The Iowa labor collection has important things to tell historians, not only about the history of the working class and trade unionism in Iowa, but in the country as a whole.
Although Iowa is traditionally thought of as an
agricultural state, it can lay claim to a long and rich labor history. The project was designed to enhance access
to a major labor archive at the State Historical Society of Iowa in Iowa
City. The project had three purposes,
all aimed at disseminating knowledge about the collection to scholars and laypersons. The primary activities included: 1) archival processing of labor manuscripts
including creation of finding aids, in html format, 2) creation of microfilm of
1,100 oral history transcripts along with finding aid or topical index, and 3)
cataloging in OCLC for labor collections, 1,100 oral history interviews, and
assorted print materials such as contracts and agreements and other
publications.
Since 1974, the collaborative efforts of the Iowa
Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, and the State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI)
have resulted in an assemblage of documentation on collective unionism among
Iowa's working class. Using the limited
access tools available, scholars have already mined the varied resources of the
collection to produce books, journal articles, and community histories. The IMLS grant accelerated progress toward
the goal of opening this impressive collection to the public -- fully processed
and cataloged for the first time, and available for use without restrictions.
Acknowledgements
Numerous individuals generously contributed to the Iowa
Labor Collection, and not everyone can be thanked here. Union members created this archive by
documenting their efforts and later donating records for preservation. Over 1,000 people shared their stories in
oral history interviews. The labor
historians who traveled around the state to talk with people, the transcribers
of the audiotapes, and the archivists who organize and index these materials
deserve special appreciation for uncovering the potential of this
resource. Thanks also go to the ILHOP
advisory board members and to staff from the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO;
the University of Iowa Labor Center; and the State Historical Society of Iowa.
Of particular note are the following contributors:
James Wengert, former President of Iowa Federation of
Labor, AFL-CIO and Mark Smith, President of Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
who conceived and promoted the idea of preserving Iowa labor's history as an
educational resource.
Paul Kelso, Greg Zieren, Merle Davis, Dan Holub, Fred
Adams, Janet Weaver, Gene Redmon, Mona Lepic, Jae Retz, Roberta Till-Retz, and
Laurie Clements who assisted with the ILHOP project as interviewers,
transcribers, and advisors.
Joyce Giaquinta, David Kinnett, Mary Bennett, David
Darrow, Tom Karson, and other staff from the State Historical Society who cared
for the archive in the early stages.
A special dedication goes to Merle Davis who contributed
greatly to the cohesiveness and strength of the materials gathered for
research. Merle continues to shepherd
staff and researchers through the process of exploration of the Iowa Labor
Collection.