AFL-CIO Region 8 records
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Not requestable
Scope and Content of the Records
The AFL-CIO Region 8 records, spanning 1930 to 1974, include correspondence, minutes, reports, legal papers, conference materials, membership cards, and printed materials. The collection pertains to the career of longtime labor organizer Paul R. Christopher, 1910-1974, who first joined the United Textile Workers in North Carolina in 1932 and who later worked with the CIO, 1937-1955 and the AFL-CIO, 1955-1974. The collection is arranged by type of record and organized in five series.
In addition to these series, the records also include many items such as periodicals, constitutions, contracts, pamphlets, and proceedings as well as non-print items such as photographs and artifacts. These items have been stored separately in the department's Printed Collection and Non-print Collection.
Dates
- Creation: 1930-1974
Creator
- AFL-CIO. Region 8 (Knoxville, Tenn.) (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.
Biography of Paul R. Christopher
Paul Christopher was born February 14, 1910 in the Alice Mill Village in Easley, Pickens County, South Carolina. His father, Clarence Erasker Christopher, was a loom fixer and his mother Mary Jane (Hemphill) Christopher also worked in the Alice Mill. Young Christopher moved with his family to Greenville, South Carolina, was enrolled in a company grammar school (Poe Mill), and later attended Greenville's Parker District High School. At age fourteen, Christopher began work in the F.W. Poe Manufacturing Company, remaining in the mills (by his own account, at least six "cotton and rayon weaving mills" [letter from subject to George Mitchell, Executive Director, Southern Regional Council, Inc., November 23, 1955, Southern Labor Archives, Georgia State University Library]) until 1933, except for a period from 1930 to 1932 when he attended Clemson Agricultural College (now University), studying textile engineering. Shortly after leaving Clemson, Christopher met and married Mary Elizabeth Lybrand on August 13, 1932.
Upon returning to the cotton mills as a weaver, Christopher joined the United Textile Workers of America (UTWA) and quickly rose from within the ranks to the presidency of his local. In 1933 he secured employment as a full-time organizer and technical advisor for the UTWA, a post which he held until April, 1937. During these years, Christopher participated in a host of organizing campaigns, boycotts, and strikes, including the 1934 General Textile Strike. In recognition of his organizing abilities and leadership qualities, the North Carolina Federation of Textile Workers elected him president in 1934.
When the Congress of Industrial Organizations left the American Federation of Labor and began massive organizing drives among America's industrial workers, Christopher lent his support as an organizer and technical advisor to the Textile Workers Organizing Committee (TWOC), chartered in 1937. After a two year organizing campaign, stymied by the "Roosevelt Recession," the TWOC was rechartered as the Textile Workers Union of America (TWUA), and Christopher was elected a national vice-president, a position he held until 1941, while serving concurrently as TWUA South Carolina State Director.
In September 1940, Christopher moved to Tennessee with his wife and two daughters, Sara Jane and Patricia Ellen, there becoming executive secretary-treasurer of the CIO-affiliated Tennessee Industrial Union Council. Christopher was made CIO Tennessee State Director in 1942, a post he retained until being appointed CIO Region 4 (Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia) Director in 1953. Throughout the 1940s, Christopher held many concurrent administrative positions within the state and regional CIO, including Acting Southeastern Director for the CIO -Political Action Committee (1944 - 1946) and Tennessee State Southern Organizing Committee State Director during the Southern Organizing Drive, popularly known as "Operation Dixie." Following the merger of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1955, Christopher was appointed Director of AFL-CIO Region 8 (Tennessee and Kentucky) and remained in that post until his death in early 1974.
In addition to his career as a trade unionist, Christopher served in numerous social welfare agencies, educational organizations, and conferences and conventions covering a wide range of subjects. During World War II Christopher became associated with the following government agencies: Advisory Commission, Training-Within-Industry Division; War Manpower Commission, Region IX; Board of Directors, Tennessee War Fund; Tennessee War Services Council; Advisory Commission, Tennessee State Planning Commission; Knoxville (Tennessee) Area War Manpower Commission Labor Management Commission; National War Labor Board, Fourth (Southeast) Region; and Office of Price Administration Labor Advisory Committee.
Interested in labor education, Christopher was a member of the Board of Directors of the Southern Summer School for Workers and the Executive Council of the Highlander Folk School. Community work evidenced itself in his membership on the Board of Directors, Knox County Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Knoxville Community Chest, and he held membership in a number of civil rights organizations, including the Southern Conference for Human Welfare and the Southern Regional Council. A Democratic Party member and Unitarian, Christopher also held membership in fraternal organizations such as the Elks, Moose, and Young Men's Christian Association. While serving in many capacities in governmental, educational, community, and church organizations not directly connected with his work as a trade union leader, Christopher, revealed in his papers, pursued avocations as a stamp collector, ham radio operator, pilot, and "weekend" farmer.
Extent
12.4 Linear Feet (in 27 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract:
AFL-CIO Region 8 records, 1930-1974, include correspondence, minutes, reports, legal papers, conference materials, membership cards, and printed materials. The collection pertains to the career of long time labor organizer and Region 8 Director, Paul R. Christopher (1910-1974).
Arrangement
The records are arranged into six series:
- Series I: Correspondence, 1930-1972
- Series II: Operational Records, 1935-1973
- Series III: Financial Records, 1931-1973
- Series IV: Printed Materials, 1936-1974
- Series V: Personal Papers, 1943-1971
- Series VI: Oversize Storage
Acquisition Information
Donated by Patricia Newman, December 1984.
Online Availability
The photographs in this collection may have been digitized and are available online at Georgia State University Library Digital Collections.
Separated Materials
During processing, oversize items, photographic material, artifacts, and printed material were separated to other Southern Labor Archives collections.
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 periodicals, see the Southern Labor Archives periodicals collection finding aid or catalog. For books consult Special Collections or the University Library Catalog. For artifacts, contracts, constitutions, and bylaws, consult Special Collections for access.
Separated to Southern Labor Archives Constitutions and Bylaws Collection
- AFL-CIO, 1955
- Directly Affiliated Local Unions, February 16, 1960
- North Carolina State AFL-CIO, undated; October 25, 1966
- North Carolina State Industrial Union Council, November 1, 1953
- State Central Bodies, February 14, 1956
- Tennessee Committee on Political Action, 1958
- Tennessee State Industrial Union Council, June 16-18, 1950, June 13-15, 1953, June 17-19, 1955
- Tennessee State Industrial Union Council AFL-CIO, October 1957, October 1959
- Tennessee State Labor Council AFL-CIO, September 14, 1965, March 11, 1973
- Executive Council of the Tennessee Federation of Labor and the Executive Board of the Tennessee State Industrial Union Council, December 18, 1955
- National Council of TVA Public Safety Services Employees Local Union, undated
- Tennessee Valley Salary Policy Council, AFL-CIO, June 1, 1959, May 21, 1961
- United Furniture Workers of America AFL-CIO, May 2, 1960
- International Union United Steelworkers of America CIO, May 13, 1944
Separated to Southern Labor Archives Contracts Collection
- Columbian Iron Works, Plant No. 2 Chattanooga, Tenn., and United Steelworkers of America, Local 3306, August 9, 1944
- Empire Furniture Corporation, Johnson City, Tenn., and Furniture Workers Local Union No. 27768, February 21, 1944
- L.B. Jenkins Redrying Company, Inc., Greenville, Tenn., and the Food, Tobacco, Agricultural and Allied Workers of America, February 15, 1947
- Merger Agreement and Proposed Constitution by the Executive Council of the Tennessee Federation of Labor and the Executive Board of the Tennessee State Industrial Union Council, December 18, 1955
- Tennessee Valley Authority and the Salary Policy Employee Council, May 7, 1964
- Tennessee Valley Authority and the Salary Policy Employee Council, February 4, 1955
Separated to Southern Labor Archives Pamphlets Collection
- Pamphlets added to or duplicated in the Southern Labor Archives Pamphlet Collection in the following subject areas: American Federation of Labor; American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO); AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education; AFL-CIO Department of Education; AFL-CIO Economic Policy Committee; AFL-CIO Organizations Affiliated with; AFL-CIO State and Local Central Bodies; Anti-Union Material; Arbitration; Automation; Benefits; Civil Rights; Community Development; Community Relations; Consumers; Cooperatives; Economic Issues; Education; Employee Handbook; Foreign Aid; Health Care; Housing Costs; Human Relations; Human Resources; Human Resources Development Institute; Inflation; Insurance Plans; International Ladies Garment Workers Union; Job Satisfaction; J.P. Stevens; Labor History; Labor-Management Relations Act, 1947; Labor Relations; Labor Songs; Labor Studies; Management; Minimum Wage Standards; Murray, Philip; National Labor Relations Act; Nuclear Energy; Open Shop; Organizing; Pension Plans; Political Action; Poverty; Public Works Administration; Race Relations; Religion; Religion and Labor; Right-to-Work; Safety; Shop Stewards; Social Security; Socialism; The South; Strikes -- Enka; Strikes -- Kingsport Press; Tennessee; Tennessee Valley Authority; Trade; Unemployment; Unemployment Insurance; Union -- Democracy; Union -- Principals; United States Labor Department -- Bureau of Employment Security; United States Labor Department Wage and Hour and Public Contracts Divisions; United States Office of Economic Opportunity; United Steelworkers of America (UTWA); Veterans; Wage and Price Controls; Wages; Welfare; Women Workers; Workers Compensation
Separated to Southern Labor Archives Photographic Collection
- Negative Strip, "Emil and Joie"
- (7) negatives, Greenback [TN] Industries
- (3) 8×10 BW, Estes Kefauver
- (1) 4×5 BW, unidentified man
- (1) 8×10 BW, ILGWU picketers
- (1) 8×10 BW, unidentified meeting
- (7) 4×5 BW, unidentified individuals
- (3) 4×6 BW, unidentified meeting
- (12) 8×10 BW, unidentified meeting
- (6) sheets of small contact photos, unidentified
- (21) 8×10 BW, unidentified
- (1) 8×10 BW, Allan Haywood, autographed
- (1) BW, John M. Livingston, autographed to Paul Christopher
Separated to Southern Labor Archives Periodicals Collection
- Ammunition, International Union, United Automobile, Aircraft and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW-CIO), September 1948
- Economic Justice, National Religion and Labor Foundation, June 1947 (XV, 9) and December-January 1956-1957 (XXV, 4)
- Economic Trends and Outlook, AFL-CIO Economic Policy Committee, October 1958 (III, 10) and August 1959 (IV, 8)
- Labor and Nation, Inter-Union Institute, Inc., January-February 1947 (III, 1); November-December 1947 (III, 6); September-October 1949 (V, 5)
- Labor's Economic Review, AFL-CIO, November 1958 (III, 11)
- Labor's Non-Partisan League National Bulletin, Labor's Non-Partisan League, March 9, 1938 (II, 4)
- North American Labor, Arts and Crafts Press, June 1948 (I, 3)
- Religion and Labor (formerly Economic Justice), Religion and Labor Foundation, Inc., February 1958 (I, 5); April 1958 (I, 7); April 1959
- Rome GE IUE-CIO News, IUE-CIO GE Organizing Committee, July 21, 1954 (I, 1)
- Textile Labor, Textile Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO, CLC, July 1967 (XXVIII, 7)
- American Federation of Labor Weekly News Service, American Federation of Labor, August 17, 1935 (XXV, 33)
- Carolina Labor's View, North Carolina State AFL-CIO, July 1969 (II, 3)
- C.I.O. Labor Journal, Tennessee State Industrial Union Council, May 1954 (IV, 11)
- The Guild Reporter, American Newspaper Guild, CIO, May 11, 1956 (XXIII, 10)
- International Labor News Service, Inc., American Federation of Labor (2 copies), April 6, 1935
- The Labor World, Chattanooga Central Labor Union, October 24, 1956 (XLI, 27)
- Steel Labor, Steel Workers Organizing Committee - C.I.O., September 5, 1936 (I, 3)
- The Textile Labor Banner, United Textile Workers of America, 1934-1935 (39 issues)
- United Textile Workers of America Official News Sheet, United Textile Workers of America, 1934-1935 (8 issues)
- Tennessee State Labor Council AFL-CIO, 1957, 1960, 1965, 1967-1969
- The Textile Worker, United Textile Workers of America, 1935-1937 (25 issues)
- Union News Service, Committee for Industrial Organization, 1936 (14 issues)
Separated to Southern Labor Archives Artifacts Collection
- Sewing Kit: International Ladies Garment Workers Union, undated
- Memo Pad: Boot and Shoe Workers Union, undated
- Guest Medal: United Furniture Workers of America, 1962
- Convention Survival Kit: Maritime Trades Department, undated
- "Member of CIO" Sticker, undated
- "The Free Riders Psalm" [re people who benefit from the union but do not join], undated
- Tennessee State Labor Council Delegate Badge, undated
- Memo and Address Book: Tobacco Workers International Union, undated
- Pilots Association Patch, undated
- Bumper Stickers (2): "Win with Adlai and Estes," undated
- Car Tag: "Join NC State AFL-CIO," undated
- Bumper Sticker: "1963 Home Show"
- Bumper Sticker: "Don't Shop at Anti-Union Sears," undated
- Sticker: "Re-elect Clements Senator," undated
- Car Tag: "Like the Change? Vote Democratic," undated
- Bumper Sticker: "Fair Taxes Now Take the Rich Off Welfare," undated
Separated to the Southern Labor Archives Book Collection or the Georgia State University Library General Collection
- Alford, L.P. Henry Laurence Gantt. (General Collection), 1934
- Austin, Aleine. The Labor Story. (SPEC), 1949
- Carlson, John Roy. Under Cover. (General Collection), 1943
- Babson, Roger W. Business Fundamentals. (General Collection), 1927
- Baker-Crothers, Hayes. Problems of Citizenship. (General Collection), 1924
- Beshoar, Barron B. Out of the Depths. (General Collection), 1942
- Brooks, Thomas R. Toil and Trouble. (SPEC), 1964
- Buchanan, Joseph R. The Story of a Labor Agitator. (General Collection), 1903
- Burke, Fielding. A Stone Came Rolling. (RARE), 1935
- Carnes, Cecil. John L. Lewis. (SPEC), 1936
- Chambers, Walter. Labor Unions and the Public. (LAW), 1936
- Chapin, A.L. First Principles of the Economy. (General Collection), 1879
- Childs, Harwood. Labor and Capital in International Politics. (General Collection), 1930
- Cole, Gordon H. Labor's Story. (General Collection), 1961
- Crawford, Kenneth G. The Pressure Boys. (General Collection), 1939
- Creamer, Daniel. Labor and the Shut-Down of the Amoskeag Textile Mills. (SPEC), 1939
- Fitch, J.A. Social Responsibilities of Organized Labor. (General Collection), 1957
- Furniss, Edgar S. Labor Problems. (General Collection), 1925
- Goldberg, Arthur J. AFL-CIO Labor United. (SPEC), 1956
- Gorman, Francis J. The Fate of Trade Unions Under Fascism. (SPEC), 1937
- Groat, George G. The Study of Organized Labor in America. (General Collection), 1916
- Grogan, William. John Riffe of the Steelworkers. (General Collection), 1959
- Hays, Arthur G. Democracy Works. (General Collection), 1939
- Howard, Sidney. The Labor Spy. (SPEC), 1924
- Huberman, Leo. The Labor Spy Racket. (RARE), 1937
- Huberman, Leo. Man's Worldly Goods. (General Collection), 1936
- Huberman, Leo. The NMU: What It Is and What It Does. (SPEC), 1943
- Johnson, C.S. The Collapse of Cotton Tenancy. (General Collection), 1935
- Johnson, F.E. The New Spirit in Industry. (General Collection), 1919
- Josephson, Matthew. Sidney Hillman Statesman of American Labor. (SPEC), 1952
- Karsh, Bernard. Diary of a Strike. (General Collection), 1958
- Kelly, Richard. Nine Lives for Labor. (General Collection), 1956
- Key, V.O. Southern Politics. (General Collection), 1950
- Kilgo, John. Campaigning in Dixie. (SPEC), 1945
- Kirkpatrick, George R. Is Plenty too Much for the Common People. (General Collection), 1939
- Leiter, Robert D. The Teamsters Union. (General Collection), 1957
- Lens, Sidney. Left, Right and Center. (General Collection), 1949
- Litchfield, Paul W. The Industrial Republic. (General Collection), 1946
- Luthin, Reinhard H. American Demagogues. (General Collection), 1954
- MacDonald, Lios. Labor Problems and the American Scene. (General Collection), 1938
- Magee, James D. Collapse and Recovery. (General Collection), 1934
- Marquand, H.A. Organized Labour in Four Continents. (General Collection), 1939
- Maurer, James Hudson. It Can be Done. (SPEC), 1938
- McLaughlin, Glenn E. Why Industry Moves South. (General Collection), 1949
- McWilliams, Carey. Factories in the Field. (General Collection), 1939
- Mendelsohn, Sigmund. Labor's Crisis. (General Collection), 1920
- Michie, Allen A. Dixie Demagogues. (General Collection), 1939
- Mooney, James D. Wages and the Road Ahead. (General Collection), 1931
- Naylor, J.F. Labour's International Policy. (General Collection), 1969
- Perry, Jennings. Democracy Begins at Home. (General Collection), 1944
- Rayback, Joseph G. A History of American Labor. (SPEC), 1959
- Reynolds, Lloyd G. Labor and National Defense. (General Collection), 1941
- Rose, Arnold M. Union Solidarity. (General Collection), 1952
- Ryan, J.A. A Better Economic Order. (General Collection), 1935
- Seidman, Joel. Union Rights and Union Duties. (General Collection), 1943
- Seldes, George. Freedom of the Press. (General Collection), 1937
- Shippen, Katherine B. This Union Cause. (General Collection), 1958
- Shultz, George P. Strategies for the Displaced Worker. (General Collection), 1966
- Smith, Elliott D. Technology and Labor. (General Collection), 1939
- Smith, Harry. Industrial History. (General Collection), 1929
- Soule, George. Sidney Hillman Labor Statesman. (General Collection), 1939
- Steel-Maitland, A. The New America. (General Collection), 1935
- Stein, Emanuel. Labor Problems in America. (SPEC), 1940
- Tippett, Tom. When Southern Labor Stirs. (SPEC), 1931
- Todes, Charlotte. William H. Sylvis and the National Labor Union. (General Collection), 1942
- Tripp, L. Reed. Labor Problems and Processes. (General Collection), 1961
- Vorse, Mary Heaton. Labor's New Millions. (General Collection), 1938
- Walsh, J. Raymond. CIO Industrial Unionism in Action. (General Collection), 1937
- Webb, Beatrice. Our Partnership. (General Collection), 1948
- Weise, Mildred J. The Modern Worker. (General Collection), 1930
- Welty, Malcolm W. Labor Contract Clauses. (General Collection), 1945
- Williams, Francis. Magnificient Journey. (General Collection), 1954
Processing Information
Processed by Patricia Newman at the file level, December 1984.
Subject
- United Textile Workers of America (Organization)
- Textile Workers Union of America (Organization)
- Title
- AFL-CIO Region 8 [L1984-70]:
- Subtitle
- A Guide to Its Records at Georgia State University Library
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Georgia State University Library
- Date
- December 1984
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
100 Decatur St., S.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-413-2880
404-413-2881 (Fax)
archives@gsu.edu