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Father Raymond S. Clancy Papers FATHER RAYMOND S. CLANCY (1904-1971) COLLECTION Papers, 1896-1970 (Predominantly, 1938-1954) 5 1/2 linear feet Accession Number 499 L.C. Number The papers of the Reverend Father Raymond Scullin Clancy were placed in the Archives of Labor History and Urban Affairs in October, 1971, by Father John O'Connor and were opened for research in February, 1973. Known as Detroit's "Labor Priest," Fr. Clancy was born (June 15, 1904) and educated in Detroit, graduating from the University of Detroit in 1924. After attending St. Gregory's Preparatory Seminary, Mt. Washington, Ohio, and Mt. St. Mary's Seminary of the West, Norwood, Ohio, he was ordained into the Roman Catholic priesthood May 26, 1929. For the following eleven years he served as assistant pastor and then administrator of Church of the Epiphany in Detroit. In 1938, after special training in Roman Catholic social principles, Fr. Clancy was named executive secretary of the Catholic Conference on Indus- trial Problems which met in Detroit in January, 1939. Also named executive secretary of the (Detroit) Archdiocesan Labor Institute, he launched a pro- gram of labor education for Roman Catholic workers in 1939/40. Beginning with eight experimental parish schools, the Institute, which worked in coopera- tion with the Detroit Association of Catholic Trade Unionists, grew to forty schools, the largest such program in any Roman Catholic diocese in the world. In addition, Fr. Clancy became Director of the Social Action Department of the Detroit Archdiocese, a position he held into the 1950's. During this period he was a frequent spokesman for the adoption of Roman Catholic social and economic principles, especially as enunciated in the papal encyclicals, Rerum Novarum and Quadragesimo Anno, as well as post-World War II planning. As chaplain of the Detroit ACTU, Fr. Clancy had a regular column in its paper, The Wage Earner, in the 1940's. He was also active in civic and community affairs and was a member of the Economic Club of Detroit. An early and active supporter of the labor union movement, Fr. Clancy in November, 1939, publicly disputed Fr. Charles E. Caughlin's citation of a papal encyclical as a basis for urging striking UAW members to return to work at Chrysler. Also as an arbitrator and mediator, his services were often rendered in labor-management disputes in Detroit and Michigan from 1942 to 1957. To thank Fr. Clancy for his efforts in behalf of labor, the AFL and CIO joined together in 1954 in a testimonial dinner in his honor. -2- Father Raymond S. Clancy Collection Returning to parish work, Fr. Clancy spent 1950-53 at All Saints on Fort Street in Detroit. From September, 1953, until his retirement in 1969, he was pastor of Sacred Heart parish in Roseville where he was instrumen- tal in building Roseville's first Roman Catholic high school. He died June 2, 1971, in Port Huron, Michigan. The papers of this collection mainly reflect Fr. Clancy's activities as an educator and executive secretary of the Archdiocesan Labor Institute, director of the Archdiocesan Social Action Department, arbitrator and mediator and supporter of the labor union movement, and advocate of Roman Catholic social and economic teachings. Important subjects covered in the collection are: Arbitration and Mediation (Michigan) Archdiocesan Labor Institute (Detroit) Labor Education Religion and Labor Father Charles E. Caughlin Association of Catholic Trade Unionists Post-World War II Reconstruction Labor and World War II Roman Catholic Social Action -3- Father Raymond S. Clancy Collection Contents 11 manuscript boxes Series I, Boxes 1-4 Archdiocesan Labor Institute and Social Action Department Speeches, lectures, radio broadcasts, course outlines, correspondence, clippings, and other materials relating primarily to Fr. Clancy's activities as Executive Secretary of the Detroit Archdiocesan Labor Institute, Director of the Detroit Archdiocesan Social Action Depart- ment, and supporter of the labor union movement, 1938-62. There are several folders on Fr. Clancy's public disagreement with Fr. Charles Caughlin in November, 1939. Series II, Boxes 5-6 Arbitration Correspondence, working papers, arbitration and mediation decisions, and other materials relating to Fr. Clancy's activities as an arbi- trator and mediator in labor-management disputes in Detroit and Mi- chigan, 1942-57. Series III, Box 7 Personal, Parish, and Civic Correspondence, clippings, minutes, programs, plays and skits, and other material relating to Fr. Clancy's interests and his activities as a parish priest, Archdiocesan Director of Cemeteries, and his work with such groups as The First Americans, Inc., 1956-59, as well as various community organizations, 1930-70. Series IV, Boxes 8-10 Roman Catholic Church Printed Materials Pamphlets and other printed materials of the Roman Catholic Church on a broad range of topics, 1929-67, but primarily related to economics and social reconstruction in the 1930's and 1940's. Series V, Box 11 Bound Volumes Miscellaneous bound and oversize materials, 1896-1954, including a scrapbook of the 25th anniversary celebrations of Fr. Clancy's ordination into the priesthood. Non-manuscript material Placed in the Archives' Audio-Visual collection were 47 photographs relating to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery and the Mausoleum and the activities of Fr. Clancy; various convention badges and memorabilia; and two re- cordings: (1) Father Clancy Testimonial Dinner given by AFL and CIO, May 24, 1954; and (2) Human Rights Day Luncheon of UAW Twentieth Anniversary, June 11, 1956. Six linear feet of pamphlets generated by labor and industry as well as convention proceedings, programs, contract agreements, and Monthly Labor Review reprints for 1938-39 have been placed in the Archives Library, along with copies of The Wage Earner during 1944-46; Social Justice, March 14 and 28, 1938; Labor Today, 1941; and the following books: Cronin, John F. Economics and Society, N.Y.: American Book Co., 1939. Daugherty, Carroll R. Labor Problems in American Industry. 4th ed. rev. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1938. Ross, E.J. What Is Economics? Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Co., 1939. -4- Father Raymond S. Clancy Collection Series I Boxes 1-4 Archdiocesan Labor Institute and Social Action Department Speeches, lectures, radio broadcasts, manuscripts, course outlines, notes, minutes, correspondence, clippings, programs, and other materials relating primarily to Fr. Clancy's activities as Executive Secretary of the Detroit Archdiocesan Labor Institute and Director of the Detroit Archdiocesan So- cial Action Department. The papers cover the period of 1938 to 1962 and are arranged in three sub-series: A-Boxes 1-3, Alphabetic subject files B - Box 4, Fr. Clancy's notebook on Economics and social action C-Box 4, Fr. Clancy's speeches and lectures Box 1 Sub-Series A - Arranged alphabetically by topic or type of material, 1939-62. 1. AFL and CIO Testimonial Dinner for Fr. Clancy, 24 May 1954 - Preliminary Planning 2. - Invitations 3. - Invitation Replies 4. - Financial 5. Program Includes copy of address given by Harry O'Reilly, then Director of Organization of AFL, containing biographical data on Fr. Clancy. 6. AFL and CIO Testimonial Dinner for Fr. Clancy, 24 May l954 - Clippings Includes biographical data. 7. AFL and CIO Testimonial Dinner for Fr. Clancy, 24 May 1954 - Thank you letters 8-12. Anniversary Celebration of Papal Social Encyclicals, Rerum Novarum and Quadragesimo Anno, 15 May 1941 Includes: (1) 14 May 1941 radio talk by Fr. Clancy (2) Suggestions for Fr. Poetker's introductory talk (3) "Summary of the Encyclicals' Teachings" by Paul Weber, President of ACTU-Detroit (4) "Consideration of the Papal Program from the View- point of an Employer" by John L. Lovett, General Manager of the Michigan Manufacturers' Association (5) Closing Remarks 13. Anniversary Celebration of Papal Social Encyclicals, Rerum Novarum and Quadragesimo Anno, 1951 Introductory remarks and introductions of speakers. 14. Archdiocesan Labor Institute - Correspondence, 1939-40, 1945 15. - Organizational Meetings, 1939 16-17. - Student Reaction Questionnaires, 1939 18. - Survey of Parish Labor Schools, 1940 -5- Father Raymond S. Clancy Collection Box 1 Sub-Series A (continued) 19. Association of Catholic Trade Unionists (ACTU), Detroit Chapter - Basic Training Course Lecture Outlines and Prospectus 20. Association of Catholic Trade Unionists (ACTU), Detroit Chapter - Basic Training Course Lecture, "The Christian Ideal of Trade Unionism," by Fr. Clancy 21. Association of Catholic Trade Unionists (ACTU), Detroit Chapter - Minutes, 29 April 1943, 13 May 1943 22. Association of Catholic Trade Unionists (ACTU), New York Chapter, 1962 23. Fred Baker et al vs. Hazel Park Harness Raceway et al and Wm. L. Mc- Fetridge and Tom Cleary, 1953. Suit involving an alleged conspiracy to deliver the building service employees to the Teamsters' Union 24. Building Service Employees'Union Theatre Strike - Radio Broadcast, 16 February 1941 Box 2 1. Capital and Labor Discussion 2. Caribbean Social Week, February 3-9, 1947 3. Catholic Conference on Industrial Problems, Jan. 16-17, 1939, Detroit, Michigan - Radio Broadcast prior to Conference 4-6. Catholic Conference on Industrial Problems, Jan. 16-17, 1939, Deuroit, Michigan 7. Catholic Conference on Industrial Problems - Regional Meetings Program, February-March, 1939 8. "Catholic, Jewish and Protestant Declaration on Economic Justice," 1946 9. Chicago Federation of Labor, 1939 10. Christian Social Action, December, 1939 Includes article
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