Irene B. Hull papers, 1933-2006

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Hull, Irene B
Title
Irene B. Hull papers
Dates
1933-2006 (inclusive)
Quantity
6 cubic feet
Collection Number
3783
Summary
Papers of a Seattle labor and peace activist regarding his activity/membership in Citizen's Child Care Committee, and Grassroots Assembly of Women, Child Care Committee and personal papers
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.

Additional Reference Guides

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

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Irene Hull is a child care, labor, and peace activist based in Seattle, Washington. She was born in Republic, Kansas in 1913. Hull installed insulation on deck heads and bulk heads in shipyards during World War II and also taught in child care centers in Vancouver, Washington and Seattle. At the end of the war, nurseries funded by the Lanham Act were slated to lose their federal funding and close. In response, Hull joined the Citizens' Child Care Committee to keep the nurseries open for working mothers. The Seattle-based committee, with Hull as secretary and Marijo Lawrence as chair, worked to maintain and expand the state's child care program on a permanent basis. They were successful in persuading the Seattle School Board to keep the Seattle nurseries open for three years after the war.

A peace activist since 1960, Hull was a member of Seattle Women Act for Peace and Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. In 1969 Hull joined the Grassroots Assembly of Women, an organization established in 1968 by Jeanette Rankin. Its concerns were poverty, racism, and war, particularly their effect on women. Hull also became involved with the Assembly's Child Care Committee, which advocated for a child care system modeled on the Lanham Act nurseries of World War II. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Hull made several trips to Cuba and Russia and, from 1942, was a member of the Communist Party in the United States.

Irene Hull was also active in the labor movement. In 1955, Hull went to work at Farwest Printing and Lithograph as a bindery apprentice and joined the International Brotherhood of Bookbinders Local 87. She worked for two and a half years before losing her job for failing a security clearance. In 1971-1975 Hull served as co-secretary of the Seattle Rank and File Labor Committee, which was formed in 1969 and was affiliated with the National Coordinating Committee for Trade Union Action and Democracy (NCCTUAD). NCCTUAD was an organization of union activists who advocated for union solidarity through rank and file action and democracy within their unions, as well as legislative action in their communities. Irene Hull attended the founding convention for the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) in 1974. CLUW was founded to organize affirmative action for women and people of color, and encourage women's involvement in union activities. Hull served for several years as chair of the Puget Sound Chapter of CLUW's publicity committee and as its corresponding secretary in the 1990s . Hull also served as a delegate to the King County Labor Council beginning in 1980, and as a member of the Advisory Council of the Evergreen State College Labor Center in the early 1990s. Seattle Mayor Norm Rice proclaimed September 7, 1996 Irene Hull day in honor of her accomplishments.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Consult the scope and content information for each accession listed below.

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 three accessions:

  • Accession No. 3783-001, Irene B. Hull papers, 1945-1986
  • Accession No. 3783-007, Irene B. Hull papers, 1933-1998
  • Accession No. 3783-008, Irene B. Hull papers, 1934-2006

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 3783-001: Irene B. Hull papers, 1942-1986Return to Top

2.10 cubic feet (5 boxes)
Arrangement: Arranged in 3 series:
  • Citizens' Child Care Committee, 1945-1947
  • Grassroots Assembly of Women, Child Care Committee, 1969-1977
  • Personal Papers, 1942-1986

Scope and Content: Accession includes material pertaining to Hull's activity/membership in Citizen's Child Care Committee, and Grassroots Assembly of Women, Child Care Comittee, plus personal papers. The Citizens' Child Care Committee series spans 1945-1947 and includes correspondence, meeting minutes, writings, reports, clippings and a transcript from a dialogue between Pearl A. Wanamaker and E. L. Linderman, Washington State Superintendant of Public Instruction. The Grassroots Assembly of Women, Child Care Committee series, 1969-1976, includes historical features, correspondence, legislative files, and clippings. This series also includes a subject file regarding the King County Child Care Coordinating Committee. Personal papers reflect Hull's interest in a variety of social issues, including left wing politics (especially communism), labor, women's issues, and the peace movement. The bulk of the accession consists of mailings, ephemera, newsletters and other material relating to these topics, and spans the years 1953-1986.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Irene Hull in 1986 and 1987.

Processing Info: Processing levels vary. Contact repository for details.

Container(s) Description Dates
Citizens' Child Care Committee
1945-1947
Box/Folder Accession
1/1-4 3783-001
Incoming Letters
Scope and Content: Includes Hugh De Lacy and Pearl A. Wanamaker
1945-1947
1/5 3783-001
Outgoing Letters
1945-1947
1/6 3783-001
Minutes
1945-1947
1/7 3783-001
Minutes of Other Organizations
1945-1947
1/8 3783-001
News Releases
1945-1947
1/9 3783-001
Legislation
1945
1/10 3783-001
Resolutions
1945-1946
1/11 3783-001
Reports
1947
1/12 3783-001
Writings
1945-1947
1/13 3783-001
Lists
1946
1/14 3783-001
Notes
undated
1/15 3783-001
Transcript of Dialogue Between Pearl A. Wanamaker and E. L. Linderman Regarding State Funding for Children.
undated
1/16 3783-001
Clippings
1945-1947
Grassroots Assembly of Women, Child Care Committee
1969-1977
Box/Folder Accession
1/17 3783-001
Historical Features
1969
1/18 3783-001
General Correspondence
1969-1976
1/19 3783-001
Mailings
1969-1971
1/20 3783-001
Legislative Files
1969-1977
1/21 3783-001
Statistics
1972
1/22 3783-001
Child Care Glossary
undated
1/23 3783-001
Clippings
1971
1/24 3783-001
Subject File: King County Child Care Coordination Committee
1969-1972
Personal Papers
1942-1986
Box/Folder Accession
1/25 3783-001
Incoming Letters
1971-1985
1/26 3783-001
Outgoing Letters
1974-1984
Subject Files
Box/Folder Accession
1/27 3783-001
Classroom Materials
undated
1/28-29, 2/1-2 3783-001
Communism
1965-1986
2/3-4 3783-001
Conflict in Spanish Speaking Countries
1973-1986
2/5 3783-001
Consumer Publications
1968-1979
2/6 3783-001
Family Violence/Child Abuse
1975-1983
2/7 3783-001
Gardening
1966-1976
2/8 3783-001
Health and Aging
1961-1983
3/1 3783-001
Homeless/Low Income Populations
1982-1983
3/2 3783-001
Humor
1972-1985
3/3 3783-001
Integration and Bussing
1972-1985
3/4 3783-001
Issues of Concern to Women
1970(?)-1985
3/5 3783-001
Henry M. Jackson
1971-1983
3/6-7, 4/1-2 3783-001
Labor
1910-1983
4/3 3783-001
Papers and Articles Pertinent to Children
1972-1983
4/4 3783-001
Peace Movement
1974-1983
4/5-6 3783-001
Race Relations
1964-1986
4/7 3783-001
Seattle Women Act for Peace
1976-1986
5/1 3783-001
Taxes
1960-1985
5/2-4 3783-001
U.S. Government
1963-1983
5/5 3783-001
Washington Department of Social and Health Services
1976-1977
5/6 3783-001
Washington Women's Heritage Project
1980-1985
5/7 3783-001
Women for Racial and Economic Equality
1978-1983
5/8 3783-001
Women in the Labor Force
1953, 1980-1982
5/9 3783-001
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
1975-1986
Box/Folder Accession
5/10-11 3783-001
Clippings
1958-1982
5/10-11 3783-001
Ephemera
1942-1985

Accession No. 3783-007: Irene B. Hull papers, 1933-1998Return to Top

2.48 cubic feet (3 boxes and one oversize folder)
Arrangement: Arranged into 5 series:
  • Personal Papers, 1933-1997
  • Coalition of Labor Union Women, Puget Sound Chapter, 1955-1997
  • Seattle Rank and File Labor Committee, 1970-1982
  • Seattle Women Act for Peace, 1971-1997
  • Evergreen State College Labor Education and Research Center, Advisory Committee, 1987-1996

Scope and Content: This accession spans 1948-1997 and documents Hull's involvement in labor organizations and peace activism. Personal Papers include correspondence with Senators Warren Magnuson and Henry Jackson, congressmen, other politicians, and newspapers editors. Included with her personal papers are writings such as school reports and personal reflections. Hull also collected writings of others, newsletters, clippings, and ephemera. Subject files document her involvement and interest in union coalitions, peace and justice organizations, and several trips she made to Cuba and Russia.

A major series is devoted to the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), with which Hull was involved and served as chair of the Publicity Committee from 1974-1996. The records concern organizing efforts by CLUW and their support for affirmative action for women, and include historical and organizational information such as brochures, correspondence with labor unions, meeting minutes, resolutions and agenda packets from national CLUW conventions, and a small quantity of newsletters, ephemera, and newspaper clippings.

The Seattle Rank and File Labor Committee series includes correspondence with labor unions, elected officials and the National Coordinating Committee for Trade Union Action and Democracy (NCCTUAD), written statements, resolutions, and newsletters and ephemera concerning the committee's lobbying on behalf of legislation favorable to workers and their anti-war positions. Much of the Committee's work was coordinated with NCCTUAD.

The series on Seattle Women Act for Peace includes correspondence and general mailings, a budget report, a petition to the Joint Senate-House Budget Committee to create a human needs budget, newsletters, and ephemera, from 1971-1997.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Irene Hull between 1989 and 1998.

Processing Info: Processed by Shauna Dean in 2006.

Processing Info: Coalition of Labor Union Women, Puget Sound Chapter newsletters, 1986-1997, are catalogued separately in the Pacific Northwest Collection in 2006.

Container(s) Description Dates
Personal Papers
1933-1997
Box/Folder Accession
1/1 3783-007
Biographical Information
undated
1/2-5 3783-007
Incoming Letters
1947-1997, undated
1/6-12 3783-007
Outgoing Letters
1952-1996, undated
1/13-14 3783-007
Reports
1949, 1971-1974, 1987, undated
1/15 3783-007
Writings
1933, 1965, undated
Writings of Others
Box/Folder Accession
1/16 3783-007
Donahue, Peter
1991
1/17-23 3783-007
Miscellaneous
Scope and Content: Includes typescripts (some titled "northwest copy"), flyers and photocopied articles on regional and national topics regarding labor, race relations and activism. Also includes a few poems. Some articles may have been written by Hull, but are unsigned.
1966-1997, undated
Box/Folder Accession
1/24 3783-007
Legislation
1948, 1971-1977, 1995-1996
Subject Files
Box/Folder Accession
1/25 3783-007
Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers
1969-1972
1/26 3783-007
Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
1992-1997
1/27 3783-007
Cuba Trips
1986-1987
1/28 3783-007
Equity in Trades Network
1995-1996
1/29 3783-007
Grassroots Assembly of Women
1969-1972
1/30 3783-007
Jobs with Justice
undated
1/31 3783-007
King County Labor Council of Washington
1991-1998
1/32 3783-007
Labor for Peace
1972
1/33 3783-007
National Committee Against Repressive Legislation
1970-1977, 1991-1992
1/34 3783-007
Peace and Freedom Party
1968
1/35 3783-007
People's Coalition for Peace and Justice
1971-1974
1/36 3783-007
Puget Sound Council of Senior Citizens
1991-1997
1/37 3783-007
Russia Trips
1979-1990
1/38 3783-007
Seattle Bookbinders Union
1971
1/39 3783-007
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
1971, 1997
Box/Folder Accession
1/40 3783-007
Conferences and Conventions
1977, 1996-1997, undated
1/41 3783-007
News Releases
1984-1985, undated
1/42 3783-007
Grievance File Regarding Irene Hull and Craftsman Press
1974
1/43 3783-007
Petitions
1971-1972, 1995-1996, undated
1/44 3783-007
Resolutions
undated
2/1 3783-007
Handbook (Untitled)
undated
2/2-3 3783-007
Publications
1968, 1992-1994, undated
Newsletters
box:oversize Accession
Miscellaneous oversize box 10 3783-007
Free Angela
1971
Miscellaneous oversize box 10 3783-007
Lewis McCord Free Press
1971
Box/Folder
2/4 3783-007
Mac Paps News Bulletin
1973-1977
2/5-8 3783-007
Miscellaneous
Scope and Content: Predominently related to labor.
1944-1997
box:oversize
Miscellaneous oversize box 10 3783-007
Miscellaneous
1971-1973, 1992
Membership Cards
Box/Folder Accession
2/9 3783-007
Communist Party, USA
1988
2/9 3783-007
Hotel and Restaurant Employees and Bartenders International Union
1956
Notes
Box/Folder Accession
2/10 3783-007
Class
undated
2/11 3783-007
Meeting
1974
2/12 3783-007
Miscellaneous
1962, undated
Box/Folder Accession
2/13 3783-007
Certificates
1947, 1965-1996
2/14 3783-007
Programs
1964, 1984-1989
2/15 3783-007
Photographs
Scope and Content: Includes one undated color photograph of Hull picketing with Graphic Arts Local 530, one color photograph of the CLUW convention circa 1970s, four undated photographs (color and black and white) of CLUW protesting South African apartheid, and one photograph (black and white) of confiscated evidence against white supremacists.
undated
Clippings
Box/Folder Accession
2/16 3783-007
Detroit Riots
1967
2/17 3783-007
Regarding: Irene Hull
1963, 1980-1987, undated
2/18-21 3783-007
Miscellaneous
1944-1945, 1968-1997, undated
Ephemera
Box/Folder Accession
2/22 3783-007
Communist Party, USA
1976, 1992-1997, undated
2/23-27 3783-007
Miscellaneous
Scope and Content: Mostly local and national ephemera regarding labor, women's rights and politics.
1936, 1963-1997, undated
Box/Folder Accession
2/28 3783-007
Miscellany
undated
Coalition of Labor Union Women, Puget Sound Chapter
1955-1997
Box/Folder Accession
2/29 3783-007
Historical Information
1974-1995
2/30 3783-007
Organizational Information
1975, 1993
2/31 3783-007
Incoming Letters
1989-1997
2/32 3783-007
Outgoing Letters
1974-1994
2/33 3783-007
Intraorganizational Correspondence
1993-1997
2/34 3783-007
Minutes
1988-1997
2/35 3783-007
Speeches and Writings
1986-1997
2/36 3783-007
Resolutions
1990-1994
2/37 3783-007
Membership Records
1955-1997
2/38-39 3783-007
Newsletters
1988-1997, undated
2/40 3783-007
Conferences and Conventions
1993, 1996
2/41 3783-007
Anniversary Book
1974-1994
2/42 3783-007
Clippings
1993, undated
2/43 3783-007
Ephemera
undated
Seattle Rank and File Labor Committee
1970-1982
Box/Folder Accession
2/44 3783-007
General Correspondence
1970-1982
2/45 3783-007
Interorganizational Correspondence with National Coordinating Committee for Trade Union Action and Democracy
1971-1973
2/46 3783-007
Statements and Writings
1970-1973
2/47 3783-007
Resolutions
undated
2/48 3783-007
Newsletters of Other Labor Committees
1971-1972
2/49 3783-007
Newsletter/Meeting Notices
1971-1973
2/50 3783-007
Ephemera
1972, undated
Seattle Women Act for Peace (SWAP)
1971-1997
Box/Folder Accession
2/51 3783-007
Mailings/Correspondence
1972-1974, 1997
2/52 3783-007
Financial Records
1971
2/53 3783-007
Petition
1990
2/54 3783-007
Newsletters
1971-1974, 1997
2/55 3783-007
Ephemera
1973, undated
Evergreen State College Labor Education and Research Center, Advisory Committee
1987-1996
Box/Folder Accession
2/56 3783-007
General Correspondence
1987-1996, undated
2/57 3783-007
Minutes
1993-1996
3/1 3783-007
Speeches and Writings
1989-1996, undated
3/2 3783-007
Budget
1994-1995
3/3 3783-007
Lists
1992, undated
3/4 3783-007
Conferences and Conventions
1991-1996, undated
3/5-12 3783-007
Notebook
General Notes: Literature distributed by the Labor Center. Contains writings and articles regarding various labor activities.
1991-1996, undated
3/13 3783-007
Newsletters: Labor Center News
1994-1996

Accession No. 3783-008: Irene B. Hull papers, 1934-2006Return to Top

1.44 cubic feet (2 boxes)
Arrangement: Rough sort.

Scope and Content: Correspondence, political and other ephemera, clippings, and various notes and day planners. Notable correspondents include Reps. Edward B. Murray and Jim McDermott, Sens. Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Maria Cantwell, and other civic leaders.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Source: Irene Hull, September 2006

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Child care services--Washington (State)--Citizen participation
  • Day care centers--Washington (State)--Citizen participation
  • Labor unions and communism--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Pacifism--Washington (State)--Citizen participation
  • Peace--Societies, etc
  • Women in the labor movement
  • Women in the labor movement--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Women political activists--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives

Personal Names

  • Hull, Irene B.--Archives
  • Lawrence, Marijo

Corporate Names

  • Evergreen State College. Labor Education & Research Center. Advisory Committee
  • Grassroots Assemby of Women. Child Care Committee
  • National Committee for Trade Union Action and Democracy
  • Seattle Women Act For Peace

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government--20th century
  • Washington (State)--Politics and government--20th century

Form or Genre Terms

  • Agendas (administrative records)
  • Brochures
  • Correspondence
  • Minutes
  • Resolutions
  • Transcripts

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Linderman, E. L (creator)
    • Wanamaker, Pearl Anderson, 1899- (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • Coalition of Labor Union Women (U.S.). Seattle Chapter (creator)
    • University of Washington. University Archives (creator)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)