B. Jacob Potofsky. Assistant President and Secretary-Treasurer's correspondence, 1930-1946.
Scope and Contents
This correspondence covers a wide variety of topics, including the struggles of the union after its break from the United Garment Workers; its organizing campaigns in the major clothing manufacturing centers in the U.S. and Canada; locals and joint boards of the ACWU; charitable organizations; the depression and its impact on the clothing industry; the New Deal; politics and political organizations, including the American Labor Party; strikes and lockouts in the men's garment industry; union business matters; women in the union; worker education; and working conditions in the garment industry.
The officers represented include: Bessie Hillman, Jacob Potofsky, Joseph Schlossberg, John Abt, August Bellanca, Sidney Benjamin, Beatrice Bisno, Hyman Blumberg, Sol Brandzel, Alex Cohen, Tecia Davidson, Gladys Dickason, Charles W. Ervin, J.B.S. Hardman, Abraham Hershkowitz, Louis Hollander, Leo Krzycki, Fred Reinfold, Richard Rohman, Frank Rosenblum, Lester Rosner, Howard Samuel, Jacob Sheinkman, and Valentin Wertheimer. Those officers whose papers are more substantive (Bessie Hillman, Jacob Potofsky, Joseph Schlossberg, and August Bellanca) are represented by individual catalog records.
Other individuals and organizations represented include: the AFL; Dorothy Jacobs Bellanca; the CIO; Sidney Hillman; the NRA; the U.S. Dept. of Labor; and the Women's Trade Union League.
Dates
- 1914-1980
- 1920-1950 (bulk)
Creator
- From the Collection: Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (creator, Organization)
Language of Materials
Collection material in English
Conditions Governing Access
Access to some portions of the collection is restricted; contact Kheel Center reference archivist for further details.
Extent
208.33 cubic feet
Abstract
Correspondence documenting Jacob Potofsky's activities while serving in several capacities for the ACWA, including assistan president and assistant general secretary-treasurer. This correspondence mainly concerns union organizing, various locals and joint boards of the ACWA, relations with garment manufacturers, and relations with other labor organizations in the U.S. and abroad. The bulk of the correspondence dates from the 1930s; consequently, materials on topics such as relief for unemployed workers from charitable organizations and labor-led anti-fascist activities are also represented. Other topics covered include: worker education; consumer organizations; government agencies (in particular the NRA); and politicians, political organizations, and political campaigns.
Abstract
Individuals represented in the collection include: Mary Anderson; Alben Barkley; August Bellanca; Dorothy Jacobs Bellanca; Sidney Hillman; David Dubinsky; Fiorello LaGuardia; John L. Lewis; Tom Mooney; Joseph Schlossberg; Rose Schneiderman; Robert F. Wagner; and Matthew Woll.
Abstract
Major organizations represented include: the AFL; the American Labor Party; Brookwood Labor College; Consumers Union; the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union; the Jewish Daily Forward; the Jewish Labor Committee; Labor's Non-Partisan League; the National Consumers' League; the National Labor Relations Board; the National Recovery Administration; the Rand School of Social Science; the U.S. Dept. of Labor; the United Textile Workers of America; the Works Progress Administration; and various subordinate units of the ACWA.
Repository Details
Part of the Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives Repository
227 Ives Hall
Ithaca NY 14853