International Typographical Union, Local 90 (Richmond, Va.) records

Collection

Identifier: L1977-12

Staff Only
Not requestable

Scope and Content of the records

The Records, 1886-1974, of the Richmond Typographical Union Local 90 consist of correspondence, minutes, financial records, printed materials, photographs and tape recordings. The minutes are especially informative for the early years, listing the names of employers declared unfair, describing contract terms, chronicling the changes in wages and hours over the years, and revealing political associations.

Papers relating to the 1971 strike against the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Richmond News-Leader are gathered in a separate series containing correspondence, strike rolls, negotiation notes, news releases, and other materials. A tape recording of a radio broadcase featuring No. 90's president F. S. Thomasson provides an overview of the major issues of the strike, which caused the demise of the local.

Dates

Creation: 1886-1971

Creator

International Typographical Union. Local 90 (Richmond, Va.) (Organization)

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research use.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Georgia State University is the owner of the physical collection and makes reproductions available for research, subject to the copyright law of the United States and item condition. Georgia State University may or may not own the rights to materials in the collection. It is the researcher's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and obtain permission from the copyright holder before publication, reproduction, or display of the materials beyond what is reasonable under copyright law. Researchers may quote selections from the collection under the fair use provision of copyright law.

Oversized Materials stored offsite. Allow at least 2 working days for retrieval.

History of the International Typographical Union, Local 90 (Richmond, Va.)

The Richmond Typographical Union Local 90 was chartered in 1866 by the National Typographical Union and in 1872 by the International Typographical Union. The local was affiliated with the AFL until 1937 and then re-affiliated in 1943, and also with the Virginia-Carolinas Typographical Conference, the Virginia Allied Printing Trades Council and the Central Trades and Labor Council. The Richmond Typothetae, an organization of employing printers, was a major adversary of the RTU 90 during two strikes in 1905-1907 and 1919-1923.

Two outstanding members of No. 90 were Giles C. Courtney (president, 1909; Secretary-Treasurer of Virginia-Carolinas Typographical Conference, 1927-1942, International Union organizer 1935) and R.T. Bowden (President 1910-1913 and 1922-1933; candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates, 1929, defeated).

In 1971, the union broke up following an unsuccessful strike against its principal employer, The Richmond Times-Dispatch and Richmond News-Leader, both owned by Media General.

Extent

5.54 Linear Feet (in 10 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract:

Organization of the Records

Organized into five series:

Series I. Correspondence, 1894-1971
Series II. Minutes,1886-1974
Series III. Financial Records, 1897-1971
Series IV. 1971 Strike Records, 1970-1972, undated
Series V. Printed Materials, 1902-1972, undated

Off-Site Storage

Oversized Materials stored offsite. Allow at least 2 working days for retrieval.

Acquisition Information

Donated by representatives of the International Typographical Union, Local 90 (Richmond, Va.), 1977, 1979.

Online Availability

The photographs in this collection may have been digitized and are available online at Georgia State University Library Digital Collections.

Separated Materials Note

During processing, materials were separated to other Southern Labor Archives Printed Collections. List created at time of processing. For photographs, see the Southern Labor Archives Photographs Collection finding aid. For pamphlets, see the Southern Labor Archives Pamphlet Collection finding aid (note that this collection has been weeded over time). For contracts, see the

Separated to Southern Labor Archives Photograph Collection

58 photographs

Separated to Southern Labor Archives Oversized Collection

Minutes, 1891-1897, 1897-1902, 1902-1912 [DH OS map-case, Drawer 12-15]
Capitation tax records, 1971 [DH OS map-case, Drawer 12-15]
Overtime roll, undated [DH OS map-case, Drawer 12-15]
Priority lists of newspaper chapels, 1940, 1970 [DH OS map-case, Drawer 12-15]
Columbia Typographical Union priority list, undated [DH OS map-case, Drawer 12-15]
Galley proofs-delegates' reports, bylaws, Hackensack Proposition [DH OS map-case, Drawer 12-15]
Richmond Newspapers Tour Guide [DH OS map-case, Drawer 12-15]
Handbills (3) [DH OS map-case, Drawer 12-15]
Special Strike Issue Newspaper [DH OS map-case, Drawer 12-15]
Sample book-and-job contract [DH OS map-case, Drawer 12-15]
Atlanta Typographical Union contract [DH OS map-case, Drawer 12-15]
Monthly Stamp reports, 1923-1935 [DH OS map-case, Drawer 12-15]
Dues books, 1901-1924 [DH OS map-case, Drawer 12-15]
Dues books, 1925-1957 [DH OS map-case, Drawer 12-15]
Cash books, 1939-1948 [DH OS map-case, Drawer 12-15]
Cash books, 1948-1966 [DH OS map-case, Drawer 12-15]

Separated to Southern Labor Archives Agreements Collection

Atlanta Typographical Union 48, 1970
Charlotte Typographical Union 338, 1970
Columbia Typographical Union 101, 1967
Newark Typographical Union 103, 1970
Richmond Typographical Union 90, 1944, 1967

Separated to Southern Labor Archives Constitution and By-Laws Collection

Richmond Typographical Union 90, 1910, 1950, 1959
Virginia-Carolinas Typographical Conference, undated

Separated to Southern Labor Archives Pamphlet Collection

21 pamphlets on the subjects of: Apprentice training (3), International Typographical Union history (4), International Typographical Union 100th Anniversary, International Typographical Union Training center, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Richmond News-Leader, History of the Richmond Typographical Union 90, Richmond Typographical Union 50th Anniversary, Richmond Typographical Union 75th Anniversary, Richmond Typographical Union 100th Anniversary, Strikebreakers, Union cards.

Separated to Southern Labor Archives Periodical Collection

The Bulletin, 1948-1955, 1961-1962
News Hi-Lites, Virginia State AFL-CIO, May and July 1971
Bulletin of Columbia Typographical Union 101, August 1971

Separated to Southern Labor Archives Proceedings Collection

International Typographical Union 112th Convention, August 1970
Virginia State Federation of Labor Assembly, 1946

Separated to Audio-Visual Collection

"The Richmond Newspaper Strike--Both Sides", WLEE Broadcast April 1971 [Tape Recordings]
Estees, representing Richmond newspapers; F.S. Thomasson and Chester Ritchie, representing Richmond Typographical Union 90 [Tape Recordings]

Processing Information

Processed by Debra Whatley at the file level, 1978. This collection guide was created from a legacy finding aid. The inventory's contents and storage locations of separated materials (if applicable) were not verified at that time.