Research: Peoples, Groups, & Cultures: Guide to Historical Records Sources on Latinos
A Preliminary Guide to Historical Records Sources On Latinos In New York State
New York State Repositories
Cornell University. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections.
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
Phone: (607) 255-3530, Fax: (607) 255-9524
E-mail: rareref@cornell.edu
- Garcia, Robert.
Robert Garcia papers, 1988-1993.
9.0 cubic ft.Notebooks, personal letters, videos, handouts, flyers, court testimony, meeting agendas, and other files reflecting Garcia's personal life and involvement in lesbian and gay rights, reproductive rights, and AIDS activism. Garcia's papers also reflect his involvement in ACT UP-New York, the national organization Men of All Colors Together (formerly Black and White Men Together), and a video collective called House of Color.
Also, testimony regarding his arrest for civil disobedience at an ACT UP demonstration. Also, personal correspondence including cards from Joan Malus and Karen Ramspacher, the latter discussing her abortion and the Clit Club; subject files on Robert Scarpa; a screenplay "All I Want" which includes a character much like Garcia. Garcia's calendar (1989-1990) medical records, writings, speeches, and articles about actions he was involved in, and ACT UP files.
Collecting Program: Human Sexuality Collection. Guide available.
- Cornell University. Latino Studies Program.
Latino Studies Program records, 1978-1993
4.4 c.f.The Latino Studies Program was formerly the Hispanic American Studies Program. Administrative, historical, and financial records of the Program; also subject files, and records of the Revelations/Revalcions Art Show (November 6 - December 19, 1993).
Restricted to permission of office of origin. Box and folder list.
Cornell University. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives.
227 Ives Hall
Ithaca, New York 14853-3901
Phone: (607) 255-3183, Fax: (607) 255-9641
email: kheel_center@cornell.edu.
- International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Local 105 (New York,
N.Y.).
Local 105 records, 1939-1970, 1950-1970 (bulk).
4.5 linear ft.
Local 105, International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU), also known as the Snowsuits, Ski Wear, Leggings, Infants and Novelty Sportswear Union, was based in New York City. It represented workers employed in various specialty garment shops in the New York area.
The Local 105 materials consist primarily of routine correspondence, reports, and minutes of executive and membership meetings. Much of the correspondence is from Martin L. Cohen, the manager-secretary of Local 105. The bulk of the material deals with administrative matters, contract negotiations, donations to (and requests for donations from) charitable organizations, health, welfare and retirement benefits, garment manufacturers, other ILGWU departments and locals, and relations with the AFL-CIO. Some of the correspondence addresses the changing ethnic makeup of the union's membership, particularly the steady increase in Hispanic workers during the 1950s and 1960s. Other items concern the adoption of children orphaned after World War II.
A small amount of Martin Cohen's personal correspondence is also included. Significant organizations represented include the AFL-CIO (including correspondence with George Meany), City of Hope, Histadrut, the Jewish Daily Forward, the Jewish Labor Committee, and the New York Cloak Joint Board (ILGWU).
Forms part of: International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union records, 1906-1985.
Finding aid available in repository and through interlibrary loan, folder level control.
- National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees.
Leon Davis interviews, 1975-1981.
5 transcripts (191 p.)
Forms part of: National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees. Oral history interviews. Series 1. Executive officers and staff interviews. Subseries 1. Executive officers interviews.
The unedited oral history interviews of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees discuss the evolution of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union drugstore local, representing pharmacists and drug clerks in New York City (known as Local 1199 and District 1199), into an international union of non-professional and professional workers in voluntary and non-profit health institutions, including hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, as well as drugstores.
Leon Julius Davis was born in Russia on November 21, 1907. He emigrated to the United States in 1921 and attended the Columbia School of Pharmacy (1927-1929), leaving to become a drugstore clerk. In 1932, he was a founder of the Pharmacists' Union of Greater New York and became an organizer in 1936 when the union became Local 1199 of the Retail Clerks International Association. 1199 disaffiliated with the A.F. of L. in 1937 and joined the CIO's United Retail Employees of America. In the following year, Davis participated in the founding of the United Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, with which 1199 subsequently affiliated and in which Davis became an international vice-president in 1955. In 1969, Davis was elected president of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees, while retaining presidency of the New York Drug and Hospital Union, a post which he had held for the previous two decades. Davis retired from both positions in 1982. Interviews with Leon Davis discuss his personal background and personality and the politics, history and leaders of 1199. Discussed are working conditions in hospitals and organizing campaigns; relations between 1199 and other unions; hospital management, boards of trustees and administrations; politicians and public figures; and the Charleston, S.C. hospital strike of 1969.
Also discussed are racial discrimination, civil rights and the organizing of black drug workers (1938-1945); the effects of red-baiting and McCarthyism on 1199 leadership (1948-1951); the YMCA campaign; the Taft-Hartley affidavits; the relationship between union leadership and rank and file; the relationship of District 65 of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) with the CIO; the conduct of membership meetings and officer elections; effects of the radical politics of the union's leadership on rank and file; worker participation in union administration; union democracy; grievance handling; the administration of collective agreements; the identification of blacks and minority workers with 1199; Davis' testimony before the Kirsten Committee; political pluralism in 1199; relations between Davis and Mayor La Guardia; police interference; scabs; and the conduct of strikes and pickets.
Also discussed are working conditions in hospitals, including a comparison of wages for hospital, clothing and automobile workers; a unified hospital system; national health insurance; the national health care system; strategies in organizing small and large hospitals; the establishment of contacts in hospital departments; hospital organizational structure; demonstrations and wildcat strikes; signing of membership cards; organizing meetings; workers' rights; election conduct; the settlement with Montefiore Hospital; workers' resistance to unionization; the organizing activities of Al Kosloski, Morris Hodara, Marshall Dubin, Hiram Berenger, and Leo Provasti; rank and file leadership; the racial composition of hospital departments and supervisory staffs; hiring practices; black and Puerto Rican leadership; the informal groups and solidarity among Puerto Rican leaders; Mayor Wagner's role in the settlement with Montefiore Hospital; and the strategy for organizing Jewish Hospitals.
The discussion of relations between 1199 and other unions includes Victor Gottbaum's position on hospital shutdowns; Van Arsdale's opinion on 1199's opportunity to develop trade unionism in New York City and to organize unskilled black and Puerto Rican workers; Van Arsdale's and Mike Quill's influence on Mayor Wagner's labor relations policies; Van Arsdale's relationship with Governor Rockefeller; and the role of the New York City Central Labor Council and member unions in the organizing of New York City hospitals.
- National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees.
1199 vice-presidents interviews, 1975-1977.
3 transcripts (165 p.)
Forms part of: National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees. Oral history interviews. Series 1. Executive officers and staff interviews. Subseries 1. Executive officers interviews.
The unedited oral history interviews of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees discuss the evolution of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union drugstore local, representing pharmacists and drug clerks in New York City (known as Local 1199 and District 1199) into an international union of non-professional and professional workers in voluntary and non-profit health institutions, including hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, as well as drugstores.
Consist of interviews with 1199 vice-presidents Ramon Malave, Marshall Dubin, and Eddie Kay. Topics discussed include …the participation of Hispanic workers in strikes; … the cultural solidarity of Spanish speaking workers; …
- National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees.
Ted Mitchell interviews, 1975-1976.
2 transcripts (66 p.)
Forms part of: National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees. Oral history interviews. Series 1. Executive officers and staff interviews. Subseries 1. Executive officers interviews. Sub-subseries 9. Ted Mitchell interviews, 1975-1976.
The unedited oral history interviews of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees discuss the evolution of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union drugstore local, representing pharmacists and drug clerks in New York City (known as Local 1199 and District 1199) into an international union of non-professional and professional workers in voluntary and non-profit health institutions, including hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, as well as drugstores.
Interviews with Ted Mitchell (vice president, emeritus) include discussions of Mitchell's personal background, the history of 1199, organizing campaigns in the Drug and Hospital Divisions, characteristics of 1199 members, the nature of hospitals and the health care industry, and working conditions in hospitals.
Topics discussed include the strategy employed in organizing drugstore porters and clerks; the racial composition of drug clerks; strikes in drugstores; the assignment of Mitchell and Elliott Godoff as Hospital Division organizers; the unionization of voluntary hospitals; the growth of the hospital union (1959-1962); 1199's policy of organizing black, Puerto Rican, and unskilled workers; a comparison of A.F. of L. and CIO policies on organizing minority and unskilled workers; Drug Division manpower and financial support for hospital unionization; the Harlem Drug Store Strike (1949); red-baiting of union leaders; jurisdictional disputes between 1199 and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 144; and the political affiliations and viewpoints of 1199 leaders.
Mitchell also discusses his role as 1199's first black organizer and leader; racial discrimination in drugstores; postwar wages of pharmacists; …
Also discussed is the role of Hispanic workers; unionization without protected collective bargaining rights; the conduct of pickets; the racial and religious aspects of the hospital organizing campaign (1959); the participation of Martin Luther King, Coretta Scott King, Mike Quill, Governor Rockefeller, Herman Badillo, Jose Monserrat, Mayors Wagner and Lindsay, Harold Felix, Malcolm X, Ralph Abernathy, Andrew Young, A. Philip Randolph, and Bayard Rustin in hospital unionization; work stoppages; strike funds; and financial contributions and food donations by community members, religious organizations, and grocery stores. Other topics include the election of delegates and their role in workers' education and union administration; the establishment of grievance procedures; the establishment of organizing committees by hospital departments; the objection of nurses, clerical workers, and other professionals to 1199's image as a union of non-professional minority workers; the organizing of hospital workers outside of New York City;
- National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees. Mount Sinai
Hospital interviews, 1976-1977, bulk 1977.
17 transcripts (440 p.)
Forms part of: National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees. Oral history interviews.
The unedited oral history interviews of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees discuss the evolution of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union drugstore local, representing pharmacists and drug clerks in New York City (known as Local 1199 and District 1199) into an international union of professional and non-professional workers in voluntary and non-profit health institutions, including hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, as well as drugstores.
Interviews of seventeen individuals associated with Mount Sinai Hospital include 1199 delegates Gayetano Rivera and Gloria Arana (laundry), Elon Tompkins and Jim Bryant (engineering), Sam Schmuckler and Grace Glassberg (laboratory), Ernestine Bowen (dietary), Marie Barkum (housekeeping), Julio Pagan (orderly), Mildred Reeves (nursing), and hospital worker Eddie Sanchez; also interviewed are members of management Martin Steinberg (director, Mount Sinai Hospital), Norman Metzger (vice president, Personnel), Howard Lichtenstein (attorney), Rose Brand and Sylvia Barker (nursing supervisors), and Fritz Field (laundry manager).
Topics of the interviews cover the personal backgrounds of the respondents; contacts with the labor movement; workers' political consciousness and identification with the union's values; social relations among workers; levels of education; the racial composition of hospital workers; the identification with the union of workers hired after the 1959 strike; the participation of workers in union affairs; the attitudes of nurses and professional employees toward unions; the work ethic and various ethnic groups; and the cultural and family relations of Puerto Rican workers.
Discussed are pre-union working conditions, including work assignments; shift scheduling; wages; hours of work; the racial composition of hospital departments . . . .
Discussion of post-union working conditions includes . . . bi-lingual union delegates . . . .
Issues relating to the organizing campaign, strike and collective negotiations include . . . militancy of Hispanic delegates; Issues concerning hospital administration, supervisors and boards of trustees include . . . changes in the ethnic composition of nursing staffs . . . .
