Grand Rapids Typographical Union No. 39 records

Collection

Identifier: Collection 029

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The records of the company form about 75% of the collection. The best access to historical information about the organization in general may be the publications, including a one hundred year centennial from 1859 to 1959. Gaps exist in all of the records series within this collection. Minutes range from 1891-1934, with a few gaps. While the cash books appear to range from 1891 to 1954, there is a gap of about 20 years in the 1920s and 1930s. Other financial records may compensate for this gap.

The correspondence in the collection pertains to Union conventions, members and strikes. Data specific to five companies for Etheridge Printing Co., Furniture City Printing Co., Grevel Printing Co., Toren Printing Co. and George W. Welsh Company is mainly correspondence from the mid 1940s to the mid 1950s. "Strike: 1958-1959" records consist of correspondence, business invoices, financial statements, and strike roll. Miscellaneous material consist of two voting boxes, two print blocks, stapler, seal printer and an autograph book.

Dates

1876-1964

Biographical / Historical

The Grand Rapids Typographical Union No. 39 emerged from the issuance of the North American Typographical Union charter on April 19, 1858. The earliest constitution book of the Union, bearing the imprint, "Printing House of I.S. Dygert, 1844," has a cut of the Union seal bearing this date. On May 2, 1859, the first official meeting under the charter was held in the composing rooms of the Daily Eagle in the Withey Block on Canal Street, now lower Monroe Avenue. After early records were lost, a new charter was issued by the International in 1873.

The presence of the Baker family photographs in this collection is currently unexplained. Wesley Baker is documented in the U.S. Census as a grocer and later a tanner. Hattie was a home maker. The older daughter Lena Baker is given as a stenographer at the Museum in 1910 and still living at home. Two other children are listed for Wesley & Hattie, a daughter, Berniece, and a son, R. Carlyle. Also in the 1910 census are found Lena Baker Kelsey and Frank Kelsey living in Colorado, perhaps an aunt of the younger Lena.

Extent

5.17 Linear Feet (Fourteen boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection includes the records of the Grand Rapids local union (No. 39) of the International Typographical Union, as well as general documents from the printing industry. The papers and records portray the history, financial background, activities and operations of the Union, including strikes. Strike rolls contain the names of members that went on strike during 1905-1906, 1921-1922, and 1958-1959.

The collection also contains material that pertains to the Union's involvement with Etheridge Company, Furniture City Printing Co., Grevel Printing Co. and other companies. Also found in this collection, but currently without context, are photographs and an autograph book associated with Hattie Carlyle Baker.