Guide to the Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO Records LR000053_MD This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on October 10, 2019. English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Walter P. Reuther Library 5401 Cass Avenue Detroit, MI 48202 URL: https://reuther.wayne.edu Guide to the Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO Records LR000053_MD Table of Contents Summary Information .................................................................................................................................... 3 History ............................................................................................................................................................ 3 Scope and Content ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Arrangement ................................................................................................................................................... 7 Administrative Information ............................................................................................................................ 8 Related Materials ........................................................................................................................................... 8 Controlled Access Headings .......................................................................................................................... 9 Part 1 Subject Index ...................................................................................................................................... 9 Collection Inventory ..................................................................................................................................... 13 - Page 2 - Guide to the Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO Records LR000053_MD Summary Information Repository: Walter P. Reuther Library Creator: Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO Title: Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO Records ID: LR000053_MD Date [inclusive]: 1918-1967 Physical Description: 78 Linear Feet (156 MB) Language of the English Material: Language of the Material entirely in English. Material: Abstract: The American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) Metropolitan Detroit is the central organization for all Michigan AFL-CIO unions that have locals in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties. Their records pertain to activities specifically in Wayne County, prior to the merger of the three county councils in 1986, including those of its former presidents Frank Martel (1948-1956), Al Barbour (1958-1967) and its former vice- president Alex Fuller (1959-1967). The records reflect the important role played in offering financial assistance to organizing drives, ending factional and jurisdictional disputes, and supporting political candidates Citation Style "Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO Records, Box [#], Folder [#], Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University" ^ Return to Table of Contents History The Wayne County AFL-CIO is the central organization for all AFL-CIO unions that have locals in Wayne County. This organization has grown along with the rise in unionization in the Detroit area. The leadership of Frank Martel was particularly significant in gaining acceptance of unions by the larger - Page 3- Guide to the Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO Records LR000053_MD community. When the local unions supported it, the County organization was very important in offering financial assistance to organizing drives, in ending factional and jurisdictional disputes, and in supporting political candidates. The records in this collection pertain to many areas of the Wayne County AFL-CIO history from 1918-1967, including the activities of Al Barbour and Alex Fuller. Al Barbour was elected president of the Wayne County AFL-CIO in 1958 and served in that position until his death in February of 1967. While President, he served on a number of public and private committees pertaining to Michigan, Wayne County, and Detroit. Alex Fuller was elected vice-president of the Wayne County AFL-CIO in 1959 and retained this position until June, 1967. He is currently with the United Steelworkers Union. While vice-president of the Wayne County AFL-CIO, he served on a number of public and private committees pertaining to Michigan, Wayne County and Detroit. It should be pointed out that there are records of Alex Fuller interspersed throughout this entire collection. For additional information on important topics included in this collection please see the Part 1 Index of Subjects, and series scope and content notes. ^ Return to Table of Contents Scope and Content Part 1: Series 1: AFL-CIO office files, 1916-1950; Series 2: CIO office files, 1937-1948 Part 2: Series 3: President's Files, 1926-1964; Series 4: Political Action and Political Educaiton files, 1949-1963; Series 5: Miscellaneous subjects, 1922-1962 Part 3: Series 6: Office files, 1955-1967; Series 7: City of Detroit, 1955-1965; Series 8: County Boards and Commission, 1950-1967; Series 9: State of Michigan, 1959-1965; Series 10: Federal Government, 1951-1965; Series 11: Non-government organizations and miscellaneous topics, 1951-1967; Series 12: Published material and photographs Part 1: The papers of Wayne County AFL-CIO were deposited with the Labor History Archives in February 1963 by Wayne County Council. The Wayne County AFL-CIO is the central organization for all AFL-CIO unions that have locals in Wayne County. This organization has grown along with the rise in unionization in the Detroit area. The leadership of Frank Martel was particularly significant in gaining acceptance of unions by the larger community. When the local unions supported it, the County organization was very important in offering financial assistance to organizing drives, in ending factional and jurisdictional disputes, and in supporting political candidates. The Wayne County AFL-CIO Collection covers the period from 1918 to 1948. Important subjects are: - Page 4- Guide to the Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO Records LR000053_MD • Sit-Down Strikes 1930's • Formation of the CIO • World War II Government Policies • Attitudes toward Soviet Union, Communism • Depression Among the correspondents are: Frank Martel, Sidney Hillman, Upton Sinclair, Huey Long, Henry Ford II, William Green, Harry Truman. Governors: Fred Green, Willi am Comstock, Murray D. VanWagoner, Harry Kelly, Frank Fitzgerald, Alex Groesbeck, Kim Sigler, G. Mennen Williams, Laren D. Dickinson, Frank Murphy Senators: Arthur Vandenburg, Homer Ferguson, Prentis Brown, James Couzens. Part 2: Important subjects are: AFL-CIO Merger 1955-58; 1951 DSR Strike; Square D. Strike 1954; Political Elections 1948-60; Great Lakes Strike 1948; Harper Hospital Strike 1949; Great Lakes Seaway; CIO- PAC Activity; Labor Day Parades; Loyalty Board; Blair Moody 1951; Teamsters Union; Murray D. VanWagoner. Among the correspondents are: Michigan Congressmen and Senators, state and federal 1848-62; H.S. Truman; G. Mennen Williams; Al Barbour; F. X. Martel; Homer Ferguson; Lyndon B. Johnson. Description of Series: Series I contains 22 boxes. The first nineteen boxes contain the files of Frank X. Martel, President of the Detroit and Wayne County Federation of Labor (AFL), prior to 1956. This group covers the years between 1948-1956. Boxes 20-22 contain files created by President AJ Barbour after the 1958 AFL-CIO merger in Detroit, plus a file of articles, speeches, and editorials 1959-1964. Series II contains 15 boxes. Political Action and Political Education are primary subjects. Boxes 1 to 12 contain CIO-PAC material. Box 13 contains material related to Congressional Districts Steering committees 1950-1958. Boxes 14-15 contain CIO-PAC minutes 1948-1958 and miscellaneous CIO-PAC literature. Series III contains 14 boxes. Miscellaneous subjects as follows: Labor Day Parades 1949-1960; Public Education 1959-1962; AFL-CIO Scholarship Exams 1959-1961; Governor's Commission on Ind. Production 1956-1959; AFL-CIO Merger (Detroit); Detroit Labor News; Union Printing Company; Clippings: Local Union data collected by Professor Gradstein WSU 1951-1960; Miscellaneous Wayne County CIO files 1951-1960; Miscellaneous Strikes 1948-1956; Wayne County CIO conventions 1949-1957; Miscellaneous local union wall plaques Part 3: The papers of this section of the Wayne County AFL-CIO Collection were deposited in the Labor History Archives by the Wayne County AFL-CIO in April, 1967. The records in this collection pertain to the activities of Al Barbour and Alex Fuller. Al Barbour was elected president of the Wayne County AFL-CIO in 1958 and served in that position until his - Page 5- Guide to the Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO Records LR000053_MD death in February of 1967. While President, he served on a number of public and private committees pertaining to Michigan, Wayne County, and Detroit. Alex Fuller was elected vice-president of the Wayne County AFL-CIO in 1959 and retained this position until June, 1967. He is currently with the United Steelworkers Union. While vice-president of the Wayne County AFL-CIO, he served on a number of public and private committees pertaining to Michigan, Wayne County and Detroit. It should be pointed out that there are records of Alex Fuller interspersed throughout this entire collection. The collection covers the period from 1951 to 1967. Important Subjects: • Civil Rights - Jobs, Housing, Education • Detroit Area Manpower Development • Detroit Poverty Program • Detroit Public Education