Descriptive Summary
Colored Trainmen of America
Colored Trainmen of America Papers
1918-1982
1940-1969Materials are
in English.
RG R 3
36 boxes
Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public
Library
Historical Note
The Colored Trainmen of America (C.T.A.) was formed on April 6, 1918, with the purpose, as the founding charter stated, "of promoting the condition and welfare of its members and to elevate their social, moral, and intellectual standing." The C.T.A. was one of the earliest black unions in America and from its inception the union strived to protect the rights of its members, the vast majority being railroad brakemen and stewards. Through the years, the union had assisted in areas such as civil rights, discrimination, equal pay rates, job safety, working condidions, and health benefits. With the increased usage of other modes of transportation and the cancellation of many of the train runs in Texas and Louisiana, the C.T.A. had no choice but to dissolve in 1968. Even merger with the International Association of Railway Employees and the Association of Railway Trainmen and Locomotive Firemen failed to save the union.
Scope and ContentsThe collection consists of the original records of the Kingsville, Texas, and DeQuincy, Louisiana, Chapters of the Colored Trainmen of America, and contains papers such as correspondence, publications, newspaper and magazine articles, logbooks, minutes, and finance statements. One hightlight of the publications is an incomplete run of the
<emph render="italic">Negro Railway Labor News </emph>between June 1948 and February 1950. The major topics of the collection are the administration of the union, including internal correspondence and union meeting minutes, and the correspondence between the C.T.A. and the Missouri Pacific Lines, which consisted of union member grievances, reinstatements, vacation time, seniority rights, and legal matters. One of the main problems the C.T.A. had over the years was in union dues collection, which also was recorded in detail. The time span of the collection is from the union's inception on April 6, 1918 to its dissolution in 1968. A few final logbooks are dated 1969-1972, and several funeral announcements are dated up to 1982.ArrangementThe original order of some of the material was by C.T.A. officer position, however, since this order was not consistently maintained over the years it has now been arranged by subject to allow for easier access. The collection is divided into six subgroups: Administrative, Missouri Pacific Lines Correspondence, Legal and Regulatory Correspondence, Financial Reports and Logbooks, Correspondence with other Unions, and Publications and Literature pertaining to the C.T.A. and labor unions in general. Each subgroup is sorted by subject then by year only.
Access Restrictions
None.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the Colored Trainmen of America Papers must be obtained from the Houston Metropolitan Research Center or the appropriate copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
Colored Trainmen of America Papers. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston
Public Library.
Acquisition Information
Donated by: C.T.A. representatives Woody Horn, Jr. and Leamer Williams.
Processing InformationProcessed by: Mark Carley, 1996.
Index TermsSubjectsAfrican Americans--Civil rightsAfrican Americans--Louisiana--DeQuincyAfrican Americans--Texas--KingsvilleAfrican Americans--Social conditionsLabor unions--LouisianaLabor unions--TexasRace discriminationRailroads--TexasRailroads--LouisianaRailroads--EmployeesSubjects (Organizations)Colored Trainmen of AmericaMissouri Pacific Railroad Company Detailed DescriptionAdministrative11Union charter, 191812C.T.A. Christmas cards, 13New Iberia & Northern Railroad seniority list, 191614Pay rates: General Order 27 and Supplement 16, 1918-191915Photographs16Traveling cards17Union constitution booklets, 1929, 1941, 194718Union dues set up, 191719Union letterhead stationary110Union member charter, 1940's-1950's111Union member charter, blank112Union membership list, 1947113-17Application for membership in C.T.A., 1928-1960118Union Representation Authorization Cards, 1945119-20Union Representation Authorization Cards, 1947121-23Union constitution, rules, and resolution matters, 1940-1969124-26Union elections, appointments, 1939-1978127Union mergers, 1960-1966128Dissolution of C.T.A., 1968-196921Annual pass correspondence22Board and meal deducations correspondence23-5C.T.A. Ladies Auxiliary, 1940-196626Health benefits, insurance, pensions27Health, welfare, and pension plans seminar, 195428-15Hospital Association, 1936-196931Box: 32 rubber stamps (addresses, signatures, logo, etc.)32Grand Lodge notary seal33Brass plaque: Missouri Pacific Safety Award, Kingsville Division, 195041-21Union meeting minutes, 1936-196351-2Union meeting minutes, 1964-196753Union meeting member attendance logbook, 1951-195454Union meeting member attendance logbook, 1956-195755Union meeting minutes logbooks, 1940-194656Union meeting minutes logbook, 1943-195557Union meeting minutes logbook, 1947-195058-10Union meeting minutes logbooks, 1962-19676-7Oversized union meeting minutes logbooks, 1956-196181-18Internal union correspondence, 1927-195291-16Internal union correspondence, 1953-1959101-15Internal union correspondence, 1960-1965111-7Internal union correspondence, 1965-1982Missouri Pacific Lines Correspondence118-18Grievances, reinstatements, pay: individual brakemen, 1928-1943121-11Grievances, reinstatements, pay: individual brakemen, 1944-19491212Grievances, reinstatements, pay: James Dotson, 1950-19591213Grievances, reinstatements, pay: individual brakemen, 1950131-14Grievances, reinstatements, pay: individual brakemen, 1950-1958141-13Grievances, reinstatements, pay: individual brakemen, 1959-1963151-6Grievances, reinstatements, pay: individual brakemen, 1963-1968157-22Jobs and working conditions, 1928-1954Note: This is general correspondence between the C.T.A. and Missouri Pacific regarding job announcements and applications, railroad and yard safety and equipment, and meeting attendance requests.
161-13Jobs and working conditions, 1955-1967Note: This is general correspondence between the C.T.A. and Missouri Pacific regarding job announcements and applications, railroad and yard safety and equipment, and meeting attendance requests.
1614-18Leave of absence correspondence, 1940-19671619-21Missouri Pacific Lines leave of absence notice, 1930-1959171Missouri Pacific Lines leave of absence notice, 1950-1959172Indebtedness correspondence173Military leave correspondence174Missouri Pacific Lines meeting minutes175-6Missouri Pacific Lines mileage circulars, 1926-1967177Missouri Pacific Lines newsletters178-11Missouri Pacific Lines seniority list, 1934-19691712-13Missouri Pacific Lines seniority queries, 1714Missouri Pacific Lines Time Return and Delay reports1715-17Pay rates and related correspondence, 1928-19671718-22Vacation requests and correspondence, 1950-1967Legal and Regulatory181Houston, Houston, Hastie & Waddy attorneys, 1943-1944182-20Houston, Houston, Hastie & Waddy attorneys, 1947-1962191-2Accordion files, court case 75-B-110, exhibits, reports, 1930-1970201-3Correspondence to/from other law firms204Civil rights, discrimination: general literature205Interstate Commerce Commission releases, 1928206Job Protection Agreement, 1936207Federal government legislation and correspondence208-9State government correspondence, 1940-19672010-11National Mediation Board, 1940-19682012-13National Railroad Adjustment Board, 1940-19592014-15Railroad Retirement Board, 1940-19632016Wage Stabilization Board, 2017-23Agreements and mediations, 1919-1946211-18Agreements and mediations, 1947-1974Financial221-16Union Dues and Monthly Lodge Reports, 1940-1952231-13Union Dues and Monthly Lodge Reports, 1953-1957241-10Union Dues and Monthly Lodge Reports, 1957-1959251-13Union Dues and Monthly Lodge Reports, 1960-1962261-12Union Dues and Monthly Lodge Reports, 1962-1967271-26Finance reports and correspondence, 1941-19672727-39Expense claims to union, 1938-1951281-16Federal and State taxes, 1947-19632817-24Audit reports, 1956-19682825-27Federal and State taxes, 1947-19632825-27Federal and State taxes, 1940-1946291-7Federal and State taxes, 1947-1963298-18Office Expenses, 1944-1967301Senior Choir Journal/Finance Logbook, 1943-1944302Finance Logbook, 1947-1951303Finance Logbook, 1948-1952304Finance Logbooks, 1958-1959305Finance Logbook, 1958-1964306Finance Logbook, 1960-1964307Finance Logbook, 1960-1965308Finance Logbook, 1970-1971309Receipt and expense logbooks, 1958-19653010Receipt logbook, 1958-19613011Receipt logbook, 19663012Collections logbook, 19513013-14Money receipt registers, 1951-19583015Salary and finance logbooks, 1939-19493016Salary and finance logbooks, 1944-1947311-2Disbursement and expense logbooks, 1952-1959313Banking records, Calcasieu-Marine National Bank, 1944-1945314Banking records, Kleberg First National Bank, 1951-1958315Banking records, Kleberg First National Bank, 1965-1968316Banking records, State Bank of Kingsville, 1950-1970317-8Monthly Statement, First National Bank of Kingsville, 1940-1948319Monthly Statement, First National Bank of Kingsville, 1960-19633110Monthly Statement, First National Bank of Kingsville, 19643111-12Check Logbook, First National Bank of Kingsville, 1936-19453113Check Logbook, First National Bank of Kingsville, 1947-19493114Check receipt register, 1952-19573115Check receipts and logbook, 1960-19623116Check book and register, 321Donation logbooks, 1957-1959322Union dues and disbursements logbook, 1943-1944323Union dues and finance logbook, 1937-1944324Union dues and finance logbook, 1940-1951325-6Union dues logbooks, 1935-1945327-8Union dues logbooks, 1944-1948329Union dues logbooks, 19473210Union dues logbook, by member name, 1947-19483211Union dues logbook, by member name, 1956-19573212Union dues logbook, 1960-19623213 Union dues receipt stib booklets, 1945-194733 Oversize union dues logbook, 1948-195034 Oversize finance logbook, 1951-1952Other Unions351 Dining Car & Railroad Food Workers Union352 International Association of Railway Employees353 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)354 Negro Railway Labor Executive Committee meeting minutes355 United Transportation Union356-7 Correspondence to/from other unions358-10 National conferences, committees, and meetings with other unions, 1940-1969Publications and Literature3511 Negro Railway Labor News, newsletter, 1948-19493512 Report on history of the Locomotive Fireman Brotherhood3513 Publications: railroad companies3514 Alternate transportation: Buses, etc. brochures3515 Church newsletters and correspondence3516 Houston Belt & Terminal Railroad Co., time table, 1950-19513517-18 Interstate Commerce Commission Accident Reports3519 Publications: correspondence to/from3520-21 Publications: US Code Annotated - Railroads, 1946-19593522 Newspaper articles3523 America is Different, report by Danish Labor Unionists, 1949361 Daily Worker, newspaper, 1949362 Labor, international weekly newspaper, 1964-1965363 Political newspapers and publications364-5 Publications: federal government366 Publications: law366 Publications: universities