Summary
Abstract
The Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers of North America formed in 1876 and was an early steel workers labor organization representing primarily English-speaking, white skilled workers. In 1935, the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers of North America joined the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO).
Dates
- Creation: 1882-1941
Extent
0.63 Linear Feet
Background
Biographical / Historical
The Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers of North America was an early steelworkers labor organization representing primarily English-speaking, white skilled workers. It formed in 1876, lost membership during strikes in the 1880s, and regained strength after joining the newly formed American Federation of Labor in 1887. By the early 1890s it had about 24,000 workers and it played a central role in coordinated strike efforts during the Homestead steel strike (1892), one of the most prolonged and bitter clashes in American labor history. This strike eviscerated the union and afterward it represented workers only at a handful of steel mills, mostly in the West. By the 1910s, low pay and six twelve-hour work days remained standard in most steel mills. In 1935, when the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers of North America had only 8,600 members, its efforts to organize steelworkers were largely taken over by Phillip Murray and the Steel Workers' Organizing Committee (SWOC). At that time, the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers of North America joined the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and ceased to exist as an independent entity. Amalgamated Association of Iron, Tin, and Steel Workers formed in 1876; the Rank and File Movement pushed it toward industrial unionism in 1934 and 1935. It joined other unions to form the United Steel Workers of America in 1942.
Scope and Contents
The Minute book for Fulton Lodge no. 46 of the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1882-1883 (9 p.), reused from 1882 until 1914 to keep records of the organization and reorganization of lodges in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Delaware, Tennessee, West Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, Canada, New York, Wisconsin, Alabama, Missouri, Georgia, Colorado, Texas, California, Oregon, and Washington. It records officers of the various lodges, as well as founding, disbanding, and reorganization dates. The bound minute book provided to McKee Lodge, no. 161 by the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers (AAISTW) is signed as the property of Mary Alice Yuhouse Macosko, apparently the wife of the McKee Lodge recording secretary, Michael Macosko. The first 49 pages contain handwritten minutes of lodge meetings documenting local unionism in a turbulent period of AAISTW and labor union history. Pages 50 to 57 contain records of an unidentified household budget (1939-1943) and the remaining pages, 58-215, include notes for a word game and baseball scores scattered among otherwise blank pages. The dates for this item reflect the contents for which the volume was originally intended, not the later jottings. The Ritual used by the Iron, Steel and Tin Workers to initiate new members into their lodge.Includes opening and closing odes, and an explanation of officers' duties and obligations. Includes photocopy of the amended version for 1914. The Ledger books of dues paid to Tri-boro Lodge no. 186 of the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers, Braddock, Pa. Volume 1 contains records for 1934-1941; Volume 2 contains 1936-1937.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of newspaper clippings, telegrams and correspondence regarding a strike at Weirton Steel Company (Weirton, West Virginia) in 1933. It includes Weirton Steel Company employee statements attesting to unfair labor practices of company foremen.
Physical Location
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Penn State University Libraries catalog via the link above. Archival collections may be housed in offsite storage. For materials stored offsite, please allow 2-3 business days for retrieval.
Processing Information
In February 2018, the following collections were added to the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers of North America records (1865): Ritual of the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers (1862); Tri-boro Lodge no. 186 ledgers (1863); Tri-boro Lodge no. 186 minute book (1864); Fulton Lodge no. 46 minutes and record book (5176); and Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers of North America. McKee Lodge no. 161 (6498).
Subjects
- Iron and steel workers Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Labor unions Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Metal-workers Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Rituals Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Using These Materials
Repository Details
Part of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library Repository
104 Paterno Library
Penn State University
University Park 16802 USA
(814) 865-1793
spcollections@psu.edu
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Photocopies of original materials may be made available for research purposes at the discretion of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library. Photocopies or reproductions of original materials may be subject to fees as outlined by the Pennsylvania State University Libraries reproduction policies. Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. Patrons seeking advice on the availability of unpublished materials for publication should consult relevant copyright law and laws of libel.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers of North America records, 01865, Eberly Family Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University.
- Title
- Guide to the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers of North America records
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Prepared by Special Collections Library staff
- Date
- 2018
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2021: As part of bulk updates, Benjamin Mitchell updated standardized notes to current standard
- 2022: Kevin Clair provided links to Digital Collections for digitized materials.