist Bill Henkelman, and several notable IWW women activists: Jennie Ambrose, Edith Cutler, Virginia Hadley, Fannie Keller, Jenny Lahti Velsek, and Aino Thompson. Several are group photos taken at IWW picnics in Chicago in the 1940s Also included are snapshots taken in Yakima during an IWW harvest organizing drive in the late 1920s and early 1930s, a group photo taken at the Haymarket Martyrs’ Memorial Monument at Forest Home Cemetery of the delegates who attended the IWW’s 26th convention in 1950, and a class photo from the Work People's College.

Arranged alphabetically.

Series 9: Artifacts, ca. 1910s-1979. Box(es) -14

19 IWW buttons, 3 Joe Hill memorial buttons, 2 IWW pins, and an IWW pennant.

Arranged by type of material. Pennant is located in an oversize folder and buttons are encased in one box.


Selected Search Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Newberry Library's public catalog. Researchers desiring additional materials on a particular topic should search the catalog using these headings.

Names

Subjects


Container List

Series 1: Publications, ca. 1905-1985

Pamphlets, fliers, leaflets and books published and printed by the IWW. In contrast to much orthodox Marxist literature, heavy with chapter-and-verse quotations and party-line rhetoric, these IWW publications, many of them written by the self-educated, are full of original ideas, humorous asides, and strong, persuasive writing. The pamphlets and flyers are also rich in graphic content, with bold design and often comic illustrations of union concepts.
Arranged alphabetically by title with foreign language publications following English language publications at the end of the series.

Box Folder Contents
1 1 Advancing Proletariat, by Abner Woodruff - pamphlet, 1914
1 2 A Fair Trial? (Centralia labor case) - pamphlet, 1920
1 3 AFL & Industrial Unionism - pamphlet, 1930's
1 4 Agriculture, The World's Basic Industry and its Workers - pamphlet, ca. 1920s
1 5 The American Legion and the Centralia Case - 4 page leaflet, 1924
1 6 And in the United States Liberty Lies Crushed - 1 page leaflet, ca. 1920s
1 7 Better Tactics for a New Problem - 1 page leaflet, ca. 1920s
1 8 Bloody Harlan and the Four Forgotten Victims of its "Justice" - 4 page leaflet, n.d.
1 9 Bloody Harlan, the Story of Four Miners Serving Life. . . - pamphlet, 1937
1 10 Building Construction, A Handbook of the Industry - pamphlet, ca. 1937
1 11 Building Workers We Need a Union - 6 page leaflet, 1920s
1 12 The Centralia Conspiracy by Ralph Chaplin - book, 1924
1 13 The Centralia Conspiracy by Ralph Chaplin, reprint by Armadillo Press - book, 1971
1 14 Chicago Replies to Moscow - single page flyer (see Oversize box), 1940s
1 15 Coal Mines and Coal Miners - pamphlet, ca. 1920
1 16 Craft Unionism by Eugene V. Debs - pamphlet, ca. 1905
1 17 Craft Unionism, Why it Fails - pamphlet, ca. 1920s
1 18 Crimes of the Bolsheviki by Ernest Riebe - pamphlet, 1919
1 19 Direct Action - pamphlet, 1920s
1 20 An Economic Interpretation of the Job - pamphlet, 1923
1 21 Eight Men Buried Alive - pamphlet, 1924
1 22 Eleven Blind Leaders by B. H. Williams - pamphlet, ca. 1910
1 23 Events Leading to the Crime of Bloody Sunday - 4 page leaflet, 1917
1 24 Evidence and Cross-Examination of J. T. (Red) Doran - pamphlet, ca. 1918
1 25 The Everett Massacre by Walker C. Smith - book, 1920s
1 26 The Evolution of American Agriculture by Abner E. Woodruff - pamphlet, 1920s
1 27 The Evolution of Industrial Democracy by Abner E. Woodruff - pamphlet, ca. 1910's
1 28 Fellow Workers - flyer n.d.
1 29 First Congress of the Red Trade Union International at Moscow by G. Williams - pamphlet, 1921
1 30 Free Ferrero and Sallitto - 4 page leaflet, ca. 1935
1 31 Free Ferrero and Sallitto - pamphlet, ca. 1930s
1 32 From Capitalism to the Industrial Commonwealth by Eugene V. Debs - pamphlet, 1908
2 33 General Construction Workers - pamphlet, ca. 1920s
2 34 General Defense Committee of the IWW - 4 page leaflet, n.d.
2 35 The General Strike by William D. Haywood - pamphlet, 1911
2 36 The General Strike for Industrial Freedom - pamphlet, 1933
2 37 The General Strike for Industrial Freedom - pamphlet, 1946
2 38 The General Strike for Industrial Freedom - pamphlet, 1972
2 39 Giant Industry and the IWW - pamphlet, 1919
2 40 Have you given any thought to the conditions you will be compelled to work under . . . ? - 1 page leaflet, n.d.
2 41 Historical Catechism of American Unionism - pamphlet, ca. 1920s
2 42 The History of the IWW - pamphlet, ca. 1920s
2 43 The History of the IWW in Canada - pamphlet, 1975
2 44 The History of the San Diego Free Speech Fight - pamphlet, 1973
2 45 If You're Unorganized Your Pay is Too Low - 4 page leaflet, ca. 1930s
2 46 The Immediate Demands of the IWW - pamphlet, 1923
2 47 Industrial Communism by Harold Lord Varney - pamphlet, 1920s
2 48 Industrial Government by C. E. Payne - pamphlet, 1945
2 49 Industrial Unionism, Real and Imitation - pamphlet, 1940s
2 50 Industrial Unionism, The Road to Freedom by Joseph J. Ettor - pamphlet, ca. 1920s
2 51 Industrial Workers of the World - pamphlet, 1960s
2 52 The IWW, Its History, Structure and Methods by Vincent St. John - pamphlet, 1919
2 53 The IWW, Its First Fifty Years compiled by Fred Thompson - book, 1955
2 54 The IWW: Its First Seventy Years by Fred Thompson and Patrick Murfin - book, 1976
2 55 The IWW, A Plain Statement of its Structure and Principles - pamphlet, 1934
2 56 The IWW Program - 4 page leaflet (2 copies), n.d.
2 57 The IWW Reply to the Red Trade Union International - pamphlet, 1922
2 58 The IWW in Theory and Practice by Justus Ebert -pamphlet, 1920s
2 59 The IWW in Theory and Practice, 5th edition - pamphlet, 1930s
2 60 The IWW Trial by Harrison George - book, ca. 1916
3 61 The IWW, What it is and what it is not - pamphlet, n.d.
3 62 Joe Hill by Fred Thompson - pamphlet, 1971
3 63 Joe Hill/IWW Song Book - flyer, 1965
3 64 Joe Hill Songwriter by Dean Nolan and Fred Thompson - book, 1979
3 65 Join the I. U. 310 - IWW - 2 page leaflet, n.d.
3 66 Justice and the IWW by Paul Brissenden - pamphlet, 1922
3 67 Lessons in Economics by C. H. Chapman - pamphlet, 1920s
3 68 The Lumber Industry and its Workers - pamphlet, 1920s
3 69 More Truth About the IWW - pamphlet, 1920s
3 70 One Big Union of All Workers - pamphlet, 1920s
3 71 One Big Union of All the Workers (contains pull-out wall chart) - pamphlet, 1920s
3 72 One Big Union of the IWW (contains pull-out wall chart) - pamphlet, 1920s
3 73 One Big Union of All Workers - pamphlet, 1933
3 74 One Big Union of All Workers - pamphlet, 1944
3 75 One Big Union - 6th edition - pamphlet, 1970
3 76 One Big Union - 7th edition - pamphlet, 1979
3 77 One Big Union of All Workers - Australia - pamphlet, ca. 1930s
3 78 One Big Union of All Workers - Scotland - pamphlet, ca. 1930s
3 79 One Big Union in the Textile Industry by Ewald Koettgen - pamphlet, 1920s
3 80 One Big Union in the Textile Industry - pamphlet, n.d.
3 81 On the Firing Line - pamphlet, 1913
3 82 An Open Letter to President Harding - pamphlet, ca. 1922
3 83 The Onward Sweep of the Machine Press - pamphlet, 1920s
3 84 Opening Statement of Geo. F. Vanderveer - book, 1918
3 85 Patriotism and the Worker by Gustave Hervé - pamphlet, 1912
3 86 Poems and Writings of James Kelly Cole - book, 1910
3 87 Proletarian and Petit-Bourgeois by Austin Lewis - pamphlet, 1920s
3 88 Public Opinion - pamphlet, 1920s
3 89 Pyramid of the Capitalist System - card, n.d.
3 90 Red Dawn, Bolsheviki and the IWW by Harrison George - pamphlet, 1918
3 91 Revolutionary Industrial Unionism - 6 page leaflet, n.d.
3 92 The Revolutionary IWW - pamphlet, 1920s
3 93 The Revolutionary IWW by Grover H. Perry (includes How Scabs are Bred and The Constructive Program of the IWW) - pamphlet, n.d.
3 94 Sabotage, Its History, Philosophy and Function by Walker C. Smith (reprint by Black Swan Press) - pamphlet, 1966
3 95 Sabotage, Its History, Philosophy and Function by Walker C. Smith (reprint by Solidarity Book Shop) - pamphlet, 1968
3 96 Shop Talks on Economics by Mary E. Marcy - pamphlet, 1920s
3 97 The Silent Defenders, Courts and Capitalism in California by Harvey Duff - pamphlet, 1920s
3 98 Silent Defense - pamphlet, ca. 1919
4 99 So, You're Out of a Job - pamphlet, 1930s
4 100 The Story of the Sea, Marine Transport Workers Handbook - pamphlet, 1924
4 101 Suppressed Evidence in the Centralia Case - 4 page leaflet, 1920s
4 102 Testimony of William D. Haywood before the Industrial Relations Committee - pamphlet, 1920s
4 103 These are the Facts! (Centralia) - pamphlet, 1919
4 104 To the Workers who Feed the World - 8 page leaflet, 1920s
4 105 The Trail to Truth - 4 page leaflet, 1920s
4 106 Twenty Five Years of Industrial Unionism - pamphlet, 1930
4 107 Unemployment and the Machine - pamphlet, 1934
4 108 Unemployment and the Machine by J. A. MacDonald - pamphlet, 1940s
4 109 A Union for All Railroad Workers - pamphlet, 1940s
4 110 Washington's Judicial Mockery - 4 page leaflet, ca. 1920s
4 111 What is the IWW? - 4 page leaflet, n.d.
4 112 What is the IWW Preamble? - pamphlet, 1923
4 113 What Sort of Union is the IWW asking you to Build? - 4 page leaflet, n.d.
4 114 Where do we go from here? - pamphlet, 1930s
4 115 Why Building Workers Must Organize in the One Big Union by Peo Monoldi - pamphlet, n.d.
4 116 Work People's College (includes photocopy identifying people in photo) - 4 page leaflet,
4 117 Workers Guide to Direct Action - pamphlet, 1968
4 118 Workers Opposition in Russia by A. Kolontay - pamphlet, 1921
4 119 The Workers and Peasants of Russia by Augustine Souchy - book, 1922
4 120 World Labor Needs a Union by Fred Thompson - pamphlet, 1969
4 121 You've asked the questions we're proud to answer about the IWW - 4 page leaflet, 1950s
4 122 Finnish - Amerikan Unionism Historiallin Katekismus - pamphlet, 1920s
4 123 Finnish - Punaisen Ammattiunioiden . . . pamphlet, n.d.
4 124 Finnish - Taisteleva IWW - pamphlet, n.d.
4 125 Finnish - Talousoppia - pamphlet, 1922
4 126 Finnish - Työmaakeskusteluja Talousopista by Mary E. Marcy - pamphlet, n.d.
4 127 Finnish - Työväen Oppositioni - pamphlet, 1930s
4 128 Finnish - Vallan - Kumouksellinen - pamphlet, n.d.
4 129 Finnish - Yksi Suuri Unio IWW (includes fold-out wall chart) - pamphlet, n.d.
4 130 German - Socialiftifche Refonftruttion . . . by Daniel de Leon - pamphlet, 1920
4 131 Greek - An Economic Interpretation of the Job - pamphlet, 1920s
4 132 Greek - What is the IWW? - pamphlet, 1920s
4 133 Hungarian - Általános Sztrájk - pamphlet, n.d.
4 134 Hungarian - Az Állandó Munka Bitztositása - pamphlet, 1920s
4 135 Hungarian - Az IWW Azonnali Követelései - pamphlet, n.d.
4 136 Hungarian - Az IWW by Vincent St. John - pamphlet, 1920s
5 137 Hungarian - Egy Nagy Szervezet (One Big Union) (includes fold-out wall chart), 1920s
5 138 Hungarian - Fej - Én Nyerek Írás-ti Veszíttetek - pamphlet, ca. 1918
5 139 Hungarian - Felhivás! - 1 page flyer, 1920s
5 140 Hungarian - Lehetünk-e Semlegekse? - pamphlet, n.d.
5 141 Hungarian -Mit Várhatunk a Háboru Után? by Geréb Józef - pamphlet, 1940s
5 142 Hungarian - Népszerü Gazdaságtan by Mary E. Marcy - pamphlet, 1920s
5 143 Hungarian - A Szakszervezkededés Kudarca - pamphlet, 1920s
5 144 Hungarian - Technokrácia vagy Ipari Unionizmus - pamphlet, 1933
5 145 Italian - Che Cosa é L'IWW? - pamphlet, 1923
5 146 Italian - La Crisi Del Socialismo - pamphlet, 1922
5 147 Italian - La Technica Industriale e la Rivoluzione Proletaria - pamphlet, n.d.
5 148 Japanese - IWW (reprint) - pamphlet, 1985
5 149 Lithuanian - Kas Yra IWW? - pamphlet, 1920s
5 150 Portuguese - Unionismo Industrial - pamphlet, 1922
5 151 Romanian - Ce Este IWW - pamphlet, n.d.
5 152 Romanian - Istoria Structura si Metoadele Lui IWW - pamphlet, 1920s
5 153 Russian - History of the IWW - book, 1921
5 154 Russian - One Big Union of the IWW - pamphlet, 1920
5 155 Russian - Kak Mashina Zamenila Ruchnoi Trud - pamphlet, 1920
5 156 Russian - Ustav Industrialnix Rabochix Mira - pamphlet, ca. 1919
5 157 Russian - Kratkaya Istoriya Stroenie i Metodi Borbi I.R.M. - pamphlet, n.d.
5 158 Spanish - La Desocupacion y la Maquinaria - pamphlet, n.d.
5 159 Spanish - La Historia Real de la Mussolunacia - pamphlet, n.d.
5 160 Spanish - Organizacion o Aniquilamiento - 1 page flyer, n.d.
5 161 Spanish - Que es la IWW (2 copies) - 2 page leaflet, n.d.
5 162 Spanish - Que es la IWW? (Los Angeles branch) - 2 page leaflet, n.d.
5 163 Spanish - Una Sola y Grande Unión - pamphlet, n.d.
5 164 Swedish - Arbetslösheten och Maskinen - pamphlet, 1925
5 165 Swedish - IWW Dess Historia Struktur och Metod by Vincent St. John - pamphlet, 1919
5 166 Swedish - Vad Menas Med IWW? - pamphlet, 1922
5 167 Swedish - Vad är IWW? - pamphlet, 1920s
5 168 Swedish - IWW Vadden är och Vad den icke är - pamphlet, 1931

Series 2: Periodicals, 1924-1966

Newspapers, magazines, and bulletins published by the IWW. Periodicals such as the Industrial Pioneer, Rebel Worker, and One Big Union Monthly contain news, debate, theoretical articles, labor history, social criticism, short stories, plays, poetry, humor, cartoons (many of them full-page), and translations of texts from workers’ groups in other countries. There are several issues of the Hungarian language newspaper Bérmunkás as well as two bound volumes of bulletins from the General Construction Workers union and the Agricultural Workers I. U. No. 110.
Periodicals are arranged alphabetically followed by foreign language materials at the end of the series.

Box Folder Contents
6 169 Agricultural Workers I.U. No. 100 - Monthly Bulletin - 53 issues bound in one volume (see Oversize), Jan. 18, 1923-Jan. 16, 1924
6 170 General Construction Workers Bulletin nos. 1-12 bound in one volume (see Oversize) Apr. 5, 1922-Mar. 10, 1924
6 171 Industrial Pioneer, Feb. 1921
6 172 Industrial Pioneer, Mar. 1921
6 173 Industrial Pioneer, Apr. 1921
6 174 Industrial Pioneer, May, 1921
6 175 Industrial Pioneer, Jun. 1921
6 176 Industrial Pioneer, Jul. 1921
6 177 Industrial Pioneer, Aug. 1921
6 178 Industrial Pioneer, Sept. 1921
6 179 Industrial Pioneer, Nov. 1921
6 180 Industrial Pioneer, Dec. 1921
6 181 Industrial Pioneer, Jun. 1923
6 182 Industrial Pioneer, Jul. 1923
6 183 Industrial Pioneer, Aug. 1923
6 184 Industrial Pioneer, Sep. 1923
6 185 Industrial Pioneer, Oct. 1923
6 186 Industrial Pioneer, Dec. 1923
6 187 Industrial Pioneer, Jan. 1924
6 188 Industrial Pioneer, Feb. 1924
6 189 Industrial Pioneer, Mar. 1924
6 190 Industrial Pioneer, Apr. 1924
6 191 Industrial Pioneer, May, 1924
6 192 Industrial Pioneer, Jun. 1924
6 193 Industrial Pioneer, Jul. 1924
6 194 Industrial Pioneer, Aug. 1924
6 195 Industrial Pioneer, Sept. 1924
6 196 Industrial Pioneer, Oct. 1924
6 197 Industrial Pioneer, Nov. 1924
6 198 Industrial Pioneer, Dec. 1924
7 199 Industrial Pioneer, Jan. 1925
7 200 Industrial Pioneer, Feb. 1925
7 201 Industrial Pioneer, Mar. 1925
7 202 Industrial Pioneer, Apr. 1925
7 203 Industrial Pioneer, May, 1925
7 204 Industrial Pioneer, Jun. 1925
7 205 Industrial Pioneer, Jul. 1925
7 206 Industrial Pioneer, Aug. 1925
7 207 Industrial Pioneer, Sept. 1925
7 208 Industrial Pioneer, Oct. 1925
7 209 Industrial Pioneer, Nov. 1925
7 210 Industrial Pioneer, Dec. 1925
7 211 Industrial Pioneer, Jan. 1926
7 212 Industrial Pioneer, Feb. 1926
7 213 Industrial Pioneer, Mar. 1926
7 214 Industrial Pioneer, Apr. 1926
7 215 Industrial Pioneer, May, 1926
7 216 Industrial Pioneer, Jun. 1926
7 217 Industrial Pioneer, Jul. 1926
7 218 Industrial Pioneer, Aug. 1926
7 219 Industrial Pioneer, Sept. 1926
7 220 Industrial Worker - newspaper (see Oversize), Nov. 13, 1948
7 221 One Big Union Monthly, Jan. 1920
7 222 One Big Union Monthly, Jun. 1920
7 223 One Big Union Monthly, Jul. 1920
7 224 One Big Union Monthly, Aug. 1920
7 225 One Big Union Monthly, Sept. 1920
7 226 One Big Union Monthly, Oct. 1920
7 227 One Big Union Monthly, Jan. 1937
7 228 One Big Union Monthly, Feb. 1937
7 229 One Big Union Monthly, Mar. 1937
7 230 One Big Union Monthly, Apr. 1937
8 231 One Big Union Monthly, May 1937
8 232 One Big Union Monthly, Jun. 1937
8 233 One Big Union Monthly, Jul. 1937
8 234 One Big Union Monthly, Aug. 1937
8 235 One Big Union Monthly, Sept. 1937
8 236 One Big Union Monthly, Oct. 1937
8 237 One Big Union Monthly, Nov. 1937
8 238 One Big Union Monthly, Dec. 1937
8 239 One Big Union Monthly, Jan. 1938
8 240 One Big Union Monthly, Feb. 1938
8 241 One Big Union Monthly, Mar. 1938
8 242 One Big Union Monthly, Apr. 1938
8 243 One Big Union Monthly, May 1938
8 244 One Big Union Monthly, Jun. 1938
8 245 Rebel Worker, Spring, 1964
8 246 Rebel Worker, Summer, 1964
8 247 Rebel Worker, Winter, 1965
8 248 Rebel Worker, 1965 (?)
8 249 Rebel Worker, 1966
8 250 Rebel Worker, 1966
8 251 Rebel Worker, 1967
8 252 Wobbly (published by the Berkeley branch GRU, IWW), 1963
8 253 Finnish - Die Vapauteen, 1932
8 254 Hungarian - Bérmunkás Naptár (yearly almanac), 1933
8 255 Hungarian - Bérmunkás Naptár (yearly almanac), 1935
8 256 Hungarian - Bérmunkás Naptár (yearly almanac), 1936
8 257 Hungarian - Bérmunkás Naptár (yearly almanac), 1942
8 258 Hungarian - Bérmunkás Naptár (yearly almanac), 1945
8 259a-c Hungarian - Bérmunkás - newspaper (3 issues) (see Oversize), Sept. 12, 1942, Oct. 1, 1954, Oct. 15, 1954

Series 3: Song Books and Sheet Music, 1914-1990

This series is made up primarily of several editions of the publication widely known as the "Little Red Song Book," in English as well as editions in Finnish, Swedish, and Russian. The content of these editions varies from year to year. The series also contains a few miscellaneous song books and pieces of sheet music. Notable is the full color illustrated sheet music of Joe Hill's "Don't Take my Papa Away from Me" found in Oversize.
Arranged chronologically and by format. English language song books are followed by foreign language editions with sheet music at the end of the series.

Box Folder Contents
9 260 IWW Songs - 14th edition - "General Defense Edition," 1918
9 261 IWW Songs - "Songs of the Workers" - 15th edition, 1919
9 262 IWW Songs - 17th edition, ca. 1920
9 263 IWW Songs - 18th edition, ca. 1920
9 264 IWW Songs - 19th edition, 1923
9 265 IWW Songs - 20th edition, 1924
9 266 IWW Songs - 21st edition, 1924
9 267 IWW Songs - "Special Centralia Edition," 1925
9 268 IWW Songs - 22nd edition, 1926
9 269 IWW Songs - 23rd edition, 1927
9 270 IWW Songs - 26th edition, 1936
9 271 IWW Songs - 27th edition, 1936
9 272 IWW Songs - 28th edition, 1945
9 273 IWW Songs - 29th edition, 1956
9 274 IWW Songs - 30th edition, 1962
9 275 IWW Songs - 31st edition, 1964
9 276 IWW Songs - 33rd edition, 1970
9 277 IWW Songs - 34th edition, 1974
9 278 IWW Songs - 34th edition, 4th printing, 1980
9 279 IWW Songs - "Joe Hill Commemoration Song Book," 1990
9 280 Canadian IWW Song Book, 1990
9 281 IWW Workers sing-along book - I.U. 630 Entertainment Workers, 1972
9 282 IWW Workers sing-along book - New England IWW, n.d.
9 283 Songs for Rebel Workers, ca. 1960s
9 284 Songs for Rebel Workers, ca. 1970s
9 285 Workers Song Book (contains hand-typed "National Anathema"), ca. 1930s
9 286 Finnish - Palkkaorjain Lauluja, 1925
9 287 Finnish - Proletaari Lauluja, ca. 1918
9 288 Russian - IWW Song Book, 1920s
9 289 Swedish - Sanger Av Joe Hill, 1924
9 290 Swedish and Norwegian - IWW Sang Bok, 1920s
9 291 Sheet Music - The International, n.d.
9 292 Sheet Music - The Rebel Girl (later printing), n.d.
9 293a Sheet Music - The Advancing Proletaire, music by Douglas (see Oversize), n.d.
9 293b Sheet Music - And Ancient Jewish Lullaby and Child Laborers' Spring Song, words by Mary E. Gallagher (see Oversize), copyright, 1920
9 293c Sheet Music - Up and in Action (the Centralia Horror), words and music by Henry C. Petersen (see Oversize), ca. 1927
9 293d Sheet Music - Don't take my Papa away from me, words and music by Joe Hill, (see Oversize) copyright, 1916

Series 4: Official Documents and Organizational Items, 1905-1984

Items pertaining to the official activities of the IWW, including membership applications, various editions of the by-laws and IWW Preamble, dues-books, dues stamps, organizers’ credentials, invitations to events, subscription blanks, receipts, letterheads, union shop cards, local union charter certificates, wall-charts, and posters. There are also minutes from the general conventions which contain officers’ and committee reports, correspondence, and some speeches from rank-and-filers, as well as much spirited face-to-face debate, a number of anecdotes and Wobbly humor. There are also minutes from some specific industrial unions.
Arranged alphabetically by type of document.

Box Folder Contents
10 294 Admission Card - Hard Times Dance and Entertainment, 1909
10 295 Agreement between American Stove Co. (Cleveland Div.) and Metal Machinery Workers No. 440 - booklet, 1945
10 296 Application for Duplicate Card, 1920s
10 297 Application for Membership Card, n.d.
10 298 Booklet of Instructions - General Defense Committee, n.d.
10 299 By-Laws of the General Recruiting Union, 1928
10 300 By-Laws of the General Recruiting Union, 1935
10 301 By-Laws - Finnish language, 1926
10 302 By-Laws - Lumbers Workers Industrial No. 120, 1944
10 303 By-Laws - Metal Mine and Construction Workers No. 210-310-330, 1950
10 304 Calendar Page designed by Henkleman (see Oversize), Jan. 1946
10 305 Charter - Local Union (see Oversize), n.d.
10 306 Clearance Card, n.d.
10 307 Collective Bargaining Agreement between American Stove Co. and Metal Machinery Workers No. 440, 1937
10 308 Constitution and By-Laws, ca. 1905
10 309 Correspondence Course in Delegates' Work and Organization Bookkeeping issued by the Work People's College, ca. 1920s
10 310 Delegates Report Form, n.d.
10 311 Detroit Union Study Classes card, n.d.
10 312 Financial Statement - fiscal year, 1964-1965
10 313 Financial Statement - fiscal year, 1965-1966
10 314 Financial Statement - fiscal year, 1966-1967
10 315 General Defense Committee Charter (see Oversize), n.d.
10 316 General Organization Bulletin, 1962
10 317 Industrial Worker subscription blanks, 1940s
10 318 Junior Wobblies Union Charter (see Oversize), n.d.
10 319 Junior Wobblies Union membership card, n.d.
10 320 Junior Wobbly Union - delegate authorization card, 1930s
10 321 Letterhead Stationary - various designs, n.d.
10 322 Lumber Jack's Prayer by T-Bone Slim printed on card, n.d.
10 323 Manual for Delegates, Groups and Branches, ca. 1970s
10 324 Manual of Instructions for Job Delegates, ca. 1940s
10 325 Membership Book, 1905
10 325a Membership Book, 1920s
10 326 Membership Book - AWO 400/local 178 with dues stamps, 1913
10 327 Membership Book - Spanish, 1921
10 328 Membership Book - Swedish, 1920s
10 329 Minutes - 13th Convention, 1921
10 330 Minutes - 14th General Convention, 1922
10 331 Minutes - 15th General Convention, 1923
10 332 Minutes - 16th General Convention, 1924
10 333 Minutes - 17th General Convention, 1925
10 334 Minutes - 18th General Convention, 1928
10 335 Minutes - 21st General Convention, 1934
10 336 Minutes - 22nd General Convention, 1936
10 337 Minutes - 23rd General Convention, 1938
10 338 Minutes - 24th General Convention, 1939
10 339 Minutes - 25th General Convention, 1946
10 340 Minutes - 26th General Convention, 1950
10 341 Minutes - 27th General Convention, 1955
10 342 Minutes - 28th General Convention, 1968
10 343 Minutes - 30th General Convention, 1970
10 344 Minutes - 32nd General Convention, 1972
11 345 Minutes - 35th General Convention, 1976
11 346 Minutes - 37th General Convention, 1978
11 347 Minutes - 38th General Convention, 1979
11 348 Minutes - Building Construction Workers Union No. 330 - 4th Annual Convention, 1924
11 349 Minutes - Lumber Workers Union No. 120 - General Convention, 1923
11 350 Minutes - Marine Transport Workers Union No. 510 - 1st Convention, 1923
11 351 Minutes - Metal and Coal Mine Workers Union No. 210-220 - Convention, 1924
11 352 Minutes - Metal Machinery Workers Union No. 400 - 4th Convention, 1923
11 353 Organizers Credential card, n.d.
11 354 Preamble and Constitution, 1928
11 355 Preamble and Constitution, 1937
11 356 Preamble and Constitution, 1946
11 359 Preamble and Constitution, 1968
11 358 Preamble and Constitution, 1984
11 359 Preamble and Constitution - Finnish, 1929
11 360 Proceedings - 1st Annual Convention - bound book, 1905
11 361 Proceedings - 10th Convention, 1917
11 362 Reading List of IWW History, ca. 1960s
11 363 Receipt - blank, n.d.
11 364 Receipt - Hungarian, n.d.
11 365 Report - 21st General Convention, 1934
11 366 Report of E. W. Latchem - Secretary Treasurer of Building Constructions Workers No. 330, 1926
11 367 Report - Secretary Treasurer, 1927
11 368 Silent Agitators - woodblock reprints, ca. 1960s
11 369 Silver Anniversary Benefit Ball Souvenir Journal, ca. 1940s
11 370 Souvenir Program - Annual Christmas Entertainment and Dance for the Benefit of the Class War Prisoners, 1938
11 371 Stamps - assessment, n.d.
11 372 Stamps - drives, n.d.
11 373 Stamps - dues, n.d.
11 374 Stamps - various, n.d.
11 375 Stickers - Silent Agitators, Industrial Pioneer, ca. 1920s-1930s
11 376 Supplement to the General Organization Bulletin, 1964
11 377 Union Establishment Certificate, n.d.
11 378 Union Meeting Notice - I.U. 440, n.d.
11 379 Verbatim Report - Extracts - 16th General Convention, 1924
11 380 Wall Chart - One Big Union, The Structure of the Industrial System (3 copies) (see Oversize), n.d.
11 381 Withdrawal Card, ca. 1905

Series 5: IWW Member Subject Files, 1915-2005

Materials related to notable IWW members Carlos Cortez, Joe Hill, and Jack Sheridan. Carlos Cortez was best-known as an IWW artist, poet, and columnist who created many of the most recognizable images for IWW publications. His materials include periodicals and a few flyers for exhibits. Joe Hill was a legendary figure in the IWW, a songwriter and member whose songs for the movement are still performed today. He was considered a martyr of the labor movement after being killed in prison in Utah in 1915. Materials related to Hill include a program for his memorial in Chicago in 1915, and various publications which contain stories about Hill. There is one also folder of materials pertaining to Jack Sheridan, a longtime Wobbly who was active as platform speaker and soapbox speaker in New York and later in Chicago. A frequent contributor to the Industrial Worker, he was also involved in Chicago's Dill Pickle Club in the 1920s. The folder contains clippings, a newsletter, and a flyer for one of his speaking engagements.
Arranged alphabetically by IWW member.

Box Folder Contents
12 382 Carlos Cortez - Contratiempo newspaper with article on Cortez (Spanish), 2005
12 383 Carlos Cortez - Event flyers and announcements, ca. 1980s-1990s
12 384 Carlos Cortez - Fifth Estate magazine with article on Cortez, 2005
12 385 Carlos Cortez - Heartland newspaper with article on Cortez, 2005
12 386 Joe Hill - Broadside - "Joe Hill: A Long Distance Call" (see Oversize), 1965
12 387 Joe Hill - Funeral flyer - "In Memoriam Joseph Hillstrom," 15
12 388 Joe Hill - Mödare eller Martyr? - book in Swedish, 1979
12 389 Joe Hill - Postcard, 1920
12 390 Joe Hill - Poster of with Carlos Cortez illustration (see Oversize), 2005
12 391 Joe Hill - Program for Memoriam, 1915
12 392 Joe Hill - Sing Out! magazine with cover story on Hill, 1954
12 393 Joe Hill - Songs of Joe Hill - reprint by Oak Publications, 1960
12 394 Joe Hill - Talkin' Union magazine with feature article on Hill, 1983
12 395 Joe Hill - Miscellaneous - Swedish postage stamp and sticker, 1980, n.d.
12 396 Jack Sheridan - event flyer, clippings, and newsletter, 1951-1967

Series 6: IWW Related Materials, 1902-1987

Pamphlets, flyers and other materials written by IWW members or relating to IWW issues.
Arranged alphabetically.

Box Folder Contents
12 397 Benefit for Spanish Victims of Fascism - souvenir program, 1938
12 398 Economic Discontent by Father J. T. Hagerty - pamphlet, 1902
12 399 Industrial Autocracy by Mary E. Marcy - pamphlet, ca. 1918
12 400 Industrial Socialism by William D. Haywood and Frank Bohn - pamphlet, n.d.
12 401 Invitation to memorial for Fred Thompson, ca. 1987
12 402 Kentucky Miners Defense - letterhead stationary, n.d.
12 403 Labor History Class - flyer for Fred Thompson course lectures, 1960s
12 404 Labor History Class - announcement flyer, 1966
12 405 Political Prisoners in Federal Military Prisons - National Civil Liberties Bureau - pamphlet, 1918
12 406 Poster - Songs of the IWW in Concert, ca. 1984
12 407 Seven Harlan Miners - Kentucky Miners Defense Committee - 4 page leaflet, ca. 1931
12 408 The Shame that is Kentucky by E. J. Costello - pamphlet, ca. 1930
12 409 The Ship Murder, the Story of a Frame Up - pamphlet, ca. 1937
12 410 Story of the Ford Case - ACLU - pamphlet, 1925
12 411 Tom Baker and the IWW - memoir edited by E. C. Fry, 1965
12 412 Tony the Immigrant by Pasquale Russo - pamphlet, 1923
12 413 To the Beasts, In California as in Ancient Rome - California Branch of the General Defense Committee - pamphlet, 1924
12 414 The Truth About the IWW Prisoners - ACLU - pamphlet, 1922
12 415 Twelve O'Clock Lunch by Pasquale Russo - pamphlet, 1923
12 416 Union Smashing in Sacramento - National Sacramento Appeal Committee - pamphlet, 1935
12 417 Was It Murder? (Centralia Case) by Walker C. Smith - pamphlet, 1927
12 418 "Wobbly" 75 Years of Rebel Art - exhibit catalog, ca. 1982
12 419 "Wobbly" 80 Years of Rebel Art - exhibit catalog, 1987
12 420 "Wobbly" 80 Years of Rebel Art - exhibit catalog (offset printed version), ca. 1987

Series 7: Council for Union Democracy, ca. 1930s-1947

The Council for Union Democracy was a 1930s and 1940s Chicago-based and IWW-influenced group organized to help individual workers and groups of trade-unionists combat the corruption and violence that afflicted many labor organizations. Its cofounders included old-time Wobbly Myron “Slim”