United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices, Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Union, Local 42 records

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.