Center for Archival Collections

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

Introduction

The records of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Union, Local 42, Norwalk, Ohio, date from 1909 to 1972. The history of this labor union is reflected in four linear feet of minutes, correspondence, agreements, financial reports and printed material.

The records of the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters, Local 42, were donated to the Center for Archival Collections in 1980, through the cooperation of Mr. Ray Beckler, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 42. Literary and property rights have been dedicated to the public and duplication is permitted for the purposes of preservation and research. The register was prepared by Jill Morse, graduate assistant at Bowling Green State University, in March 1981, and revised in July 1988 by Susan Hughes, manuscript processor employed through a grant provided by the Ohio Historical Society.

Agency History

The purpose of Local 42, as stated in its constitution, is: "To join in efforts to secure through the power of organization, both for ourselves and our children, a steady demand and a fair compensation for our toil, and a position in society to which, as wealth producers and citizens, we are justly entitled." The establishment of Local 42 was a result of a merger in November 1973 of four local plumbers unions: Local 637, Mansfield; Local 736, Galion; Local 224, Sandusky; and, Local 830, Lorain (itself a result of a merger of Local 290, Lorain; Local 423, Elyria; and, Local 650, Toledo). Norwalk was chosen as a convenient base for the nine county area. These same separate Locals, in order to further mutual concerns, belonged to the North Central Ohio Pipe Trades Council during the late 1940s and early 1950s, rotating monthly meetings among the cities.

The present offices (1997) of Local 42 are located at 187 Woodlawn Avenue, Norwalk, Ohio. Mr. Dave Mitchell serves as Business Manager.

Scope and Content

The records of Local 42 span the years, 1909-1972, and include the records of the various Locals which merged to form Local 42 in 1973. The bulk of the collection consists of the minutes, correspondence, agreements and financial records of Local 637, Mansfield, Ohio. Less fully represented are Local 290 and Local 830, Lorain; Local 650, Toledo; and, Local 423, Elyria.

The regular minutes of Local 637, which date from 1927 to 1963, are handwritten and often extremely difficult to read. These minutes do describe, however, the growth of the Local and the concerns of its members. Concerns of a wider nature are reflected in the minutes of the Ohio Pipe Trades Council, 1948-1952, and the Ohio State Association of Plumbers. The Ohio State Association had strong political objectives and the minutes and convention proceedings reflect the plumbers extreme dislike of Senator Taft and the anti organized labor legislation he supported.

Again the correspondence is largely that of Local 637. This correspondence includes that of the Business Agent Cole or Financial Secretary Dials, and concerns general office procedures, agreement negotiations and dues payments. The correspondence dates from the late 1940s to the very early 1970s. Another good source of information is the Business Agent Reports, which date from 1949-1953, and 1967-1969.

The dues registers reflect membership for such Locals as 830, Lorain (1959-1963); 290, Lorain (1909-1948); and 423, Elyria (1950-1954). Cash books and financial statements also are included in this record group.

Some printed materials on apprenticeship programs as well as newsclippings on contract negotiations are included in this collection.

Series Description

PROCEEDINGS

MINUTES-LOCAL 637
1927-1963
Arranged chronologically
Includes name of presiding officer, motions made, mention of various committee reports. May also include financial reports and record of newly elected officers. Includes minutes of the Mansfield Plumbers Joint Apprenticeship Committee for 1952-1953.

MINUTES-CENTRAL OHIO PIPE TRADES COUNCIL
1948-1952
Arranged chronologically
Includes name of presiding officer, number of representatives present from each Local, motions made, reports given and discussion of issues.

MINUTES-LOCAL 423
December 1953-1954
Arranged chronologically
Contains name of presiding officer, total number of members present, reports given, motions made, and new officers elected. Also includes record of the merger of Local 423 with Local 290 to form Local 830.

MINUTES (GRIEVANCE)-LOCAL 650.
January 13, 1958
Includes name of union and company representatives present, and a summary of the discussion of the grievance.

MINUTES-OHIO STATE ASSOCIATION OF PLUMBERS
1951-1955
Arranged chronologically
Contains name of presiding officer and signature of recording secretary, mention of various discussions, motions and resolutions. Also includes announcement of upcoming conventions and events, reports on local conditions and a listing of those Locals present.

MINUTES-CONVENTION PROCEEDINGS OF THE OHIO STATE ASSOCIATION OF PLUMBERS
1948, 1949, (1950), 1955
Arranged chronologically
Includes President's greetings, addresses given, committee reports, resolutions and election results.

CORRESPONDENCE

CORRESPONDENCE-LOCAL 637
1947-1972
Arranged by subject and within chronologically.
Includes correspondence relating to general office procedures, the Wage Stabilization Board, between the Local and the Ohio State Association of Plumbers, with a large amount of correspondence concerning dues.

CORRESPONDENCE-LOCAL 290
1943, 1947-1951
Arranged chronologically
Contains letters to and from the Local's Secretary-Treasurer relating to general business affairs.

CORRESPONDENCE-LOCAL 830
1953, 1956-1959
Arranged chronologically
Includes correspondence to and from the Local's Business Manager relating to general business affairs.

CORRESPONDENCE-LOCAL 650
1956-1958
Arranged chronologically
Includes correspondence relating to the merger between Local 650 and Local 830.

CORRESPONDENCE-LOCAL 423
1953-1956
Arranged chronologically
Includes a few letters relating to the opening of negotiations.

CORRESPONDENCE-AMERICAN SHIPBUILDING COMPANY
1952
Arranged chronologically
Includes letters relating to the union's negotiations with the American Shipbuilding Company.

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

AGREEMENTS-LOCAL 637
1946-1970
Arranged chronologically
Contains date of agreement, names of agreeing parties, articles and sections of agreement and signature of agreeing parties.

AGREEMENTS-LOCAL 290
1945-1948
Arranged chronologically
Includes same type of information as previous record series.

AGREEMENTS-LOCAL 830
1967
Includes same type of information as previous record series.

AGREEMENTS-AMERICAN SHIPBUILDING COMPANY
1950-1958
Arranged chronologically
Includes same type of information as previous record series. Also includes agreement negotiation file for 1958 between Amship and the Lorain Locals.

AGREEMENTS-OTHER OHIO PLUMBERS LOCALS
1950-1971
Arranged chronologically
Includes same type of information as previous record series for such Locals as 94, Canton; 219, Akron; 224, Sandusky; and, 120, Cleveland.

AGREEMENTS-MISCELLANEOUS
October 1957, n.d.
Includes an model apprenticeship agreement and a boundary agreement between Lorain City Federation of Labor and Elyria Central Labor Union.

REPORTS

BUSINESS AGENT REPORTS-LOCAL 637
1949-1953, 1967-1969
Arranged chronologically
Includes date and name of business agent, summary of working conditions of the plumbers throughout the State. Some reports are included with the minutes.

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1945, 1952-1954
Arranged chronologically
Includes monthly financial statements from Local 637 and also one semi-annual financial statement from the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Union.

CASH BOOKS
Local 830, 1952-1958; Local 290, 1916-1919; Local 423, 1950-1954
Arranged by Local and within chronologically.
Includes statements of receipts and expenditures and monthly balances. Located in Record Center Box 6 and 7.

PAYROLL
Local 830, 1954-1960
Arranged chronologically
Includes name of employee, wages earned and amounts withheld. Located in Record Center Box 6.

DUES PAYMENT REGISTERS
Local 830, 1959-1963; Local 290, 1909-1921, 1947-1948; Local 423, 1950-1954
Arranged by Local and within chronologically.
Includes union member name, card number, date of initiation and local in which initiated, dates and payment of dues. Located in Record Center Box 6 and 7.

MISCELLANEOUS
1947-1951
Arranged chronologically
Includes a membership book of an unidentified Local and a personal dues payment book from Local 232, Jamestown, New York. Located in Record Center Box 6.

PRINTED MATERIAL

CONSTITUTION/BYLAWS
1960-1963, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Includes constitution and bylaws for Local 830 and Local 637, and constitutions for Mansfield Area Trades and Industrial Council and United Association for Plumbers and Pipe Fitters.

NEWSCLIPPINGS
1952, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Includes clippings on Lorain negotiations with the American Ship Building Company and clippings related to Local 637's participation in Mansfield's Freedom Fair.

NEWSLETTERS/JOURNALS
1951, 1955, 1959
Arranged by type and within chronologically.
Includes the Journal of the United Association of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters nd newsletters documenting current political news.

UNION LITERATURE-APPRENTICESHIPS
Late 1940s
Arranged chronologically
Includes State of Ohio Education Department bulletins and United States Labor Department bulletins.

Inventory

Box 1

1. Minutes-Local 637, 1927-1938
2. Minutes-Local 637, 1939-1952
3. Minutes-Local 637, 1953-1963
4. Minutes-Mansfield Plumbers Joint Apprenticeship Committee, 1952-1953
5. Minutes-Central Ohio Pipe Trades Council, 1948-1952
6. Minutes-Local 423, Dec. 1953-1954
7. Minutes-Toledo Ship Yard Grievance, Jan. 1958
8. Minutes-Ohio State Association of Plumbers, 1951-1955
9. Minutes-convention proceedings of the Ohio State Association of Plumbers, July 1948
10. Minutes-convention proceedings of the Ohio State Association of Plumbers, July 1949
11. Minutes-convention proceedings of the Ohio State Association of Plumbers, (1950)
12. Minutes-convention proceedings of the Ohio State Association of Plumbers, July 1955

Box 2

1. Correspondence-general office, Local 637, 1947-1951
2. Correspondence-general office, Local 637, 1952
3. Correspondence-general office, Local 637, 1953
4. Correspondence-general office, Local 637, Jan.-April 1954
5. Correspondence-general office, Local 637, May-Dec. 1955
6. Correspondence-general office, Local 637, 1955
7. Correspondence-donations, Local 637, 1951-1955
8. Correspondence-agreement, Local 637, 1948
9. Correspondence-agreement, Local 637, 1951
10. Correspondence-agreement, Local 637, 1952
11. Correspondence-agreement, Local 637, 1953
12. Correspondence-agreement, Local 637, 1954
13. Correspondence-Ohio State Association, Local 637, 1950-1955
14. Correspondence-apprenticeship school, Local 637, 1951-1954
15. Correspondence-Ivan Byrd to Dials and Cole, Local 637, 1962-1964

Box 3

1. Correspondence-dues, Local 637, 1960-1962
2. Correspondence-dues, Local 637, 1963
3. Correspondence-dues, Local 637, 1964
4. Correspondence-dues, Local 637, 1965
5. Correspondence-dues, Local 637, 1966
6. Correspondence-Cole, Local 637, 1966
7. Correspondence-Dials, Local 637, 1967
8. Correspondence-Dials, Local 637, 1968
9. Correspondence-Dials, Local 637, 1969
10. Correspondence-1969 North Central Agreement, Local 637, 1969
11. Correspondence-Dials and Cole, Local 637, 1970
12. Correspondence-Dials and Cole, Local 637, 1971
13. Correspondence-Dials and Cole, Local 637, 1972

Box 4

1. Correspondence-Local 290, 1943, 1947
2. Correspondence-Local 290, 1948
3. Correspondence-Local 290, 1949-1951
4. Correspondence-Local 830, 1953, 1956-1957
5. Correspondence-Local 830, 1958-1959
6. Correspondence-Local 650, 1956-1958
7. Correspondence-Local 423, 1953-1956
8. Correspondence-contract negotiations with American Ship Building Company, 1952
9. Agreement on apprenticeship standards, Local 637, 1946
10. Agreement with Charles Hoffman Company, Local 637, 1947
11. Agreement with American Heating and Piping Company, Local 637, 1948
12. Agreement with Snow Plumbing, Local 637, 1948
13. Agreement with C.P. Wright Company, Local 637, 1948
14. Agreement with Snow Plumbing, Local 637, 1949
15. Agreement with Master Plumbers Association, Local 637, 1950
16. Agreement with Charles Hoffman Company, Local 637, 1951
17. Agreement with Master Plumbers Association, Local 637, 1951
18. Agreement with Master Plumbers Association, Local 637, 1952
19. Agreement with Charles Hoffman Company, Local 637, 1952
20. Agreement with Master Plumbers Association, Local 637, 1954
21. Agreement with Master Plumbers Association, Local 637, 1956
22. Agreement with Master Plumbers Association, Local 637, 1958
23. Agreement with Master Plumbers Association, Local 637, 1960
24. Agreement with Master Plumbers Association, Local 637, 1963
25. Agreement with Master Plumbers Association, Local 637, 1966
26. Agreement with North Central, Local 637, 1969
27. Agreement with North Central, Local 637, 1970
28. Agreement with Carlson Company, Local 290, 1945, 1948
29. Agreement with Master Plumbers Association, Local 290, 1946-1948
30. Agreement with Master Plumbers Association, Local 830, 1967
31. Agreement with American Ship Building Company, 1950
32. Agreement with American Ship Building Company, 1952, 1953
33. Agreement with American Ship Building Company, 1954
34. Agreement with American Ship Building Company, 1956
35. Agreement with American Ship Building Company, 1958
36. Agreement negotiations-American Ship Building Company and Lorain local unions, 1958
37. Agreements-other Ohio local unions, 1950-1971
38. Agreement-apprenticeship, n.d.
39. Agreement-boundary line between Lorain and Elyria, Oct. 1957

Box 5

1. Business Agent's Reports, Local 637, Mar. 1949, Mar. 1950
2. Business Agent's Reports, Local 637, 1950-1953
3. Business Agent's Reports, Local 637, 1967
4. Business Agent's Reports, Local 637, 1968
5. Business Agent's Reports, Local 637, 1969
6. Monthly financial statements, Local 637, Dec. 1945
7. Monthly financial statements, Local 637, Oct. 1952-Nov. 1953
8. Monthly financial statements, Local 637 1954
9. Financial Statement-United Association of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters, Dec. 1954
10. Constitution and bylaws-United Association of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters, 1961
11. Working rules and bylaws, Local 830, 1960, 1963
12. Bylaws, Local 637, n.d.
13. Constitution of the Mansfield Area Trades and Industrial Council, n.d.
14. Apprenticeship literature, late 1940s
15. Journal-United Association of Plumbers, Feb. 1951
16. Newsclippings on contract negotiations with American Ship Building Company, n.d.
17. Newsclippings on Local 637 and Freedom Fair, 1952

Box 6

1. Dues payment register, Local 830, Jan.-Oct. 1959
2. Dues payment register, Local 830, Oct. 1959-Sept. 1960
3. Dues payment register, Local 830, Sept.-Dec. 1960
4. Dues payment register, Local 830, 1961
5. Dues payment register, Local 830, 1962
6. Dues payment register, Local 830, 1963
7. Payroll record, Local 830, 1954-1957
8. Payroll record, Local 830, 1958-1960
9. Cash book, Local 830, 1952-Sept. 1954
10. Cash book, Local 830, Sept. 1954-Dec. 1955
11. Cash book, Local 830, 1956
12. Cash book, Local 830, 1957-1958
13. Membership book, unidentified local union, c. 1947-1948
14. Personal dues book from Local 232, Jamestown, New York, 1949-1951

Box 7

1. Dues payment register, Local 290, 1909-1915
2. Dues payment register, Local 290, 1914-1919
3. Dues payment register, Local 290, 1919-1921
4. Dues payment register, Local 290, 1947-1948
5. Dues payment register, Local 290, 1947-1948
6. Cash book, Local 290, April 1916-July 1919
7. Dues payment register, Local 423, 1950
8. Dues payment register, Local 423, 1951
9. Dues payment register, Local 423, 1952
10. Dues payment register, Local 423, 1953
11. Dues payment register, Local 423, 1954
12. Dues payment register, Local 423, 1953-1954
13. Cash book, Local 423, 1950
14. Cash book, Local 423, 1951
15. Cash book, Local 423, 1952
16. Cash book, Local 423, 1953
17. Cash book, Local 423, 1954

Manuscripts by Subject | Labor Collections