Dates

• Majority of material found within 1950 - 2000

Extent

1 box Linear Feet (The International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) was founded in 1900, and it originated among Jewish and Italian immigrants, but soon expanded across all nationalities. Leading two major strikes in 1909 and falling victim to a devastating fire in 1911, the IGLWU soon became one of the most progressive and powerful unions throughout the 1930’s and 1940’s. Under the leadership of President David Dubinsky (1932-1966) and strong ties to Washington membership in influence soared. By the 1960’s, because of cheaper imports from overseas and new labor laws the IGLWU membership began to dwindle. Recently in 1995, the IGLWU combined with the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union, the Union of Needletrades and others to continue the union’s efforts. The International Ladies Garment Workers Union Manuscript (ILGWU) Collection is housed in one archival box. It consists of newsletters, newspapers (The Justice), brief histories of the union, songbooks, convention programs and retirement/dinner announcements. The materials span from 1950s through the early 1990s. Most union newsletters and newspapers are from the 1980s and 1990s. The International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) collection was donated by James Watta in 2010-2011. It was collected by the Labor Center in the Department of Employment and Labor Relations at IUP.)

Language of Materials

English