US-RUn-msg229 Arthur H. Riani and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, Lodge 66 1923-1989 (bulk 1923-1989) Finding aid prepared by Abigail Casavant. University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections 2013 May 29
15 Lippitt RoadKingston, RI 02881-2011Tel: 401-874-4632email: archives@etal.uri.eduWebsite: https://web.uri.edu/specialcollections/
 Finding aid encoded by Abigail Casavant 2013 May 29, updated by Mark Dionne on 2020 April 3 English Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) English University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu
 Riani, Arthur H., 1903-1996 Arthur H. Riani and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, Lodge 66 1923-1989 (bulk 1923-1989) Arthur H. Riani and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, Lodge 66 3 box(es) (1.5 linear feet) The collection consists of the records of Arthur H. Riani who was a longtime employee of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, Lodge 66 of Providence, Rhode Island. Riani served almost 50 years with the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, representing Lodge 66 at numerous conventions. The majority of the records deal with Riani's service to the Brotherhood. Mss. Gr. 229 Biographical note

Arthur H. Riani began his long railroad career at the age of 17 as a trolley boy for the Rhode Island Company. He later became a railroad brakeman for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad in 1920. Riani joined the Providence Lodge 66 of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen in November of 1921. The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen was founded in New York in 1883 to provide conductors, brakemen, stewards, and other workers of the rails with insurance and protective services. Although defeated in a bid for Vice President, Riani was elected as the State Legislature Representative in 1928. By 1929, Riani assumed the responsibility as Lodge Secretary. He began representing the Providence Lodge 66 as a delegate to the National Convention of the Brotherhood in 1935, and would continue to represent Lodge 66 in 1939, 1946, 1954, 1960, 1964, and 1968. Riani attended the 1950 convention as a member of the Executive Board of the Grand Lodge. He was elected Treasurer of Lodge 66 in 1936 after an audit revealed that the former Treasurer illegally appropriated funds. Upon successfully stabilizing Lodge 66’s funds, Riani was promoted to the Grand Lodge as Traveling Auditor. Riani also represented Rhode Island rail workers on the Executive Board of the AFL-CIO. Arthur Riani worked in the National Legislative Office for the Brotherhood in Cleveland, Ohio for thirteen years before returning to Rhode Island to help create and pass railroad legislation. He retired on December 30, 1968 after serving the railroad for 49 years. Even after his retirement, Riani remained active in the Brotherhood which would later become a part of the United Transportation Union.

Collection Information

Any qualified person doing scholarly research is permitted to use material housed in the Special Collections Unit.

Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.

 Preferred Citation

Arthur H. Riani and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, Lodge 66, Mss. Gr. 229, University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections.

 Scope and Content Note

The Arthur H. Riani and Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, Lodge 66 Papers reflect Riani's involvement with the Brotherhood for almost 50 years. The papers consist of convention documents, correspondence, photographs, statements, and member lists.

 Arrangement

The collection is arranged in one series as follows: 1. General Files

Administrative Information

The Arthur H. Riani and Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, Lodge 66 Papers were given to the Special Collections Department of the University Library in July of 2009 by a deed of unrestricted gift signed by labor professor, Dr. Scott Molloy. Molloy was given and collected Riani and Brotherhood documents which he then donated to Special Collections.

 Names Riani, Arthur H., 1903-1996 Subjects AFL-CIO Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. Lodge 66 (Providence, R.I.) RIAMCO Browsing Terms Rhode Island/Local Interest Additional information

Inventory Series 1 General Files1925-1971 1 1 1939 American League for Peace and Democracy 1 2 1971 Nov "The American Federationist: Labor and Liberals: A New Focus" 1 3 1946 Apr Anderson, G.W. to Arthur Riani 1 4 1939 Automobile Expenses 1 5 1892, 1938 Banquets 1 6 1920s Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen Application 1 7 1933 Dec 31 Brother of Railroad Trainmen Quarterly Statement, Lodge #66 1 8 1932 Jul 21, 25 Cancellation of the Beneficiary Certificate, J.J. Hart 1 9 1927 Aug 26 Conduct of Referendum Election 1 10 1938 Apr 6 Convention Badge Sample 1 11 1949 Death Claim, Michael McDonald 1 12 1935 Delegates, Cott's Printing Services 1 13 1950 Dinner and Outing Pamphlets 1 14 1955 Discontinuance RPO Service Trains #575 and #576 1 15 1933, 1937, 1939 Donation Letters 1 16 1933 Oct 7 Dues Notice 1 17 1927, 1973 Election Pamphlets 1 18 1935 First Quadrennial Convention 1 19 1931 General Chairman Election, J.J. Hart 1 20 1932 Feb 10, 1935 Jan 23 General Grievance Committee 1 21 1932 Mar 8 Grievance Protest against Lawton 1 22 1895 Heffernan, James - Secretary 1 23 1915, 1923 Injury and Death Reports 1 24 1944 Jan Insurance Education Program, Rhode Island State College pamphlets 1 25 undated Insurance Flyer and application 1 26 1934, 1936 Invoices 1 27 undated "I've Been Working on the Railroad: A History of Providence Lodge 66 of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, 1890-1898," William C. Vieira 1 28 1933 Jun Kennedy, J.C. to Arthur Riani 1 29 1945-1946 Labor Advisory Committee, O.P.A. 1 30 1934 Jan-1934 Apr Legislative Correspondence 1 31 1979 Mar 27 Letter to Riani and wife, from Harold and Evelyn, March 27, 1979 1 32 1934 Apr 26 Letter to Riani, no author 1 33 1910s Letterheads 1 34 1931-1932 Lodge #66 and Board of Appeals 1 35 1932-1933 Member List 1 36 1941-1965 Members in Military Service 1 37 1951, 1952 Memorandums of Agreement 1 38 1931-1932 Mileage Limitation Agreement 1 39 1897 Jun 30 Morrisey, N. to G.M. Hills 1 40 1946 Mullins W.E. to Arthur Riani 1 41 1932 Muste, A.J. to Arthur Riani 1 42 1932 Mar 18 Name Change, George F. Brennan Lodge #66 2 43 1939 Nov 03-04 New England Association Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and Ladies Auxiliary to the B. of R.T. Convention Program 2 44 1941 Nov 07-09 New England Association Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and Ladies Auxiliary to the B. of R.T. Convention Program 2 45 1947 Aug 28-31 New England Association Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and Ladies Auxiliary to the B. of R.T. Convention Program 2 46 1953 Aug 28-29 New England Association Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and Ladies Auxiliary to the B. of R.T. Convention Program 2 47 1961 Sep 15-16 New England Association Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and Ladies Auxiliary to the B. of R.T. Convention Program 2 48 1970 New England Association Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and Ladies Auxiliary to the B. of R.T. Convention Program 2 49 1971 New England Association Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and Ladies Auxiliary to the B. of R.T. Convention Program 2 50 1973 New England Association Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and Ladies Auxiliary to the B. of R.T. Convention Program 2 51 1933 May New England Transportation Company 2 52 1963 "The New Railroad Employees' Benefits: What You Should Know about the Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Acts" 2 53 undated Orientation of Veterans Counselors, Rhode Island State College pamphlet 2 54 1932 Mar 29, 30 Passenger Service 2 55 1944 Political Action Committee 2 56 1945 July 15, 21 Proceedings of the Training Institute on Employment Programs and Services 2 0 1881, 1923 Providence Trainmen's Association 2 57 1934 Oct 15 Railroad Employees' National Pension Association, Inc. 2 58 1933-1934 Railroad Legislation 2 59 1939 Railroad Retirement Board 2 60 1931-1932 Railway Transportation, Brookwood 2 61 1899 Jan 21-Dec 31 Remittances Made by Lodge #66 2 62 1957-1960 Rhode Island AFL-CIO - Affiliation 2 63 1979, 1980,1984 Rhode Island AFL-CIO - Edwin Brown 2 64 1961, 1982 Rhode Island AFL-CIO - "Keeping Informed" 2 65 1960 Rhode Island AFL-CIO - State Convention 2 66 1961, 1976 Rhode Island AFL-CIO - Statements 3 67 1933-1934 Rhode Island General Assembly List 3 68 1950 Rhode Island General Election, Endorsements and Thank You letters 3 69 1952 Rhode Island Permanent Registration Act 3 70 1952 Rhode Island Senate Elections 3 71 1971 Nov 29 Riani, Arthur, 50 Year Membership Recognition, United Transportation Union 3 72 1956 Sep-Oct Riani, Arthur, Appointment to Board of Trustees 3 73 undated Riani, Arthur, Biography 3 74 1930 Sep Riani, Arthur, Car Purchase 3 75 1922, 1924, 1927, 1937, 1946 Riani, Arthur, Dues 3 76 1934 Dec 06 Riani, Arthur to F.S. Bernard 3 77 1989 Riani, Arthur, Labor in Rhode Island Interview Project 3 78 1925 Riani, Arthur, Leave of Absence Request 3 79 undated Riani, Arthur, letterheads 3 80 1996 Riani, Arthur, Obituary and Gravestone Photos 3 81 1931, 1935 Riani, Arthur, Pay Claims 3 82 1900s-1964 Riani, Arthur, Photographs 3 83 1960 Riani, Arthur, Photograph with Gov. Christopher Del Sesto and John Skeffington 3 84 1963 Apr 19 Riani, Arthur, Photograph with Gov. John H. Chafee 3 85 undated Riani, Arthur, Rhode Island Labor History Society Honors Riani 3 86 1932, 1934 Riani, Arthur, Safety awareness letters 3 87 1932-1938 Riani, Arthur, Third Ward Committee Election 3 88 1935 Oct 09 Riani, Arthur, "Trainmen" Write-up 3 89 1926 Riani, Arthur, wallet 3 90 1946 Rosmond, Clifford L. - Worker's Education Program 3 91 1931 Dec-1932 Jan Royster, W.W. to Arthur Riani 3 92 1939 Second Quadrennial Convention 3 93 undated Social Action Institute 3 94 1959 Jun 12-14 Summer Railroad Labor Institute, URI 3 95 1935 Dec-1937 Nov Treasurer's Monthly Statement 3 96 1935 Unemployment Insurance 3 97 1947, 1953 Voting Ballots 3 98 1935, 1936 Voting Summaries 3 99 1940 Apr-May Whitney, A.F. to Arthur Riani 3 100 1935 Jun 27 Whitney, A.F. to William H. Connors 3 101 1934 Oct 01 Woonsocket Yard 3 0 1958-1961 Workers' Education Program 3 102 1941-1958 Workers' Education Program Correspondence 3 103 undated Workers' Education Program Special Announcement 3 104 1937-1959 Working and Dues cards 3 105 1937, 1938 Yardmaster's Agreement 1934-1953 Oversize Photos and Posters (See Box 2 of RIPTA Oversize) undated Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen Lodge #66 Sign