Schilling, George A., Papers, 1887-1936

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Labor and Socialism

Politics, Public Policy and Political Reform

Law

Chicago and Illinois

Open for research. No restrictions.

When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Schilling, George A., Papers, [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library

George A. Schilling was born in Baden, Germany in 1850. His parents, who left Germany as a result of the Revolution of 1848, brought George Schilling to Ohio in 1852. He was educated in the Ohio public schools and was a cooper by trade. Moving to Chicago in 1865, he joined the advertising department of the Arbeiter Zeitung, a German language newspaper of socialist leanings. His association with the newspaper continued until the 1890’s. Schilling, prominent in the trade union movement of the late 19th century, was a member of the Cooper’s Union and held a high executive position in the Knights of Labor. He was active in the Labor Party movement in 1886, which endorsed John P. Altgeld for a judgeship, a position Altgeld won.

With the election of Altgeld as Governor of Illinois in 1892, Schilling was appointed secretary of the State Board of Labor Commissioners and served in that post until 1897. He compiled its Eighth Biennial Report on Taxation, of which 20,000 extra copies were printed on demand. Schilling was also prominent in the Single-Tax movement. In 1903, he was appointed to the Chicago Board of Local Improvements, serving as its president from 1905 to 1907.

The papers of George A. Schilling consist of .75 linear feet and cover the period 1887 to 1936. The papers have been divided into two series: Letterbooks and Unbound Material. The papers include five bound letterbooks, which span the period 1887 to 1907, correspondence, notes for and drafts of speeches, articles and letters, pamphlets, and miscellaneous items including clippings. The twenty unbound letters cover the period from 1913 to 1936.

The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections:

• Names
  • Schilling, George A., b. 1850
  • Altgeld, John Peter, 1847-1902
  • Socialist Labor Party
  • Socialist Party (U.S.)
  • Knights of Labor
  • United Mine Workers of America
• Subject
  • Labor movement -- United States
  • Haymarket Square Riot, Chicago, Ill., 1886
  • Woman -- Suffrage -- United States