Reel 50

Scope and Contents From the Collection: Consist of correspondence, reports, ledgers, legal documents, leaflets, printed material, photographs, and newspapers published by the union. These document the activities of the Southern Tenant Farmers' Union from its origins through its transformations into the National Farm Labor Union in 1946 and the National Agriculture Workers Union in 1952, and through its merger with the Amalgamated Meat Cutters Union in 1960. The records also contain selected materials from the Socialist Party...

Scope and Contents The main topic in the papers for these months is Mitchell's attempt to obtain better contracts for menhaden fishermen which would be in compliance with the safety standards set under the Jones Act; see especially his letters to AMC Maryland organizer Melvin H. Tyler (Oct. 10) and to lawyer James Youngdahl (Nov 19) and a draft copy of the proposed contract (Nov 23). There is also a memorandum by Mitchell on the status of the contract negotiations (Dec 13). Another important issue was the...

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Payroll ledger of Local 300 , January, 1964 to April, 1965; Constitution and By-Laws of Local 300; proposals by Mitchell for on-the-job training programs for farm machine operators and menhaden fishermen in Louisiana; report by Frank Lapeyrolerie on the training project for sugar cane workers in Reserve, Louisiana (11-pages plus attachments); contracts with various menhaden fishing companies

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Folders 1743 and 1744 -- Not Filmed

Scope and Contents A dispute arose when the menhaden fisherman organized by Local 300 demanded their own charter from the AMC. The dispute might best be followed through the correspondence between Mitchell and organizer Howard Harrity, in Mitchell's reports to Patrick Gorman (Jan 6, 22, Feb 4), and in his memoranda to the AMC on this subject (Feb 16, 24). There is an exchange of correspondence between Mitchell and historian Jerold S. Auerbach concerning Auerbach's interpretation of the early days of the STFU...

Scope and Contents The charter dispute concerning the menhaden fishermen was resolved at a meeting at AMC Headquarters in Chicago on March 4, during which it was decided to reorganize Local 300 to meet the fishermen's objections; see the memorandum on the meeting (March 4) and Mitchell's report to Patrick Gorman on the progress of the reorganization (April 20). There is also a copy of a letter from organizer Willie Berry to Howard Harrity protesting the decision (March 18). The union was steeped in contract...