Joe Jacobs oral history interview, August 16, 1991

Item — othertype: Oral History

Identifier: JacobsJ_19910816_P1991-01

Staff Only

Joe Jacobs oral history interview

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Scope and Contents

Interviewed by Cliff Kuhn and Millie Beck. Among topics discussed: Bob Segal; Lithonia granite cutters strike; Davidson family; Judge Jim Davis; Steve Nance of ATU; Myles Horton of Highlander; David Dubinsky; Max Zaritzky; merger of Millinery Union and Hatter's Union; Winnsboro, South Carolina; anti‑union campaigns; George Googe; printer's union; National Labor Relations Board; E.L. "Abby" Abercrombie; Laundry Workers union organization; attempts to unionize cab drivers; National Linen Service; affiliation of Laundry Workers union with Teamsters; organization of laundry workers in Georgia; War Labor Board; Tony Valente; tactics used for obtaining wage increases; Herbert Haas; racially mixed unions; changes in black attitudes; Yellow Cab monopoly; Jacobs's disagreements with Abercrombie; Charlie Elrod; Harris Jacobs; IRS case against laundry workers union; Al Kehrer; First Union Bank; mob influence; international unions; TWUA; congressional committee that investigated union corruption; Lloyd Clennard; Bobby Kennedy; car rental deal; Tony Valente; George Meany; Alex Rose; government efforts to get Jacobs to testify against unions; Ethics Committee; "heresy" trials; Lloyd Clennard changes name to Roberts.

Dates

Creation: August 16, 1991

Creator

Jacobs, Joseph, 1908- (Interviewee, Person)

Restrictions on Access

Oral history available for research.

Biographical Note

Joe Jacobs has served as a labor lawyer in the South since 1929. He has served as counsel for the Southeast Building Trades Conference, general counsel and southern director for the United Textile Workers of America, and southern counsel for the United Hatters, Cap and Millinery Workers, and the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, as well as being an active member of Workmen's Circle, a labor‑oriented Jewish fraternal order.