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

Introduction

The records of the International Typographical Union, Local 296, were transferred to the Center for Archival Collections, Bowling Green State University on June 1, 1978, by Stephen P. Gietschier, Co-Director of the Ohio Labor History Project, with the cooperation of Olin T. Zurflugh, President of Local 296. The collection, consisting of two-thirds linear foot, extends from 1918 to 1976. However, most of the records are concerned with the 1957 lockout of the Lima News.

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 and completed the register in September 1980.

Agency History

The International Typographical Union, Local 296 of Lima, Ohio, received its first charter on May 27, 1891. The Local was chartered a second time on October 1, 1909, after setting a dispute with the American Federation of Labor over assessments. The first charter members were: W. E. Langley, J. W. Porter, John C. Moses, H. Z. WShite, P. H. Gallagher, O. E. Bennet, T. B. Armstrong, W. H. Engle, C. W. Miles, F. C. Snow, C. F. Vogel, C. L. Huddle, A. S. Long, E. E. Langley, Clifford Hurst, C. H. Bogardus, Maggie Sheehan, and Harvey A. Bush. The membership of the Local at the time of the second charter was twenty-six, with James W. Lynch serving as President and J. W. Hays as Secretary-Treasurer.

The major historical event of this union was the 1957 lockout/strike at the Lima News. A result of conflicts between labor and new management, the strike resulted in the publication of an alternataive paper, the Lima Citizen.

Currently (1997), Local 296's office is located at 735 Ewing Avenue, Lima, Ohio 45801.

Scope and Content

The records of International Typographical Union Local 296 include minutes, a roll book, correspondence, newspaper clippings, financial reports, constitutions and by-laws, broadsides, brochures and programs. The documentation of the 1957 lockout/strike is thorough and includes correspondence from locals sympathizing with Local 296, news clippings and a complete run of The Bulletin, published for union members participating in the strike. Other years are sporadically documented and the minutes only cover three non-consecutive segments of the local's past.

The regular meeting minutes for Local 296 are available for the years January 1918-December 1922, January 1942-May 1953, and August 1959-December 1965. One roll book is available for the years 1945-1952. Correspondence is limited to the years 1919, 1922, and 1957. However, the material for 1957 is quite extensive. Other materials focusing on this 1957 lockout/strike of the Lima News include news clippings, The Bulletin and other bulletins and broadsides issued to keep the public informed of the issues and events. Additional records include contracts for 1957-1958, 1968- 1970, and 1975-1976; programs and reports of delegates to the 1922 and 1949 International Typographical Union convention; a 1948 and 1955 revision of the constitution and by-laws; a few broadsides announcing labor union activities; a brochure about the Lima News; and a photograph of Olin T. Zurflugh and Howard Feigh.

Series Description

PROCEEDINGS

CONSTITUTION/BY-LAWS.
1948, 1955.
Printed booklets containing constitution and by-laws of Local 296.

MINUTES.
January 1918-December 1922, January 1942-May 1953, August 1959-December 1965.
Arranged chronologically
Includes list of officers, reports of financial secretary, resolutions, committee reports, business with other unions, membership information, contract negotiations, Board of Directors' meetings and reports.

ROLL BOOK.
1945-1952.
Arranged chronologically and alphabetically by members' names.
Includes member's name and meeting attendance record. Also includes in back a rough draft of minutes of a May 15, 1949 meeting.

MINUTES--MERGER COMMITTEE.
November 25, 1957.
Includes a list of committee members, election of offices, and other business conducted.

CORRESPONDENCE

CORRESPONDENCE (MISCELLANEOUS).
December 19, 1919, October 26, 1922.
Arranged chronologically
One personal letter of thanks and one letter concerning organizing the industries in Lima.

SUBJECT FILES

LIMA NEWS LOCKOUT/STRIKE-THE BULLETIN
May 10, 1957-June 27, 1957.
Arranged chronologically
Complete files of a newspaper published by members of union striking or locked-out by the Lima News. The collection is available in the original and in microfilm (produced by the Ohio Historical Society).

LIMA NEWS LOCKOUT/STRIKE-CORRESPONDENCE.
May 10, 1957-June 27, 1957.
Arranged chronologically including both incoming and outgoing correspondence.
Contains letter of support from other locals and the International Typographical Union as well as correspondence between Local 296 and the management of the Lima News.

LIMA NEWS LOCKOUT/STRIKE-THE JUNIOR CITIZEN.
February 18, 1957-August 5, 1957, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Complete files of the predecessor of the Lima Citizen--newspaper published by union members as alternative to the Lima News.

LIMA NEWS LOCKOUT/STRIKE-MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS.
May-August 1957, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Includes work schedule for The Bulletin, news releases, financial information on the Lima Citizen, articles, and agreement.

LIMA NEWS LOCKOUT/STRIKE-NEWSCLIPPINGS.
December 1956-April 1958, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Includes news and magazine articles on lockout/strike.

LIMA NEWS LOCKOUT/STRIKE-STRIKE BULLETIN.
[May 1957](#1-#8).
Arranged by number of issue.
Bulletins issued by the Lima Newspaper Guild to inform the public about the strike and lockout.

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

JOB CONTRACT.
July 1, 1968-June 30, 1970; October 1, 1975-September 30, 1976.
Arranged by contract effective dates.
Contains negotiated agreements on employment hours, wages, and conditions between Local 296 and employer.

LABOR AGREEMENT.
1957-1958.
A copy of the labor agreement to be negotiated by Local 296 and the Lima News.

PRINTED MATERIAL

CONVENTION MATERIALS.
[April] 1922. October 1949.
Includes a delegates report on convention (1922) and a convention program (1949).

MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS.
1957-1958, n.d.
Includes brochure on Lima News, diploma, broadsides, speech, photograph.

Inventory

Box 1

1. Minutes - regular (includes reports of financial secretary), bound, January 6, 1918-December 3, 1992
2. Minutes - regular, November 7, 1920
3. Minutes - regular, January 15, 1942-May 17, 1953
4. Minutes - regular, August 26, 1959-December 15, 1965
5. Roll Book (contains minutes for May 15, 1949 on last page), 1945-1952

Box 2

1. Constitution and Bylaws, 1948, 1955
2. Correspondence, miscellaneous, December 19, 1919, October 26, 1922
3. The Bulletin, May 10, 1957-June 27, 1957
4. Correspondence - strike/lockout, February 18, 1957-August 5, 1957, n.d.
5. The Junior Citizen, May 24, 1957-June 28, 1957
6. Newsclippings - strike/lockout, December 1956-April 1958, n.d.
7. Strike Bulletin, [May 1957]
8. Job Contract, July 1, 1968-June 30, 1970, October 1, 1975-September 30, 1976
9. Labor Agreement, 1957-1958
10. Report of Delegate to Conference, [April] 1922
11. Convention Program, October 1949
12. Miscellaneous Materials, 1957-1958, n.d.

Manuscripts by Subject | Labor Collections