International Typographical Union, Local 63 (Toledo, Ohio) records
Collection Overview
Abstract
The collection consists of correspondence, financial records, agreements and contracts with the Toledo Blade publishing company, apprentice materials, strike reports, convention and conference programs and reports and miscellaneous brochures and newspaper articles. Records extend from 1863-1963. However, the majority of the material documents the years 1909-1958.
Dates
- Creation: 1863-1963
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1909-1958
Extent
8.27 Cubic Feet (18 legal archive boxes)
32 Volumes (32 wrapped volumes)
Creator
- International Typographical Union. Local 63 (Toledo, Ohio) (Organization)
Scope and Contents
The records of International Typographical Local 63 of Toledo, Ohio include minutes, correspondence, financial records, agreements and contracts with the Toledo Blade Publishing Company, apprentice materials, strike reports, convention and conference programs and reports, and a few miscellaneous brochures and news articles.
Regular meeting minutes document the years 1894-1943 and for one meeting, April 2, 1950, with a gap between the years 1902-1906. The minutes contain general business information, roll call of members present, proceedings of special meetings, monthly financial reports, business agent's, committee, and strike reports. Incoming and outgoing correspondence covers the years 1898-1961 with the majority of the material falling within the years 1916-1961. The correspondence reveals many day-to-day union matters, i.e., dues, membership payments and applications, payments of strike benefits, special assistance and general correspondence. This correspondence also includes contact between Typographical 63 and other unions showing support for the strike in 1923. Reports of the Board of Directors (1938-1940) are contained in the collection as well as reports of various committees, such as the Label Committee (1938-1939) and the Job Scale Committee (1938-1939).
The business agent's reports (October 1937-May 1939) document the agent's visits in the way of grievances, organizing, working conditions, and wages. Legal cases also are available between the union and the Toledo Blade and Times. These cases primarily pertain to the consolidation of the two publishing companies. Other legal cases documented are those between the union and individual members charged with violations of the constitution and bylaws, and agreements between Local 63 and the Toledo Blade and Times for the years 1944 and 1945. Roll books which consist of names of union members present at roll call and the signatures of officers present is complete from 1921-1922, 1924-1945. Convention and conference programs and reports from delegates to the International Typographical Convention cover the years 1936-1942. Also contained in this collection are records of the 1923 strike between Typographical Local 63 and the Toledo Blade. These strike records consist of a Strike Director's report on the planning and progress of the 1923 strike as well as weekly strike reports which contain the roll of members on strike and hose drawing strike benefits for the years 1922-1924. Two reports written by the Strike Committee dealing with the success of the strike and concessions gained form the company are included. One report is dated 1923; the other is not dated but deals specifically with the 1923 strike.
Monthly financial statements covering the years 1906, 1923, 1924-1926, 1928, 1929-1944 contain itemized listings of receipts and expenditures of the union. Receipts and expenditures ledgers cover the years 1888-1933, 1936-1963, while dues ledgers are available, although scattered, from 1868-1953. Miscellaneous records including pension payments, apprentice applications, ballots and returns of election results, brochures and pamphlets, contract proposals, and agreements complete the collection.
Biographical / Historical
One of the pioneers in the formation of trade unions in Toledo, Ohio, was Toledo Typographical Union No. 63, established on November 11, 1863, and chartered by the International Typographical Union of North America in November 1864. As a pioneer labor union in Toledo, it struggled to surviv and many of its early activities went unrecorded. Also, according to a refernce in the minutes, a fire during the late nineteenth century destroyed many of the records. Growth during the early years was slow but consistent. The main objectives during these early years were to achieve decent wages and shorter hours, to open the way for organized shops, and to fight unsanitary conditions in the composing rooms.
Local 63's first officers were Flavius Oblinger, president; F. G. Kenny, vice-president; C. E. Parrish, secretary; and James Timmons, financial secretary. The current charter of Local 63 was issued on May 21, 1872 and listed the following officers: F. H. Blackly, C. M. Beryr, M. L. Crawford, P. S. Scannell, John F. Irish, J. C. Crossman, and M. O. Jones. Throughout the years, Local 63 has continued to be strong despite the introduction of typesetting machines and two major strikes, one in 1923 and the other in 1966.
The Local's present (1980) officers are Charles Phillis, president; Eugene Matzger, vice-president; Charles Vandewiele, secretary-treasurer; Marilyn Hgdol, recording secretary. International Typographical Union, Local 63 is a member of the Toledo area AFL-CIO Labor Council and its members work at the Toledo Blade and many other smaller presses throughout the city. The Local has 250 active members and 110 pensioned retirees. Local 63's current (1998) offices are located at 2300 Ashland Avenue, Toledo, Ohio 43620.
Conditions Governing Access
No known access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The records of International Typographical Union, Local 63, Toledo, Ohio were donated to the Center for Archival Collections through the cooperative efforts of Stephen P. Gietschier, Co-Director of the Ohio Labor History Project; Paul D. Yon, Associate Director of the Center for Archival Collections; and Charles Phillis and Charles Vandewiele, President and Secretary-Treasurer, respectively, of Local 63 in March 1978.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Joanne Passet, a graduate assistant employed by the Ohio Labor History Project. The finding aid was prepared by John P. Benvenuto, a graduate assistant in American Studies and completed in September 1980.
Source
- International Typographical Union. Local 63 (Toledo, Ohio) (Donor, Organization)
Subject
- International Typographical Union. Local 63 (Toledo, Ohio) (Organization)
- Ohio Labor History Project (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the International Typographical Union, Local 63 (Toledo, Ohio) records
- Author
- John Benvenuto, Amy Smith, Nick Pavlik
- Date
- circa 1980s, September 2021, October 2023
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
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