Dallas Typographical Union Records, Local No. 173, Dallas, Texas:

A Guide

Historical Note

The local Dallas chapter of the International Typographical Union was founded in 1875. It is the oldest existing labor union in Texas. The purpose of the union is to act as an aid to fraternal members. Its chief concerns are working conditions, wages, benefits and the welfare of the members. Local union activities important to the membership include elections, conventions, grievances, labor contracts and agreements, and recognitions. This collection marks the transition of the trade from traditional typesetting methods to the new electronic typographical style (now known as desk-top publishing). Members of this local trade union work for printing job shops at Dallas newspapers as well as the smaller printing shops of the area. The first female apprentice joined the union within the time frame of this particular collection.

Scope and Contents

The bulk of the records of the International Typographical Union, Dallas, Texas, Local No. 173, are dated from the 1960s through the 1980s. Contained in 12 1/2 mss. boxes, the materials include office files, photographs, pamphlets and memorabilia. The collection has been divided into series reflecting this.

Series I, consisting of office files, includes correspondence, membership and financial records, contracts, court cases, grievances, election records, mailing lists, financial and tax information, mortuary benefit forms, newsletters, contracts, rules, policy and procedures. Also found among theses office files, in very limited amounts, is information regarding grievances, court rulings and strikes. Files are arranged alphabetically.

The memorabilia in Series II provides useful insight into the political nature of the brotherhood. These items (bearing the names of election candidates or serving as convention souvenirs or mementos) would serve as a visual illustration of union symbolism. Artifacts include a banner, bumper stickers, a record, key chains and buttons (campaign and convention souvenirs).

Series III, containing various photographs, might be of interest to genealogical researchers. Photographs include a cemetery plot, a convention, printers (many identified), print shop equipment, recognitions, and strikers.Of particular historic importance are the pictures of printing equipment, which is either obsolete now or soon will be.

The pamphlets in Series IV concern contracts, rules, and regulations and document the changes that have taken place within the union, nationally, statewide and locally. A comparative analysis of these documents should prove very useful in various research projects. Located in this series, of some historic value are style manuals for both of the Dallas daily newspapers. Records include constitution and bylaws, contracts and agreements from various local trade unions, and from those located outside the Dallas/Fort Worth area, including some from other states. Files are arranged alphabetically by title.

Two items are oversized and have been removed from their frames and placed in oversized boxes and they are listed as Series V. These oversized objects are a large group photograph of union members at a 1967 ITO convention and a hand-tinted citation from The Progressive Club of New York. Other photographs include a group photograph ITU, 109th Convention, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 1967; citation, The Progressive Club of New York, 1966.

Restrictions

Access

Open for research.

Literary Rights Statement

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards.

Related Material

Administrative Information

Citation

Dallas Typographical Union Records, Local No. 173, Dallas, Texas, AR373, Box Number, Folder Number, Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library.

Acquisition

Gift, 1993.

The Union's Secretary/Treasurer, Elizabeth Sheppard, is responsible for the donation. Jane Boley, the Labor Archivist of Special Collections, negotiated on behalf of The University of Texas at Arlington.

Accessioned as number 94-2.

 Note to the Researcher 

For the researcher, there are several terms used within the context of the papers generated by the typographical union members that are indigenous to many labor unions. Some of these words have been defined here for you.

Rat or Scab - a non-union laborer who takes the place of a striking worker. Often a job shop employing non-union workers is referred to as a "rat shop". These terms are used in a derogatory manner.

Travel Card - obtained by a local union member when jobs are scarce in the area. With a travel card the member pays lower dues at his local to defray the expense of paying dues to the two locals involved in his employment.

Wobble - when union members have a complaint or grievance, to make their position clear they have been known to "wobble the job." This refers to the threat of a strike for better conditions. It often serves to resolve the matter before more serious action is taken.

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