ILGWU. Upper South Department records

The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject, company, organization or individual. There are agreements with local garment companies, files for organizations such as the AFL-CIO, and the American for Democratic Action (Angela Bambace was on the board of directors), information on other labor unions which the ILGWU worked with and supported during strikes through donations, correspondence with officers of the ILGWU including David Dubinsky, records of different departments (Eastern out of Town, Education, Legal, Political, Research), and various informal and official reports (such as the Upper South Education Dept. with information classes and costs).



Also with the records are documents detailing the expenses for strikes, minutes, agendas and proceedings for meetings and conferences of the Upper South Department, and rules, benefits and literature for the various Health Funds. There are numerous financial statements, assets and invoices for the Maryland Virginia District, Upper South Department, and Baltimore Joint Board. In fact, the collection consists of abundant material on the Baltimore Joint Board, and those interested in researching the Joint Board and Baltimore locals would find much information within this collection. Records of the Baltimore Joint Board include meeting minutes, financial statements, benefits and administration of the Health Fund, and correspondence to and from the manager.



A section of the collection contains files on manufacturing firms and garment companies within the jurisdiction of the Upper South Department. Included are contracts and agreements, grievances, and correspondence. Of particular note is the various contract disputes for the Kenrose Manufacturing Co. and the subsequent strike and dismissal of workers after the company opened a new plant in Ireland.



Another component to the collection is files for the various organizers and business agents of the Upper South Department. These files are arranged by individual and contain correspondence, organizing activities, expenses incurred while the organizers were on the road traveling, and an assortment of leaflets and flyers that were passed out or put in shops. Also included are the organizers weekly reports. These were forms filled out and turned in at the end of each week in which the organizer listed which shops were visited, how many workers were met, and how many union cards were sent out. The provided a day by day report of the organizer's activities.



While there are indeed folders devoted specifically to Bambace and her personal correspondence, letters, and awards, as the manager of the Department for numerous decades, the majority of all business correspondence, memos and reports originated from her as well. This is also true of the correspondence to and from Charles Kreindler, ILGWU vice president and manager of Local 25 Blouse and Waistmakers, NY who supervised the Departments and received reports.



Of particular interest is a folder of postcards, photos and v-mail, correspondence to and from ILGWU members who were serving in World War II. The men sent letters back to their locals and fellow union members, while the members and locals in turn responded by sending the men letters, copies of "Justice," and care packages. Much correspondence is from Pvt. L Benjamin Brager, who was the former secretary of Local 362 and who often addresses his letters "Dear ladies."



The records of the locals within the Department contain correspondence, financial statements, election material, rosters, and minutes of board meetings. Locals included in the collection: Local 4 Baltimore; Local 106 (Dressmakers) Baltimore, MD; Local 110 (Cutters) Baltimore, MD; Local 201 Norfolk, VA; Local 236 Appomattox, VA; Local 239 (Swiss Embroidery Workers) Baltimore, MD; Local 247 Rockwood, PA; Local 248 Hebron and Sharptown, MD: Local 256 Thurmont, MD: Local 260 Princeton, WV; Local 264 Grafton, WV; Local 267 Glen Rock, PA; Local 293 Portsmouth, VA; Local 312 Harrisburg, PA; Local 316 York, PA; Local 319 Baltimore, MD; Local 327 Baltimore, MD; Local 362 (Pressers) Baltimore, MD; Local 373 Petersburg, MD; Local 393 Westminster, MD; Local 400 Roanoke, VA; Local 402 Bristol, VA; Local 406 Arlington, VA; Local 416 Clarksburg, WV; Local 419 Lynchburg, VA; Local 420 Huntington, WV; Local 422 Pt. Pleasant, WV; Local 425 Martinsburg, WV; Local 430 Martinsville, WV; Local 434 Cumberland, MD; Local 435 Hagerstown, MD; Local 438 Winchester, VA; Local 464 Buchanan, VA; Local 424 Marion, VA; Local 504 Crewe, VA; Local 561 Bedford, VA; Local 585 Cambridge, MD.