Subseries I.A. Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters

Description data TOP

unitid

{"value"=>"3419430", "type"=>"local_mss"}

unitdate

{"value"=>"1936-1988", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1936/1988"}

unittitle

{"value"=>"Subseries I.A. Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters"}

bioghist

{"value"=>"<p>Founded in 1925 by A. Philip Randolph, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) was the first Black-led labor organization to receive a charter in the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). In the first election for representation in 1935, Pullman porters overwhelmingly chose the BSCP over the company union. The first contract was struck in 1937.</p> <p>McLaurin's first role in the BSCP was the chairman of the social committee. By 1938, McLaurin was serving as the union's Eastern Zone Supervisor, organizing and overseeing local chapters in that region.</p>"}

scopecontent

{"value"=>"<p>Subseries I.A. holds materials related to the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) and various railroad companies, and is organized by subject into files of Correspondence; Union Contracts; Events; Governing Boards; and Union Ephemera.</p> <p>Correspondence files include both outgoing and incoming communication with BSCP locals, other unions, and the Pullman Company. Some grievance complaints for BSCP leadership to investigate are also present.</p> <p>The BSCP negotiated contracts on behalf of railroad workers at companies outside of the Pullman Company. In addition to the Pullman Company agreement, contracts brokered by the BSCP include the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company and the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Company are also held here. Materials related to the railroad companies include wage schedules and receipts, manuals for specific kinds of passenger train cars, and codes of conduct for porters while working.</p> <p>The Events files hold materials related to national and regional BSCP conferences, AFL-CIO banquets, convention reports of proceedings, and memorials for BSCP leadership. Events hosted by the Ladies' Auxiliary, a BSCP offshoot group made up of the wives of BSCP members, and events hosted by other railroad company unions are also documented.</p> <p>Governing Board materials reveal the activities of the BSCP national boards and committees via meeting minutes, general rules, and constitutions of conduct for union membership.</p> <p>Financial Records detail the fiscal status of the BSCP from both an administrative and general membership perspectives via wages and dues records; statements of receipts and disbursements; bank statements; and financial reports.</p> <p>Of particular note are McLaurin's membership book and completed strike ballots, which are held in the Union Ephemera files. McLaurin also collected the official newspapers of other unions, including the International Union of Electrical Workers and the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union. Clippings related to the BSCP are also present here.</p>"}

date_start

1936

keydate

1936

date_end

1988

date_inclusive_start

1936

date_inclusive_end

1988

Child components TOP

1. Correspondence [7/1]
2. Union Contracts [5/1]
3. Events [4/1]
4. Governing Boards [9/1]
5. Financial Records
6. Union Ephemera [10/1]