Massachusetts AFL-CIO Records, 1902-1995

More detailed descriptions of the subseries can be found below.

With the exception of the Convention Files, minutes of the Executive Council Meeting, and Subject Files, the records were received from the office of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO with little or no discernible arrangement. While the file headings were maintained where possible, the arrangement of this collection was created by the processor. Series 1 reflects the hierarchical structure of the organization, as set forth in the 1987 edition of the constitution, the most recent year included in the collection. Series 2 and 3 are arranged chronologically, while Series 4 and 5 are arranged alphabetically by organization name and type of material, respectively. Nontextual and oversized material was removed from the normal series locations, and can be found in Series 5.

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Arrangement of the Collection

Series 1 reflects the hierarchical structure of the organization, as set forth in the 1987 edition of the constitution, the most recent year included in the collection. Series 2 and 3 are arranged chronologically, while Series 4 and 5 are arranged alphabetically by organization name and type of material, respectively.

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Series 1. Administrative 1902-1995 38.67 linear feet (29 boxes)

A. CONSTITUTIONS, 1949-1987

Arranged chronologically. one constitution exists for the year 1949 for the Massachusetts State CIO, Industrial Union Council. The rest, representing thirteen different years, are for the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.

B. CONVENTION PUBLICATIONS, 1902-1994

Arranged chronologically. Complete except for a gap from 1919 to 1923. Includes proceedings, reports, resolutions, and yearbooks; not each type of record exists for each year. Proceedings are the most prevalent, included in each year except for the above gap. Reports are the next most represented item; resolutions and yearbooks do not appear in the collection until 1964. Two copies have been kept where possible.

C. MERGER MATERIAL, 1955-1958

Arranged alphabetically by subject. Includes correspondence, minutes, reports, agreements, and memoranda documenting the negotiations between the State Federation and the Massachusetts State CIO, which lead to their merger in 1958.

D. CONVENTION FILES, 1957-1991

Arrangement is chronological; for the years 1981 to 1987, further arrangement within each year is alphabetical by subject. These records consist of correspondence, agenda, resolutions, lists, speeches, tickets, and invoices. Records of the Massachusetts State CIO conventions exist for 1957 and 1958; records of the merger convention exists for 1958; thereafter, all material pertains to the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. Contact sheets have been removed from folder 161, and can be found in Series 5, Subseries D.

E. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETINGS, 1962-1993

Arranged chronologically. Consists of minutes, agenda, reports, and correspondence. Each year contains these records in that order; not all of the years, however, contain each of the four types of records. Executive Officers meetings are included here, and are identified as such in the container list. For those dates preceded by an asterisk, an audio recording of the meeting exists, and can be found in Series 5, Subseries E.

F. PRESIDENT'S FILES, ARTHUR R. OSBORN, 1982-1990

Arranged alphabetically by subject. Includes correspondence, memoranda, appointment books, reports, lists, notes, speeches, statements, and clippings. These are the files of Arthur Osborn, who served as president from 1979 to 1990. Biographical information about Osborn can be found in folder 817. This folder is at the end of the subseries--out of alphabetical order---as it was artificially created, and this seemed the most logical placement in order to maintain the integrity of the other records.

G. SECRETARY-TREASURER'S FILES, 1982-1990

Arranged alphabetically by subject. Consists of correspondence, memoranda, appointment books, clippings, and reports. Most of the material is from the term of Robert J. Haynes, who has served as secretary-treasurer from 1986 to the present. The material prior to this date pertains to the term of George Carpenter, who served from 1981 to 1986.

H. EDUCATION COMMITTEE, 1968-1993

Arranged alphabetically by subject. Includes minutes, agenda, correspondence, memoranda, reports, notes, and programs. Photographs of the Scholarship Awards Program from 1981 to 1984 have been removed, and can be found in Series 5, Subseries D.

I. COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION (COPE), 1927-1992

Arranged alphabetically by subject. Consists of by-laws, correspondence, notes, clippings, questionnaires, lists, speeches, flyers, endorsements, minutes, and printed material.

The records in this subseries document statewide and national campaigns for office and referenda, from 1981 to 1992. Included in this subseries are the records of Frontlash, the branch of COPE that works to involve young people in the political process, covering 1980 to 1990. Information about Frontlash can be found in folders 995, 996, 1030, 1037, and 1038. The "Official Labor Record of the Massachusetts Legislature," a COPE publication that lists Massachusetts legislators and their voting records on labor issues, can be found in this subseries for the years 1927 to 1983. Photographs have been removed from folders 1019, 1026, 1030, and 1033, and can be found in Series 5, Subseries D. In addition, a phonograph record has been removed from folder 1042, and can be found in Series 5, Subseries E.

J. LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT, 1973-1989

Arranged alphabetically by subject. Contains correspondence, clippings, flyers, reports, speeches, and statements. These records include material on legislation in the state of Massachusetts relevant to labor, such as right-to--know legislation.

K. PUBLIC EMPLOYEES DEPARTMENT, 1989-1991

Arranged alphabetically by subject. Includes correspondence, memoranda, minutes, lists, flyers, statements, and a speech.

L. NEWSLETTERS, 1963-1995

Arrangement is chronological within two different formats, both of which are entitled "Massachusetts Labor Leader." The Standard Format, printed on legal size paper, covers the years 1963, and 1982 to 1995; it is published irregularly, and is more comprehensive in coverage. The Newspaper Format, spanning 1981 to 1991, is published quarterly, and generally focuses on a fewer number of larger events and issues.

M. SUBJECT FILES, 1975-1991

Arranged alphabetically by subject. Includes correspondence, memoranda, clippings, reports, minutes, speeches, flyers, and statements. Photographs and negatives have been removed from folder 1159, and can be found in Series 5, Subseries D.

N. MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS, 1965-1992

Arranged chronologically, these consist entirely of printed material: COPE rules, a worker's compensation booklet, and a directory of Massachusetts legislators.

Series 2. Financial 1959-1989 1.33 linear feet (1.33 boxes)

A. MISCELLANEOUS MATERIAL, 1959-1985

Arranged alphabetically by subject. Includes applications, lists, correspondence, and reports. Audit reports have been kept for the years 1959 and 1966 only. Separate audit reports for other years have been discarded, as they can be found in the printed reports included in series 1, Subseries B. Because no reports existed in Series 1 for the years 1959 and 1966, these years alone were kept with the financial records of series 2.

B. REAL ESTATE, 44 TEMPLE PLACE, BOSTON, 1986-1989

Arranged alphabetically by subject. Includes legal documents, by-laws, correspondence, agreements, blueprints, resolutions, notes, and minutes. The resolutions found in folder 1286 consist only of those signed by one vice president. Exact duplicates, signed by each of the vice presidents, have been discarded. The blueprints are oversized, and can be found in Series 5, Subseries C. Similarly, photographs from folder 1297 have been removed, and can be found in Series 5, Subseries D.

Series 3. Campaigns 1988-1993 4.0 linear feet (3 boxes)

A. PREVAILING WAGE CAMPAIGN (QUESTION 2), 1988

Arranged hierarchically, beginning with the structure, finances, and strategies of the campaign. Includes minutes, agenda, reports, lists, flyers, correspondence, memoranda, speeches, clippings, typewritten manuscripts, and a legal brief. Background information on the Prevailing Wage Campaign can be found in folder 1361. Photographs relating to the Prevailing Wage Campaign can be found in Series 5, Subseries D; other Prevailing Wage material can be found in Series 5, Subseries B, C, and E.

B. CAMPAIGN FOR MASSACHUSETTS' FUTURE (QUESTION 3), 1990

Arranged hierarchically, beginning with the structure, finances, and strategies of the campaign. Includes correspondence, memoranda, agendas, minutes, reports, notes, clippings, speeches, flyers, lists, and questionnaires. Other material pertaining to the Campaign for Massachusetts' Future can be found in Series 5, Subseries B, C, E, and F.

C. NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (NAFTA), 1993

Arranged alphabetically by subject. Consists of correspondence, flyers, statements, speeches, and clippings. Other material pertaining to NAFTA can be found in Series 5, Subseries B, D, E, and F.

Series 4. Non AFL-CIO Groups with Labor Representation 1977-1994 6.22 linear feet (4.67 boxes)

A. CHIEF JUSTICE'S COMMISSION ON THE FUTURE OF COURTS IN MASSACHUSETTS, 1990

Includes correspondence, memoranda, agendas, minutes, statements, and a report. Arthur Osborn was a member of this commission; see letter in folder 1412 dated 1 March 1990 from Osborn to Paul J. Liacos, Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, accepting the offer to serve.

B. JOB TRAINING PARTNERSHIP ACT (JTPA), 1977-1991

Arranged hierarchically into four broad categories: Background Material, Private Industry Councils, Dislocated Workers Program, and Subject Files. Includes reports, correspondence, memoranda, lists, agendas, minutes, notes, and questionnaires. The Job Training Partnership Act was passed by Congress in 1982, in an effort to develop federally funded programs to train workers. The AFL-CIO is represented on local private industry councils, which make recommendations on programs and the use of funds. JTPA superseded the Comprehensive Employment Training Act (CETA) of 1973, of which some material is included here.

C. MASSACHUSETTS SPECIAL COMMISSION ON BUSINESS TAX POLICY, 1992-1993

Arranged alphabetically by subject. Includes correspondence, memoranda, clippings, minutes, agendas, reports, and notes. Both Robert Haynes and Joseph Faherty were members of the commission, formed in 1992, to examine policies of reporting taxation for individual banks, insurance companies, and publicly traded corporations. Detailed background information can be found in folder 1556.

D. MASSACHUSETTS WATER RESOURCES AUTHORITY CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD, 1989-1991

Arranged alphabetically by subject. Consists of correspondence, memoranda, affidavits, and lists. Arthur Osborn was a member of the board, succeeded by Joseph Faherty upon his resignation.

E. TAX EQUITY ALLIANCE OF MASSACHUSETTS (TEAM), 1988-1994

Arranged chronologically. Consists of correspondence and memoranda. Robert Haynes was a member of the Board of Directors.

F. UNITED WAY, 1984-1992

Arranged alphabetically by subject. Includes lists, correspondence, memoranda, notes, reports, minutes, agendas, statements, and applications. Robert Haynes was a vice chairman of the Board of Directors; information about his involvement can be found in folder 1578.

G. UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 1988-1991

Arranged alphabetically by subject. Includes correspondence, statements, a speech, clippings, memoranda, reports, notes, and a typewritten manuscript. Robert Haynes was a member of the board.

H. WORKER'S COMPENSATION ADVISORY COUNCIL, 1986-1992

Arranged alphabetically by subject. Consists of correspondence, memoranda, lists, speeches, statements, legal documents, and a report. Arthur Osborn was a member of the council, followed by Joseph Faherty upon his resignation. For information concerning Faherty's term, and the legal action that ensued when it was not renewed, see folder 1622.

Series 5. Non-textual and Oversized Materials 1956-1993 13.91 linear feet (34 boxes)

A. FILMS, ca.1960s - ca.1970s

Arranged alphabetically by title. These films come from the COPE office of the national AFL-CIO in Washington, D. C. All films are 16 mm. Where possible, running time is indicated after the title.

B. MEMORABILIA, n.d.

Arranged alphabetically by type of memorabilia. Includes stickers, head wear, political and fraternal pins, and plaques. Note that the bumper stickers are stored loose in oversized Box 59.

C. OVERSIZED MATERIAL, 1956-1992

Arranged chronologically. Includes photographs, stickers, posters, and blueprints.

D. PHOTOGRAPHS, 1981-1993

Arranged hierarchically by organizational structure (mirroring Series 1), except for miscellaneous photographs at the end. An index to the photographs can be found in Appendix A. Oversized photographs can be found in Series 5, Subseries C.

E. SOUND RECORDINGS, 1985-1993

Arranged hierarchically by organizational structure (mirroring series 1), with miscellaneous recordings at the end. Consists entirely of audio cassettes, and one phonograph record.

F. VIDEO RECORDINGS, 1989-1993

Arranged alphabetically by title. All video cassettes are in VHS format.

Series 1. Administrative 1902-1995 38.67 linear feet (29 boxes)

SUBSERIES A: CONSTITUTIONS 1949-1987

SUBSERIES B: CONVENTION PUBLICATIONS, 1902-1994

SUBSERIES C: MERGER MATERIAL, 1955-1958

SUBSERIES D: CONVENTION FILES, 1957-1991

SUBSERIES E: EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETINGS, 1962-1993

SUBSERIES F: PRESIDENT'S FILES: ARTHUR R. OSBORN, 1982-1990

SUBSERIES G: SECRETARY-TREASURER'S FILES, 1982-1990

SUBSERIES H: EDUCATION COMMITTEE, 1968-1993

SUBSERIES I: COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION [COPE], 1927-1992

SUBSERIES J: LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT, 1973-1989

SUBSERIES K: PUBLIC EMPLOYEES DEPARTMENT, 1989-1991