Harold Christoffel oral history interview, 1987.

  1. Resources
  2. View Resource

ArchivalResource

Harold Christoffel oral history interview, 1987.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/30541582

Description: An oral history interview with Harold Christoffel, president of the United Automobile Workers Union, Local 248 at the Allis-Chalmers Corporation (ACC) plant in West Allis, Wisconsin from the late 1930s until February 1945, when he entered military service, at Christoffel's home outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1987. The interview deals with the founding and operations of the "CIO News (Wisconsin)" ["CNW"] and West Allis plant newspapers and the role of these publications in labor relations at ACC and in the rise of the CIO in Wisconsin. Also contains information about conflicts between ACC and Local 248 and the rise and internal operations of the Milwaukee County Industrial Union Council (MCIUC) and the Wisconsin State Industrial Union Council (WSIUC). The interview deals with the founding, purposes, effectiveness, editorial policy, story sources, and distribution of the "Allis-Chalmers workers' union news," the "CNW," and the Local 248 page and Local 248 edition of the "CNW." Notable in the interview are Christoffel's comments on the purposes of the publications as information and organizing arms of Local 248 and the MCIUC and WSIUC; on race relations at ACC and in Local 248; on aspects of labor relations at the West Allis plant and the "CNW" coverage of the 1939 and 1941 strikes; on friction between the labor movement in Milwaukee and the "Milwaukee Journal;" on the coverage of union elections and John L. Lewis by the "CNW;" and on the stand of Local 248 on American entry into World War II before December 1941 and attitudes toward the war effort after December 7. Finding aid available in the Archives.

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, UWM Libraries

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7287631

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, UWM Libraries

Related Entities

There are 11 Entities related to this resource.

Congress of Industrial Organizations (U.S.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6j788vr (corporateBody)

The Committee for Industrial Organization was formed by the presidents of eight international unions in 1935. The presidents of these unions were dissatisfied with the American Federation of Labor's unwillingness to commit itself to a program of organizing industrial unions. In 1936, the A.F. of L. suspended the ten unions which proceeded to organize an independent federation, the Congress of Industrial Organizations. The CIO subsequently became the A.F. of L.'s chief rival for the leadership of...

De Caux, Len H., 1899-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6x74cgz (person)

Trade union organizer and journalist. From the description of Oral history interviews with Len De Caux, 1961, Mar. 16 and 18. (Wayne State University, Archives of Labor & Urban). WorldCat record id: 32321309 Labor reporter and editor. From the description of Len and Caroline Abrams De Caux papers, 1925-1970, (bulk 1940-1960). (Wayne State University, Archives of Labor & Urban). WorldCat record id: 32320915 ...

Milwaukee County Industrial Union Council.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w65b73kb (corporateBody)

Allis-Chalmers Corporation

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64231bs (corporateBody)

Decker and Seville's Reliance Works purchased by Edward P. Allis in February 1861; renamed Reliance Works of Edward P. Allis and Company. Renamed Allis-Chalmers Company after merger with Fraser and Chalmers Company of Chicago in 1901. In 1912, the Allis-Chalmers Company went into receivership. Reorganized in 1913 as Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company. Renamed Allis-Chalmers Corporation in 1971. From the description of Records, 1847-1990. (Library Council of Metropolitan Milwaukee)....

Adelman, Meyer.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6bw4v4j (person)

Mallach, Stanley

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6hn2n5w (person)

Lewis, John L. (John Llewellyn), 1880-1969

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63598gg (person)

John L. Lewis was born in Lucas, Iowa in 1880. From 1917 until his death in 1969 he served the United Mine Workers of America, acting as its president from 1920 to 1960. Lewis led in the establishment of the Congress of Industrial Organizations and served as CIO president until his resignation from that post in 1940. From the description of Papers, 1879-1969. [microform] (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 64091529 From its founding in 1935 until 1942, the hist...

International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America. Local 309 (West Allis, Wis.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6fr66gg (corporateBody)

Formerly International Union, United Automobile Workers of America (CIO), Local 309 and International Union, United Automobile, Aircraft, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, Local 309; represents workers at Sterling National Industries (formerly Sterling Wheelbarrow Co.). From the description of Records, 1937-1966. (Wayne State University). WorldCat record id: 28421011 ...

Christoffel, Harold, 1912- .

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6md69z3 (person)

Broderick, Joseph P.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qs28w0 (person)

Wisconsin State Industrial Union Council

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6k41377 (corporateBody)