Anna Sullivan: Trade Union Organizer

Abstract

oral history project, The Twentieth Century Trade Union Woman: Vehicle for Social Change has been conducting interviews over the past two years with approximately fifty trade union women activists throughout the country. women interviewed represent a range of geographical, industrial, union, ethnic, and racial backgrounds, and share a long-term commitment to the labor movement. Transcripts of their interviews will be deposited in libraries and labor archives to provide source material for scholars, teaching material for women's studies and labor studies classes, and information for women presently involved in trade union activities. We used a variety of means to locate women who may not have received official recognition for their work. A letter describing the project was sent to unions, labor presses, labor historians, oral historians, and women's networks. In addition, we publicized our request in Ms., Ladies Home Journal, other magazines and newspapers. In warm and enthusiastic letters, respondents suggested women labor leaders they had known, including their mothers, officers of their local unions, and activists in community related campaigns. Many were pleased that the valuable work of union women would be recognized and recorded. In all, we received over 400 suggested names. Our national advisory board recommended that we concentrate on older women, whose activism began before World War II.