W.R. Smith Papers

1914-1947 (Bulk: 1914-1921)
1 box (0.25 linear ft.)
Call no.: MS 243
rotating decorative images from SCUA collections

Vice president and organizer for the International Brotherhood of Papers Makers (I.B.P.M.) who principally attempted to gain union conditions for the papers workers in the Kalamazoo region of Michigan. Includes letters to and from I.B.P.M. president James T. Carey as well as a 116-page transcript of Smith's organizing reports for the years 1914-1920, documenting his activities in Holyoke, Massachusetts, among other cities and towns in Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Oregon, and Washington.

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Scope of collection

W.R. Smith was a vice president and organizer for the International Brotherhood of Paper Makers. These papers document his activities from the period 1914 to 1921, focusing principally on his attempts to gain union conditions for the paper workers in the Kalamazoo region of Michigan.

Included are letters to and from James T. Carey, president of the I.B.P.M. and a 116-page transcript of his organizing reports for the years 1914 to 1920. In addition to Kalamazoo, this transcript documents Smith's activities in Holyoke, Massachusetts; Middletown, Hamilton, Chillicothe, and Urbana, Ohio; Ladysmith, Wisconsin; Detroit, Michigan; and in Oregon and Washington during the tumultuous strikes of 1919.

Inventory

Correspondence from J.T. Carey
1914
Box 1
Correspondence to J.T. Carey
1921
Box 2
Memorandum of Organizing
1914-1921
Box 3
Memorandum for the Kalamazoo Regional Office
1947
Box 4

Administrative information

Access

The collection is open for research.

Provenance

Processing Information

Processed by Ken Fones-Wolf.

Language:

English

Acknowledgments

Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Copyright and Use (More information )

Cite as: W.R. Smith Papers (MS 243). Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries.

Search terms

Subjects

  • Carey, Jeremiah T., 1870-1957--Correspondence.
  • Holyoke (Mass.)--Economic conditions--20th century--Sources.
  • Holyoke (Mass.)--Social conditions--20th century--Sources.
  • International Brotherhood of Paper Makers--History--Sources.
  • Kalamazoo (Mich.)--Economic conditions--20th century--Sources.
  • Kalamazoo (Mich.)--Social conditions--20th century--Sources.
  • Labor unions--Organizing--United States--History--20th century--Sources.
  • Labor unions--United States--Officials and employees--History--20th century--Sources.
  • Paper industry workers--Labor unions--Organizing --Massachusetts--Holyoke--History--Sources.
  • Paper industry workers--Labor unions--Organizing--Michigan --Kalamazoo--History--Sources.
  • Smith, W. R.
  • United States--Economic conditions--20th century--Sources.
  • United States--Social conditions--20th century--Sources.

Contributors

  • Smith, W. R. [main entry]
  • Carey, Jeremiah T.
  • International Brotherhood of Paper Makers.

Link to similar SCUA collections