Alabama Labor Union Ledgers, 1888-1903

Collection

Identifier: MSS-4340

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of two ledgers dated from 1888 to 1903 from the Birmingham-based United Machinists and Mechanical Engineers of America Local Lodge No. 7. The first ledger is dated from 1888- to 1891 and includes meeting minutes, officer reports, and propositions and resolutions with details of the resulting votes. The second ledger is a list of the local union’s members from 1888- to 1903.

Both ledgers have worn cloth covers and fragile spines. Careful handling is required.

Dates

1888 - 1903

Physical Description

Very fragile, careful handling required.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers are responsible for using the materials in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright claimants in collection materials. Copyright for official University records is held by The University of Alabama. The library claims only physical ownership of many manuscript collections. Anyone wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of literary property rights or copyrights. Please contact Special Collections (archives@ua.edu) with questions regarding specific manuscript collections. For more information about copyright policy, please visit: https://www.ua.edu/copyright/. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal implications, for which the University of Alabama assumes no responsibility.

Biographical / Historical

The United Machinists and Mechanical Engineers of America was founded in 1888 in Atlanta, Georgia, as railway employees realized the need for a union to assist in resolving workplace problems. The union quickly grew to forty lodges across the Southeastern United States. The Local No. 7 was established in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1888.

The union underwent several name changes. In 1888, the union was founded as the United Machinists and Mechanical Engineers of America. In 1890, the name was changed to the National Association of Machinists. In 1892, the name changed again to the International Association of Machinists. The final name change took place in 1965, when the union became known as the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.