Charles L. Ross papers

Collection

Identifier: L1985-09

Staff Only
Not requestable

Scope and Content of the Papers

The papers of C. L. Ross, 1943-1952, labor organizer in Rome, Georgia, of the Textile Workers Union of America within the Celanese (before 1947, the Tubize) Corporation, include correspondence, a radio address, and printed material. The bulk of the papers consist of printed material: union constitutions (CIO, Georgia State Industrial Union Council, TWUA local 689), contracts, grievances and memoranda from TWUA Washington Representative, John W. Edelman, to all Union Members, 1948-1950; pamphlets pertaining to racial and religious discrimination on attitudes of organized religion towards unions, the financial report of the TWUA for 1947, and the Marshall Plan, 1946-1948; brochures produced by the Tubize and Celanese Corporations; and miscellaneous printed materials. The papers contain TUWA and Tubize Corporation memoranda pertinent to the organization of the TUWA at Tubize in 1944 as well as court injunctions, a typescript of a radio address by Ross, and news clippings which relate to the local 689 actions in the TWUA strike of Celanese in 1948. Correspondence in the papers bears on the unsuccessful attempt of the TWUA to remove Executive Vice-President George Baldanzi at the 1950 Union Convention and the conflict between the Canadian Section of the TWUA and TWUA President Emil Rieve in 1951. News clippings in the papers include a 1950 Murray Kempton New York Post column on Ross's role in thwarting the Baldanzi "purge"; Rome, Ga., newspaper articles on the 1948 Celanese strike; articles on labor in general and miscellany.

Dates

Creation: 1943-1953

Creator

Ross, Charles L. (Charles Lewis), 1914-1984 (Person)

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 Charles L. Ross

Charles "Lewis" Ross (1914-1984) worked as a textile mechanic and was active in the organization efforts of the Textile Workers Union of America (TWUA) at the Celanese (before 1947, the Tubize) Corporation in Rome, Georgia. Ross held various leadership positions within the TWUA, including Financial Secretary and Business Agent for the union, member and Chairman of the Auditing Committee of the Northwest Georgia Joint Board, and President of TWUA Local 689 in Rome, Georgia. He was particularly outspoken during the 1948 strike at the Celanese plant. During the strike, Ross gave radio addresses and served as an arbitrator in cases brought against TWUA workers at the Celanese Corporation. During the 1950-1951 internal conflict at between TWUA President Emil Rieve and Georges Baldanzi, Ross and Baldanzi corresponded over the fractures forming within the union's administration. At the 1951 annual TWUA convention, Ross spoke against the attempts lead by President Rieve to purge Baldanzi. Concurrently, Ross participated in a number of arbitration files with Joe Pedigo, manager of the Northwest Georgia Joint Board.

Extent

0.83 Linear Feet (in 2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract:

Charles "Lewis" Ross (1914-1984) worked as a textile mechanic and was very active in the organization efforts of the Textile Workers Union of America (TWUA) at the Celanese (before 1947, the Tubize) Corporation in Rome, Georgia. The papers consist of: union constitutions (CIO, Georgia State Industrial Union Council, TWUA local 689), contracts, grievances and memoranda from TWUA Washington Representative, John W. Edelman, to all Union Members, 1948-1950; pamphlets pertaining to racial and religious discrimination on attitudes of organized religion towards unions, the financial report of the TWUA for 1947, and the Marshall Plan, 1946-1948; brochures produced by the Tubize and Celanese Corporations; miscellaneous printed materials.

Arrangement

The material in the Charles L. Ross papers is organized into subject folders and arranged alphabetically. Correspondence files are arranged chronologically when possible. Some correspondence bears unidentified filing notes.