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

Introduction

The records of the International Typographical Union Local 260 date from 1890 to 1981. The collection consists of four linear feet of constitution and bylaws, minutes, correspondence, contracts, agreements, audit reports, pamphlets, programs, brochures, circulars, flyers, and clippings.

The major portion of the collection was donated to the Center for Archival Collections on June 15, 1978, through the cooperation of H. Thomas Rodabaugh, former Local 260 president. The remaining records were acquisitioned March 11, 1982. Literary and property rights have been dedicated to the public and duplication is permitted for the purposes of preservation and scholarly research. This register was prepared by Cynthia Nigh, graduate assistant with the History Department in March 1982.

Agency History

International Typographical Union 260 represented the composing room personnel employed by The Courier newspaper in Findlay, Ohio. Receiving its charter in June of 1890 with twelve charter members, Local 260 continued to represent the workers for over ninety years. Usually three-year or one-year contracts with "openers" were negotiated with Findlay Publishing Company. The last contract was negotiated in 1973.

Other International Typographical Union chapels in Findlay include Findlay Printing and Supply Company and Kennedy Printing Company. Local 260 aided in the formation of an ITU chapel in Fostoria at the Review Times.

Following a conversion from the hot metal procedure to a cold metal procedure, increasing automation and a subsequent reduction in work force, Local 260 suffered the same fate as the chapels associated with the Toledo Blade and other newspapers. The composing room jobs were purchased by the Findlay Publishing Company and Local 260's charter was revoked. H. Thomas Rodabaugh, former president of Local 260, donated the collection to the Center for Archival Collections. The union offices were located at 607 Jacobs Avenue, Findlay, Ohio.

Scope and Content

The records of the International Typographical Union Local 260 of Findlay, Ohio, document the activities of a twentieth century labor union. Consisting primarily of correspondence, contracts and agreements, and printed material, the collection spans the years from 1890 to 1981. However, the bulk of the material dates from 1954 to the mid-1970s.

Although Local 260 was chartered in June of 1890, minutes are not available until 1925, from which time they are complete until 1975. It is believed that the early section of minutes was misplaced due to frequent changing of officers resulting in a shuffling of records. The minutes provide a general overview of the meetings and are not detailed. Often, following the dismissal of a regular meeting, a chapel meeting was held to continue a particular discussion. Chapel minutes, available form March 7, 1964 to October 1, 1966, are more specific.

One of the major strengths of this collection is the contract and wage agreements between Local 260 and the Findlay Publishing Company complete from 1954 to 1980. This information, illustrating the development and progress of union-company relations, provides much detail into the collective bargaining process. Former Local 260 president, H. Thomas Rodabaugh, notes that the union always acted fairly and amiably. This is apparent as no strikes occurred during the ninety-one year working relationship with the Findlay Publishing Company. In addition, the contracts and agreements document the steady increase in wages and benefits.

The audit reports from 1973 to 1978 illustrate the expenses incurred by the union to maintain a successful operation. Also available in these reports are the number of journeymen and apprentices for each given time period. With the exception of a dues ledger dating from 1890 to 1891, no other early financial records exist.

Series Description

PROCEEDINGS

CHAPEL MEETING MINUTES
March 7, 1964-October 1, 1966.
Arranged chronologically
Contains name of chapel chairman, motions, communication received, detailed discussion of union problems, and the name of recording secretary.

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
1957, 1958, 1968, 1947-1976, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Contains International Typographical Union Local 260's constitution and bylaws, papers concerning amendments to the constitution and bylaws, a Book of Laws listing general and convention laws, and a union proposition.

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
February 7, 1925-October 4, 1975.
Arranged chronologically
Includes motions, communications received, record of expenditures, committee reports, wage and contract discussion, amendments to the bylaws, signature of the secretary, and from March 7, 1936 to September 3, 1960, names of members present and president in the chair.

CORRESPONDENCE

CORRESPONDENCE
Incoming, 1918, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1945, 1949, 1954-1974;
Outgoing, 1920, 1930, 1954-1974.
Arranged chronologically
Includes a record of incoming and outgoing correspondence concerning revisions of the constitution and bylaws, contract negotiations and labor problems for over fifty-five years.

SUBJECT FILES/CASE FILES

INDIVIDUAL FILES
May 17, 1962; December 2, 1970; May 1972.
Arranged chronologically
Contains a statement of policy by a foreman concerning working during lunch hour, profanity, attendance at chapel meetings, and reporting absences. Also includes an Interim Report on The Morning Telegram Strike and correspondence from the president of the International Typographical Union Number 6 to the president of the ITU giving the union version of the dispute.

REPORTS

FINANCIAL REPORTS
May 1973-April 1978.
Arranged chronologically
These audit reports include membership, a detailed financial statement, dates when audits are to be conducted, and to whom copies should be mailed.

MONTHLY REPORTS
March 5, 1966.
Contains an apprentice committee report dealing with time spent on ad solicitation.

SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS
October 16-17, 1971.
Arranged alphabetically.
Includes delegates' reports from other Ohio typographical unions to the Ohio Typographical Conference discussing economic conditions in the respective cities, current wage rates, and number of journeymen and apprentices. Contains the following cities: Akron, Canton, Chillicothe, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Hamilton, Marion, Springfield, Toledo, Youngstown.

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

AGREEMENTS
June 1954-June 1975, n.d. (scattered).
Arranged chronologically
Contains agreements by and between the Findlay Typographical Union 260 and the Findlay Publishing Company, and Local 260 and the Fostoria Review Times.

CONTRACTS 1958-1965; 1972-1980; n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Includes job contracts between the International Typographical Union Local 260 and the Findlay Printing and Supply Company and the Kennedy Printing Company, newspaper contracts between Local 260 and the Findlay Publishing Company, and a contract file dealing with routine procedures and common problems arising in the course of collective bargaining. Also contains a suggested sample contract and miscellaneous contract papers.

LEGAL CASES
August 1960.
Contains a National Labor Relations Board notice of representative hearing between Findlay Printing and Supply Company and the Amalgamated Lithographers of America.

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

LEDGERS
1890-1891, May 1894-July 1898.
Arranged alphabetically.
Includes a dues ledger and receipts and expenditures all in one volume.

PRINTED MATERIAL

BOOKLETS
1955-1981.
Arranged chronologically
Includes a secretary's manual, Associated Press stylebook, industrial pension plan working manual, retirement trust plan, negotiated pension plan, decisions on appeals, minimum wages and hours data, and the official directory of the ITU.

BROCHURES
1971-1973, 1979.
Arranged chronologically
Includes apprentice regulations, proceedings from ITU conventions, changes in teh laws adopted and appeals read before conventions, council decisions by jurisdiction, and appellant and miscellaneous statistical information.

CIRCULARS
1971-1974, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Includes memorandum and notices, guide to payboard regulation, fringe benefit rules, and proper procedures for interim opening negotiations.

CLIPPINGS
n.d.
Arranged by subject matter.
Contains two book donations by Findlay Typographical Union Local 260.

FLYERS
n.d.
Arranged by subject matter.
Includes questionnaires about Local 260, marketing promotion to aid the San Rafael Strike, and an editorial from Local 570 in Lawrence, Kansas.

NEWSLETTERS
May 10, 1973-April 29, 1976 (scattered).
Arranged chronologically
Contains a weekly newsletter, the ITU Review, dealing with ITU news, calendar of events, changes in local offices, convention news and photographs.

PAMPHLETS
January 2, 1960-October 16, 1974; 1972; 1976; 1979-1980; n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Contains local meeting dates, ITU ballots, ITU old age pension information, tests for admission to the printing trades, and questions and answers from a litho examination.

PROGRAMS
April 19-20, 1969.
Arranged chronologically
Contains a souvenir program and minutes from the 123rd Semi-Annual Ohio Typographical Conference.

Inventory

Box 1

1. Constitution and bylaws, scale of wages and amendments, 1957
2. Constitution and bylaws, 1957, 1968, 1975
3. Constitution and bylaws, papers regarding constitution and bylaws, 1960s
4. Constitution and bylaws, Book of Laws, 1958, 1974, 1976
5. Constitution and bylaws, proposition by the union, n.d.
6. Minutes, regular meetings, February 7, 1925-December 4, 1943
7. Minutes, regular meetings, February 5, 1944-December 9, 1957
8. Minutes, regular meetings, September 7, 1957-May 4, 1963
9. Minutes, loose papers from minute book (6 pieces), October 7, 1957-October 1962
10. Minutes, regular meetings, June 1963-October 4, 1975
11. Minutes, loose papers from minute book (21 pieces), June 1963-October 4, 1975
12. Minutes, chapel meetings, March 7, 1964-October 1, 1966

Box 2

1. Correspondence, incoming, October 17, 1918
2. Correspondence, outgoing, January 24, 1920
3. Correspondence, incoming, September 12, 1927
4. Correspondence, incoming, August 5-December 2, 1929
5. Correspondence, outgoing, March 12, 1930
6. Correspondence, incoming, October 14, 1931
7. Correspondence, incoming, Janaury 11, 1945
8. Correspondence, incoming, March 3, 1949
9. Correspondence, incoming, 1954
10. Correspondence, outgoing, 1954
11. Correspondence, incoming, 1955
12. Correspondence, outgoing, 1955
13. Correspondence, incoming, 1956
14. Correspondence, incoming, 1957
15. Correspondence, outgoing, 1957
16. Correspondence, incoming, 1958
17. Correspondence, outgoing, 1958
18. Correspondence, incoming, 1959
19. Correspondence, outgoing, 1959
20. Correspondence, incoming, 1960
21. Correspondence, outgoing, 1960
22. Correspondence, incoming, 1961
23. Correspondence, outgoing, 1961
24. Correspondence, incoming, 1962
25. Correspondence, outgoing, 1962
26. Correspondence, incoming, 1963
27. Correspondence, outgoing, 1963
28. Correspondence, incoming, 1964
29. Correspondence, outgoing, 1964
30. Correspondence, incoming, 1965
31. Correspondence, outgoing, 1965
32. Correspondence, incoming, 1966
33. Correspondence, outgoing, 1966
34. Correspondence, incoming, 1967
35. Correspondence, outgoing, 1967
36. Correspondence, incoming, 1968
37. Correspondence, outgoing, 1968
38. Correspondence, incoming, 1969
39. Correspondence, outgoing, 1969
40. Correspondence, incoming, 1970
41. Correspondence, outgoing, 1970
42. Correspondence, incoming, 1971
43. Correspondence, outgoing, 1971
44. Correspondence, incoming, 1972
45. Correspondence, outgoing, 1972
46. Correspondence, incoming, 1973
47. Correspondence, outgoing, 1973
48. Correspondence, incoming, 1974
49. Correspondence, outgoing, 1974
50. Correspondence, incoming, 1979
51. Correspondence, discussion between union member and one trying to pass exam, n.d.
52. Correspondence, n.d.
53. Subject file, foreman's statement of policy, May 17, 1962; December 2, 1970
54. Subject file, Morning Telegram Strike, May 1972
55. Reports, apprentice committee report, March 5, 1966
56. Reports, Ohio Typographical Unions reporting to Ohio Typographical Conference, October 16-17, 1971

Box 3

1. Financial, calendar of audit reports, n.d.
2. Financial, audit reports, May-October 1973
3. Financial, audit reports, May-October 1974
4. Financial, audit reports, November-October 1975
5. Financial, audit reports, February-October 1976
6. Financial, audit reports, August-April 1977
7. Financial, audit reports, May-April 1978
8. Agreements, Local 260 and the Findlay Publishing Company, June 1954
9. Agreements, Local 260 and the Findlay Publishing Company, June 1957
10. Agreements, Local 260 and the Fostoria Review Times, June 24, 1960
11. Agreements, Local 260 and the Findlay Publishing Company, June 1961
12. Agreements, Local 260 and the Findlay Publishing Company, June 1964
13. Agreements, Local 260 and the Findlay Publishing Company, June 1965
14. Agreements, Local 260 and the Findlay Printing and Supply Co., 1966
15. Agreements, Local 260 and the Findlay Publishing Company, June 1967
16. Agreements, Local 260 and the Findlay Printing and Supply Co., June 1968
17. Agreements, Local 260 and the Findlay Publishing Company, 1967-1970
18. Agreements, Local 260 and the Findlay Printing and Supply Co., June 1969
19. Agreements, Local 260 and the Findlay Publishing Company, June 1970
20. Agreements, Local 260 and the Findlay Publishing Company, 1970-1973
21. Agreements, Local 260 and the Findlay Publishing Company, June 1973
22. Agreements, letter of understanding between Local 260 and Findlay Publishing Company, December 12, 1973
23. Agreements, ledger of ads solicited, October 10, 1972-January 1973
24. Agreements, Local 260 Collective Bargaining Agreement, June 1975
25. Agreements, Local 260 and the Findlay Printing and Supply Co., n.d.
26. Contracts, suggested sample ITU contract, n.d.
27. Contracts, Local 260 and the Findlay Printing and Supply Co., 1958-1964
28. Contracts, Local 260 and the Kennedy Printing Company, 1958-1964
29. Contracts, Local 260 and the Findlay Publishing Company, 1961-1965
30. Contracts, one year ITU contract proposal, June 1, 1973-May 31, 1974
31. Contracts, one year ITU contract proposal, June 1, 1975-May 31, 1980
32. Contracts, contract file supplement, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1979
33. Contracts, miscellaneous ITU contract papers, n.d.
34. Contracts, resolutions, re: contract between Local 260 and the Findlay Publishing Company, February 19, 1965
35. Legal case, notice of hearing between Findlay Printing and Supply Company and Amalgamated Lithographers of America, August 1960
36. Financial documents, dues ledger, and receipt and expenditures, 1890-1891; May 1894-July 1898

Box 4

1. Pamphlets, local meeting dates, 1976, 1979, 1980
2. Pamphlets, ITU ballots, January 2, 1960-October 16, 1974
3. Pamphlets, ITU fraternal benefits, 1972
4. Pamphlets, test for admission to the printing trades, n.d.
5. Pamplets, questions and answers from a litho exmamination, n.d.
6. Brochures, apprentice regulations, 1971-1972
7. Brochures, ITU convention proceedings, August 7-13, 1971
8. Brochures, changes in the laws adopted by the 117th ITU convention, August 7-13, 1971
9. Brochures, ITU convention proceedings, August 5, 1972
10. Brochures, ITU convention proceedings, August 4, 1973
11. Brochures, ITU convention proceedings, August 18-24, 1979
12. Brochures, The Bulletin, November 1971-August 1979
13. Programs, 123rd Semi-Annual Ohio Typographical Conference, April 19-20, 1969
14. Booklets, secretary's manual, 1955
15. Booklets, Associated Press Stylebook, 1960
16. Booklets, ITU Industrial Pension Plans Working Manual, 1966
17. Booklets, Retirement Trust Plan, 1966
18. Booklets, ITU Negotiated Pension Plan, 1966, 1967-1972
19. Booklets, The Index, ITU Executive Council Decision on Appeals, 1960-1974, 1968-1978
20. Booklets, ITU Minimum Wages and Hours Data, 1975, 1979, 1980
21. Booklets, Official Directory of the ITU, 1970, 1971, 1981
22. Circulars, memorandum and notices, 1971-1974
23. Circulars, Guide to Pay Board Regulations, Fringe Benefits Rules and Historical Data, 1972
24. Circulars, Instructions on Proper Procedure for Interim Opening Neogtiations, n.d.
25. Newsletters, The ITU Review, 1973-1974, 1976
26. Flyers, Questionnaire about Local 260, n.d.
27. Flyers, Five-Way knife combination to aid San Rafael Strike, n.d.
28. Flyers, Editorial from Local 570, Lawrence, Kansas, n.d.
29. Clippings, donations by ITU Local 260, n.d.

Manuscripts by Subject | Labor Collections