Collection ID5981 P

Size23.5 linear feet (43 boxes)

Collection Description The Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (ACWA), the most significant U.S. union representing workers in the men's clothing industry, was founded in Chicago in 1914 as a breakaway movement from the United Garment Workers. Under the leadership of Sidney Hillman, ACWA grew rapidly. By the late 1920s the union had organized over 100,000 workers in the major garment industry cities across the United States and Canada. The Depression severely thinned its ranks, but by the mid-1930s, the union had regained sufficient organizational strength to become a leading player in the creation of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO).

Sidney Hillman became an influential figure in political circles and a key advisor to Franklin D. Roosevelt on labor and economic issues, serving on the board of the National Recovery Administration. During World War II, Hillman was named Associate Director of the Office of Production Management, which assisted in mobilizing the nation's resources for the war effort.

Hillman's death in 1946 was a significant blow to ACWA. Though the union continued to grow under his successor, Jacob Potofsky, its influence in national political and labor affairs was diminished. In 1976, the union merged with the Textile Workers of America to become the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU). In 1995 ACTWU voted to merge with the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union to form the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE).

Collection Contents This is a collection of more than 12,000 photographs, covering over sixty years of history of ACWA and ACTWU. The following folder titles contain Newark references:

Box 6, Folder 9: "Love, Harriet .Includes Local 169. (Black) woman studies at Rutgers University Library, Newark"

Box 38, Folder 13: includes Ralph Nader; Louis J. Marciante, NJ Federation of Labor; and Vincent Murphy of Newark, NJ Federation of Labor (1968)

Box 39, Folder 11: Locals 13 and 14, Newark, includes "ACWA picket line, NJ"; Martin Bacon, Brunpo Sorchinski, Charles Marciante, Michael Liloia, Hyman Goldberg, Richard Lynch; Patrick McGovern, M. Liloia (Local 13); W. Harding (Local 14), Patrick McGovern (Local 13). Hugh Gover and M. Liloia; M. Liloia and Vincent Murphy (1958)

Box 43 Folder 17: Leafleting in various cities, including "Hat Workers Local 120, Newark" (1964)

In Box 8, Folder 9, is entitled "Sheinkman Visits New Jersey Shops." The folder description includes a list of locations visited by ACTWU President Jack Sheinkman, including Northern Feather, a Newark business. The folder contents are "shop tours, meetings, contact sheets." (May 1983)

A search of the finding-aid for "New Jersey" and "NJ" produces a number of results. Many refer to specific cities other than Newark, but some are general and may contain Newark content. The following are examples:

Box 24, Folder 13: Titled "Israel" and dated 1920-1947 includes, among many other items, "NJ trade unionists visit Israel."

Box 38, Folder 15: Titled "New York Joint Board" and dated 1943-1965, contains "Millinery Manufacturers of NJ and Millinery Workers Union (Locals 2-24-39-42-90)"

FormatPhotographic materials

SubjectLabor History

Time Period20th Century

LanguageEnglish

Access policyOpen for research

ProcessedYes

Finding AidYes