Special Collections and University Archives : University Libraries Massachusetts AFL-CIO Records 1902-2008 132 boxes (198 linear ft.) Call no.: MS 369 Collection overview Massachusetts AFL-CIO formed as the Massachusetts state branch of the American Federation of Labor in 1887. Consists of proceedings, reports, resolutions, correspondence, memoranda, minutes, agenda, speeches, statements, clippings, flyers, newsletters, publications, films, photographs, memorabilia, posters, sound recordings, and video recordings. See similar SCUA collections: Labor Massachusetts Political activism Background on Massachusetts AFL-CIO The Massachusetts AFL-CIO was formed as the Massachusetts state branch of the American Federation of Labor in 1887. Its purpose was to organize workers, advance the interests of workers through organization and legislation, and to provide general assistance in the event of difficulties such as strikes and lockouts. Presidents of the Massachusetts State Federation of Labor and Massachusetts AFL-CIO 1887 C.G. Wilkins 1887-1888 Charles Rawbone 1888-1889 Henry Abrahams 1889-1890 G.W. Clark 1890-1891 J.F. Melaven 1891-1894 O.A. Robbins 1895-1899 J.D. Pierce 1899-1900 Jonas Weener 1900-1902 Frank H. McCarthy 1902-1904 James R. Crozier 1904-1906 Francis J. Clarke 1906-1908 Edward Cohen 1908-1909 Philip H. Sweet 1909-1911 Thomas J. Durnin 1911-1912 James W. Wall 1912-1915 E.S. Alden 1915-1916 Joseph J. Hunt 1916-1918 George H. Wrenn 1918-1920 William A. Nealey 1920-1921 Thomas H. Gerraughty 1921-1922 Jeremiah F. Driscoll 1922-1924 William Walsh 1924-1926 Michael J. O'Donnell 1926-1928 John Van Vaerenewyck 1928-1930 Joseph J. Cabral 1930-1934 James T. Moriarty 1934-1938 John F. Gatelee 1938-1942 Nicholas P. Morrissey 1942-1946 William J. Doyle 1946-1949 John J. DelMonte 1949-1955 Henry J. Brides 1955-1958 John A. Callahan 1958-1964 J. William Belanger (first president of Massachusetts AFL- CIO) 1964-1972 Salvatore Camelio 1972-1977 Joseph A. Sullivan 1977-1979 William J. P. Cleary 1979-1990 Arthur R. Osborn 1990-1998 Joseph C. Faherty 1998-2011 Robert J. Haynes 2011- Steven Tolman Scope of collection The Massachusetts AFL-CIO records consist of proceedings, reports, resolutions, correspondence, memoranda, minutes, agenda, speeches, statements, clippings, flyers, newsletters, and publications. Nontextual material includes films, photographs, memorabilia, posters, sound recordings, and video recordings. The records span the years 1902 to 1995. Records of sizable quantity that illustrate well the administrative workings of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO are proceedings and reports of conventions (included for each year from 1902 to 1994, except for a five-year gap from 1919 to 1923); minutes and agenda of Executive Council Meetings (especially for the years 1975 to 1993); and the President's Files (covering 1982 to 1990). In addition, while comprised of much less extensive material physically, the Merger Material in series 1, Subseries C contains significant information with regard to the creation of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, as a result of the 1958 merger of the Massachusetts State Federation and the Massachusetts State CIO. Taken together, the records best document the history of the organization in the 1980s and the early 1990s. This roughly parallels the presidency of Arthur Osborn, who served from 1979 to 1990. The President's Files, found in Series 1, Subseries F, are entirely those of Osborn. Other material in the collection reflects the influence of the Osborn presidency. For example, the records of the Education Committee (Series 1, Subseries H) include material from the College Scholarship Program, the budget of which Osborn worked to expand from $30,000 to $160,000. The impact of Osborn's leadership can also be detected in the records of the Prevailing Wage Campaign of 1988 (Series 3, Subseries A). Osborn served as chairman of the Committee for Quality of Life, which defeated a state ballot referendum that would have repealed the Prevailing Wage Law in Massachusetts. Moreover, Osborn represented labor on numerous boards of organizations not affiliated with the AFL-CIO, some records of which can be found in Series 4. The series and subseries are as follows: Series 1. Administrative, 1902-1995 Subseries A. Constitutions, 1949-1987 Subseries B. Convention Publications, 1902-1994 Subseries C. Merger Material, 1955-1958 Subseries D. Convention Files, 1957-1991 Subseries E. Executive Council Meetings, 1962-1993 Subseries F. President's Files, Arthur R. Osborn, 1982-1990 Subseries G. Secretary-Treasurer's Files, 1982-1990 Subseries H. Education Committee, 1968-1993 Subseries I. Committee on Political Education (COPE), 1927-1992 Subseries J. Legislative Department, 1973-1989 Subseries K. Public Employees Department, 1989-1991 Subseries L. Newsletters, 1963-1995 Subseries M. Subject Files, 1975-1991 Subseries N. Miscellaneous Publications, 1965-1992 Series 2. Financial, 1959-1989 Subseries A. Miscellaneous Material, 1959-1985 Subseries B. Real Estate: 44 Temple Place, Boston, 1986-1989 Series 3. Campaigns, 1988-1993 Subseries A. Prevailing Wage Campaign (Question 2), 1988 Subseries B. Campaign for Massachusetts' Future (Question 3), 1990 Subseries C. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), 1993 Series 4. Non AFL-CIO Groups with Labor Representation, 1977-1994 Subseries A. Chief Justice's Commission on the Future of Courts in Massachusetts, 1990 Subseries B. Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), 1977-1991 Subseries C. Massachusetts Special Commission on BusinessTax Policy, 1992-1993 Subseries D. Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Citizens Advisory Board, 1989-1991 Subseries E. Tax Equity Alliance of Massachusetts (TEAM), 1988-1994 Subseries F. United Way, 1984-1992 Subseries G. University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees 1988-1991 Subseries H. Workers' Compensation Advisory Council, 1986-1992 Series 5. Non-textual and oversized material, 1956-1993 Subseries A. Films, ca.1960s - ca.1970s Subseries B. Memorabilia, undated Subseries C. Oversized Material, 1956-1992 Subseries D. Photographs, 1981-1993 Subseries E. Sound Recordings, 1985-1993 Subseries F. Video Recordings, 1989-1993 More detailed descriptions of the subseries can be found below. With the exception of the Convention Files, minutes of the Executive Council Meeting, and Subject Files, the records were received from the office of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO with little or no discernible arrangement. While the file headings were maintained where possible, the arrangement of this collection was created by the processor. Series 1 reflects the hierarchical structure of the organization, as set forth in the 1987 edition of the constitution, the most recent year included in the collection. Series 2 and 3 are arranged chronologically, while Series 4 and 5 are arranged alphabetically by organization name and type of material, respectively. Nontextual and oversized material was removed from the normal series locations, and can be found in Series 5. Arrangement Series 1 reflects the hierarchical structure of the organization, as set forth in the 1987 edition of the constitution, the most recent year included in the collection. Series 2 and 3 are arranged chronologically, while Series 4 and 5 are arranged alphabetically by organization name and type of material, respectively. Series descriptions Series descriptions Series 1. Administrative 1902-2008 38.67 linear feet (29 boxes) A. CONSTITUTIONS, 1949-1987 Arranged chronologically. one constitution exists for the year 1949 for the Massachusetts State CIO, Industrial Union Council. The rest, representing thirteen different years, are for the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. B. CONVENTION PUBLICATIONS, 1902-1994 Arranged chronologically. Complete except for a gap from 1919 to 1923. Includes proceedings, reports, resolutions, and yearbooks; not each type of record exists for each year. Proceedings are the most prevalent, included in each year except for the above gap. Reports are the next most represented item; resolutions and yearbooks do not appear in the collection until 1964. Two copies have been kept where possible. C. MERGER MATERIAL, 1955-1958 Arranged alphabetically by subject. Includes correspondence, minutes, reports, agreements, and memoranda documenting the negotiations between the State Federation and the Massachusetts State CIO, which lead to their merger in 1958. D. CONVENTION FILES, 1957-1991 Arrangement is chronological; for the years 1981 to 1987, further arrangement within each year is alphabetical by subject. These records consist of correspondence, agenda, resolutions, lists, speeches, tickets, and invoices. Records of the Massachusetts State CIO conventions exist for 1957 and 1958; records of the merger convention exists for 1958; thereafter, all material pertains to the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. Contact sheets have been removed from folder 161, and can be found in Series 5, Subseries D. E. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETINGS, 1962-1993 Arranged chronologically. Consists of Minutes, agendas, reports, and correspondence. Each year contains these records in that order; not all of the years, however, contain each of the four types of records. Executive Officers meetings are included here, and are identified as such in the container list. For those dates preceded by an asterisk, an audio recording of the meeting exists, and can be found in Series 5, Subseries E. F. PRESIDENT'S FILES, ARTHUR R. OSBORN, 1982-1990 Arranged alphabetically by subject. Includes correspondence, memoranda, appointment books, reports, lists, notes,