Contents
- Descriptive Summary
- Restriction(s)
- Terms governing use
- Provenance statement
- Please cite this collection as
- Collection Summary
- Biographical note
- Related material
- Other Finding Aids
- Indexed Terms
- Organization and Arrangement of Collection
- Series 1. Union materials, 1956-1980 (box 1-7)
- Series 2. Election materials, 1974-1979 (box 8-14)
- Series 3. Legal documents, 1974-1980 (box 15-18)
- Series 4. Newspaper clippings, 1960-1980 (box 19-24)
- Series 5. Newsletters and publications, 1970-1980 (box 25-29)
- Series 6. General files, 1956-1991 (box 30-34)
- Series 7. Audiovisual materials, 1960-1980 (box 35-38)
- Detailed list of contents of the collection
Collection Access
Edward Sadlowski papers
Descriptive Summary
- Repository
-
Chicago History Museum
Research Center1601 North Clark StreetChicago, IL 60614-6038
- Creator
- Sadlowski, Edward, United Steelworkers of America, Local 65 (Chicago, Ill.), United Steelworkers of America, District 31, United States Court of Appeals (District of Columbia Circuit), United Steelworkers of America, District 31, United Steelworkers of America, Local 65 (Chicago, Ill.), United Steelworkers of America, Local 1033 (Chicago, Ill.), 1033 news and views, 65 news, Local 65 [Newsletter]
- Bib number
- 00065379
- Title
- Edward Sadlowski papers
- Dates
- 1956-1991
- Predominant Dates
- 1974-1978
- Quantity
- 14 linear ft. (35 boxes)
- Quantity
- 16 sound cassettes. (Original).
- Quantity
- 23 sound tapes. (Original).
- Quantity
- 14 sound discs : analog. (Original).
- Quantity
- 1 motion-picture film. (Original).
- Call number
- MSS Lot S
- Storage Location
- OMM.64 film
- Storage Location
- OMM.64 sound
- Language
- English
Restriction(s)
In order to view an original motion picture film or listen to original sound recordings, it is necessary for a research copy to be made.
Terms governing use
Copyright may be retained by the creators of items, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.
Provenance statement
Gift of Ed Sadlowski M1981.0039.
Please cite this collection as
Edward Sadlowski papers (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/folder number of a specific item.
Collection Summary
Correspondence, legal documents, election and poll materials, financial records, newsletters, press releases, newspaper clippings, speeches, and other papers of Ed Sadlowski, a labor leader who was elected director of District 31, United Steelworkers of America (USWA) in 1973 and then campaigned for the presidency of USWA. Most of the collection relates to Sadlowski's 1977 campaign against the incumbent, Lloyd McBride; support from rank and file members in the Chicago area; and the federal lawsuit eventually decided by the U.S. Supreme Court about campaign contributions by non-members of the union. Includes trial transcripts and affidavits relating to the federal court cases; text of Sadlowski's interview of George D. Patterson, an early organizer of unions around Chicago (258 p.); sound recordings of campaign speeches and songs (1970s); and a motion-picture film about steel workers' safety issues.
Biographical note
Edward Sadlowski was elected director of United Steelworkers of America (USWA), District 31, in 1973 and ran on a reform platform for the presidency of USWA in 1977, losing to incumbent Lloyd McBride. During his campaign Sadlowski received donations not only from local union members but from non-members as well. After the campaign, the union passed a regulation against accepting campaign donations from non-members. Sadlowski challenged this regulation in federal court on first amendment grounds. After winning in lower courts, Sadlowski's lawsuit was overturned by the United States Supreme Court in 1982.
Other Finding Aids
Finding aid also submitted to the Explore Chicago Collections portal.
Indexed Terms
- Sadlowski, Edward--Archives
- Sadlowski, Edward--Interviews
- McBride, Lloyd
- Patterson, George Alexander, 1907- --Interviews
- United Steelworkers of America, Local 65 (Chicago, Ill.)
- United Steelworkers of America, District 31
- Actions and defenses--United States--20th century
- Iron and steel workers--Illinois--Chicago Metropolitan Area
- Labor leaders--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
- Labor unions--Elections--Illinois--Chicago Metropolitan Area--20th century
- Steel industry--Labor unions--Illinois--Chicago Metropolitan Area--20th century
- Steel industry--Labor unions--Indiana--20th century
- Chicago (Ill.)--Social conditions--20th century
- South Chicago (Chicago, Ill.)
- Advertisements
- Announcements
- Audiocassettes
- Audiotapes
- Correspondence
- Financial records
- Interviews
- Legal documents
- Motion pictures (visual works)
- Newsletters
- Oral histories
- Phonograph records
- Photographic prints
- Press releases
- Speeches
Organization and Arrangement of Collection
The collection is arranged in seven series.
Series 1. Union materials, 1956-1980 (box 1-7)
Series 1 consists of correspondence, financial records, employee and district rosters, event programs, interviews with steelworkers, speech transcripts, handwritten notes, and other papers regarding Sadlowski's work as director of USWA, District 31. Also included is text of Sadlowski's interview of George D. Patterson, an early organizer of unions around Chicago (258 p.), done as part of the Roosevelt University Oral History Program. Notes, correspondence, newsletters, and other documents regarding the Cook County Teachers Union are also present.
Series 2. Election materials, 1974-1979 (box 8-14)
Series 2 consists of publicity files, correspondence, advertisements, fliers, financial records, nomination notices, speech transcripts, donation records, debate notes, and other material regarding Sadlowski's 1977 campaign for president of USWA. Also present are materials on incumbent Lloyd McBride.
Series 3. Legal documents, 1974-1980 (box 15-18)
Series 3 contains trial transcripts, affidavits, judge and lawyer statements, written verdicts, correspondence, and other documents regarding "Edward Sadlowski, Jr., et. al. v. United Steelworkers of America AFL-CIO," which Sadlowski won in the lower federal courts but lost on appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court as "United Steelworkers of America AFL-CIO v. Edward Sadlowski, Jr., et. al." Also present are legal documents pertaining to other steel workers.
Series 4. Newspaper clippings, 1960-1980 (box 19-24)
Series 4 contains newspaper clippings from USWA and Chicago newspapers. Topics include elections, wages, conventions, USWA members, strikes, management, and events. Also present are several articles on Sadlowski.
Series 5. Newsletters and publications, 1970-1980 (box 25-29)
Series 5 contains issues of USWA newsletters 65 News and 1033 News ands Views. Topics include obituaries, USWA sports teams, events, administrative updates, and comic strips.
Series 6. General files, 1956-1991 (box 30-34)
Series 6 contains miscellaneous papers regarding Sadlowski and USWA. Sadlowski materials include biographies, correspondence, childhood documents, and political pins and patches. USWA materials include pamphlets and photographs from conventions and of steel mills.
Series 7. Audiovisual materials, 1960-1980 (box 35-38)
Box 35 contains phonograph records: Songs of Steel and Struggle, an album of steel worker songs; and a booklet of 13 records from the Phil Regan Show that discuss the "story of labor."
Media boxes (3) contain audio cassettes and audio tapes regarding Sadlowski and USWA. Audio recordings include Sadlowski's campaign speeches and traditional steel worker songs. Also present is a motion picture on steel worker safety (1970s).
Detailed list of contents of the collection
- Size
- Phonograph records
In order to listen to original sound recordings, it is necessary for a research copy to be made.
- Physical Location
- OMM.64
- Size
- Sound recordings
In order to listen to original sound recordings, it is necessary for a research copy to be made.
- Physical Location
- OMM.64
- Size
- Sound recordings
In order to listen to original sound recordings, it is necessary for a research copy to be made.
- Physical Location
- OMM.64
- Size
- Film
In order to view an original motion picture film, it is necessary for a research copy to be made.