Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters records

  • Creator Names Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Chicago Division.
  • Title Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters records, [manuscript], 1925-1969.
  • Physical description
    • 61 linear ft. (137 boxes)
    • 2 oversize folders.
    • 31 sound recordings.
    • 3 microfilm reels : neg. ; 35 mm. (Copies of most papers 1925-1938 in Boxes 1-5).
    • 3 microfilm reels ; 35 mm. (Reader use).
  • Access and usage restrictions
    • In order to consult boxes 24-30, researchers must sign the Chicago History Museum's "Request for Research Access to Confidential Materials" form.
    • For listening purposes, it is necessary to use a copy, not the original (and to have a listening copy made if one is not available).
  • Collection summary
    • Correspondence, minutes, reports, grievances, scrapbooks, clippings, fliers, newsletters, and publications; topical, financial, and membership files; and sound recordings of speeches, interviews, and conferences that were created by or collected by the Chicago Division office of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first national African American trade union. Includes Milton P. Webster's files of agendas, minutes, correspondence, and reports of the President's committee of Fair Employment Practices Commission (FEPC); A. Philip Randolph correspondence; records of the BSCP Ladies' Auxiliary containing correspondence, financial and membership files, and printed materials, particularly of its president, Mrs. Halena Wilson of Chicago; a scrapbook from the St. Louis Division of the BSCP containing clippings, correspondence, pamphlets, handbills, photographs, and news releases relative to the proposed March on Washington (1940s), FEPC, and other civil rights topics.
    • Topics of the collection include the BSCP's early struggle in Chicago and New York City to attract members and gain formal recognition as the bargaining representative of Pullman porters and maids, and negotiations with the Pullman Company and various railway companies. Topics of the Ladies' Auxiliary files include wage and price controls, poll taxes, and consumer cooperatives sponsored by the Chicago Division of the auxiliary.
  • Acquisition information Gift of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters beginning in 1967.
  • Finding Aids Note Descriptive inventory available online.
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note
    • Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, Chicago Division, photographic archives (1988.0081); the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters photograph collection (1980.0169); the Interviews about the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, by Greg Leroy; and publications cataloged separately.
    • The Newberry Library (Chicago, Ill.) holds Pullman Company records relating to the employment of Pullman porters and cooks.
  • Names
    • Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Chicago Division Archives.
    • Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters Archives.
    • Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Ladies Auxiliary Archives.
    • Pullman Company.
    • Randolph, A. Philip (Asa Philip), 1889-1979.
    • Webster, Milton P., 1887-1965.
    • Brooks, Charles Wayland, 1897-1957.
    • Dickerson, Earl B., 1891-1986.
    • Hayakawa, S. I. (Samuel Ichiyé), 1906-1992.
    • La Guardia, Fiorello H. (Fiorello Henry), 1882-1947.
    • Nestor, Agnes 1880-1948.
    • Owen, Chandler, 1889-1967.
    • Randolph, A. Philip (Asa Philip), 1889-1979.
    • Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962.
    • Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945.
    • Truman, Bess Wallace.
    • Webster, Milton P., 1887-1965.
    • Wilson, Halena.
    • Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.
    • Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Ladies Auxiliary.
    • Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Saint Louis Division.
    • Planned Parenthood Association Chicago Area.
  • Subjects
    • March on Washington Movement (1940's)
    • Pullman porters Labor unions Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Pullman porters Labor unions Missouri Saint Louis 20th century.
    • Pullman porters Labor unions United States 20th century.
    • African American labor union members
    • African American labor union members Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • African Americans Employment 20th century.
    • African American women Illinois Chicago Societies and clubs.
    • Civil rights.
    • Cooperative societies Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Discrimination in employment United States 20th century.
    • Household employees United States 20th century.
    • Porters Labor unions United States 20th century.
    • Railroads Employees Labor unions United States 20th century.
    • United States Economic conditions 20th century.
  • Geographic coverage Chicago (Ill.) Economic conditions 20th century.
  • Genre
    • Audiocassettes. aat
    • Audiotapes. aat
    • Correspondence. aat
    • Mimeograph masters. chs
    • Photographic prints. aat
    • Scrapbooks. aat
    • Stencils (tools) aat
  • Geographic name United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.
  • Finding aid URL Finding aid available online http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/M-B/BSCP-inv.htm