Montana State AFL-CIO records, 1895-2000

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Montana State AFL-CIO
Title
Montana State AFL-CIO records
Dates
1895-2000 (inclusive)
Quantity
9.4 linear feet
Collection Number
MC 341 (collection)
Summary
Records (1895-2000) of the Montana State Federation of Labor and the Montana State AFL-CIO consist of correspondence, financial records, and convention materials, subject files, minutes, voting records, and clippings. There are subgroups for the Committee on Political Education (COPE) and the Workers' Education Club of Helena, Montana.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

The 1893 industrial depression made clear that only well-organized labor unions with large treasuries could survive economic downturns. In response, the Butte Industrial Conference and the State Trades and Labor Assembly (Helena) considered a merger into one organization sufficient in size and financial resources to advocate for Montana workers’ economic and political interests in 1895. The organization became the State Trades and Labor Council of Montana (MSTLC). The federation officially changed its name to the Montana Federation of Labor (MFL) in 1903.

The state federation initially rejected the conservative policies of the craft-oriented American Federation of Labor (AFL), instead allying with the Western Federation of Miners (WFM) in 1898 to create the Western Labor Union (WLU). The WLU affiliated with unions “committed to organizing all workers regardless of craft, skill, race, gender, or ethnic origin.”

By 1902, the MFL openly endorsed the Socialist Party of Montana. Electoral failures in 1904 and 1908, however, eroded support for Socialism within the federation. A growing number of federation members disagreed with the MFL’s close association with the Socialist Party. As a result, local unions began to endorse candidates within the Democratic and Republican Parties who pushed for labor legislation.

A fight over chartering unions unaffiliated with either the AFL or the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) weakened the MFL in 1906, when the WFM ordered 29 of their affiliates to withdraw from the federation. A year later, MFL president Alex Fairgrieve attended the national AFL convention in an attempt to shore up the state federation. While there, he assured the delegates that the MFL differed little in policy and procedure from the AFL. Fairgrieve recognized that “In the past the Montana Federation has been controlled by those who rebelled against the other States and against the American Federation of Labor,” but promised a different future. Upon his return to Montana, Fairgrieve completed the necessary paperwork for AFL affiliation and the state federation received its AFL charter on January 2, 1908.

Beginning in 1914, Montana went through a twenty-year period of “open shops,” which severely undercut unions in the mining and lumber industries. This changed in 1934 with the establishment of the National Labor Relations Act. NLRA regulations guaranteed workers the right to organize “without fear of discrimination or discharge.” With labor’s hands untied for the first time in two decades, industrial organizing swept the state. The union shop was once again re-established in the labor strongholds of Butte, Anaconda, and Great Falls.

In 1935, the Committee for Industrial Organization formed within the AFL in response to the growing number of industrial unions comprised of unskilled workers. A rift between the AFL and the CIO soon resulted in the expulsion of the CIO from the AFL and the establishment of the Congress of Industrial Organizations. The Montana State Industrial Union Council affiliated with the national CIO on November 16, 1938. The two state federations operated without much of the bitterness that engulfed their two national organizations, helping to prepare the way for their eventual merger in 1956 as the Montana AFL-CIO.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Records of the Montana State Federation of Labor and the Montana State AFL-CIO consist of correspondence, financial records, organizational records, reports, subject files, minutes, and clippings.

The correspondence falls into two groups for files kept by President James D. Graham (1927-1937) and that kept by James S. Umber (1958-1967). Financial records (1895-1951) consist primarily of per capital dues contributed by local unions around the state. These are useful for documenting when various unions were active. There are also audits (1934-1961). Organizational records consist of convention proceedings (1933-1966), and nominations and elections of officers. Subject files concern organization of workers in New Deal projects, opposition to Right-to-Work legislation, politics, etc.

There are subgroups for the Committee on Political Education (COPE) and the Workers' Education Club of Helena, Montana. The COPE subgroup includes general correspondence (1959-1965), minor financial records, reports of Activities Director Albert F. Root, and other materials. The Workers' Educational Club subgroup consists of a record book of articles of incorporation, minutes, and legal documents.

An addendum to the collection was added in 2015 which includes AFL-CIO Board meeting minutes (1992-2000), Montana Family Union minutes (1990-1995), voting records of Montana Legislatures from the Montana AFL-CIO as well as various Montana based organizations (1955-1989), subject files on the 1974 election from COPE, the 1976 US presidential campaign, and the 1983 state senate committees. The rest of the addition consists of news clippings focusing on the AFL-CIO (1982- 1987).

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

[item description and date]. Name of Collection. Collection Number. [box and folder number]. Montana Historical Society Research Center. Archives. Helena, Montana.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged by subgroup and series. Some material housed in Archives Map Case, Manuscript Volumes, and Multimedia cabinet. See Location of Collection above and inventory below for more information.

Location of Collection

16:2-6

Location of Collection

82:8-1 (Addendum starting at Box 10)

Location of Collection

150:4-1 (Volumes)

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request.

Processing Note

Processed in 2007

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Montana State Federation of Labor / Montana State AFL-CIO, 1895-1979Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
General Correspondence (Stephen Ely; James D. Graham)
Box/Folder
1 / 1
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America, Local 242 (Missoula)
1936
1 / 2-3
American Federation of Labor (William Green, president)
1927-1936
1 / 4
American Federation of Labor (Frank Morrison, secretary)
1927-1936
1 / 5
Billings local unions
1930-1935
1 / 6
Butte local unions
1930-1936
1 / 7
Cereal Workers Union
1936, undated
1 / 8
Circular letters
1929-1937
1 / 9
Fort Peck Federal Labor Union #20192
1935-1936
1 / 10
Great Falls local unions
1928-1935
1 / 11
Laverne Hamilton
1933-1935
1 / 12
Highway construction projects
1933
1 / 13
International Hod Carriers, Building and Common Laborers Union of America
1934-1936
1 / 14
Laundry Workers International Union, Butte local # 25
1919, 1929-1930
1 / 15
Missoula County Central Trades and Labor Council
1933
1 / 16
Montana Legislative Assembly
1929-1933
1 / 17
Montana Relief Commission
1934-1935
1 / 18
Montana State Board of Education (re wage scale on school construction projects)
1933-1935
1 / 19
National Labor Relations Board
1934-1935
1 / 20
National Recovery Administration
1933-1935
1 / 21
National Reemployment Service (James D. Graham, state director)
1934
2 / 1-3
National Reemployment Service (James D. Graham, state director; includes contractor bills, primarily from Ft. Peck Dam project)
1935-1938
2 / 4
Public Works Administration
1933-1935
2 / 5
Retail Clerks International Protective Association
1931-1933
2 / 6
Sidney Federal Labor Union #19687
1933-1935
2 / 7
U. S. Department of Labor
1932-1933
2 / 8
Thomas J. Walsh
1929-1930
2 / 9
Burton K. Wheeler
1929-1937
2 / 10
A-Y; unidentified (correspondents include Anaconda Smeltermen's Union, Clarence Blewett, Bozeman Barbers' Union, Emergency Conservation Work, McCusker and Bailey, O. J. Murphy, Silver Bow Trades and Labor Council, Socialist Party, United Mine Workers of America, Utah State Federation of Labor, Wallace, Idaho Trades and Labor Council re organizing of Butte Miners Union)
1929-1937
General Correspondence (James S. Umber)
Box/Folder
2 / 11
AFL-CIO
1955-1964
2 / 12
AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education (COPE)
1963-1966
2 / 13
A-F (correspondents include American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Montana State Council 9; American Red Cross, Congressman James F. Battin, Harry Cloke, Committee for Paradise Dam, Violet M. Eastman, R. D. Eaton, Educational Cooperative Publishing Company)
1959-1965
2 / 14
G-L (correspondents include Gerald Givres, Glacier County United Labor Council, Leo Graybill, Greyhound Bus Lines, Group Research Inc., Ray A. Hanson, George B. Heliker, Robert A. Hill, Hotel and Restaurant Employees and Bartenders International Union, Charles V. Huppe, International Association of Machinists, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, International Woodworkers of America, Lloyds of London, Lester H. Loble, Lumber and Sawmill Workers Union)
1958-1966
2 / 15
Senators Mike Mansfield and Lee Metcalf
1959-1965
2 / 16
Perry Melton (Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers; Montana State Conference of Painters and Allied Crafts)
1963-1964
2 / 17
M-T (correspondents include Lena Mattausch, Missoula County Democratic Women's Club, Montana Democratic Labor Activities Committee, Montana Farmers Union, Montana Secretary of State, J. L. Moore, National Planning Association, Congressman Arnold Olsen, Roland R. Renne, Scobey Lions Club, Seena A. Shirodkar, Fred A. Sonnenburg, Joseph Strnisha)
1958-1967
2 / 18
U-Y, unidentified (correspondents include U.S. Bonneville Power Administration, U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, United Steelworkers of Anaconda, Joseph A. Vanesko)
1963-1967
2 / 19
Circular letters
1955-1960
General Correspondence
Box/Folder
2 / 20
D-J (correspondents include Jerry Driskoll, Eugene Fenderson, John Forkan, Greg Hagenston, and Don Judge)
1996-2003
Court Papers
Box/Folder
2 / 21
Stephen Ely vs. Montana State Federation of Labor
1943
Financial Records
Box/Folder
2 / 22
Audits (incomplete run)
1934-1961
3 / 1-3
Cash books
1907-1916
Oversize Folder
1
Financial report of secretary-treasurer (includes list of affiliated unions)
1915-1916
Box/Folder
3 / 4
Financial statements
1966
3 / 5-6
Journals: receipts from affiliated unions
1906-1909
Volume
1-4
Journals: receipts from affiliated unions
1939-1951
5
Ledger: affiliated unions
1895-1900
Box/Folder
4 / 1
Ledger: affiliated unions
1900-1909
Volume
6-8
Ledgers: affiliated unions
1909-1915
Box/Folder
4 / 2
Ledger: affiliated unions
1948-1950
4 / 3
Ledger: affiliated unions (not the same as Box 4, Folder 1)
1906-1907
Volume
9
Per capita tax register: local unions
1917-1923
Box/Folder
4 / 5
President's accounts, James S. Umber
1959-1960
Volume
10
Trial balance book
undated
11
Trial balance book: local unions
1923-1925
Legal Documents
Box/Folder
5 / 1
Proposed contract with Anaconda Copper Mining Company
undated
Organizational Records
Box/Folder
5 / 2
Committee for Union Democracy articles of incorporation
1957
5 / 3
Constitution: Montana State CIO Industrial Union Council
undated
5 / 4
Constitution and bylaws: Montana State Federation of Labor / Montana State AFL-CIO
1930, 1956, 1967, 1972
5 / 5-15
Convention proceedings and related materials (incomplete set)
1933-1966
5 / 16
Minutes: Building Trades Dept.
1934
5 / 17
Minutes etc.: Executive Board (scattered)
1930-1936, 1972, 1976 1992, 2001
5 / 18
Nomination and election of officers
1929-1931
5 / 19
Requests to affiliate
1935
5 / 20
Union elections
1951
Press Releases
Box/Folder
5 / 21
Press releases
1960-1964, 2002, undated
Reports
Box/Folder
5 / 22
Legislative report
1963, 1973, 1979
5 / 23
Reports to national AFL-CIO
1964
Subject Files
Box/Folder
5 / 24
"24th Annual Convention"
1980
5 / 25
"46th Annual Convention"
2002
5 / 26
Communist Party
1927-1934
5 / 27
Convention invitations from out-of-state unions
1965
5 / 28
Democratic Platform Convention
1960
5 / 29
Equal Opportunity League
1958
5 / 30
Farmer-Labor Institute
1961-1964
5 / 31
Funds collected for organization of Butte miners
1927
5 / 32
Group Research (re right-wing groups)
1962-1964
5 / 33
Harvard University Trade Union Program
1959-1965
5 / 34
Helena High School (re wage scale for construction workers
1934
6 / 1
Injunction law
1932-1933
6 / 2
Insurance
1965
6 / 3
Lumber and Sawmill Workers Union, Montana District Council
1956
6 / 4
Map: AFL-CIO districts
undated
6 / 5
Missoula motel dispute
1963
6 / 6
Montana Contractors Association and labor representatives meeting
1936
6 / 7
Montana Industrial Health Committee
1952
6 / 8
Montana Legislative Assembly compilation of bills re hours (9th-24th sessions)
1905-1935
6 / 9
Montana Legislative Council (Montana Federation of Labor council, not state council)
1933
6 / 10
Montana State CIO Industrial Union Council constitution
undated
6 / 11
Northern Cheyenne training program for jobs at Colstrip #3-4
circa 1980
6 / 12
Oil leases on state land (re school funding)
1953
6 / 13
Political
1928-1950, undated
6 / 14
Political: governor's race Eugene Mahoney vs. Forrest Anderson
1968
6 / 15
Public relief
1933-1934
6 / 16
Public works employees
1933-1934
6 / 17
Right-to-Work" legislation
1952-1955
6 / 18
Right-to-Work" legislation: ads, articles, speeches, etc.
1956
6 / 19
Right-to-Work" legislation: correspondence
1956
6 / 20
Right-to-Work" legislation: petitions
1956
6 / 21
Right-to-Work" legislation: intercollegiate debate kits
1957
6 / 22
Right-to-Work" legislation: ads and articles
1958
6 / 23
Right-to-Work" legislation: clerk and recorder regulations re petitions
1958
6 / 24-25
Right-to-Work" legislation: correspondence
1958
6 / 26
Right-to-Work" legislation: flyers and pamphlets
1958
6 / 27
Right-to-Work" legislation: legislative campaign
1958
6 / 28
Right-to-Work" legislation: mailing lists
1958
6 / 29
Right-to-Work" legislation: Montana Citizens for Economic Progress (anti-right-to-work group)
1958
7 / 1-3
Right-to-Work" legislation: Montana United Labor Council; Montana Labor Advisory Committee
1958
7 / 4-6
Right-to-Work" legislation: petitions (includes requests for names of signers, withdrawal of signatures, etc.)
1958
7 / 7
Right-to-Work" legislation: press releases
1958
7 / 8
Right-to-Work" legislation: Rev. Paul Conine controversy
1958
7 / 9
Right-to-Work" legislation: general information
1958
7 / 10
Right-to-Work" legislation: ads, brochures, etc.
circa 1960-1969
7 / 11
Right-to-Work" legislation: Blackfeet Indian Tribal Council resolution
1964
7 / 12
Right-to-Work" legislation: correspondence
1962-1965
7 / 13
Right-to-Work" legislation: brochures, etc. of proponents of Right-to-Work
1962-1965
7 / 14
Rural Electric Cooperatives
1964-1965
7 / 15
Sugar beet workers
1934-1935
7 / 16
Unemployment compensation questionnaire
1962
7 / 17
Unfair labor practices
1930-1933
7 / 18
United States Congress
1932
7 / 19
Veterans Hospital, Fort Harrison, addition (re working conditions)
1931-1932
7 / 20
Workers Education Bureau
1936
7 / 21
Workers Protective Union
1935
7 / 22
Workmen's Compensation
1929-1935, undated
7 / 23
Yearbook publishing
1932
7 / 24
Yearbook publishing - Annual Convention
1980-1983
Speeches and Writings
Box/Folder
7 / 25
Carl F. Kraenzel, "On Montana's Education Problems"
1962
7 / 26
Miscellaneous speeches
undated
multimedia
MM 67
Recorded debate: "Gibbons-Billings KFDW" Ed Gibbons, publisher of Alert Magazine of Los Angeles and Harry Billings, publisher of People's Voice of Helena, discuss American Legion's support for Legislative investigation of subversion, and the People's Voice's alleged pro-Communist views.
undated
Miscellany
Box/Folder
7 / 27
Fidelity bond: Ernest Salvas
1958
7 / 28
List of labor officials in Western Congressional District
1966
7 / 29
List of right-wing groups
circa 1964
7 / 30
Miscellaneous
undated, 2001
Clippings
Box/Folder
7 / 31
James S. Umber
1961-1964

Committee on Political Education (COPE), 1959-1965Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
General Correspondence
Box/Folder
8 / 1-6
Chronological (correspondents include national COPE; national AFL-CIO; local unions, etc.
1959-1965
8 / 7
Chronological (Women's Activities Division, Gretchen Billings)
1959-1960
Financial Records
Box/Folder
8 / 8
Affiliated unions per capita
1961
8 / 9
Financial reports
1959-1960
8 / 10
Matching grants
1959-1961
8 / 11
Warrants
1963-1964
Organizational Records
Box/Folder
8 / 12
COPE Convention
1960, 1972
Reports
Box/Folder
8 / 13-15
Field reports: Activity Director Albert F. Root
1959-1963
8 / 16-17
Field reports: Director Albert F. Root
1964-1965
8 / 18
Reports to Montana State AFL-CIO Convention: Activity Director Albert F. Root
1958-1960
Subject Files
Box/Folder
9 / 1
Cascade County COPE
1964
9 / 2
Citizenship Education meetings
1959
9 / 3
Congressman James F. Battin record
1962
9 / 4
List of nominations for Montana legislature
1964
9 / 5
Membership
1959-1961
9 / 6
National 50% refund
1959-1961
9 / 7
Pilot Program
1959-1960
9 / 8
Voter education drive
1964
Miscellany
Box/Folder
9 / 9
COPE brochures
1959

Workers' Educational Club (Helena, Mont.), 1905-1909Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Organizational Records
Box/Folder
9 / 10
Record book (includes articles of incorporation, minutes, lease agreement, reports, etc.)
1959-1965

Addendum, 1955-2000Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Minutes
Box/Folder
10 / 1-27
Montana AFL-CIO Board minutes
1992-2000
11 / 1-10
Montana Families Union minutes
1989-1995
Reports
Box/Folder
11 / 11
Voting Records MT/Legislature MT AFL-CIO
1955-1965, 1971-1974
11 / 12
MT AFL-CIO Legislative Bulletins/Legislative Reports
1975
Voting Records
11 / 13
"MT AFL-CIO"
1977-1983
11 / 14
International Union of Mine, Mill, and Smelter Worker; The Joint Legislative Board of Railway Brotherhoods; State Council of Hotel & Restaurant Employees; The People's Voice
1955-1967
11 / 15
Montana Farmers Unions; Montana Associated Utilities; Montana Rural Electrics
1969, 1971, 1973, 1974
11 / 16
Just Us; Ayes & Nays; Montana Environmental Information Center
1975
11 / 17
Just Us Inc.; Montana Democratic State Central Committee; Montana Environmental Information Center; Citizens Legislative Coalition; Common Cause; Women's Lobbyist Fund
1976-1983
12 / 1-3
"MT AFL-CIO"
1985-1989
12 / 4
"MT AFL-CIO" [Bill Outcomes]
1991
12 / 5
Montana Chamber of Commerce
1993
Correspondence
12 / 6
James Murry ( include A G Pillen, Walter Marshall, Lyle Leeds, Arnold Olson, Fred Barrett, James L Grahl, John A Layne III et. al, Marilyn Koetter, Howard Rosenleaf)
1969-1974, 1983
Press Releases
12 / 7
Re: Ed Smith, Richard Shoup
1972
Speeches/Writings
12 / 8
Testimonies of James Murry to: the Environmental Protection Agency; the Constitutional Convention Committee on Public Health, Welfare, Labor & Industry; the Montana Economic Development Board
1972, 1984
Subject Files
12 / 9
1972 Campaigns Correspondence, Ephemera, Clippings
1972
12 / 10
"Campaign and Election-1974" [COPE]
1974
12 / 11
[Campaigns: Presidential General]
1972
12 / 12
"Congressional Race-1973-1974"
1973-1974
12 / 13
Elections and Campaigns Campaign Reform
1973-1974
12 / 14
[Great Falls Tribune Union Contract Negotiations]
1986
12 / 15
[James Murry]
1976, 1977, undated
12 / 16
Jim Murry Retirement
1991
12A / 1
Legal Cases
1977-1982
12A / 2
"MT State Senate Committee Information: 1983"
1983
12A / 3
"President Campaigns: Carter: Party Platforms-1976"
1976
12A / 4
Solidaniase/Solidarity/ Lech Walesa
1976
12A / 5
Solidarity Day 1981
1981
Clippings
12A / 6
"Campaign - Censure - 1974"
1974
12A / 7
"Campaigns: Presidential General"
1974, 1975, 1976
12A / 8
Western District House Campaign
1974
12A / 9
1976 Montana Senate Campaign (Mike Mansfield)
1976
12A / 10
"Campaign '76 Other Democratic Presidential Candidates "
1976
12A / 11 - 14 / 2
Montana AFL-CIO
1969-1991
14 / 3
"AFL-CIO Probe: IAM Election Stories August 22-October 4, 1984"
1984
14 / 4
"AFL-CIO Probe: MT Law Week (Frank Adams) 10-12 and 10-19-84"
1984
14 / 5
"AFL-CIO Probe: Extra 10-21-84 IRs"
1984
14 / 6
"AFL-CIO Probe: Extra 10-22-84 IRs"
1984
14 / 7
"AFL-CIO Probe: October 1984 Press"
1984
14 / 8
"AFL-CIO Probe: Cozzens' News Releases (October-November 1984"
1984
14 / 9
"AFL-CIO Story List 1-21/11-7 1984"
1984
14 / 10
"AFL-CIO Probe: November 1984 Press"
1984
14 / 11
"AFL-CIO Probe: I.R. Retractions"
1984
14 / 12
"AFL-CIO Probe: December 1984 Press"
1984
14 / 13
"Audit Probe Dec '85-Jan '86"
1985-1986
14 / 14
"AFL-CIO Probe 01/85-12/85"
1985
14 / 15
"AFL-CIO Probe: 1986-1987 Press"
1984
Miscellaneous
14 / 16
Press Related Items
1972-1983
14 / 17
1972, 1983, 1984
Audio Recordings
multimedia
MM 67
Gibbons-Billings KFDW
Undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Labor unions--Legislation--Montana
  • Labor disputes--Montana
  • Labor unions--Montana

Personal Names

  • Billings, Gretchen
  • Graham, James D., 1874-1951
  • Montana State AFL-CIO (creator)
  • Murry, James W.
  • Root, Albert F, 1908-1989
  • Umber, James S., 1903-1981

Corporate Names

  • American Federation of Labor
  • Montana State AFL-CIO
  • Montana State Federation of Labor