Beck, Dave, 1894-1993

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David Lemuel Beck was born in poverty on June 16, 1894, in Stockton, California to Lemuel and Mary Beck. His first union job was as a laundry driver in Seattle, Washington where he became a member of Teamsters Local 566 Laundry and Dye Works Drivers. He was elected to the executive board of Local 566 in 1920 then in 1923 he was named president of Joint Council 28. In 1927 he was elected president of Local 566 in 1927 and that same year, he was hired by the international union as a full-time organizer. In 1940, he was elected vice-president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and then General President of the union in 1952. He led the IBT until 1957 when he stepped down after invoking the 5th amendment against self-incrimination during congressional hearings investigating labor racketeering. Beck is credited with founding the Conference system of organization for the IBT. After leaving office, Beck was convicted of tax evasion and imprisoned for three years. He was later pardoned by Washington Governor Albert Rosellini and by President Gerald Ford. He died on December 26, 1993 in Seattle, Washington.
Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Charles Herring collection of news broadcast films and other material, 1947-1994 Museum of History & Industry Sophie Frye Bass Library
referencedIn Labor Collection, 1872-1988 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Lawrence N. Steinberg papers, 1936-1969 and 1996 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn David Kaplan Papers, 1941-1965 Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Boldt, George H. (George Hugo), 1903-1984. Papers, [18--]-[19--]. Washington State Historical Society
referencedIn James R. Hoffa Documentation Collection 1934-2011. George Washington University
referencedIn Labor Leader Biographies, 1873-2010 Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives
referencedIn Socialist Workers Party records, 1914-1980 Minnesota Historical Society
referencedIn International Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers. President's Office. Records, ca. 1938-1965, bulk 1949-1965 Rutgers University
referencedIn Payne, Clayton E. Clayton E. Payne papers [manuscript], 1925-1941. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
creatorOf Riesel, Victor. Papers, 1953-1967. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance Staff Articles, 1949-1967 Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn IBT Audiovisual George Washington University
referencedIn Labor Leader Biographies, 1873-2010 Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives
creatorOf Life on the Homefront oral history collection, 1984-1985 Museum of History and Industry
referencedIn IBT Leo Deaner George Washington University
Relation Name
associatedWith Boldt, George H. (George Hugo), 1903-1984. person
associatedWith Herring, Charles, 1922-2006. person
predecessorOf Hoffa, James R. (James Riddle), 1913- person
leaderOf International Brotherhood of Teamsters corporateBody
associatedWith International Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers. President's Office. corporateBody
associatedWith Kaplan, David, 1905- . person
associatedWith Life on the Homefront Oral History Project. corporateBody
associatedWith Oregon Historical Society Research Library corporateBody
associatedWith Payne, Clayton E. person
associatedWith Riesel, Victor. person
associatedWith Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance. corporateBody
associatedWith Socialist Workers Party. Minnesota Section. corporateBody
associatedWith Steinberg, Lawrence N. person
isSuccessorOf Tobin, Daniel Joseph, 1875-1955 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Seattle Center WA US
Seattle WA US
Stockton CA US
Subject
Labor leaders
Labor leaders
Mass media
Occupation
Labor leaders
Labor union members
Truck drivers
Activity

Person

Birth 1894-06-16

Death 1993-12-26

Male

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w65n6wpx

SNAC ID: 84872452