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1601 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL 60614
Access to archives and manuscripts at the Research Center.

Chicago Federation of Labor records

Descriptive Summary

Title
Chicago Federation of Labor records
Dates
ca 1890-1983
Creator
Chicago Federation of Labor and Industrial Union Council
Size
56.5 linear feet
Size
2 oversize folders (172 items)
(broadside minutes).
Size
6 microfilm reels :
neg. ;(Camera negative of minutes).
35 mm.
Size
6 microfilm reels ;
(Reader copy of minutes).
35 mm.
Size
16 sound cassettes.
Size
15 sound recordings.
Language
Material is in English unless otherwise noted.

Scope and Content

Meeting minutes, 1903-1922, of the Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL); broadsides containing lists of dues paid by local unions to the CFL and other reports, 1911-1918; office files of the CFL, ca. 1890s-1940s, containing letters, notes, reports, etc., mostly during the presidency of John Fitzpatrick; scrapbooks 1912-1947; later topical files, 1950s-1980s, mostly during the presidency of William Lee; Cook County Industrial Union Council meeting minutes, 1951-Jan. 1962; and CFL sound recordings, 1960s-1980s. The collection includes some personal and family papers of Fitzpatrick as well.

Many of the Fitzpatrick materials relate to his presidency of the CFL, work as an organizer for the American Federation of Labor (AFL), early leadership of the Chicago Journeyman Horse Shoers Union, and unsuccessful candidacy for mayor of Chicago on the Labor Party ticket in 1919. Up to 1930, there are few copies of outgoing letters; later files often include copies of outgoing letters as well as incoming letters, etc. Topics include labor, Chicago civic and political affairs, the Farmer-Labor parties of Cook County and of the United States, Brookwood Resident Workers College (Katonah, N.Y.), Radio Station WCFL, Chicago and Illinois teachers' organizations and school matters, African Americans and the labor movement, William Z. Foster, socialism and Communism and their relationships to the labor movement, the independence of Ireland, and Russian relief in the early 1920s. Correspondents include Samuel Gompers, William Green, Frank Morrison, and Edward Nockels.

Later materials in the collection during the presidency of William Lee include topical operating files, items on the Federation News, and Cook County Industrial Union Council delegate meeting minutes, 1951-January 1962, and executive board meeting minutes, Apr. 1951-Jan. 1962.

Conditions for Access

The CFL scrapbook with WCFL radio station-related articles, 1926-1930, is closed until microfilmed. Items are extremely fragile. For listening purposes, it is necessary to use a copy, not the original (and to have a listening copy made if one is not available).

Conditions Governing Use

Contact the archives for more information on licensing and permissions for use and reproduction.

Preferred Citation

A common citation for archives is as follows: Item, Folder number and/or title, Box number, Collection title, ID number, Repository name, location.

Acquisition Information

1997/11/21. Keiser, John H., 1993/07/26, 1997.0046, Gift. Papers of John Fitzpatrick, including correspondence with local political leaders and national labor leaders; newsclippings on labor issues, 1917-37; copies of speeches and statements made by Fitzpatrick, 1919-45; and American Federation of Labor voting lists (Chicago area), 1937-38. 1 box (0.5 linear ft.), 1917-45. Gift. 1987/08/27, 45 linear ft.; may have been culled down to 13 linear ft. Chicago Federation of Labor, 1985. M1985.0019. Records of the CFL, including papers of William A. Lee, and of the Federation News. Chicago Federation of Labor, 1985/03. M1985.0011. Bob Kite, Federation News. Klass, Irwin, 1970s-1980s, M1981.0028, Gift. Misc. union items and E.L. Masters letter of 1915 (3 folders) Chicago Federation of Labor, 1981/02, M1981.0004, Gift. Minutes of Council and Executive Board of the Cook County Industrial Union Council, 1951-Jan. 1962, 2 v. M1977.0043. Minutes as broadsides, oversize, 1911-1918. Chicago Federation of Labor, 1970/05, M1970.0024, Gift. 6 microfilm reels of CFL minutes 1903-1922 (originals in possession of the CFL; filming paid for by CHS); 7 boxes of records (#18-25 in collection). Chicago Federation of Labor 1966/04, M1966.0571, Gift, donated by CFL, William Lee, president. Fitzpatrick, John Patrick, 1964/09, M1964.0471, Gift ca. 700 items, Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick, John Patrick, 1963/08, M1963.0419, Gift, ca. 1400 items.

Custodial History

Gift of the Chicago Federation of Labor (accn.#: M1966.0571, M1970.0024, M1977.0043, M1981.0004, M1985.0011, M1985.0019) and John Patrick Fitzpatrick (accn#: M1963.0419, M1964.0471) and smaller lots donated by John H. Keiser (accn#: 1997.0046) and Irwin Klass (accn#: M1981.0028).

Biography or History

The Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL) is an umbrella organization for unions in the Chicago area founded in 1896 as an affiliate of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). John Fitzpatrick served as CFL president in 1900-1901, 1906-1946, and William Lee served as president in 1946-1984. The AFL and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) merged in 1955, and their Chicago area affiliates merged in 1962. Thereafter, William Lee served as president of the unified Chicago Federation of Labor and Industrial Union Council.

Other Descriptive Data

Part of this collection was formerly known as the John Fitzpatrick papers.

Other Descriptive Data

Part of this collection was formerly known as the William Lee papers.

Other Descriptive Data

For convenient access, photocopies of the A.J. Muste correspondence in this collection have been filed into a separate box.

Other Descriptive Data

For convenient access, photocopies of many of the early items in the collection that relate to African Americans have been filed in box 25.

Related Material

Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Chicago Federation of Labor collection of visual materials (1986.0083); the Irwin Klass papers, the Irwin Klass visual materials; the Chicago Teachers Union records; a very small collection named "John Fitzpatrick item" (1993.0120na); and publications of the CFL, the horse shoers union, and other labor organizations cataloged separately. Some records of the Trade and Labor Assembly of Chicago were donated by CFL but are a separate collection at the Research Center. Records of various labor unions that were members of CFL also are cataloged separately.

Descriptive inventory available online but doesn't include unprocessed portions of the collection.

Indexed Terms

Citation/Reference

NUCMC MS 69-102.

Citation/Reference

NUCMC MS 71-897.

Exhibits Note

Exhibited in: "Curators' Choice," Chicago Historical Society, October 1993-January 8, 1994.Letter of Jack Carney, Irish labor leader, to John Fitzpatrick, 1934 Jan. 24.

Added Entry–Uniform Title

Federation news.

Uncontrolled Related/Analytical Title

John Fitzpatrick papers.

Uncontrolled Related/Analytical Title

William Lee papers.