Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Alaska Fishermen's Union Records, 1919-1977
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Alaska Fishermen's Union
- Title
- Alaska Fishermen's Union Records
- Dates
- 1919-1977 (inclusive)19191977
- Quantity
- 3 boxes plus 46 ledger books , (12.9 linear feet)
- Collection Number
- 1989.82
- Summary
- Minutes, correspondence and other materials generated by and of interest to the Alaska Fishermen's Union
- Repository
-
Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library
P.O. Box 80816
Seattle, WA
98108
Telephone: 2063241126 x102
library@mohai.org - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public by appointment.
- Languages
- English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Alaska Fishermen's Union was operational by 1919 and their headquarters were located in downtown Seattle. Their initial records consist of shipping lists, which name the vessel, the cannery, the fishing company, the captain, and the union members on each voyage in a particular fishing season. Over the years their records grow to include not only minutes and financial statements but also correspondence and reports related to significant issues in the fishing industry, including the First, Second and Third United Nations Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) conferences. Issues at the UNCLOS conferences included the breadth of the territorial sea, international fishing rights, and protection of marine resources.
The Alaska Fishermen's Union had branches in Oregon (Portland, Astoria), Washington (Bellingham), California (Monterey, San Francisco) and Alaska (Anchorage, Ketchikan) and represented shore-side workers including deckhands, cooks, pile drivers, dock workers, beach gangs, waiters and waitresses. Their headquarters were at 2505 1st Ave., Rm. 3, in Seattle for many years until they merged with the Seafarers International Union in 1997 or 1998. The SIU is headquartered in Piney Point, Maryland, and has a local union hall in Tacoma.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection consists of both bound materials kept in binders, and loose papers filed and foldered in boxes. The bound materials include shipping lists on Alaska Fishermen's Union forms, which noted the names and membership numbers of men who signed on for different fishing companies, canneries and vessels; delegate lists, which were similar to the shipping lists except that they were written on fishing company forms; and typed minutes and correspondence from the local union halls. The minutes and correspondence include records of the weekly union hall meetings, election rosters, telegrams, lists of new, retired and deceased members, documents indicating political involvement in terms of issues relevant to the union, resolutions, and articles related to conservation and the fishing industry. The bound materials are in leather-bound or cloth-bound binders, measuring 38cm x 25cm, with two metal posts and gummed labels for the insertion of documents. In a few cases documents are bound in brown board binders with a clip mechanism for binding.
Documents pertaining to the First, Second, and Third Law of the Sea conferences are included in the boxed materials. Materials here range from loose papers to stenographer notebooks and brown board binders. There are also two maps in the collection.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
The Alaska Fishermen's Union Records, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Location of Collection
10b.1.4-7 (ledger books)Location of Collection
13b.4.10 (boxes)Location of Collection
VII.a.19 (maps)Acquisition Information
Donated by Harold M. Holten in 1989.
Separated Materials
These materials are part of a donation that also included items of special interest to the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society. These documents are cataloged and stored separately by the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society at MOHAI.
Related Materials
Accession PS1042.1-.5 in the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society's collection contains five publications transferred from the Alaska Fishermen's Union Records. These include four publications of the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission (1954-1977) and one Coast Guard publication on safe construction of fishing vessels.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Shipping Lists Return to Top
Shipping lists contained information on the dates of sailing, the name of the company, cannery and vessel and a list of the names and membership numbers of the union members on each particular voyage. Lists were compiled on official Alaska Fishermen's Union forms.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| shelf | ||
| 10a.3.2 | 1989.82.1: Shipping Lists |
1919 April-1920 March |
| 10a.3.2 | 1989.82.2: Shipping Lists |
1921 April-1923 April |
| 10a.3.2 | 1989.82.3: Shipping Lists |
1924 May-1926 June |
| 10a.3.2 | 1989.82.4: Shipping Lists |
1926 April-1929 May |
| 10a.3.2 | 1989.82.5: Shipping Lists |
1927 April-1930 May |
| 10a.3.2 | 1989.82.6: Shipping Lists |
1928 March-1930 May |
| 10a.3.2 | 1989.82.7: Shipping Lists |
1931 May-1936 May |
| 10a.3.3 | 1898.82.8: Shipping Lists |
1932 May-1936 May |
| 10a.3.3 | 1898.82.9: Shipping Lists |
1937 May-1937 Sept. |
| 10a.3.3 | 1898.82.10: Shipping Lists |
1938 May-1939 May |
Roll Book and Members Lists Return to Top
The roll book contains lists of members (arranged in loosely alphabetical order), their member numbers, and members in bad standing, retired or deceased.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| shelf | ||
| 10a.3.3 | 1989.82.11: Roll Book and Member's Lists for
1937 and retired members list for 1932-1939 |
1932-1939 |
Delegate Reports Return to Top
Delegate reports are similar to shipping lists but more detailed. Each page lists the cannery, the company, the season, the superintendent and the delegate. Each worker's work position, and home city are noted. Additional information includes cases of specific kinds of salmon packed, number of traps and seines used, inside-outside fishermen, overtime paid, etc. These volumes also contain numerous shipping lists. The lists are mostly typed, and are organized in alphabetical order by the name of the cannery or the fishing company.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| shelf | ||
| 10a.3.3 | 1989.82.12: Delegate Reports |
1940-1943 |
| 10a.3.3 | 1989.82.13: Delegate Reports |
1943 |
| 10a.3.3 | 1989.82.14: Delegate Reports |
1944-46 |
| 10a.3.3 | 1989.82.15: Delegate Reports |
1948 |
| 10a.3.3 | 1989.82.16: Delegate Reports |
1954-56 |
| 10a.3.3 | 1989.82.17: Delegate Reports |
1957-60 |
| 10a.3.3 | 1989.82.18: Delegate Reports |
1961-64 |
| 10a.3.3 | 1989.82.19: Delegate Reports |
1971-77 |
Corporate Minutes and Correspondence Return to Top
These binders contain the minutes of weekly meetings and correspondence of the AFU headquarters in Seattle, as well as union hall branches in Portland, Astoria, Bellingham, San Francisco, Ketchikan and Monterey. Correspondence includes election rosters, telegrams, lists of new, retired and deceased members, and documents concerning political involvement in terms of issues relevant to the union.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| shelf | ||
| 10a.3.3 | 1989.82.20: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1928 Oct.-1934 Feb. |
| 10a.3.3 | 1989.82.21: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1929 Feb.-1933 Feb. |
| 10a.3.3 | 1989.82.22: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1933 Feb.-1935 March |
| 10a.3.4 | 1989.82.23: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1933 Feb.-1935 Nov. |
| 10a.3.4 | 1989.82.24: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1935 March-1936 Nov. |
| 10a.3.4 | 1989.82.25: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1935 March-1937 Feb. |
| 10a.3.4 | 1989.82.26: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1938 Feb.-1938 Oct. |
| 10a.3.4 | 1989.82.27: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1940 April-1939 Oct. |
| 10a.3.4 | 1989.82.28: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1940 Feb.-1940 Nov. |
| 10a.3.4 | 1989.82.29: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1940 Nov.-1941 April |
| 10a.3.4 | 1989.82.30: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1941 April-1942 April |
| 10a.3.4 | 1989.82.31: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1942 April-1944 April |
| 10a.3.4 | 1989.82.32: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1949 Jan.-1949 Nov. |
| 10a.3.4 | 1989.82.111: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1950 Jan.-1950 Dec. |
| 10a.3.4 | 1989.82.33: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1951 |
| 10a.3.4 | 1989.82.34: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1952 |
| 10a.3.4 | 1989.82.35: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1953 |
| 10a.3.5 | 1989.82.36: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1954 |
| 10a.3.5 | 1989.82.37: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1955 |
| 10a.3.5 | 1989.82.38: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1956 |
| 10a.3.5 | 1989.82.39: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1957 |
| 10a.3.5 | 1989.82.40: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1958 |
| 10a.3.5 | 1989.82.41: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1959 |
| 10a.3.5 | 1989.82.42: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1961 |
| 10a.3.5 | 1989.82.43: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1962-1963 |
| 10a.3.5 | 1989.82.44: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1964-1965 |
| 10a.3.5 | 1989.82.45: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1966-1967 |
| 10a.3.5 | 1989.82.46: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1968-1969 |
| 10a.3.5 | 1989.82.47: Corporate minutes and
correspondence |
1970-1971 |
Constitution and By-Laws Return to Top
This pocket-sized volume, detailing the constitution, procedures and bylaws of the Alaska Fishermen's Union, was published for the use of the union's members.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | 1989.82.48: Constitution and By-Laws of the
Alaska Fishermen's Union 12.5 cm. x 7.5 cm. |
1972 April |
Boxed Items Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | 1989.82.49: Correspondence regarding the "Law
of the Sea" |
1958-60 |
| 1 | 1989.82.50: Correspondence regarding closure
of the Public Health Service Hospital |
1971 |
| 1 | 1989.82.51: Correspondence regarding Pacific
fisheries treaty negotiations |
1963 |
| 1 | 1989.82.52: Correspondence regarding the
Conference of Japanese and United States Fishing Unions |
1959 |
| 1 | 1989.82.53: Correspondence regarding Alaska
fishing |
1950-1960 |
| 1 | 1989.82.54: Correspondence regarding
Washington State fishing legislation |
1958-1959 |
| 1 | 1989.82.55: Correspondence regarding national
and international fishing regulations |
1962-1976 |
| 1 | 1989.82.56: Correspondence and reports of the
AFU Trial Committee |
1950-1951 |
| 1 | 1989.82.57: Miscellaneous correspondence
(including correspondence related to a resolution concerning Blaine Harbor and
a proposed merger with the International Longshoremen's and Warehouser's Union)
|
1950-1951 |
| 1 | 1989.82.58: Negotiation correspondence
|
1946-1951 |
| 1 | 1989.82.59: Negotiation correspondence
|
1952 |
| 1 | 1989.82.60: Negotiation correspondence
|
1954 |
| 1 | 1989.82.61: Negotiation correspondence
|
1955-1956 |
| 1 | 1989.82.62: Negotiation correspondence
|
1960-1965 |
| 1 | 1989.82.63: Termination notices |
1951-1953 |
| 1 | 1989.82.64: Pension correspondence and lists
|
1951-1965 |
| 1 | 1989.82.65: Shipping lists |
1951-1952 |
| 1 | 1989.82.66: Shipping lists |
1954 |
| 1 | 1989.82.67: Shipping lists |
1955 |
| 1 | 1989.82.68: Financial statement |
1949 December 29 |
| 1 | 1989.82.69: Financial statement |
1950 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.70: Financial statement |
1951 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.71: Financial statement |
1952 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.72: Financial statement |
1953 June 30 |
| 1 | 1989.82.73: Financial statement |
1953 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.74: Audit report |
1954 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.75: Audit report |
1958 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.76: Report on examination (of
financial statements) |
1959 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.77: Report on examination (of
financial statements) |
1960 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.78: Report on examination (of
financial statements) |
1961 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.79: Report on examination (of
financial statements) |
1962 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.80: Report on examination (of
financial statements) |
1963 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.81: Report on examination of
financial statements |
1964 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.82: Report on examination of
financial statements |
1965 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.83: Report on examination of
financial statements |
1966 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.84: Report on examination of
financial statements |
1967 March 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.85: Report on examination of
financial statements |
1967 June 30 |
| 1 | 1989.82.86: Report on examination of
financial statements |
1967 September 30 |
| 1 | 1989.82.87: Report on examination of
financial statements |
1967 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.88: Report on examination of
financial statements |
1968 March 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.89: Report on examination of
financial statements |
1968 September 30 |
| 1 | 1989.82.90: Report on examination of
financial statements |
1968 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.91: Report on examination of
financial statements |
1969 March 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.92: Report on examination of
financial statements |
1969 June 30 |
| 1 | 1989.82.93: Report on examination of
financial statements |
1969 September 30 |
| 1 | 1989.82.94: Report on examination of
financial statements |
1969 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.95: Report on examination of
financial statements |
1970 March 30 |
| 1 | 1989.82.96: Financial statements |
1970 June 30 |
| 1 | 1989.82.97: Financial statements |
1970 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.98: Financial statements |
1971 June 30 |
| 1 | 1989.82.99: Financial statements |
1971 December 30 |
| 1 | 1989.82.100: Financial statements |
1972 June 30 |
| 1 | 1989.82.101: Financial statements |
1972 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.102: Financial statements |
1973 June 30 |
| 1 | 1989.82.103: Financial statements |
1974 June 30 |
| 1 | 1989.82.104: Financial statements |
1974 December 31 |
| 1 | 1989.82.105: Financial statements |
1975 June 30 |
| 1 | 1989.82.106: Minutes -- AFU Astoria
|
1969-1971 |
| 1 | 1989.82.107: Minutes -- AFU California
|
1957-1959 |
| 1 | 1989.82.108: Minutes -- AFU California
|
1969-1974 |
| 1 | 1989.82.109: Minutes -- AFU Bellingham
|
1948-1949 |
| 1 | 1989.82.110: Minutes -- AFU Bellingham
|
1957-1959 |
| 1 | 1989.82.112: Minutes -- AFU Portland
|
1947-1948 |
| 1 | 1989.82.113: Minutes -- AFU Portland
|
1949 |
| 2 | 1989.82.114: Minutes -- AFU Portland
|
1950 |
| 2 | 1989.82.115: Minutes -- AFU Portland
|
1951-1952 |
| 2 | 1989.82.116: Minutes -- AFU Portland
|
1953-1954 |
| 2 | 1989.82.117: Minutes -- AFU Portland
|
1955-1956 |
| 2 | 1989.82.118: Minutes -- AFU Portland
|
1957-1959 |
| 2 | 1989.82.119: Minutes -- AFU Portland
|
1970 |
| 2 | 1989.82.120: Minutes -- AFU California
|
1950-1951 |
| 2 | 1989.82.121: Minutes -- AFU California
|
1947-1950 |
| 2 | 1989.82.122: Minutes -- AFU Alaska
|
1949-1950 |
| 2 | 1989.82.123: Minutes -- AFU Cannery
|
1944 |
| 2 | 1989.82.124: Minutes -- AFU Cannery
|
1946 |
| 2 | 1989.82.125: Minutes -- AFU Cannery
|
1950 |
| 2 | 1989.82.126A: Minutes -- AFU Cannery
|
1961-1964 |
| 2 | 1989.82.126B: Minutes -- AFU Cannery
|
1965-1975 |
| 2 | 1989.82.127: Minutes -- AFU Seattle
|
1947 |
| 2 | 1989.82.128: Minutes -- AFU Seattle
|
1948 |
| 2 | 1989.82.129: Minutes -- AFU Seattle
|
1949 |
| 2 | 1989.82.130: Minutes -- AFU Seattle
|
1950 |
| 2 | 1989.82.131: Minutes -- AFU Seattle
|
1951 |
| 2 | 1989.82.132: Minutes -- AFU Seattle
|
1952 |
| 2 | 1989.82.133: Minutes -- AFU Seattle
|
1953 |
| 2 | 1989.82.134: Minutes -- AFU Seattle
|
1954 |
| 2 | 1989.82.135: Minutes -- AFU Seattle
|
1955 |
| 2 | 1989.82.136: Minutes -- AFU Seattle
|
1956 |
| 2 | 1989.82.137: Minutes -- AFU Alaska
|
1954-1957 |
| 2 | 1989.82.138: Minutes -- AFU Bellingham (steno
pad) |
1951-1952 |
| 2 | 1989.82.139: Minutes -- AFU Bellingham (steno
pad) |
1952-1953 |
| 2 | 1989.82.140: Minutes -- AFU Bellingham (steno
pad) |
1954-1955 |
| 2 | 1989.82.141: Minutes -- AFU Bellingham (steno
pad) |
1955-1956 |
| 2 | 1989.82.142: Minutes -- AFU Bellingham (steno
pad) |
1957 |
| 2 | 1989.82.143: National Marine Fisheries Service
Documents related to Alaska fishing |
1973-1977 |
| 2 | 1989.82.144: Miscellaneous Documents related
to Alaska Fishing |
1957-1977 |
| 2 | 1989.82.145: 1st and 2nd Law of the Sea
Conference documents |
1959-1961 |
| 3 | 1989.82.146: 3rd Law of the Sea Conference,
multiple sessions |
1974-1976 |
| 2 | 1989.82.147: 15 articles about Pacific fishing
|
1959-1974 |
Maps Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| drawer | ||
| VII19 | 1989.82.148: Areas and species of major
foreign fisheries
56cm x 78cm
|
1974 June 16 |
1989.82.149: Pacific Ocean. Washington D.C.
85.5cm x 116cm
Hydrographic Office (with additional information added on
Japanese fishing areas in the north Pacific and areas needing protection for
North American salmon.
|
1947 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Fisheries--Records and correspondence
- Labor unions-- Records and correspondence
Geographical Names
- Anchorage (Alalcshska)
- Astoria (Or.)
- Bellingham (Wash.)
- Ketchikan (Alaska)
- Monterey (Calif.)
- Portland (Or.)
- San Francisco (Calif.)
- Seattle (Wash.)
Finding aid prepared by Sheri
Boggs
2006
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
