E. T. Kehrer papers
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Not requestable
Scope and Content of the Papers
The papers of E.T. "Al" Kehrer, 1940-1989 include academic course notes, unpublished college writings, correspondence, pocket calendars, expense reports, artifacts (largely union or political buttons plus framed plaques), a modest amount of printed materials, and one videocassette recording.
Dates
- Creation: 1940-1989
Creator
- Kehrer, E. T. (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 E. T. Kehrer
Born in 1921 near Brighton, Michigan, Elmer Thomas "Al" Kehrer received his BA degree in 1947 from Olivet College, a liberal arts institution in Olivet, Michigan. In 1948, Kehrer obtained his MA degree in economics from Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. Kehrer had apparently interrupted his studies at Olivet to enter the Maritime Service from 1943 to 1946. Before attending Olivet and Yale, Kehrer had been a student organizer for the United Auto Workers (1936) and had done field work for the Ship's Clerk Association in Los Angeles (1944). After completing his master's at Yale, Kehrer worked as a field representative for the American Federation of Labor's Worker's Education Bureau. The employees of the bureau were members of Local 189 of the American Federation of Teachers, and Kehrer served as the Secretary-Treasurer of Local 189. From 1950 to 1953 Kehrer served as the Assistant Director of the Officer's Training Institute of the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union.
Relocating to Atlanta from New York in 1953, Kehrer became the Southeastern Regional Director of the ILGWU, remaining at that post through 1964. In 1965, Kehrer became the Southern Director for the AFL-CIO's Civil Rights Department, remaining there until his retirement in 1989.
Kehrer's civic and political interests encompassed activity in the Georgia Democratic Party, where he served on the Executive Committee; as a board member of the Southern Regional Council; and on the Southeastern Advisory Council of the American Red Cross. In 1966 Kehrer helped to form and serve as an officer of the Georgia Democratic Party Forum and the Ellis Arnall Write-In Campaign, efforts aimed at electing a slate of Loyalist national Democrats as delegates to the 1968 Democratic National Convention and electing Ellis Arnall Governor of Georgia. Kehrer also participated in activities of the Organized Labor and Workmen's Circle banquet committee, and served as President of the Georgia Citizens Coalition on Hunger. Kehrer has been a long-time member of Atlanta's Central Presbyterian Church, and has been active in lay organizations in the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA). He died in 1996.
Extent
2.5 Linear Feet (in 6 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract:
E.T. (Edward Thomas) "Al" Kehrer (1921-1996) was a labor union official born near Brighton, Michigan. Kehrer served as the Southeastern Regional Director of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) (1953-1964) and Southern Director for the AFL-CIO Civil Rights Department (1965-1989). His papers, 1940-1989, include records relating to educational activities (1940-1950); professional activities files (1953-1980) containing correspondence, expense reports, and weekly calendars (1955-1980, minus 1973) pertaining to Kehrer's work with the ILGWU and the AFL-CIO, Civil Rights Department; and personal files (1951-1989) containing printed material, correspondence and financial information.
Organization of the Papers
Series List
- Series I: Educational Activities, 1940-1950
- Series II: Professional Activities, 1953-1979
- Series III: Personal Papers, 1951-1989
Acquisition Information
Donated by E. T. Kehrer, July 6, 1989.
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, materials 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 audiovisual materials and artifacts, consult Special Collections for access.
Separated to the Southern Labor Archives Audiovisual Collection
- One videocassette recording (VHS), "It's Time to Say Yes - Dukakis," AFL-CIO and Labor Institute of Public Affairs, 10 minutes, 1988
Separated to the Southern Labor Archives Photographs Collection
- 2 Photographs
Separated to the Southern Labor Archives Pamphlet Collection
- Pamphlets relating to Labor Publications and Labor Songs
Separated to the Southern Labor Archives Artifacts Collection
- One framed "American Red Cross Certificate of Appreciation to E.T. Kehrer - Member Southeastern Field Office Advisory Council - Atlanta, Georgia - 1981 - 1982"
- One framed "American Red Cross Certificate of Appreciation to E.T. Kehrer for volunteer services as a member of the Eastern Operations Advisory Council - 1981 - 1984"
- One plaque "American Red Cross Certificate of Appreciation to E.T. Kehrer Member Southeastern Field Office Advisory Council Atlanta, Georgia 1981 - 1983"
- One plaque "American Red Cross Presented to E.T. "Al" Kehrer This Special Award to an Outstanding Individual for Your Leadership and Continuing Support 1981 - 1989"
- One curved lucite freestanding award "Organized Labor and Workmen's Circle Award Presented to Past Honoree E.T. "Al" Kehrer 1974 on the 20th Anniversary of the Awards Atlanta, Georgia April 29, 1989"
- One plaque to E. T. "Al" Kehrer from District 6 NAACP Conference of Branches, October 3, 1981
- One plaque to E. T. "Al" Kehrer from Southeastern Building Trades Conference, November 3, 1973
- One plaque to E. T. "Al" Kehrer American National Red Cross' Disaster Coastline Project to Help Alleviate Human Suffering Caused by Disasters, June 7, 1985
- One plaque to E. T. Kehrer from National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, November 1997
- One plaque to Al Kehrer from GA NAACP Conference, 1984
- One plaque to E. T. Kehrer from Southern Christian Leadership Conference, August 24-27, 1988
- One plaque to E. T. Kehrer from Max Cleland, Secretary of State, the State of Georgia, June 28, 1989
- One plaque to E. T. Kehrer from Ad Hoc Labor Committee NCNW, April 12, 1989
- One plaque to E. T. (Al) Kehrer from E. L. Abercrombie Scholarship Fund, 1982
- One plaque to E. T. "Al" Kehrer from North Georgia Building Trades Council, February 2, 1979
- One plaque to E. T. Kehrer from Organized Labor and Workingmen's Circle, April 27, 1984
- One plaque to E. T. Kehrer from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc., January 14, 1983
- Buttons, 66 union plus 27 duplicates
- Buttons, 43 campaign/political plus 60 duplicates
- Badges, 18 name ribbon (E.T. Kehrer)
- Ribbons, 2 union (no name badges attached)
- Decals, 4 union
- Decal/sticker, 1 "Mondale"
- Magnets, 1 equal sign (=)
- Donkey keychain, 1
- Soap, 1 Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
- J.P. Stevens annual shareowners meeting stubs for 1978 and 1980 (1 for each year)
- The plaques listed here have been de-accessioned.
Processing Information
Inventoried by Anne L. Tilden, M. Lee Sayrs, and Robert C. Dinwiddie at the file level, April 23, 1992.
Subject
- International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (Organization)
- AFL-CIO. Civil Rights Department (Organization)
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- E. T. Kehrer:
- Subtitle
- A Guide to His Papers at Georgia State University Library
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Georgia State University Library
- Date
- April 1992
- 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