AFSCME Communications Department Records 100.5 Linear Feet (100 SB, 1 MB); 34 Posters; 37 Videos 1967-2002

Walter P. Reuther Library Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs Wayne State University Archives AFSCME Communications Department Records 100.5 linear feet (100 SB, 1 MB); 34 posters; 37 videos 1967-2002 Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI Finding aid written by Johanna Russ on June 11, 2012. Accession Number: LR002204 Creator: AFSCME Communications Department Acquisition: The AFSCME Communications Department Records were first deposited at the Reuther Library in 1974. Subsequent deposits have occurred, and the Reuther Library continues to serve as the official repository for AFSCME International records. Language: Material almost entirely in English, with a few items in Spanish. Access: Records are open for research. Items in vault are available at the discretion of the archives. Some audiovisual material may be unreadable depending on format, condition, and equipment, especially certain audio and video recordings. Use: Refer to the Walter P. Reuther Library Rules for Use of Archival Materials. Notes: Citation style: “AFSCME Communications Department Records, Box [#], Folder [#], Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University” Copies: Portions of the photographic and audio recordings subseries have been digitized and are available on the Reuther Library’s website. Other Access Aids: A number of the photos found in Series X, Subseries A have been scanned and uploaded to the AFSCME image gallery: http://www.reuther.wayne.edu/image/tid/25. A handful of the audio recordings found in Series X, Subseries B have been digitized and uploaded to the Reuther website: https://www.reuther.wayne.edu/audio/user. AFSCME Communications Department Records 1 Walter P. Reuther Library Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs Wayne State University Archives Related Material: Many other records from the AFSCME collections relate to the material found here, including AFSCME Office of the President: Jerry Wurf Records, AFSCME Office of the President: Gerald McEntee Records, AFSCME Office of the Secretary-Treasurer: William Lucy Records, AFSCME Office of the Secretary- Treasurer: Gordon Chapman/Joseph Ames Records, AFSCME Program Development Department Records, and AFSCME International Executive Board Records. The AFSCME magazine has been published under three different names over the years: Journal of State and Local Government Employees (1937-1946), Public Employee (1947-2007), and AFSCME Works (2007-present). The AFSCME Communications Department is responsible for producing this magazine. A full run of the publication can be found in the Library collection. Likewise, the Communications Department is responsible for publication of the biennial convention proceedings and officers’ reports. These also reside in the Library collection. The Reuther Library holds a handful of AFSCME-produced videos from the 1980s as part of its UAW collection, and these are available for research. Two photographs were removed from this collection and are stored in the Reuther Library vault. Photocopies of these images appear in the original folders. The first, in 55-95, has the signature of Lyndon B. Johnson, and the second, in 70-22, has the signature of North Dakota Governor George Sinner. Two posters (PC-272 and PC-273) used during the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike are also stored in the Reuther Library vault. Digital files related to the 1998 Convention are accessible on site at the Reuther Library. Digital images from the 2002 University of Maryland organizing campaign, and a 2001-2002 Powerpoint presentation from the AFSCME Education Department are also available. Series X: Audio Visual Materials, Boxes 45-100, are stored in the Reuther Library Audio Visual Department stacks. History AFSCME has produced a regularly published magazine since its inception. Publication duties for this organ and other materials were accomplished by the Education and Publications Department for the first twenty years of AFSCME’s existence. The 1954 Convention, however, passed Resolution 14, establishing a Publications and Public Relations Department. This new department would continue to publish the AFSCME magazine and other materials and would also take on new media public relations duties AFSCME Communications Department Records 2 Walter P. Reuther Library Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs Wayne State University Archives both at headquarters, and importantly, in the field. Recognizing that current field staff’s duties did not include crafting AFSCME’s message during organizing campaigns and strikes, it was hoped that the new department would provide skilled public relations professionals on the ground. The new department was created on April 1, 1956. The Publications and Public Relations Department existed until 1971 when the name was changed to the Public Affairs Department. This existed until 2011 when the name was changed again to the Communications Department. According to the 1968 departmental report, “The Department originates and produces publications for the membership and material to be used in organizing activities, prepares news releases and other publicity matter for use by the various communications media— the press, television, and radio.” The department also writes speeches for AFSCME officials and helps orchestrate the biennial conventions and other meetings and conferences. Also, as might be expected, in more recent years, AFSCME web initiatives have become a major focus for the department as AFSCME outreach and communication has moved into the digital world. The records in this collection primarily pre-date the web and were created during the production of AFSCME publications (the photographs in Series X: Subseries A were largely used in the AFSCME magazine), publicity, events, video and audio, and during the everyday operations of the Department. Scope and Content The AFSCME Communications Department Records document the public activities of the Department, AFSCME International, and AFSCME officials. Records include speech transcripts; press releases; surveys and polls; documents related to AFSCME biennial conventions such as transcripts of proceedings, correspondence, and planning documents; correspondence; publications; meeting minutes; clippings; photographs, slides, and negatives; audio and video recordings; and posters. Important Subjects: AFL-CIO AFL-CIO. Public Employee Dept. AFSCME. International Convention Americans for Democratic Action Apartheid—Africa, Southern Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (U.S.) Coalition of Labor Union Women (U.S.) Democratic National Convention Equal rights amendments Health care reform Labor unions—organizing Medical care Pay equity Political campaigns Presidents—Election Public Services International AFSCME Communications Department Records 3 Walter P. Reuther Library Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs Wayne State University Archives Sanitation Workers Strike, Memphis, Tenn., 1968 Sex discrimination against women—Law and legislation Strikes and lockouts United States. Occupational Safety and Health Administration Important Names: Ames, Joseph Lynn, 1925- Caoile, Gloria Carter, Jimmy, 1924- Chapman, Gordon Warner, 1907- Chavez-Thompson, Linda, 1944- Ciampa, P.J. Clinton, Bill, 1946- Clinton, Hillary Rodham Fauntroy, Walter E. Gore, Albert, 1948- Gotbaum, Victor Humphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978 Jackson, Jesse, 1941- Kennedy, Edward Moore, 1932-2009 King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968 King, Coretta Scott, 1927-2006 Kirkland, Lane Kramer, Leo Kubista, Roy Lucy, William Mandela, Nelson, 1918- McEntee, Gerald W. McEntee, William J. (William Joseph), 1903- McGovern, George S. (George Stanley), 1922- Meany, George, 1894-1980 Mondale, Walter F., 1928- Newman, Winn Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994 Reagan, Ronald Rewolinski, Ernest Roberts, Lillian Saunders, Lee Watkins, Vernon Wurf, Jerry, 1919- Zander, Arnold S. (Arnold Scheuer), 1901-1975 Series I: Speeches, 1967-2002; undated (finding aid p. 7) This series contains transcripts of speeches delivered by, articles written by, testimony delivered by, and interviews conducted with AFSCME officials. Especially prominent are addresses from and interviews with Presidents Jerry Wurf and Gerald McEntee and Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy. Speeches from a handful of other AFSCME officials also appear. AFSCME Communications Department Records 4 Walter P. Reuther Library Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs Wayne State University Archives Series II: Press Releases, 1971-2002 (finding aid p. 75) This series contains press releases promoting a variety of AFSCME events, as well as press releases that give AFSCME’s official response to a variety of current events. Series III: Surveys and Polls, 1977-2002 (finding aid p. 94) This series contains surveys and polls conducted by polling companies hired by AFSCME. Some ask questions about the union itself, and some ask questions about politics and elections. Mostly, both the questions and the results appear, and occasionally included are correspondence about conducting the survey, methodology information, and information on training the pollsters. Series IV: Biennial Convention, 1980-2000 (finding aid p. 98) This series contains information on AFSCME’s biennial conventions, including scripts, speeches, correspondence, schedules, clippings, and planning documentation. Series V: Chronological Correspondence Files, 1994-1999 (finding aid p. 99) This series contains correspondence from AFSCME Communications Department officials and staff to other AFSCME departments and to outside

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