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National Domestic Workers Union (U.S.) records

 Collection
Identifier: L1979-24

Scope and Content of the Records

The records, 1965-1979, undated, of the National Domestic Workers Union (NDWU) contain correspondence, legal and financial documents, minutes, printed material, photographs, and one artifact. Among the correspondents are Julian Bond, Sam Nunn, Herman Talmadge, Andrew Young, and other Georgia and national political figures. The voluminous Subject Files cover topics such as NDWU's involvement in the black community the Manpower Program, the Career Learning Center, the Homemaking Skills Program, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW), the Secretary's Advisory Committee on the Rights and Responsibilities of Women of HEW, and WIGO radio station in Atlanta. The Financial documents include budges and time sheets from Equal Opportunity Atlanta, which funded many of NDWU's programs, the Minutes pertain to the NDWU and also to some of the committees on which ms. Bolden Served, Such as the Citizen's Advisory Committee on Transportation, the Secretary's Advisory Committee on the Rights and Responsibilities of Women, and WIGO radio station. Proclamations, resolutions, and most of the seventy-two photographs relate to "Maids Honor Day." One artifact, the NDWU seal, completes the collection.

Dates

  • Creation: 1965-1979

Creator

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.

Historical Note

The National Domestic Workers Union was founded in Atlanta in 1968 by Dorothy Bolden to help women engaged in household work. The NDWU began an employment service, a "Homemaking Skills" program, and a "Maids Honor Day." Ms. Bolden was the founder and president of NDWU.

Extent

4.5 Linear Feet (in 13 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract:

The collection consists of records of the United Domestic Workers Union (U.S) from 1965-1979. The correspondence (1965-1979) reflects Bolden's efforts in organizing the Union and includes such correspondents as Julian Bond, Senator Sam Nunn, Senator Herman Talmadge, Allen Williams, Andrew Young, and other Georgia and national political figures. The subject files (1967-1979) cover a myriad of topics illustrating the Union's involvement in the Black community, the Manpower Program, the Career Learning Center, the Homemaking Skills Training Program, Maids Honor Day, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), and various federal agencies. The collection contains minutes of the Union (1968-1971, 1978), the Citizen's Advisory Committee on Transportation (1970-1972), the Citizens Neighborhood Advisory Council (1972-1978), and MARTA (1973-1975). The collection also contains financial documents (1968-1979) including budgets, membership records, and files relating to Equal Opportunity Atlanta, which funded many of the Union's projects; and legal documents including agreements and contracts with Economic Opportunity Atlanta.

Arrangement

The records are arranged into five series:

  1. Series I: Correspondence, 1965-1979
  2. Series II: Subject Files, 1967-1979
  3. Series III: Legal Documents, 1968-1978
  4. Series IV: Minutes, 1968-1978
  5. Series V: Printed Material, 1968-1979

Acquisition Information

Donated by Dorothy Bolden, July 10, 1977.

Online Availability

Significant parts of this collection have been digitized and are available online at Georgia State University Library Digital Collections.

Related Archival Materials

Related Materials in This Repository

  1. Working Women in Atlanta Oral History project, November 1987 (L1989-24)
  2. 9to5 Atlanta Working Women records, 1972-2009 (L2005-08)

Separated Materials

During processing, printed material, and photographs were separated to other Southern Labor Archives collections. Material must be requested separately. For periodicals, see the Southern Labor Archives Periodicals Collection finding aid or catalog. For pamphlets, see the Southern Labor Archives Pamphlet Collection finding aid (note that this collection has been weeded over time). For photographs, see the Southern Labor Archives Photographs Collection finding aid. For constitutions and artifacts, consult Special Collections for access.

Separated to Southern Labor Archives Constitutions Collection

  1. National Domestic Workers Union bylaws, 1968

Separated to Southern Labor Archives Pamphlets Collection

  1. Pamphlets concerning Black History, Health Care, Household Employees, U.S. Labor Department, and Women

Separated to Southern Labor Archives Periodicals Collection

  1. Affirmative Action Register, November 1978
  2. Atlanta's Women's ERA, January 1978
  3. Binding Ties, May 1973
  4. Full Employment Advocate, September-October 1977
  5. NCHE News, 1972, 1974, 1977
  6. Southern Struggle, July-August 1977
  7. Teamster, November 1971

Separated to Southern Labor Archives Photographs Collection

  1. Seventy-Two (72) photographs depicting Dorothy Bolden, Coretta King, Julian Bond, Leroy Johnson, Maynard Jackson, Sam Massell, Jimmy Carter, Andrew Young, and others.

Separated to Southern Labor Archives Artifacts Collection

  1. NDUW seal

Processing Information

Inventory by Leonora Gidlund at the file level, February 21, 1984.

Title
National Domestic Workers Union:
Subtitle
A Guide to Its Records at Georgia State University Library
Status
Completed
Author
Georgia State University Library
Date
February 21, 1984
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
100 Decatur St., S.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-413-2880
404-413-2881 (Fax)