Phil Lelli papers, 1933-2004

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Lelli, Phil, 1929-2004
Title
Phil Lelli papers
Dates
1933-2004 (inclusive)
Quantity
10.45 cubic feet (11 boxes and 1 vertical file)
Collection Number
5536 (Accession No. 5536-001)
Summary
Papers of a longshoreman, union leader, and president of the Local # 23, International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union (ILWU)
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.

Material stored offsite; advance notice required for use.

Additional Reference Guides

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Philip Martin Lelli (1929-2004) was a longshoreman, union activist, local philanthropist, and past president of the ILWU Local 23, in Tacoma, Washington.

Born in Tacoma on December 4, 1929, Lelli was raised in the Edgewood Area. His parents, Martin (nicknamed "Barney") and Mary Ballard, ran Lelli's Grocery. He attended Edgemont School (now Edgewood), Fife High School (graduating in 1947), and Pacific Lutheran University. In 1953 he married B. Joann Williams and had 5 sons.

Lelli joined the Tacoma area longshoremen union in September 1956 after spending a few years in the construction industry in various parts of Washington and Alaska. In 1961 he took his first gear locker job at Rothschild Stevedoring, later known at Jones Washington Stevedoring Company, with T. A. "Tiny" Thronson in the Tacoma shop. Lelli was elected president of the ILWU Local 23, a position which he held for 17 inconsecutive years, from 1966-1969, 1971-1975, and 1977-1986. According to one biographical document, he attended his first ILWU Longshore, Shipclerk, and Walking Boss Caucus in 1966. Lelli served on various ILWU committees, including the Coast Negotiating Committee (elected in 1989), and was appointed to the Pacific Coast Safety Committee as a representative of the Washington area. He also served as an ILWU delegate to New Zealand and Australia in 1983.

Lelli's other activities included serving on the Washington State Advisory Council on International Trade and Development from 1983-1985 and serving as an appointed Port of Tacoma commissioner beginning in 1992. He also was a member of the Tacoma Propeller Club and served as president in 1977, the first member from labor to ever hold that office in the national club history.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Papers concerning Lelli's career as a longshoreman, union leader, and president of the Local # 23, International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union (ILWU).

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged in 5 series:

  • International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union (ILWU)
  • Port of Tacoma
  • Propeller Club of America
  • Subject files
  • Personal papers

Acquisition Information

Source: Joann Lelli via Dean Lelli, 2008.

Processing Note

Minimally processed.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union (ILWU)Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Convention
Box/Folder
1/1
Photograph - Pacific Coast District
1941
1/2
Brochures
1965
1/3
Report - Publicity and Education Committee
1965
1/4
Resolutions and Statements of Policy
1965
1/5
Roster of Delegates
1965
1/6
Summarized Minutes
1965
1/7
Address - Louis Goldblatt
1967
1/8
Address - Mark O. Hatfield
1967
1/9
Letters and Messages
1967
1/10
Press Releases
1967
1/11
Recommendations and Amendments
1967
1/12
Reports
1967
1/13
Resolutions and Drafts of Resolutions
1967
1/14
Roster of Delegates
1967
1/15
Rules
1967
1/16
Statement of Policy - Drafts
1967
1/17
Statement of Policy
1967
1/18
Summarized Minutes
1967
1/19
Address - Anatoly Baranovsky and George Oleshkevich
1975
1/20
Address - Joe Morris
1975
1/21
Constitution Committee
1975
1/22
Reports
1975
1/23
Resolutions
1975
1/24
Roster of Delegates
1975
1/25
Statement of Policy
1975
1/26
Summarized Minutes
1975
1/27
Summarized Minutes
1977
1/28
Address - Senator Julian Bond
1981
1/29
Call
1983
1/30
Documents
1983
1/31
Call
1985
1/32
Committee Assignments
1985
1/33
Documents
1985
1/34
Reports
1985
1/35
Resolutions and Statements of Policy
1985
1/36
Roster of Delegates
1985
1/37
Roster of Fraternals
1985
1/38
Rules
1985
1/39
Summarized Minutes
1985
1/40
Address - Jack Henning
1988
1/41
Press Release
1988
1/42
Principles of Autonomy & Jurisdictional Integrity within the AFL-CIO
1988
1/43
Roster of Delegates
1988
1/44
Statements of Policy and Resolution
1988
1/45
Agenda
1991
1/46
Documents
1991
1/47
Reports
1991
1/48
Resolutions and Statement of Policy
1991
1/49
Roster - Constitution Committee
1991
1/50
Roster of Delegates
1991
1/51
Rules
[1991?]
1/52
Summarized Minutes
1991
Longshore, Clerk, and Walking Bosses Caucus
Box/Folder
1/53-70
Misc. Files
1965 April - 1966 July
Box
2
Misc. Files
1966 July - 1973 May
3
Misc. Files
1973 June- 1984 July
4
Misc. Files
1984 July - 1993 March
Box/Folder
5/1-7
Misc. Files
1993 July - 2002 December
5/8-14
Notes
undated
Box/Folder
5/15-36
Pacific Maritime Association
1965 - 2002
5/37-38
Teamsters
1966; 1984
5/39-46
Miscellaneous
Committees
Box/Folder
5/47-48
Coast Area Education Committee
2002-2004
5/49-50
Coast Legislative Action Committee
2002
5/51-53
Coast Pro Rata Committee
1977-1981
6/1-13
Labor Relations Committee, Area and Local
1960-2002
6/14
Longshore Barge Committee
1982-1986
6/15-18
Longshore Safety Negotiating Committee
1985-1999
7/1-2
Longshore Safety Negotiating Committee
1990-1992
7/3-10
Pacific Coast Pensioners Association
1995-2002
Local #23
Box/Folder
7/11
Agreement - Checkers and Supervisors
1956, undated
7/12
Agreement - Working and Dispatching Rules (supplemental)
1959
7/13
Agreement - Working and Dispatching Rules
1967
7/14
Award for Lelli (photocopy)
1985
7/15
Constitution
undated
7/16
Correspondence
1933, 1981-1992, undated
7/17
Correspondence - Bellingham Stevedoring Co.
1966
7/18
Correspondence - Lelli - Outgoing
1978-2002
7/19
Correspondence - Lelli - Outgoing
undated
7/20
Correspondence - Lelli - Incoming
undated
7/21
Correspondence Drafts - Lelli
undated
7/22
Correspondence - Tacoma Joint Labor Relations Committee
1964
7/23
Documents - Centennial
1985-1986
7/24
Documents - Centennial
1986
7/25
Documents - Dispute with Local #52
1971-1975
7/26
Documents - DuPont
undated
7/27
Documents - Political Action Committee
circa 1986
7/28
Documents - President Ronald Reagan's Visit
undated
7/29-30
Documents - Misc.
undated
8/1
Financial Report
1974
8/2
Histories
1989, 1991, undated
8/3
Letter - "The Concerned Committee"
undated
8/4
Member Death Lists
undated
8/5
Member List - "A" men and "B" men
undated
8/6
Membership Roll, 1886-1989
undated
8/7
Memorial - Dave Johnson
undated
8/8
Minutes
1975 December
8/9
Nicknames
undated
8/10-11
Notebooks - Lelli
undated
8/12-13
Resolutions
1966, 1967
8/14-16
Resolutions Submitted
1970, circa 1978, circa 1984
8/17
Rules
1959, circa 1965
8/18
Statements - Phil Lelli
undated
8/19-20
Writings - Phil Lelli
undated
Travel related to ILWU
Box/Folder
8/21
Photographs
undated
8/22
Documents - Misc.
1982, 1989, undated
8/23
Waterfront Industry Tribunal Decisions (New Zealand)
1982
8/24
Brochures, Misc.(New Zealand)
1982
Photograph - New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation
1982
Box/Folder
8/25
Letter of Introduction, Newspaper Clippings (Russia)
1988
8/26
Journal, Photographs, Misc. (Russia)
1988
8/27
Exhibition Guide, Misc. (Italy)
1992
8/28
Publications - China Portex '92
1993
8/29
Publications - Opaeha Nehnha
1985

Port of TacomaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
9/1
Articles of Agreement
undated
9/2
Brochure - Port of Tacoma
circa 1967
9/3
Brochure - Working Waterfront Museum
undated
9/4
Clippings
1982-1986, undated
9/5
Constitution
1975-1978
9/6
Correspondence
1971-1972, 1990-1991
9/7
Data File '92
1992
9/8
Documents - Log Export
1984-1987
9/9
Documents - Puyallup Indian Tribe Settlement
1983-1986
9/10-11
Documents - Misc.
circa 1967-1990s
9/12
Drawings
1986-1987, undated
9/13
Economic Impact Study
1988
9/14-15
Employee Benefits Guide
1991
9/16
Financial Summary
1992
9/17
Financial Report
1992
9/18
Knowing the Waters: Basic Legal Guidelines for Port District Officials
1985
9/19
Memoradum
1974, 1980-1981, 1993
9/20
Memorandum from Scott Ford
1975
9/21
News Bulletin
1974
9/22
On the Waterfront
1987, 1987
9/23
Organizational Flow Chart
1975
9/24
Photographs - Bird's-eye-views
undated
9/25
Photographs
undated
9/26
Photographs - Proposed Sea-Land Terminal
undated
9/27
Photographs - Proposed TOTE Terminal Site
undated
9/28
Photographs - Old Equipment
undated
9/29
Photographs - Snapshots
undated
9/30
Port Commissioner
circa 1980
9/31
Port Commissioner - Supporter address lists
1990-1993
9/32-33
Port Commissioner - Application
1993
9/34
Port Commissioner - Briefing
1992
9/35
Port Commissioner - Robert Earley
circa 1995
9/36
Report - 1991 Washington Ports and Transportation Systems Study
1991
9/37
Report - Port Consolidation
1982
9/38
Study - Sales and Marketing Program
undated

Propeller Club of AmericaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Port of Tacoma Chapter
Box/Folder
10/1
Building Dedication
1988
10/2
Building Development Plans
undated
10/3
Bylaws
undated
10/4-7
Chowdown
1995-2003, undated
10/8
Chowdown - Financial Report
1991
10/9
Chowdown - Clippings
1992
10/10
Chowdown - Programs
undated
10/11
Directories
undated
10/12
Documents - Administrative
undated
10/13
Documents - Misc.
undated
10/14
Guidelines for Port Officers
undated
10/15
Membership Application
undated
10/16
Memoradum
undated
10/17
Minutes
undated
10/18
Newsletters
undated
10/19-20
Photographs
circa 1975-1997, undated
10/21
Ross E. Lelli Scholarship
undated
National
Box/Folder
10/22
Application - Maritime Week Luncheon
10/23
Convention Program
1976
10/24
Convention Registration List
1991

Subject FilesReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Pacific Maritime Association
Box/Folder
10/25
Annual Report
2002
10/26
Booklet (photocopy) - Rothschild International Stevedoring Company Centennial
circa 1958
10/27
Bulletins - PMA UpdateVol 9, nos. 1-5, 7-8
1997
10/28
Clippings
1954-2002
10/29
Datasets, Memos, and Misc. Documents
undated
10/30
Maust Corporation
1987
10/31
Periodical (photocopy) Marine DigestVol. 62, No. 18
10/32
Photograph
undated
10/33
Rothschild Washington Stevedoring Company
undated
Washington State Advisory Council
Box/Folder
10/34-35
Documents
circa 1984

Personal papersReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
10/36
Biographical
undated
10/37
Clippings - about Lelli
undated
10/38
Correspondence - about Lelli career and achievements
1980-2002
10/39
Documents - Relating to Ralph Chaplin
1961-1990
10/40-41
Documents - Harry Bridges Chair at the University of Washington
1990-2003
11/1
Documents - Ernie Tanner Center
1995-1997
11/2
Documents - Misc.
undated
11/3
Drawing - Lelli's Grocery
undated
11/4
Event Invitations and Programs
undated
11/5
Photographs - Event and Places
undated
11/6
Photographs - Portraits
undated
11/7
Photographs - U.S. Army Hospital Ship, "Marigold"
undated
11/8
Photographs - "W.T. Preston"
1981
11/9
Photograph and Documents - "USS Jeremiah O'Brien"
1996
11/10-11
Retirement Party
1992
11/12
Retirement Party - Guest Book
1992
11/13
Writings - B. Joann Lelli
undated
11/14
Writings - Phil Lelli
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Fraternal organizations--Pacific Coast (U.S.)
  • Industrial relations--Washington (State)
  • Stevedores--Labor unions--Washington (State)--Tacoma

Personal Names

  • Lelli, Phil, 1929-2004--Archives

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Labor Archives of Washington (University of Washington) (creator)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)