US-RUn-msg230 Edwin C. Brown Labor Union Collection 1953-1984 (bulk 1953-1984) 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

Brown, Edwin C., 1910-2010 Edwin C. Brown Labor Union Collection 1953-1984 (bulk 1953-1984) Edwin C. Brown Labor Union Collection 10 box(es)(5 linear feet) The collection reflects Edwin C. Brown's involvement in Rhode Island labor and labor history. It includes information on various labor unions as well as personal files and Rhode Island Group Health Association documents. Mss. Gr. 230 Biographical note

Edwin C. Brown was a notable Rhode Island labor activist who remained active in the labor world until his death at the age of 100 in 2010. Brown began working at the age of 16 for a jewelry manufacturer, and eventually became a jewelry toolmaker. In 1935, while working as a toolmaker, he joined the International Association of Machinists and was elected president of the local four years later. In 1940, he was appointed to the Committee Studying Employment Problems of the Negro and later became New England regional director of the AFL League for Human Rights. After serving in World War II, he joined the U.S. Department of Labor as an investigator. He quit the government in 1951 to become Secretary-Treasurer of the Rhode Island branch of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). As the Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL, Brown played a major role in merging of the AFL and CIO in 1958. During the 1950’s, Brown worked to gather information about the history of Rhode Island’s labor unions. He published this piece in 1976, titled "Working in Early Rhode Island." Brown was also the founder of the Rhode Island Group Health Association (RIGHA). He became board chairman in 1971. His papers include surveys of various RI labor unions compiled in order to write "Working in Rhode Island," information regarding the RIGHA, as well as personal labor-related files.

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

Edwin C. Brown Labor Union Collection, Mss. Gr. 230, University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections.

Scope and Content Note

The Edwin C. Brown Labor Union Collection includes historical information Brown compiled for a variety of Rhode Island labor union locals. It also includes personal files Brown kept as well as documents pertaining to the Rhode Island Group Health Association.

The collection is arranged in three series as follows: 1. Rhode Island Group Health Association 2. Rhode Island Labor History Research 3. Personal Files

Administrative Information

The Edwin C. Brown Labor Union Collection was given to the Special Collections Department of the University of Rhode Island in July of 2009 by a deed of unrestricted gift signed by Scott Molloy. Molloy received these materials from Brown. Rhode Island labor union material will be added to the collection based on which unions are already represented.

Names

Subjects

RIAMCO Browsing Terms Rhode Island/Local Interest Additional information

Inventory Series 1 Rhode Island Group Health Association1960-1990

Edwin Brown founded the Rhode Island Group Health Association as a prepaid group practice and health care plan for union members of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. The series contains documents pertaining to its founding and history.

1 1 1976 Jun 02 Center Dedication Photographs 1 2 1960-1969 Files 1 3 1970-1979 Files 1 4 1980-1990 Files 1 5 1981-1987 History of the RIGHA Series 2 Rhode Island Labor History Research1913-1988

This series contains all of the information collected by Brown regarding the different labor unions of Rhode Island. Most of the information collected was used to create a history for the AFL-CIO. This series will serve as a continuing collection for material regarding any of the unions listed.

2 1 1968 Actor's Union 2 2 1980 AFL-CIO 2 3 1973 May AFL-CIO Labor Day History and Timeline 2 4 1979-1981 AFL-CIO Rub Sheets 2 5 1981 Nov American Labor's First 100 Years 2 6 undated American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees 2 7 1974-1977 AFSCME Council Review 2 8 1953 American Flint Glass Workers Union 2 9 1975-1988 Articles on Economy 2 10 1953 Atlantic Coast Seamen's Union 3 11 1953 Bakers Union 3 12 1953 Barbers Union 3 13 1953 Bartender's Union 3 14 undated Brewery Workers Union 3 15 undated Bricklayers Union 3 16 1947-1953 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Applications for Membership 3 17 1924-1927 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, Caldwell, James C. 3 18 1953-1961 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Correspondence (1) 3 19 1953-1961 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Correspondence (2) 4 20 1953-1962 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Dues Records 16 oversize 1914-1917 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Financial Book 1 (see oversize) 16 oversize 1918-1922 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Financial Book 2 (see oversize) 16 oversize 1923-1928 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Financial Book 3 (see oversize) 16 oversize 1929-1948 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Financial Book 4 (see oversize) 16 oversize 1949-1955 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Financial Book 5 (see oversize) 16 oversize 1956-1961 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Financial Book 6 (see oversize) 16 oversize 1962-1967 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Financial Book 7 (see oversize) 16 oversize 1943-1957 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Record Books (see oversize) 5 21 1950-1960 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Financial Documents 5 22 undated Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Guidelines 5 23 1945-1949 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Minutes 5 24 1961-1965 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Monthly Reports 6 25 1954-1960 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Pamphlets and Due Books 6 26 1947 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Photographs 6 27 1959 Bricklayers, Masons' and Plasterers' Union, No. 5 - Report on Audit 6 28 1930 Jul 10-1943 Nov 22 Bridge, Structural, Ornamental Iron Workers Union, Local 37 - Meeting Minutes 6 29 undated Brown and Sharpe 6 30 undated "Browns and the Hope Furnace, 1765" 6 31 undated Building Service Employees 6 32 1901-1977 Carpenters and Joiners of America 6 33 1953 Carpenters Union of Providence 6 34 undated Cigarmakers Union 6 35 1965-1989 Communication Workers of America 6 36 1980-1985 Community Labor Organization Committee 6 37 undated "Community for Similar Objectives" 7 38 1949-1951 DeFelice, Salvatore, Files of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees 7 39 1949-1953 DeFelice, Salvatore, Files of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees 7 40 1949-1955 DeFelice, Salvatore, Files of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees 7 41 1949-1956 DeFelice, Salvatore, Files of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees 7 42 1949-1960 DeFelice, Salvatore, Files of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees 7 43 1976, 1979 Department of Labor Articles 8 44 undated Drafts 8 45 undated Early Labor Societies 8 46 1953 Electrical Workers Union 8 47 1953 Elevator Constructors Union 8 48 undated Federal Minimum Standards, draft 8 49 undated Firefighters Union 8 50 1959-1979 Follow-Up, Re: Labor Histories 8 51 undated "From These Roots, One Hundred Years of Service: The Rhode Island AFL-CIO, 1884-1984" 8 52 1965-1972 Glass Bottle Blowers Association 8 53 undated Government Workers 8 54 1982 Graphic Arts Union 8 55 1953 Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers 8 56 1953 Hebrew Bakers Union 8 57 undated "The History of Labor Unions in RI: The Colonial Period to 1900," by Barbara Anderson 8 58 undated Hod Carriers, Building and Common Laborers Union 8 59 1959 Hotel and Restaurant Employees and Bartenders International Union 8 60 1960 Jun 20 Imperial Knife Company, Inc. 8 61 undated "Important Dates in Development of RI Labor" 9 62 undated "Indentured Apprenticeship, 1887" 9 63 1953 Industrial Trades Union 9 64 1972 International Brotherhood of Bookbinders 9 65 1953 International Union of Journeymen Horseshoers 9 66 1953 Insurance Agents Union 9 67 undated "Intervention by Injunction 9 68 1953 Iron Workers Union 9 69 1953 Jewerly Union 9 70 1976 Labor Articles 9 71 1959-1963 Labor Clippings 9 72 undated Labor Day 9 73 1984 Labor Education 9 74 undated "Labor's First Major Effort to Organize, 1886-1887" 9 75 1887 May 13 "Labor Organizations: Their Origin, Growth, and Development in Rhode Island" Providence Journal 9 76 1981 Labor Timelines 9 77 1953 Ladies Garment Workers Union 9 78 1953 Laundry Workers Union 9 79 1982 "Let the Record Show… A Glimpse of 1919," Worsted Mill 9 80 1953 Letters Carriers Union 9 81 1969 Lewis, John L. 9 82 undated Lists of Unions and Union Directories 1915 and 1920 9 83 1990, 2003 LIUNA 9 84 1953 Longshoremens Union 10 85 undated Lowell Manufacturing Company, 1830-1840 10 86 undated Luggage Workers Union 10 87 undated Machine Printers and Engravers Association 10 88 1953 Machinists Union 10 89 1953 Marble, Stone, Slate Workers Union 10 90 1953 Meatcutters Union 10 91 1953 Motion Picture Operators Union 10 92 1953 Musicians Union 10 93 1953 National Union of Journeymen Tailors 10 94 1953 National Union of Molders 10 95 undated New England Regional Joint Board Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union 10 96 undated Newport Central Labor Union 10 97 1937, 1954 Nicholson File Company 10 98 1953 Office Employees Union 10 99 1953 Operaters Engineers Union 10 100 1953 Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons Union 10a 101 1913-2002 Oversize Posters and Photographs 10 102 undated Oystermans Union 10 103 1953 Painters Union 10 104 1953 Paper Mill Union 10 105 1953 Patter Makers Union 10 106 1953 Pawtucket and Woonsocket Teachers Union 10 107 1953 Pawtucket Central Labor Union 10 108 undated "The Pawtucket Strike of 1824: Worker and Community Resistance to Industrial Capitalism," by Gary B. Kulik 10 109 undated Photographs, Labor History Book 10 110 1953 Plumbers Union 10 111 undated Portrait of a SCAB 10 112 1951 Post Office Clerks 10 113 1953 Printing Pressmen Union 10 114 1953 Providence Central Federated Union 10 115 1975 Providence Teachers Union 10 116 1906-1946 Providence Typographical Union, No. 33 10 117 1963 Race and the RI AFL-CIO 10 118 1953 Railway Carmen Union 10 119 1953 Retail Clerks Union 11 120 1934-1940 Rhode Island American Federation of Labor 11 121 1953 Rhode Island Central Labor Union 11 122 1901, 1905 Rhode Island Central Trades and Labor Union, Providence Central Trades and Labor Union - Constitutions and By-Laws 11 123 1979-1998 Rhode Island Federation of Teachers 11 124 undated Rhode Island Hospital, Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals 11 125 1953 Rhode Island Industry 11 126 1975 Rhode Island Labor History Drafts 11 127 undated Rhode Island Labor News Clippings 11 128 1945-1949 Rhode Island State Industrial Union Council, CIO 11 129 1953 Ring Traveler Union 11 130 undated "Roots of Rhode Island Labor Unionism," draft 11 131 1970 Rubber Workers 11 132 1980 Saluting Organized Labor 11 133 1953 Samuel Slater 11 134 1914 Sausage Makers Union 11 135 1968-1969 Seafarers' International Union 11 136 1973 Service Employees International Union 11 137 1953 Sheet Metal Workers Union 12 138 1953 Special Delivery Messengers Union 12 139 1953 State and Public School Employees 12 140 1953 Stereotypers, Electrotypers, and Photo Engravers Unions 12 141 1953 Stone and Granite Cutters Union 12 142 1968-1978 Steel Workers 12 143 1953-1984 Street, Electric Railway and Motor Coach Employees of America 12 144 1953 Strikes 12 145 undated "Strikes and the Government Service" 12 146 undated Strikes in Rhode Island: 1916, 1919, and 1935 12 147 undated Suggestions for Historical Research Projects 12 148 undated Supervisors' Crisis Guide on Union Organizing 12 149 1976 Teamsters 12 150 1953 Technical Engineers Union 12 151 undated Telegraphers Union 12 152 undated Telephone Operaters Union 12 153 1953 Textile Mills Workers Union 12 154 1918-1971 Textile Workers Union of America 12 155 undated Typographical Union drafts and notes 13 156 1981-1982 Union Busting 13 157 1975 Union Labels 13 158 1906 Union Label League of Rhode Island 13 159 1987 Unions in Decline 13 160 1921 United Association of Journeymen Plumbers, Gas Fitters, Steam Fitters, and Steam Fitters Helpers 13 161 1981, 1999 United Food and Commercial Workers International 13 162 1953 United Hatters, Cap and Millinery Workers Union 13 163 1970 United Plant Guard Workers of America 13 164 1953 United Textile Workers 13 165 1958 United Wire and Supply 13 166 1890 United Workers' Lecture Course 13 167 undated Variety Artists Union 13 168 undated "What is the RI AFL-CIO?" 13 169 undated "Wilkinson Screw Making Machine, 1789" 13 170 undated Women and Labor 13 171 undated Wood, Wire, and Metal Lathers Union 13 172 1965 "Work Rules in 'The Good Old Days'" 13 173 1979, 1984 Workers' Association to Guarantee Employment 13 174 1982 "Working in Early Rhode Island" 13 175 1980 Workmen's Compensation 13 176 1916 May 19 Wyatt, Cal to Samuel Gompers letter (photocopy) Series 3 Personal Files1959-1984

The personal files of Edwin Brown contain documents pertaining to his involvement with the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. This also includes a testimonial for Brown when he retired in 1981.

14 1 1970-1979 Collective Bargaining 14 2 1962-1966 Constitutional Convention 14 3 1968 Consumers 14 4 1975-1978 Convenience Containers Bills and Legislation 14 5 1963-1979 Economic Developement 14 6 1984 May 26 Edwin C. Brown Center Dedication 14 7 1961-1978 Effective Lobbying 14 8 1967-1973 Energy 14 9 1966-1969 Files 14 10 1970-1973 Files 14 11 1974-1976 Files 14 12 1977 Files 15 13 1978-1979 Files 15 14 1982-1984 Files 15 15 undated Jurisdictional Disputes 15 16 1959-1981 Labor Day Messages 15 17 1960-1979 Labor Management 15 18 1964-1972 Legislation 15 19 1972 "No Fault" Auto Insurance 15 20 undated Photographs 15 21 1961-1975 Politics and Press 15 22 1976 Apr 19 "Rhode Island AFL-CIO Statement in Opposition to the Package of Unemployment Compensation Bills" 15 23 1965 Stanwood A. Demers vs. Edwin C. Brown et al, Brief of Plaintiff and Record Appendix 15 24 1969-1971 Taxes 15 25 1981 Testimonial in Honor of Edwin C. Brown 15 26 1975-1977 Workers Compensation