Musicians’ Association of Seattle, American Federation of Musicians Local 76-493 records, 1890-2010

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Musicians' Association of Seattle
Title
Musicians’ Association of Seattle, American Federation of Musicians Local 76-493 records
Dates
1890-2010 (inclusive)
1960-1990 (bulk)
Quantity
5.91 cubic feet (6 boxes)
Collection Number
5685 (Accession No. 5685-001)
Summary
Records of Musicians’ Association of Seattle, American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 76-493; AFM Local 76; AFM Local 493; AFM Local 117; AFM Local 184; AFM Local 124; AFM Local 236; AFM Local 451; and AFM Local 461
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users, but access to portions of the collection is restricted. Contact Special Collections for details.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Musicians’ Association of Seattle, American Federation of Musicians Local 76-493 is a labor union that represents musicians in Seattle; Vashon Island; Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Mason, Island, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Thurston, and Whatcom counties; and parts of Pacific County. Local 76-493 has been a labor organization since 1890 and is led by elected officers and an elected board of directors.

Musicians’ unions began in Seattle in 1890 with the creation of the Seattle chapter of the Musicians Mutual Protective Union (MMPU) Local 76. MMPU Local 76 reorganized under the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 76 in 1898 and represented white musicians. Non-white musicians were barred from joining AFM Local 76 so they formed a separate union, AFM Local 458. Tension between the two unions resulted in the international union revoking Local 458’s charter in April of 1924. However, Black and other musicians of color were able to charter a replacement union, Local 493, later that year. In 1958, Local 76 and Local 493 were amalgamated into Local 76, ending the racial segregation of musicians’ unions in Seattle. In 1994 the local’s name was changed to Local 76-493.

Previously distinct AFM locals in Western Washington became amalgamated under the jurisdiction of Local 76-493 between 1980 and 2010 including AFM Local 117, Tacoma; AFM Local 184, Everett; AFM Local 124, Olympia; AFM Local 236, Aberdeen; AFM Local 451, Bellingham; and AFM Local 461, Mount Baker/Anacortes.

Sources:

Blecha, Peter. "AFM Local 493, Seattle's 'Negro Musicians' Union,' Holds Big Benefit Bash on May 29, 1951," February 20, 2013. http://www.historylink.org/File/10330.

Musicians’ Association of Seattle, American Federation of Musicians Local 76-493. "About Us." Musicians' Association of Seattle, February 28, 2017. https://local76-493.org/about-us/.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Materials include meeting minutes, financial records, bylaws, bylaws amendments, resolutions, reports, correspondence, membership applications, attendance lists, essays, and newsletters documenting the activities of the Musicians’ Association of Seattle, American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 76-493, AFM Local 76, and AFM Local 493 in Seattle, Washington; AFM Local 117 in Tacoma, Washington; and AFM Local 184 and Snohomish County Musicians Club in Everett, Washington. Also included to a lesser extent are materials relating to the activities of AFM Local 124 in Olympia, Washington; AFM Local 236 in Aberdeen, Washington; AFM Local 451 in Bellingham, Washington; and AFM Local 461 in Mount Baker/Anacortes, Washington.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

Forms part of the Labor Archives of Washington.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The creators' literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into 7 series:

  • SERIES 1: MUSICIANS' ASSOCIATION OF SEATTLE, AFM LOCAL 76-493; AFM LOCAL 76, SEATTLE; AND AFM LOCAL 493, SEATTLE RECORDS, 1890-1891, 1919-1990
  • SERIES 2: AFM LOCAL 117, TACOMA, WASHINGTON RECORDS, 1941-1996, undated
  • SERIES 3: AFM LOCAL 184, EVERETT, WASHINGTON RECORDS, 1902-1991
  • SERIES 4: AFM LOCAL 124, OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON RECORDS, 1941-1983
  • SERIES 5: AFM LOCAL 236, ABERDEEN, WASHINGTON RECORDS, 1993-1994
  • SERIES 6: AFM LOCAL 451, BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON RECORDS, 1950-1981
  • SERIES 7: AFM LOCAL 461, MOUNT BAKER/ANACORTES, WASHINGTON RECORDS, 1992-2010

Acquisition Information

Donated by Motter Snell, President of the Musicians’ Association of Seattle, 2012 February 10.

Processing Note

Inventorying and initial rehousing of this collection was done in 2012 by Rachael Black, who also created a preliminary intellectual arrangement. Hannah Robinson changed the title from Musicians' Association of Seattle records to Musicians' Association of Seattle, American Federation of Musicians Local 76-493 records; opened access to many microfilm reels after examining for personally identifiable information; and enhanced finding aid to meet DACS requirements. Revised intellectual subdivisions and a revised arrangement were created in consultation with Conor Casey, who made some revision and corrections to the finding aid.

Related Materials

The Musicians' Association of Seattle website was regularly captured by the Internet Archive Wayback Machine from 2014-2019. The snapshots can be viewed here: https://wayback.archive-it.org/3988/*/http://www.local76-493.org/

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

SERIES 1:  MUSICIANS’ ASSOCIATION OF SEATTLE, AFM LOCAL 76-493; AFM LOCAL 76, SEATTLE; AND AFM LOCAL 493, SEATTLE RECORDS, 1890-1891, 1919-1990Return to Top

0.46 cubic feet (1 box, including 29 microfilm reels)

Materials include board meeting minutes, financial records, and membership applications documenting the activities of the American Federation of Musicians Local 76-493, American Federation of Musicians Local 76, and American Federation of Musicians Local 493 in Seattle, Washington.

Some materials in this series are restricted due to the presence of personally identifiable information.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
6
Board meeting minutes
8 microfilm reels
1890-1891, 1919-1977
6
Financial records: quarterly dues payments
18 microfilm reels
1925-1953
6
Membership cards and payment records
2 microfilm reels
Restricted due to the presence of personally identifiable information.
approximately 1971-1990
6
New member applications and transfer applications
1 microfilm reel
Restricted due to the presence of personally identifiable information.
1977-1978

SERIES 2:  AFM LOCAL 117, TACOMA, WASHINGTON RECORDS, 1941-1996, undatedReturn to Top

1.51 cubic feet (1 box and 1 shared box)

Materials include Executive Board meeting minutes, bylaws, correspondence, financial records, and reports documenting the activities of the American Federation of Musicians Local 117 in Tacoma, Washington.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1-32
Executive Board minutes
1941-1993
1/32-33
Bylaws and bylaws revisions
1990, undated
1/35
Correspondence regarding internal financial audits
1985-1990
1/36
Per capita dues reports, initiation fee reports, union officer records
1990-1995
1/37-47
Financial register of daily receipts and disbursements
1958-1968
1/48-51
Check register
1986-1995
2/1-8
Monthly transaction and balance sheets
1989-1996
2/9
Financial records including tax reports and tax forms
1988-1993
2/10
Labor organization annual reports, non profit corporation annual reports, and Pierce County Assessor affidavit
1990-1996
2/11
Membership initiation fee reports
1994-1996

SERIES 3:  AFM LOCAL 184, EVERETT, WASHINGTON RECORDS, 1902-1991,   (bulk 1960-1991) Return to Top

3.74 cubic feet (2 boxes and 1 shared box)

Materials include meeting minutes, correspondence, financial records, reports, and newsletters documenting the activities of the American Federation of Musicians Local 184 in Everett, Washington. Also included are articles of incorporation, bylaws, meeting minutes, and financial records of the Snohomish County Musicians Club.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/1
Quarterly payroll reports, tax forms, and budget notes
1972-1983
3/2
Correspondence with IRS
1990-1991
3
Meeting minutes books
8 items
1902-1983
3
Snohomish County Musicians Club meeting minutes book
1966
3
Cash receipts ledgers
2 items
1955-1968
4/1
Correspondence with IRS regarding tax return discrepancies and tax return forms
1988-1989
4/2
Correspondence with IRS regarding tax return discrepancies, tax return forms, and correspondence with Washington State Employment Security Office
1990
4/3
Meeting minutes and newsletters
1982-1989
4/4
Snohomish County Musicians Club articles of incorporation and bylaws
1966-1977
4/5
Snohomish County Musicians Club meeting minutes
1971-1986
4/6
Appraisal of union building
30621
4/7-10
Newsletters
1965-1986
4/11-23
Check registers
1960-1984
4/24
Snohomish County Musicians Club check register
1966-1986
4/25
Financial records
1976-1981
5/1-18
Financial records
1967-1988

SERIES 4:  AFM LOCAL 124, OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON RECORDS, 1941-1983Return to Top

0.1 cubic feet (3 files)

Materials include meeting minutes, bylaws amendments, and financial records documenting the activities of the American Federation of Musicians Local 124 in Olympia, Washington.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/12
Meeting minutes and bylaws amendments
1941-1968
2/13
Quarterly tax forms
1977-1983
2/14
Income and expense reports
1981-1983

SERIES 5:  AFM LOCAL 236, ABERDEEN, WASHINGTON RECORDS, 1993-1994Return to Top

0.1 cubic feet (1 file)

Materials include notes and a resolution documenting the activities of the American Federation of Musicians Local 236 in Aberdeen, Washington.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/15
Notes and resolution regarding merger with AFM Local 76, Seattle, Washington
1993-1994

SERIES 6:  AFM LOCAL 451, BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON RECORDS, 1950-1981Return to Top

0.1 cubic feet (4 files)

Materials include meeting minutes, correspondence, attendance lists, and essays documenting the activities of the American Federation of Musicians Local 451 in Bellingham.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/26-27
Meeting minutes
1962-1981
4/28
Roll call list for officers and guest lists from meetings
1964-1972
4/34
Essay about AFM local 451 history, meeting notes, and correspondence
1950-1969

SERIES 7:  AFM LOCAL 461, MOUNT BAKER/ANACORTES, WASHINGTON RECORDS, 1992-2010Return to Top

0.2 cubic feet (5 files)

Materials include meeting minutes, financial records, correspondence, and attendance lists documenting the activities of the American Federation of Musicians Local 461 in Mount Baker/Anacortes, Washington.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/29
Financial reports
2000-2010
4/30
Correspondence and roster
2004-2010
4/31-33
Meeting minutes
1992-2010

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Musicians--Labor unions--Washington (State)
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Corporate Names

  • American Federation of Musicians. Union Local 493 (Seattle, Wash.)--Archives
  • Musicians' Association of Seattle--Archives

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • American Federation of Musicians. Union Local 493 (Seattle, Wash.) (creator)
    • Labor Archives of Washington (University of Washington) (creator)