Overview of the Collection
Historical NoteThe Carpenters and Joiners Union of Walla Walla, Washington was established on August 12, 1881 as an independent union. Although the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America was also established in 1881, this Walla Walla labor organization remained independent for nearly twenty years. On January 31, 1900, the Walla Walla union allied with the national union, and Local 1214 of the Union Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America was chartered. Local 1214 offered membership to qualified carpenters and joiners in southeastern Washington and served as a protector of laborers' wages and rights. Membership ranged from under 100 to over 300 members. Union members elected officers, including a President, Vice President, Financial Secretary, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer, to direct the organization, communicate with local, regional, and national union representatives, and manage the finances of the union. The union held meetings weekly, biweekly, or monthly at the Labor Temple at 343 S. 3rd St. in Walla Walla. Topics discussed at the meetings included membership issues (new members, members violating union laws, illness and distress among members), political lobbying, information about jobs underway or completed, employers' violation of workers' rights or fair wages, and the union's finances. In addition to monitoring the dues and employment activities of its members, Local 1214 also collected and maintained information about employers that hired union members. In the late 1960s, Local 1214 merged into Pasco's Local 1849 due to declining membership. Content DescriptionThe majority of the collection provides information about members of and membership in Local 1214. Information about Local 1214's political and social activities, finances, and relationships with local employers, other unions, and its parent organization may be gleaned from the Minutes, Financial Records, Correspondence, and Miscellaneous Series. Limited information about local employers and their use of union carpenters' labor resides in the Employers' Audit Reports Series. Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access :
Collection is open for research. Restrictions on Use :Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Copyright not transferred to Whitman College. Preferred Citation :United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 1214 Records, Whitman College and Northwest Archives. Administrative InformationDetailed Description of the CollectionThe following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection. 7.5 linear feet ( 12 boxes)
Includes membership records kept by members and by the union. Members appear to have kept due books throughout their careers. Therefore, the books frequently document previous membership in other locals of the same union. Membership ledgers were maintained by Local 1214 and provide a record of the names, addresses, dates of initiation, and due payments of union members. Membership status reports cover a brief period and seem to have constituted a parallel and, ultimately, a replacement system for tracking membership dues.
0.4 linear feet ( approximately 1 box)
Primarily incoming correspondence from United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America to Local 1214 regarding changes to local laws (includes copies of union by-laws), wages, and relationships among union and non-union workers); from politicians regarding issues affecting organized labor; reports from the Walla Walla Trades and Labor Council ; from the Washington State Federation of Labor and other labor organizations calling attention to political issues affecting unions; also includes reports from Washington State Council of Carpenters.
1.2 linear feet ( 3 boxes)
Monthly summaries of hours worked by union members for regional employers. Series restricted until 2030. Series restricted until 2030.
0.8 linear feet ( 2 boxes)
Recount events at weekly / biweekly / monthly meetings, including an overview of bills paid, revisions to membership (new members, deaths, resignations, expulsion of members), political resolutions, information about jobs performed, and relations to other local labor organizations. A continuous series except for a two year gap from mid 1938-mid 1940.
2 linear feet ( 4 boxes)
Consist primarily of day books, which contain a daily account of deposits and disbursements; receipt books were retained for periods not covered by day books and contain a record of monies received from members; the monthly report of the financial secretary provides information about the number of paying members of the union and monies owed to the United Brotherhood.
0.4 linear feet ( 1 box)
Includes records relating to apprenticeships, unemployment compensation, and federal taxation of employers and the local itself. Unemployment and some tax records restricted until 2035. Unemployment and some tax records restricted until 2035.
SubjectsThis collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Finding aid prepared by Colleen
McFarland, Emiko Hastings, and Janet Mallen in November 2005.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
