Maine State Federated Labor Council Records
Scope and Contents
The collection contains business records of the Maine State Federation of Labor and its successor, the Maine State Federated Labor Council. Records include correspondence, financial records, records of conventions and of the Council's newspaper "Maine State Labor News." Both national and state projects and campaigns are represented in the collection, and subject areas include work programs, labor laws and legislation, strikes, workers' compensation, etc. Correspondents include prominent state and national labor leaders as well as Maine politicians such as Margaret Chase Smith, Edmund S. Muskie, William Hathaway and others. Many materials are from Benjamin Dorsky, president of the Council until 1979.
Dates
- 1914-1967
Creator
- Dorsky, Benjamin J. (Benjamin James), 1905- (Person)
- Maine State Federated Labor Council (Organization)
Restrictions on Access
Kept at Fogler Library's offsite storage facility. One week's notice required for retrieval.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Information on literary rights available in the repository.
Historical Note
The Maine State Federated Labor Council was founded in 1904 as the Maine State Federation of Labor, a branch of the American Federation of Labor. Its purpose was to better the conditions of the labor force and to fight such problems as child labor, poor working conditions and exploitation of women in the work force. In 1938 the AFL and the Maine State Federation saw the rise of a new rival, the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). In 1956 the Maine state chapters of both the AFL and the CIO merged, forming the Maine State Federated Labor Council.
Extent
62 linear feet (62 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The collection was arranged in chronological order upon its arrival at Fogler Library in the 1970s. Within each year, the files follow a similar arrangement beginning with correspondence arranged as either incoming or outgoing, then chronologically. Correspondence of important people, businesses, organizations and government departments is often noted. AFL-CIO correspondence is found in this section as well, along with letters from labor leader George Meany, the Committee on Industrial Peace, the Committee on Political Education and others.
Affiliated union material including that from local and state unions is found next and generally includes miscellaneous papers, reports and publications. Other records of the Council follow, including information about the organization’s conventions, meetings of the Executive Council and related papers. Financial and business records, especially expense reports, treasurer’s reports, bills and receipts, are found next in the collection.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Maine State Federated Labor Council, August, 1970.
- AFL-CIO -- History
- American Federation of Labor -- History
- Congress of Industrial Organizations (U.S.) -- History
- Correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Labor movement -- Maine Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Labor unions -- Maine Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Ledgers (Account books) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Maine State Federation of Labor -- History
- Minutes Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Newsletters Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Press releases Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Proceedings Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Receipts (Financial records) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Reports Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Resolutions Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Title
- Guide to the Maine State Federated Labor Council Records
- Status
- Box And Folder List Available
- Date
- 2012
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for uncoded script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections Repository
5729 Raymond H. Fogler Library
University of Maine
Orono ME 04469-5729 United States
207-581-1686
