Center for Archival Collections

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

Introduction

The records of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local 1138, Toledo, Ohio, date from 1885 to 1985. The collection includes fourteen linear feet of minutes (both the local and the district council), correspondence, agreements, financial reports, and miscellaneous printed matter.

The records of Local 1138 were donated to the Center for Archival Collections in July 1980 through the cooperation of Dave Gray, field representative of the Ohio Labor History Project, and Paul Yon, Associate Director of the Center for Archival Collections, Bowling Green State University. An addition to the collection was made in October 1997 with the cooperation of Mr. Ron Rothenbuhler, Business Representative and Kristin Dusseau, archives assistant for the Center in 1997. Literary and property rights have been dedicated to the public and duplication is permitted for the purposes of preservation and scholarly research. The register was prepared by Jill Morse, a graduate assistant at Bowling Green State University in February 1981, amd updated in 1997 by Kristin Dusseau.

Agency History

Local 1138 of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America was organized in 1885. Earlier attempts (1860s) to organize carpenters in Toledo had been unsuccessful until local 25 was chartered in 1882. The early objectives of the Carpenters' Union were to:

Discourage piece work, to encourage an apprentice system and a higher standard of skill, to cultivate a feeling of friendship among the craft, to assist each other to secure employment, to reduce the hours of daily labor, to secure adequate pay for our work, to furnish aid in cases of death and sickness, and by legal and proper means to elevate the moral, intellectual, and social conditions of its members and improve the trade. (The Toledo Union, November 1897.)

The researcher also might wish to review the records of the Carpenters Women's Auxiliary #2 (MS 149), Toledo, Ohio.

At present (1997) Mr. Ron Rothenbuhler serves as Business Manager, with offices at 1217 Prouty Avenue, Toledo, OH 43612.

Scope and Content

The records of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 1138 date from 1855 to 1985, with the bulk of the material dating from the 1940s through the 1960s. Over one-half of this collection consists of bound volumes of dues registers (1887-1958). These registers provide statistical information on the members.

More important to the researcher are the minutes and correspondence. The regular minutes of Local 1138 are complete from 1946-1970. The minutes include reports, motions made, business conducted, and quarterly financial audits. The District council (overseeing various locals in northwest Ohio) minutes (1948-1956, 1966-1971) provide a broader perspective to issues than those of the Local. The only Business Agent minutes, unfortunately, are from 1967, as these minutes reflect the real day-to-day conflicts of the union. The correspondence (1944-1974) is separated as to that of the District Council, Local 1138, and general and reflects the union's dealings with other unions and city officials. The legal aspects of the union are documented within the union agreements (1928-1968) and the resolutions of various jurisdictional disputes. Miscellaneous union printed material and photographs complete the collection.

Series Description

PROCEEDINGS

MINUTES--MAUMEE VALLEY CARPENTERS' DISTRICT COUNCIL
1948-1956; 1966-1971.
Arranged chronologically
Contains summaries of all motions, recommendations, communications, and reports. Quarterly financial audits are also included.

MINUTES--REGULAR--LOCAL 1138
1946-1970.
Arranged chronologically
This record series contains the same type of information as the District council minutes, with the inclusion of sick and accident reports, names of new members and suspended members, and a run-down of bimonthly expenses.

MINUTES--BUILDING CODE COMMITTEE
1955.
Arranged chronologically
Includes members present, business conducted, and resolutions passed.

MINUTES--BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES' MINUTES
1967.
Arranged chronologically
Contains the name of presiding president, the executive secretary's report, and the signature of the recording secretary along with summaries of the reports of the various business agents.

CORRESPONDENCE

CORRESPONDENCE--MAUMEE VALLEY CARPENTERS' DISTRICT COUNCIL
1952-1968.
Arranged chronologically
Includes letters to and from the District Council Secretary regarding membership.

CORRESPONDENCE--LOCAL 1138
1944-1974.
Arranged chronologically
Contains incoming and outgoing correspondence between the local and other unions or locals, city organizers, local businesses, or Congressional representatives.

CORRESPONDENCE--BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE
1945-1967.
Arranged chronologically
The record contains the incoming and outgoing correspondence of the local business representative, James Ervin, most of which pertains to contract negotiations, and local union membership and finances.

CORRESPONDENCE--OHIO STATE COUNCIL
1950-1961.
Arranged chronologically
Includes mostly incoming letters from the Ohio State Council concerning state labor issues and business being conducted with local 1138.

CORRESPONDENCE--MISCELLANEOUS
1944-1962.
Arranged by type and within chronologically.
Includes correspondence with Toledo city officials and commissions, contractors, Local 1138 executive board, and other labor unions.

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

AGREEMENTS
1928-1968.
Arranged chronologically
Contains names of parties to the agreement (such as the local, the district council, or the National Union and various companies or unions), date of signing, the articles of the agreement, any memoranda, and signatures.

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
1950-1966.
Arranged chronologically
Record contains those constitutions of the Ohio State Council, the District Council, and Local 1138 of the Carpenters. Also included is the constitution of the Northwest Ohio Trades Council, and of the AFL-CIO.

RULES AND REGULATIONS
1949;1959;1970;1973 Arranged chronologically
Records contain procedural rules governing the daily operations of the union, wage scales, jurisdictions, and th way in which agreements should be handled.

GOVERNMENT AFFIDAVIT
1951 This record was issued by hte National Labor Relations Board to be signed by officers attesting to the fact that they are not affiliated with the communist party.

REPORTS

JOB REFERRAL LEDGERS
1954-1966 Arranged chronologically
Records contain summary reports of construction jobs listed by contractor. Includes local carpenter members on the job, and permits.

APPLICATION LEDGER
1961-1971 Records contain a list of construction job needed, and those filled by the union.

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

DUES REGISTERS--BOUND VOLUMES
1887-1935; 1946-1958.
Arranged chronologically
Record contains member's name, address, date of birth, date of initiation, and amount of dues paid. Most volumes have an index (alphabetical by last name) in the front.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (MONTHLY OR YEARLY OR WEEKLY)
1885, 1922, 1924; 1947-1949; 1953.
Arranged chronologically
Record contains such things as total dues, assets and liabilities, disbursements, and so forth. The reader should note that the minutes often contain financial audits.

ACCOUNTING LEDGERS
1972-1979 Arranged chronologically
These records contain a list of expenditures and receipts by date, and account balances by month.

FINANCIAL REPORTS-OHIO STATE JOINT CARPENTER APPRENTICE COMMITTE
1977-1986 Arranged chronologically
These records contain lists of members and their dues paid by date.

PRINTED MATERIAL

MISCELLANEOUS LITERATURE
1899-1961 (scattered). Arranged chronologically
Includes circulars, labor newsletters, news clippings, stewards books, ballots, and maps.

ROSTERS--TOLEDO BUILDING CONGRESS
1950, 1952, 1954, 1955.
Arranged chronologically
Record contains the names and addresses of officers, of the Board of Trustees, of committee members, and of individual members.

PHOTOGRAPHS
n.d.; 1949.
Record contains miscellaneous unidentified convention photographs and construction shots of non-union carpenters on the site.

Inventory

Box 1

1. Minutes--Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1948
2. Minutes--Maumee Valley District Council, January-November 1949
3. Minutes--Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1950
4. Minutes--Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1951
5. Minutes--Maumee Valley District Council, February-December 1952
6. Minutes--Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1953
7. Minutes--Maumee Valley District Council, March-December 1954
8. Minutes--Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1955
9. Minutes--Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1956
10. Minutes--Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1966
11. Minutes--Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1967
12. Minutes--Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1968
13. Minutes--Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1969
14. Minutes--Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1970
15. Minutes--Maumee Valley District Council, January-July 1971

Box 2

1. Minutes, regular, July-December 1946
2. Minutes, regular, January-December 1947
3. Minutes, regular, January-December 1948
4. Minutes, regular, January-December 1949
5. Minutes, regular, January-December 1950
6. Minutes, regular, January-December 1951
7. Minutes, regular, January-December 1952
8. Minutes, regular, January-December 1953
9. Minutes, regular, January-July 1954
10. Minutes, regular, August-December 1954
11. Minutes, regular, January-June 1955
12. Minutes, regular, July-December 1955
13. Minutes, regular, January-December 1956
14. Minutes, regular, January-June 1957
15. Minutes, regular, July-December 1957
16. Minutes, regular, January-June 1958
17. Minutes, regular, July-December 1958
18. Minutes, regular, January-June 1959
19. Minutes, regular, July-December 1959
20. Minutes, regular, January-April 1960
21. Minutes, regular, May-December 1960

Box 3

1. Minutes, regular, January-July 1961
2. Minutes, regular, August-December 1961
3. Minutes, regular, January-June 1962
4. Minutes, regular, July-December 1962
5. Minutes, regular, January-July 1963
6. Minutes, regular, July-December 1963
7. Minutes, regular, January-June 1964
8. Minutes, regular, July-December 1964
9. Minutes, regular, January-June 1965
10. Minutes, regular, July-December 1965
11. Minutes, regular, January-June 1966
12. Minutes, regular, July-December 1966

Box 4

1. Minutes, regular, January-April 1967
2. Minutes, regular, May-August 1967
3. Minutes, regular, September-December 1967
4. Minutes, regular, January-April 1968
5. Minutes, regular, May-August 1968
6. Minutes, regular, September-December 1968
7. Minutes, regular, January-May 1969
8. Minutes, regular, June-November 1969
9. Minutes, regular, January-May 1970
10. Minutes, regular, June-December 1970
11. Minutes, Building Code Committee, April-June 1955
12. Minutes, Business Representatives, January-June 1967
13. Minutes, Business Representatives, July-October 1967

Box 5

1. Correspondence with the Maumee Valley District Council, October 1952-December 1954
2. Correspondence with the Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1955
3. Correspondence with the Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1956
4. Correspondence with the Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1957
5. Correspondence with the Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1958
6. Correspondence with the Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1959
7. Correspondence with the Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1960
8. Correspondence with the Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1961
9. Correspondence with the Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1962
10. Correspondence with the Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1963
11. Correspondence with the Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1964
12. Correspondence with the Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1965
13. Correspondence with the Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1966
14. Correspondence with the Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1967
15. Correspondence with the Maumee Valley District Council, January-December 1968

Box 6

1. Correspondence--District Council, miscellaneous, 1944-1960 (scattered)
2. Correspondence--Local 1138, January-December 1960
3. Correspondence--Local 1138, January-December 1961
4. Correspondence--Local 1138, January-December 1962
5. Correspondence--Local 1138, January-December 1963
6. Correspondence--Local 1138, January-May 1964
7. Correspondence--Local 1138, June-December 1964
8. Correspondence--Local 1138, January-December 1965
9. Correspondence--Local 1138, January-December 1966
10. Correspondence--Local 1138, January-December 1967
11. Correspondence--Local 1138, January-December 1968
12. Correspondence--Local 1138, January-December 1969
13. Correspondence--Local 1138, February-December 1970
14. Correspondence--Local 1138, February-December 1971
15. Correspondence--Local 1138, February-June 1972
16. Correspondence--Local 1138, July-December 1972
17. Correspondence--Local 1138, January-December 1973
18. Correspondence--Local 1138, January-May 1974
19. Correspondence--Local 1138, June-December 1974

Box 7

1. Correspondence--Business Representative (Ervin), 1945-1950 (scattered)
2. Correspondence--Business Representative (Ervin), January-September 1951
3. Correspondence--Business Representative (Ervin), February-November 1952
4. Correspondence--Business Representative (Ervin), January-September 1953
5. Correspondence--Business Representative (Ervin), January-December 1954
6. Correspondence--Business Representative (Ervin), January-December 1955
7. Correspondence--Business Representative (Ervin), February-December 1956
8. Correspondence--Business Representative (Ervin), February-December 1957
9. Correspondence--Business Representative (Ervin), January-October 1958
10. Correspondence--Business Representative (Ervin), 1959-1967 (scattered)
11. Correspondence--Ohio State Council, April-November 1950
12. Correspondence--Ohio State Council, January-December 1951
13. Correspondence--Ohio State Council, June-December 1952
14. Correspondence--Ohio State Council, 1953-1954 (scattered)
15. Correspondence--Ohio State Council, 1955-1957 (scattered)
16. Correspondence--Ohio State Council, 1958-1961 (scattered)
17. Correspondence--Toledo Civil Service Commission, 1944-1945, February 1954
18. Correspondence--Contractors, 1944-1954
19. Correspondence--Retail Clerks, 1944-1960 (scattered)
20. Correspondence--Weather Seal Case, July-August 1945
21. Correspondence--Chicago District Council, April-June 1945
22. Correspondence--Building Service Employees, 1946-1955
23. Correspondence--regarding contracts and negotiations, 1948-1962
24. Correspondence--City of Toledo, 1949-1960
25. Correspondence--Executive Board 1138, 1950-1953, September 1956
26. Correspondence--Ohio State Federation of Labor, 1950-1951, February 1957
27. Correspondence--jurisdictional disputes, September-October 1951
28. Correspondence--dispute with metal workers, 1953-1962 (scattered)
29. Correspondence--Building and Trades Council, 1954-1961 (scattered)
30. Correspondence--Toledo Central Labor Union, 1957-1959

Box 8

1. Agreements--International Survey, 1928-1952
2. Agreement--Lustron Corporation, 1947
3. Agreement--Associated Building Contractors, 1947, 1949, 1956, 1958, 1960
4. Agreement--Retail Associates, 1949, 1955
5. Agreement, Bridge and Iron Workers, 1953
6. Agreement--Toledo Association of Home Builders, 1955
7. Agreement--Owens-Illinois, 1957
8. Agreement--Lathers Local 5, 1962
9. Agreement--Iron Workers, 1968
10. Agreement--Andersons, 1976
11. Monthly financial statements--Local 1138, 1885, 1922, 1924
12. Annual financial statements--Local 1138, 1947-1949
13. Monthly financial statement of National Union, March 1953
14. Pension Fund report, April 1971
15. Business Agent report, Local 1138, May 1936
16. Maps--Ohio carpenters' locals, n.d.
17. Circular--labor temple, 1899
18. "CLU Digest", 1957
19. "Right to Work" literature, 1959
20. Building and Construction Trades Bulletin, July-August 1959
21. Current Information, 1958-1960
22. The Labor Union, May 12, 1961; July 21, 1961
23. News clippings, miscellaneous, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957
24. Bonds--German Carpenters 168, 1898
25. Building Inspection Notices--Toledo Board of Health, August 1959
26. Stewards books, 1962
27. Address by Charles Davis, executive director of the Toledo Building Congress, May 1967
28. Address of O. William Blaier at the 36th Annual State Convention, n.d.
29. Constitution--Ohio State Council of Carpenters, 1950
30. Constitution and Bylaws--Maumee Valley Carpenters' District Council, n.d.
31. Ballots, 1951-1953
32. Grievance Reports, 1949, 1954, 1955
33. Roster of members of Toledo Building Congress, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955
34. Rules--Mutual Aid and Accident Fund, 1948, 1949
35. Membership applications, 1954
36. Lists of suspended members, 1960-1961
37. Membership list (25 years or more members), n.d.
38. Rules--Maumee Valley District Council of Carpenters, 1949
39. Working Condition and Trade Autonomy--Maumee Valley District Council of Carpenters, 1959
40. Plan for Jurisdictional Disputes--Building and Construction Trades Department, 1970
41. Rules--Jurisdictional Disputes, 1973
42. Constitution--AFL-CIO
43. Affadavit of a Non-Communist Union Officer, 1951
44. Photos--miscellaneous construction site scenes (18 items), 1945-1950, n.d.
45. Photos--miscellaneous of people (4 items), n.d.

Box 9

1. Job Referral Ledgers (4 volumes), 1954-1974

Box 10

1. Dues ledgers (10 volumes), 1887-1895

Box 11

1. Dues ledgers (6 volumes), 1896-1901

Box 12

1. Dues ledgers (10 volumes), 1901-1907

Box 13

1. Dues ledgers (9 volumes), 1908-1911

Box 14

1. Dues ledgers (10 volumes), 1912-1918

Box 15

1. Dues ledgers (11 volumes), 1918-1922

Box 16

1. Dues ledgers (8 volumes), 1923-1929

Box 17

1. Dues ledgers (7 volumes), 1930-1935

Box 18

1. Dues ledgers (5 volumes), 1935-1939

Box 19

1. Dues ledgers (4 volumes), 1940-1943

Box 20

1. Dues ledgers (4 volumes), 1944-1947

Box 21

1. Dues ledgers (2 volumes), 1947;1983

Box 22

1. Dues ledger sheets, 1947-1950

Box 23

1. Dues ledger sheets, 1947-1950

Box 24

1. Dues ledger sheets, 1947-1950

Box 25

1. Dues ledger sheets, 1951-1954

Box 26

1. Dues ledgers (5 volumes), 1955-1958

Box 27

1. Payroll ledger, 1972-1949
2. Expense ledger, 1972-1979
3. Financial Reports, 1977-1985
4. Application ledger, 1975-1985

Manuscripts by Subject | Labor Collections