Introduction | Agency History | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory

Introduction

The records of the Toledo Central Labor Union were transferred to the Center for Archival Collections on April 1, 1976, by Stephen P. Gietschier, Co-Director of the Ohio Labor History Project with the cooperation of Dale Stormer, Secretary-Treasurer of the Toledo Area AFL-CIO Council.

The records document the years 1890-1963 with the majority of minutes, business agent's reports, correspondence, tax records, financial ledgers, and attendance records covering the years 1890-1894, 1897-1918, and 1942-1959. Literary and property rights have been dedicated to the public and duplication is permitted for the purposes of preservation and scholarly research. Joanne Passet, a graduate assistant employed by the Ohio Labor History Project, processed the collection.

Agency History

On May 17, 1879, in response to a call issued for the purpose of establishing a central organization for unions in the Toledo area, delegates from printers', cigarmakers', lake seamen's, ironmolders', and carpenters' unions met and formed the Trade and Labor Council of Toledo and Vicinity. In 1881, the Council was reorganized as the Central Toledo Labor Union.

The Central Labor Union's (CLU) main goal was the thorough organization of all labor. Specifically the CLU was in favor of prison labor reform, compulsory education, and equal pay for equal work for both sexes. Methods to achieve these objectives included legislative lobbying without supporting a political party as a group, withdrawing support (buying of products/services) of those businesses illustrating anti-union tendencies, grievance and arbitration hearings and if necessary, the strike.

Throughout the history of the CLU, its members have been affiliated with the American Federation of Labor (AFL). Those unions organized by the Congress of Industrial Organizations were not admitted to the CLU until the merger of the two (AFL-CIO) in 1955.

The CLU has evolved to the present day Toledo AFL-CIO Council. At the writing of the manuscript register, Harry P. Morell was President and Dale Stormer was the Secretary-Treasurer. As of October 1997, Mr. Ron Coughenour serves as Executive Secretary, with an office at 2300 Ashland Avenue, Toledo, Ohio 43620.

Scope and Content

The records of the Toledo Central Labor Union (CLU) provide detailed information regarding the development of local unions and their cooperative efforts within the Toledo area from 1890 to approximately 1960.

The minutes are an excellent source for studying the development of new unions, the political, legislative, and civic activities of unions, the support given unions on strike or involved in grievance/arbitration hearings, and cooperative actions undertaken in support of unions not only within northwest Ohio but also throughout the nation. The minutes are complete for 1890-1894, 1897-1900, 1904-1918, January-June 1927, and 1942-1959, however, the gaps occurring weaken the full potential research value of this record series.

Another important series in this collection is the CLU business agent's reports, 1900-1913, 1916-1925. Although gaps do occur, these reports provide valuable insights into the progress of member unions and the daily activities of the agent--unions meetings attended and expenses incurred.

Correspondence is scattered throughout the years 1918-1925 and includes circular letters regarding legislation, strikes, and CLU activities and correspondence with Toledo City Council. Financial records include state and federal tax reports (1944, 1946-1957); financial ledgers including information on accounts--expenditures and receitps (1911-1920, 1944-1946, 1950-1963); per capita tax records (1907-1908, 1914-1927, 1933-1934) providing information on union membership and dues; financial records documenting the Willys-Overland strike (1919-1920); and payroll registers (1951-1955).

Attendance records (1919-1920, 1930-1935, 1937); officers ballots (1908, 1909, 1924, 1933); Board of Control members (1953); Board of Business Agents' records (1912, 1934); questionnaires, forms, and programs complete the collection. The records are arranged by series and by date. Loose materials are identified and filed separately following the volume with page reference given.

Series Description

PROCEEDINGS

ATTENDANCE RECORDS
1919-1920, 1930-1935, 1937
Arranged chronologically
Includes name of union, delegates, dates.

BOARD OF BUSINESS AGENTS' RECORDS
July-September 1912, 1934.
Arranged chronologically
Includes minutes of meetings, membership records, constitution.

BOARD OF CONTROL MEMBERSHIP RECORDS
1953.
Arranged chronologically
Contains names and date--one entry.

LOCAL #72--GLOVE WORKERS MEMBERSHIP ROSTER
January 1926.
Arranged alphabetically by name.
Includes name, initiation fee, date, dues paid.

MEMBERSHIP CHARGES AND FINES
1903-1907.
Arranged chronologically by quarter ending date.
Contains union name, name of member, amount of charge/fine, reason and date.

MINUTES
November 1890-May 1894, January 1897-January 1900, May 1904-January 1918, January-June 1927, February 1942-November 1959.
Arranged chronologically with loose papers filed immediately behind volume in which located.
Includes acceptance of union credentials, union reports and activities, treasurer's reports, strike assistance, national and state legislative issues, civic affairs, attitudes towards World War I and II.

CORRESPONDENCE

CORRESPONDENCE
1918-1925 (scattered)
Arranged after volume in which found and then chronologically.
Includes circular letters from other unions and correspondence with the Toledo City Council.

REPORTS

BUSINESS AGENT'S REPORT
October 1900-April 1913, December 1916-July 1925.
Arranged chronologically with loose papers filed immediately behind volume in which located.
Includes agent's activities, meetings with unions, expenses, meetings with other business agents.

FINANCIAL RECORDS

FINANCIAL LEDGERS
1911-1920, 1944-1946, 1950-1963.
Arranged either by account or chronologically.
Includes receipts and expenditures by account, check registers giving to whom check issued and amount paid.

HALL AND OFFICE RENT BOOKS
1915-1919, (1933).
Arranged by account (union) and chronologically within the account.
Includes amount paid, union name and date.

PAYROLL REGISTERS
1951-1955
Arranged chronologically
Includes name, address and position of payee, gross and net amounts, deductions, dates.

PER CAPITA TAX LEDGERS
1907-1908, 1914-1927, 1933-1934.
Arranged by union and chronologically.
Includes union name, number of members, amounts paid, dates.

TAX RECORDS
1944, 1946-1957.
Arranged chronologically
Includes state wage reports and federal income and excise tax forms..

WILLYS-OVERLAND RELIEF LEDGERS
1919-1920.
Arranged chronologically
Includes relief payments received from outside sources and expenses paid for strike relief.

PRINTED MATERIAL

PROGRAM FOR "THE FACE AT THE WINDOW"
n.d.
No arrangement.
Program for production by the Toledo Organized Labor Dramatic Club.

OLD AGE PENSIONS PAMPHLET
n.d.
No arrangement.
Description of legislation being submitted by Ohio State Federation of Labor.

PAMPHLET FROM THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR
1922.
No arrangement.
Report of activities of the non-partisan political campaign committee of the AFL in the primaries and elections of 1922.

Inventory

Box 1

1. Minutes, November 6, 1890-December 29, 1892
2. Minutes, January 12, 1893-May 3, 1894
3. Minutes, January 7, 1897-December 23, 1897
4. Minutes, January 6, 1898-December 22, 1898
5. Minutes, January 5, 1899-January 4, 1900
6. Minutes, May 5, 1904-January 25, 1906
7. Minutes/Resolutions, June 30, 1904
8. Minutes, November 17, 1904 (page 87)
9. Amendment to Constitution, September 7, 1905 (page 230)
10. Resolution, n.d.

Box 2

1. Minutes, July 25, 1907-March 18, 1909
2. Report of Grievance Committee, January 9, 1908 (page 77)
3. Resolution presented to Central Labor Union, December 10, 1908
4. Tellers'report, election of Central Labor Union officers, January 2, 1909
5. Minutes, April 1, 1909-June 8, 1911
6. Letter to Toledo Ciity Council, September 15, 1910 (page 178)
7. Resolution, September 29, 1910 (page 184)
8. Minutes, June 22, 1911-December 19, 1912
9. Grievance Committee report, August 3, 1911 (page 30)
10. Minutes, June 2, 1913-February 11, 1915
11. Report of Legislative Committee (partial), March 13, 1913 (page 41)
12. Report of Special Committee, April 24, 1913

Box 3

1. Minutes, February 25, 1915-January 27, 1916
2. Minutes, February 10, 1916-January 25, 1917
3. Minutes, February 8, 1917-January 24, 1918
4. Minutes, January 27, 1927-June 30, 1927
5. Minutes, February 19, 1942-July 31, 1942
6. Minutes, August 4, 1942-December 22, 1942
7. Minutes, January 7, 1943-June 30, 1943

Box 4

1. Minutes, July 1, 1943-December 30, 1943
2. Minutes, January 13, 1944-May 18, 1944
3. Minutes, June 1, 1944-December 22, 1944
4. Minutes, January 5, 1945-May 17, 1945
5. Minutes, June 7, 1945-December 20, 1945
6. Minutes, January 3, 1946-May 16, 1946
7. Minutes, June 6, 1946-December 19, 1946
8. Minutes, January 2, 1947-May 15, 1947
9. Minutes, June 5, 1947-December 18, 1947
10. Minutes, January 8, 1948-June 17, 1948
11. Minutes, July 1, 1948-December 16, 1948

Box 5

1. Minutes, January 6, 1949-December 15, 1949
2. Minutes, January 5, 1950-December 21, 1950
3. Minutes, January 4, 1951-December 20, 1951
4. Minutes, January 3, 1952-December 18, 1952
5. Minutes, January 15, 1953-December 17, 1953
6. Minutes, January 7, 1954-December 16, 1954
7. Minutes, January 6, 1955-December 15, 1955

Box 6

1. Minutes, January 5, 1956-December 20, 1956
2. Minutes, January 17, 1957-December 19, 1957
3. Minutes, January 2, 1958-December 18, 1958
4. Minutes, January 15, 1959-November 5, 1959

Box 7

1. Business Agent's reports, October 1, 1900-January 30, 1902
2. Business Agent's reports, February 13, 1902-September 10, 1903
3. Business Agent's reports, September 24, 1903-November 17, 1904
4. Business Agent's reports, December 1, 1904-February 8, 1906

Box 8

1. Business Agent's reports, February 22, 1906-February 6, 1908
2. Business Agent's reports, March 5, 1908-April 14, 1910
3. Business Agent's reports, July 17, 1909 (page 177)
4. Business Agent's reports, April 28, 1910-April 24, 1913
5. Financial statement, May 11, 1911
6. Business Agent's reports, December 28, 1916-March 4, 1920
7. Report of Negotiations with Toledo Keys and Light Co., April 18, 1918 (page 131)
8. Circular letter explaining Moon Bill, April 5, 1918 (page 132)
9. Circular letter concerning Smith-Sears Bill and new system of postal rates, May 17, 1918 (page 143)
10. Letter to Mayor Cornell Schreiber, December 28, 1918 (page 199)
11. Assessment Notice, June 18, 1919 (page 240)
12. Circular letter concerning Overland Strike, February 25, 1920 (page 294)

Box 9

1. Business Agent's reports, March 18, 1920-January 5, 1922
2. Political questionnaire, June 25, 1920 (page 33)
3. Invitation to Labor Day Parade, June 30, 1920 (page 38)
4. Circular letter from Non-Partisan Political Campaign Committee, July 6, 1920 (page 39)
5. Circular letter concerning trade relations with Russia, January 4, 1921 (page 88)
6. Circular letter and list of donations to Defense Educational Fund, April 12, 1921 (page 127
7. Clipping from Toledo Blade, August 31, 1921 (page 173)
8. Business Agent's reports, January 19, 1922-July 16, 1925
9. Card listing results of Printers' strike, February 16, 1922 (page 26)
10. Letter to City Council, July 18, 1922 (page 64)
11. Circular letter concerning Labor Temple, August 7, 1922 (page 65)
12. Letter to City Council, August 2, 1922
13. Clipping with quotation from President Harding's strike message, August 18, 1922
14. Letter to City Council President, September 14, 1922
15. Letter/reply to Mr. A. Gabriel, September 20/22, 1922
16. Circular letter concerning delegates to CLU, November 25, 1922
17. Letter to City Council, December 29, 1922 (page 102)
18. Circular letter concerning organization, January 15, 1923 (page 104)
19. Letter to New York Shirt Waist Co./Letter to W. T. Grant Co., February 7, 1923
20. Letter to the editor, February 6, 1923 (page 110)
21. Letter to City Council, March 29, 1923 (page 116)
22. Invitation to Labor Congress, March 17, 1923 (page 117)
23. Circular letter concerning CLU Special Organization Committee, January 8, 1924 (page 171)
24. Letter to City Council, February 21, 1924 (page 180)
25. Letter to delegates of CLU Organization Committee, February 27, 1924 (page 181)
26. Letter to Hon. I. R. Sherwood, February 20, 1924 (page 182)
27. Letter to Yellow Cab Drivers, March 22, 1924 (page 188)
28. Letter to Gilson D. Light and Harry Jennings/reply from G. D. Light, April 14, 1924/April 22, 1924 (page 193)
29. Circular letter concerning baseball, April 11, 1924 (page 194)
30. Credential for Committee from Toledo Consumers League, May 20, 1924 (page 200)
31. Circular letter concerning Labor Day, May 13, 1924 (page 201)
32. Letter from Frank Miller, Commissioner, Division of Water, October 6, 1924 (page 244)
33. Circular letter concerning Labor Forward Movement, February 6, 1925 (page 269)
34. Circular letter concerning Labor Temple, June 26, 1925 (page 295)

Box 10

1. Tax Records, Federal, 1944
2. Tax Records, Federal, 1946
3. Tax Records, Federal, 1947
4. Tax Records, State, 1947
5. Tax Records, Federal, 1948
6. Tax Records, State, 1948
7. Tax Records, Federal, 1949
8. Tax Records, State, 1949
9. Tax Records, Federal, 1950
10. Tax Records, State, 1950
11. Tax Records, Federal, 1951
12. Tax Records, State, 1951
13. Tax Records, Federal, 1952
14. Tax Records, State, 1952
15. Tax Records, Federal, 1953
16. Tax Records, State, 1953
17. Tax Records, Federal, 1954
18. Tax Records, State, 1954
19. Tax Records, Federal, 1955
20. Tax Records, State, 1955
21. Tax Records, Federal, 1956
22. Tax Records, State, 1956
23. Tax Records, Federal, 1957
24. Tax Records, State, 1957
25. Financial Ledger, January 1911-September 1920
26. Reports of trustees and one bill, 1912, 1913
27. Financial Ledger, January 1944-December 1945, February 1946

Box 11

1. Financial Ledger, January 1952-December 1955
2. Financial Ledger, January 1954-December 1954
3. Financial Ledger, January 1955-December 1955
4. Financial Ledger, January 1956-December 1956
5. Alesh Job, Findlay, Ohio, June-August 1956
6. Financial Ledger, January 1957-December 1957

Box 12

1. Financial Ledger, January 1959-December 1959
2. Financial Ledger, January 1960-December 1960
3. Financial Ledger (receipts), January 1952-February 1960
4. Financial Ledger (receipts), January 1957-December 1963

Box 13

1. Per Capita Tax Records, August 1907-February 1908
2. Per Capita Tax Records, January 1914-June 1916
3. Per Capita Tax Records, July 1916-March 1919

Box 14

1. Per Capita Tax Records, April 1919-December 1923
2. Per Capita Tax Records, September 1920-February 1924
3. Trustee's reports, 1921-1923
4. Per Capita Tax Records, February 1924-December 1927
5. Trustee's reports, 1924-1926; Report on Business Agent's car, April 7, 1927
6. Per Capita Tax Records, January 1933-December 1934

Box 15

1. Hall and Office rent book, January 1915-September 1916
2. Hall and Office rent book, July 1916-June 1919
3. Hall and Office rent book, [1933]
4. Check Register (Legislative Fund), September 1950-November 1959
5. Check Register, July 1956-March 1957
6. Payroll Register, January 1951-December 1953
7. Payroll Register, January 1954-December 1955

Box 16

1. Ledger--Overland Relief, 1919
2. Ledger--Overland Relief, 1919-1920
3. Check Ledger--Overland Relief, 1919
4. Expenditures Ledger--Overland Relief, 1919-1920

Box 17

1. Attendance records, 1919
2. Attendance records, 1920
3. Financial Ledger with attendance records, 1933
4. Report on Dance, April 20, 1933
5. Attendance records, 1930-1933
6. Attendance records, n.d.
7. Attendance records, n.d.
8. Attendance cards, 1935
9. Attendance cards, 1937

Box 18

1. Board of Control members, 1953
2. Board of Business Agents records, July-September 1912, 1934, n.d.
3. Local #72--Glove Workers membership roster, January 1926
4. Index--accounts payable, n.d.
5. Ballots for officers, 1908, 1909, 1924, 1933
6. Delegates credentials, September-October 1937
7. General election questionnaire, 1956
8. Grievance form, June 1901
9. Non-Partisan Successes--report from AFL, 1922
10. Old Age Pensions pamphlet, n.d.
11. Per capita tax blanks, n.d.
12. Program for "The Face at the Window", n.d.
13. Sheet metal workers' International Alliance circular, n.d.

Wrapped Volume

1. Membership charges and fines ledger, March 1903-September 1907

Related Collection at:

The University of Toledo
The Ward M. Canaday Center
Collection No. 090

Central Labor Union of Toledo and Vicinity
Records, 1915-1971
1 linear foot
Processed by Jame L. Wraight
September 1992

Introduction: Central Labor Union of Toledo and Vicinity

Records of the Central Labor Union of Toledo and Vicinity were donated to the Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections in September of 1992. The collection documents activities of one of Toledo's first and most important labor unions from the 1910s through the 1950s.

There are no restrictions on the use of this collection. [The collection is available at the University of Toledo.]

Inventory: Central Labor Union of Toledo and Vicinity

Box 1

1. Toledo Building Trades Council Minutes, June-September 1915
2. Toledo Building Trades Council Minutes, March-September 1920
3. Attendance Rosters, [1958]-1959
4. AFL-CIO Merger Materials [ca. 1956-1958]
5. CLU Official Yearbook, 1915
6. CLU Official Yearbook, 1916
7. CLU Official Yearbook, 1917
8. CLU Official Yearbook, 1918
9. CLU Yearbook, 1919
10. CLU Yearbook, 1945
11. CLU Yearbook, 1952
12. CLU Yearbook, 1956
13. CLU Yearbook, 1957
14. AFL-CIO Toledo Constitution and Bylaws, 1958
15. Miscellaneous Legal/Financial Materials
16. Accountant's Reports, 1942-1956
17. Hall Rental Records, 1966
18. Old Central Inc. Stock Certificates, 1938-1971
19. Old Central Inc. Rental Statements, n.d.
20. Old Central Inc. Rental Statements, 1941-1942
21. Old Central Inc. Rental Statements, 1943-1944
22. Old Central Inc. Rental Statements, 1945-1946
23. Old Central Inc. Rental Statements, 1947
24. Old Central Inc. Rental Statements, 1948-1949
25. Old Central Inc. Rental Statements, 1950
26. Old Central Inc. Rental Statements, 1951-1952
27. Miscellaneous, n.d.

Manuscripts by Subject | Labor Collections