University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Women's Trade Union League of Milwaukee.

Records, 1948-1956.

Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 26

.8 cubic ft. (2 archives boxes)

ABSTRACT: Records of the Milwaukee chapter of an organization formed to support trade unionism and to promote equality of women within the unions; including correspondence, minutes, financial and membership records; and bulletins, newsletters, and similar materials from other labor and social organizations. The records document efforts to obtain a medical health plan, securing equal rights in industry and government, and supporting local unions on strike.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

SCOPE AND CONTENT: The materials in the collection fall into two categories: those relating to the organization and activities of the Milwaukee chapter, and those concerning national and regional labor and social-action organizations.

The first group consists of general correspondence from 1948 through 1955, and includes letters from local labor groups, the national office, the local membership, etc. There is also a small correspondence with Congressman Clement Zablocki and with Senators Joseph McCarthy and Alexander Wiley. The minutes of both the membership meetings (1949-1955) and the Executive Board meetings (1949-1953) are present, as well as financial and membership records (1949-1955).

The materials relating to national and regional groups consist mostly of bulletins, newsletters, information sheets concerning the times. There is a large collection of materials from the Committee for the Nation's Health (1949-1953); the Bulletin of the New York Women's Trade Union League; and notes and reports of the Interstate Conferences of the Illinois and Wisconsin Trade Union Leagues, and other similar organizations. For the most part, these materials are mimeographed or printed items.

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY: The Milwaukee Chapter of the Women's Trade Union League was founded in 1949 to promote "industrial democracy" in the trade union movement and to secure the equality of women within union organization. The Milwaukee group was affiliated with the National Trade Union League of Washington, D.C.

The Milwaukee Chapter was active in promoting social reform in the first half of the decade of the 1950s. It was particularly active in both local and national efforts to obtain a medical health plan, and top secure equal rights for women in industry and in government. The Chapter also supported local Milwaukee unions in various strikes and other labor activities. It also provided a social organization for Milwaukee working women, and occasionally held parties and other functions for the membership and guests.

The national organization was disbanded in 1950, but the Milwaukee Chapter continued to function until 1956, when, despite an attempt at reorganization, a decline in interest and membership forced the termination of its activities.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Women's Trade Union League of Milwaukee. Records, 1948-1956. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 26. Wisconsin Historical Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

ACQUISITION: Presented by Mrs. Anthony J. King of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in April 1966.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

Milwaukee (Wis.)--History--Sources.
Trade-unions--Wisconsin--Milwaukee--Records and correspondence.
Women--Employment--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Women in trade-unions--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Women--Wisconsin--Milwaukee--Societies and clubs.

MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 26	BOX	FOLDER
Bulletins, Announcements, Questionnaires, 1949-1955	2	3
Committee for the Nation's Health, 1949-1952	2	8
Committee for the Nation's Health, 1953	2	9
Correspondence, 1948	1	1
Correspondence, 1949	1	2
Correspondence, 1950	1	3
Correspondence, 1951	1	4
Correspondence, 1952	1	5
Correspondence, 1953	1	6
Correspondence, 1954-1956	1	7
Correspondence, undated	1	8
Correspondence, McCarthy, Joseph, 1951-1954	1	9
Correspondence, Wiley, Alexander, 1949-1954	1	10
Correspondence, Zablocki, Clement, 1949-1955	1	11
Financial Records, 1949-1955	2	2
Illinois and Wisconsin Leagues, Interstate Conferences, 1948-1951	2	6
Membership Records, 1949-1956	2	1
Minutes, Executive Board Meetings, 1949-1953	1	14
Minutes, Membership Meetings, 1949-1955	1	13
Miscellaneous Labor and Social Welfare Materials, 1949-1955	2	10
National Women's Trade Union League of America, 1949-1950	2	5
New York Women's Trade Union League, 1950-1954	2	7
Newspaper Clippings, 1949-1951	2	4
Organizational Materials, Constitution, By-Laws, 1949-1950	1	12