Wagner Labor Archives

Wagner Labor Archives, located in New York City, New York, United States, is a unique repository of historical records and documents related to the American labor movement, with a focus on the New York City area and the United States. The archives were established in 1976 by Robert F. Wagner, a prominent New York City politician and United States Senator, in collaboration with the Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives at New York University. The archives are closely tied to the AFL-CIO, the Congress of Industrial Organizations, and the American Federation of Labor, and have been supported by notable figures such as Samuel Gompers, John L. Lewis, and Walter Reuther. The archives also have connections to the National Labor Relations Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Wagner Act, which were all instrumental in shaping the American labor movement.

● History

The history of the Wagner Labor Archives is closely tied to the development of the American labor movement and the role of New York City as a hub for labor activism. The archives were established during a time of great social and economic change, with the Civil Rights Movement, the Women's Liberation Movement, and the Anti-War Movement all influencing the labor movement. Key figures such as Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and Martin Luther King Jr. played important roles in shaping the labor movement, and their work is documented in the archives. The archives have also been influenced by the work of labor unions such as the United Mine Workers of America, the United Auto Workers, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, as well as organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Civil Liberties Union. The archives have been supported by institutions such as the New York University, the City University of New York, and the University of California, Berkeley, and have connections to events like the Lawrence Textile Strike, the Bisbee Deportation, and the Flint Sit-Down Strike.

● Collections

The Wagner Labor Archives hold a vast array of collections related to the American labor movement, including documents, photographs, and artifacts from labor unions, labor leaders, and labor activists. The collections include materials from the AFL-CIO, the Congress of Industrial Organizations, and the American Federation of Labor, as well as from smaller, more specialized unions like the United Farm Workers and the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. The archives also hold collections related to notable labor leaders such as Samuel Gompers, John L. Lewis, and Walter Reuther, as well as materials from organizations like the National Labor Relations Board, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The collections are closely tied to events like the Haymarket Riot, the Homestead Strike, and the Pullman Strike, and include materials from institutions such as the Library of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration, and the Smithsonian Institution. The archives also have connections to the work of labor historians such as Herbert Gutman, David Montgomery, and Nelson Lichtenstein, and to the Journal of American History, the American Historical Review, and the Labor History journal.

● Exhibitions and Programs

The Wagner Labor Archives offer a range of exhibitions and programs that showcase the history and significance of the American labor movement. The archives have hosted exhibitions on topics such as the History of Labor Day, the Impact of the Wagner Act, and the Role of Women in the Labor Movement, featuring materials from the collections and loans from other institutions such as the National Museum of American History and the Museum of the City of New York. The archives also offer programs and events, such as lectures, workshops, and film screenings, which bring together labor historians, labor activists, and the general public to discuss topics related to the labor movement. These programs have featured speakers such as Noam Chomsky, Barbara Ehrenreich, and Naomi Klein, and have been supported by organizations like the Democracy Now!, the Nation, and the Progressive. The archives have also collaborated with institutions such as the New York Public Library, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art to develop exhibitions and programs that explore the intersection of labor and art, labor and culture, and labor and social justice.

● Archives and Library

The Wagner Labor Archives are housed in a state-of-the-art facility that provides a secure and climate-controlled environment for the storage and preservation of the collections. The archives are staffed by a team of professional archivists and librarians who are trained in the care and management of historical records and documents. The archives are open to researchers and the general public, and offer a range of services and resources, including research assistance, photocopying and scanning, and access to digital collections. The archives are also home to a extensive library of books, journals, and other publications related to the American labor movement, including works by labor historians such as Eric Hobsbawm, E.P. Thompson, and C.L.R. James, as well as publications from organizations like the Monthly Review, the New Left Review, and the Labor Notes. The archives have connections to institutions such as the Harvard University Library, the University of Michigan Library, and the Stanford University Library, and have been supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Science Foundation, and the Ford Foundation.

● Conservation and Access

The Wagner Labor Archives are committed to the long-term preservation and conservation of the collections, and have implemented a range of measures to ensure their stability and accessibility. The archives have a comprehensive conservation program that includes the treatment and repair of damaged materials, the use of archival-quality storage materials, and the creation of digital surrogates of fragile or sensitive items. The archives also offer a range of access services, including online catalogs, finding aids, and digital collections, which allow researchers to explore the collections remotely. The archives have been supported by institutions such as the Council on Library and Information Resources, the National Digital Library, and the Internet Archive, and have connections to events like the Annual Meeting of the Society of American Archivists and the International Conference on Archives. The archives have also collaborated with organizations like the Library of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration, and the Smithsonian Institution to develop standards and best practices for the preservation and conservation of historical records and documents.

Category:Archives in the United States