Historical note:

            The Providence Photo-Engravers Union No. 39 was a local of the International Photo-Engravers Union of North America. It was founded before 1913. In 1965, the IPU merged with the Amalgamated Lithographers of America to become the Lithographers and Photoengravers International Union. By 1997, Local 39 had been absorbed into the Graphic Communications International Union as Local 239-M.

Return to top

Scope and content:

            This collection consists mostly of the complete minute books of the Providence Photo-Engravers Union No. 39 from 1913 to 1963. The minute books often contain lists of members and records of dues payment. Near the back of the second volume, after the minutes for February of 1935, is an undated list giving members and home addresses by shop ("chapels"). The Providence Journal, with 21 members, was by far the largest single chapel.

            The collection also includes several contracts made by Locals 26 and 39 between 1963 and 1968; the program of a LPIU conference held in Providence in 1969; and a series of open letters from a "Committee of Dedicated Dissidents" to Local 7-P (possibly not a Rhode Island local).

Return to top

Provenance:

            The minute books were received in 1997 as a gift from the Graphic Communications International Union, via its president John J. Tassoni and through the efforts of tireless labor historian Scott Molloy. Molloy donated the miscellaneous loose papers in 1998.

Return to top

Inventory:

Box 1:

Minute book, 1913-1923

Minute book, 1923-1935

Minute book, 1935-1943

Minute book, 1943-1951

Box 2:

Minute book, 1951-1956

Minute book, 1956-1963

Contract with Providence Gravure, Inc., 1968

Local 26 contracts, 1963-1968

Local 7-P letters from the "Committee of Dedicated Dissidents", 1970

Program of 1969 Rotogravure Conference held in Providence

Return to top

Subjects:

Graphic Communications International Union

Lithographers and Photoengravers International Union

Newspaper employees - Rhode Island - Providence

Photoengraving - Rhode Island

Providence Journal

Providence Photo-Engravers Union No. 39

Trade-unions - Rhode Island - Providence

End of finding aid - return to top

RIHS1822