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International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local Lodge 480 (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) records

 Collection
Identifier: L2011-13

Scope and Content of the Collection

The records, 1938-2010 (bulk 1952-1987), of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local Lodge 480 (Oak Ridge, Tenn.), consist of by-laws, meeting minutes, correspondence, reports, membership records, campaign materials, financial records, negotiations, strike records, reference files, convention records, and artifacts.

The records are organized in five series. Series I consists of documents that reflect both the administration of the Atomic Local and its routine work. It contains 12 subseries: By-laws and constitutions, Minutes, Correspondence, Subject files, Financial, Contracts, Negotiations, Strikes, Newsletters, Membership, Retiree meetings, and Benefits.

Series II, History files, consists of documents, mainly news clippings, researched and accumulated by retired member Larry Washam. Series III documents the Ladies Auxiliary 404 Atomettes, who assisted Atomic Local 480 and planned events to recognize the membership and help the community. The Atomettes' materials include administrative records, financial records, and most notably scrapbooks. Series IV reflects the membership's participation in conventions and meetings at the state, district, and international level. Series V is Artifacts, scrapbooks, audiovisual materials, and oversized materials.

The records give insight into the origin of Atomic Local 480 and origin of the Oak Ridge community; they also provide context for issues important to the Local such as health and safety rights while working in nuclear plants. Highlights of the collection includes a run of regular meeting minutes from 1946-2010 and thorough documentation for strikes held in 1953, 1958, 1963, 1970, 1978, 1981 and 1987.

Dates

  • Creation: 1938-2010
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1952 - 1987

Creator

Restrictions on Access

Access to some items is restricted. Please see archivist for more information.

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.

History of Local Lodge 480, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 480 of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, also known as the Atomic Local 480, was chartered in 1946. Originally developed in 1942, the community of Oak Ridge was managed by the U.S. Army to facilitate production of the atomic bomb by the Manhattan Project during World War II. Three separate laboratories, K-25, Y-12, and X-10 served in separating uranium. The K-25 laboratory separated U-235 from U-238 and sent the product to Y-12. Y-12 was the electromagnetic separation plant. Its product was then sent to X-10 where the final uranium product was created, a few grams of plutonium to be sent to the Hanford Site in Hanford, Washington. From Hanford, more plutonium was produced and sent to the Los Alamos National Laboratory to create the atomic bombs that ended WWII.

The Oak Ridge community was kept secret until WWII was over, and the Army handed the laboratories over to the Atomic Energy Commission in 1947. The Atomic Local 480 dealt with issues such as, in the early years, health and safety working with radioactive material, and better working conditions throughout the local's history. Ownership of the three laboratories associated with the Atomic Local 480 changed many times, and other area locals have merged with Atomic Local 480, including Local Lodge 555 (Knoxville, Tenn.) and 1721 (Oak Ridge, Tenn.). Currently, X-10 (National Laboratory) and Y-12 (National Security Complex) operate under the U.S. Department of Energy as top nuclear research facilities.

Extent

8.12 Linear Feet (in 22 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract:

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 480 of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, also known as the Atomic Local 480, was chartered in 1946. The community of Oak Ridge was developed in 1942 and managed by the Army of the United States to facilitate production of the Atomic bomb for the Manhattan Project during World War II. The Oak Ridge community was kept secret until WWII was over; the union was then formed under the AFL-CIO. The Atomic Local 480 dealt with issues such as proper health and safety regarding radiation specifically in their earlier years and better working conditions in general throughout the local's history. The records, 1938-2010 (bulk 1952-1987), of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Atomic Local Lodge 480 (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) consist of bylaws, meeting minutes, correspondence, reports, membership records, campaign materials, financial records, negotiations, strike records, reference files, convention records, and artifacts.

Arrangement

The records are arranged into five series:

  1. Series I: Administrative, 1938-2010
  2. Series II: Local Lodge 480 history files, 1945-2007
  3. Series III: Ladies Auxiliary #404 Atomettes, 1958-1980
  4. Series IV: Conventions, 1988-2008
  5. Series V: Artifacts, scrapbooks, audiovisual materials, and oversized materials, 1959-1990

Acquisition Information

The records were donated by Bob Keil, Larry Washam, and Gordon Worley on behalf of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local Lodge 480 (Oak Ridge, Tenn.), in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

Related Archival Materials Note

Georgia State University Library is the official repository for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and the collection includes the Grand Lodge records as well as numerous Local and District Lodges. Please see the IAMAW Research Guide for more collections. In addition, GSU Digital Collections includes complete, full-text runs of the Machinist Monthly Journal and the Machinists Newspaper available in GSU Digital Collections as well as numerous photographs and local publications from both the US and Canada.

Processing Information

Processed by Molly Russell at the file level, January 2012. Later accessions (L2012-45, L2013-12, L2014-22) added by Hal Hansen, November 2018.

Title
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local Lodge 480 (Oak Ridge, Tenn.):
Subtitle
A Guide to Its Records at Georgia State University Library
Status
Completed
Author
Georgia State University Library
Date
February 4, 2012
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2023-12-08: Links to digitized sound recordings added

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

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