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Chris D. Mensalvas papers and oral history interview, 1935-1974
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Mensalvas, Chris D., -1977
- Title
- Chris D. Mensalvas papers and oral history interview
- Dates
- 1935-1974 (inclusive)19351974
- Quantity
-
.25 cubic feet
1 sound cassette - Collection Number
- 2361 (Accession No. 2361-001)
- Summary
- Labor union official of Seattle, Washington
- 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. The interview and transcript can be accessed online. The original analog tape cannot be played due to preservation concerns.
- Additional Reference Guides
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Between 1910 and 1930, a wave of Filipino immigrants came to the United States. Instead of better opportunities, many encountered discrimination, poor living conditions, and oppressive labor practices. Chris Delarna Mensalvas (1909-1978) immigrated to the United States from the Philippines in 1927. He became an important figure in the Filipino labor movements of the 1940s and '50s, organizing unions and initiating strikes for just working conditions and fair wages for farm and cannery workers.
Between the years 1949 and 1959, Mensalvas was president of the International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union (ILWU) Local 37 in Seattle - the Filipino Alaska cannery workers union. He was publicity director of the local from 1948 to 1949, when it was Local 7 of the Cannery Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union. Mensalvas actively opposed the deportation of Filipinos under the McCarran-Walter Act of 1952. The noted Filipino author and activist Carlos Bulosan and fellow activist Philip Vera Cruz were among his friends. He was an inspiration for later Filipino activists Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes, who consulted him about his labor organizing experiences. Mensalvas died in 1978.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Correspondence, reports, minutes, ephemera, bulletins, yearbook, reports of International Longshoremen & Warehousemen's Union. Local 37, 1935-1968; tape-recorded interview with Mr. Mensalvas conducted by Apolonio Buyagawan, 1974; subject file re Carlos Bulosan, 1948, 1972-73; papers of Everett Gallup Griggs, executive of St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company, 1935-1937.
Besides union matters deportation of some Filipinos under the Walter-McCarran Law is an issue reflected in the papers.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
Listen to the audio recording and view the transcript of this interview on the Libraries' Digital Collections website.
Restrictions on Use
Mensalvas's rights may be quoted and published.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection has been subdivided into three records subgroups depending on creator:
- Records Subgroup I: International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union, Local 37
- Records Subgroup II: Griggs, Everett G. (Re: Boom Men and Rafters Union Local No. 2647
- Records Subgroup III: Chris Mensalvas' Personal Papers
The subgroup International Longshoremen's & Warehousemen's Union, Local 37 has been subdivided into series by format and function:
- Series I: Organizational Features, Undated
- Series II: Incoming Letters, 1948-1959
- Series III: Outgoing Letters, 1948-1959; Undated
- Series IV: Reports, 1954-1969; Undated
- Series V: Bulletins, 1935-1953
- Series VI: Press Releases, 1953-1958
- Series VII: Newsletters, 1957
- Series VIII: Court Papers, 1958
- Series IX: Yearbook, 1952
- Series X: Lists, 1954
- Series XI: Agreements, 1958; Undated
- Series XII: Nominations, 1958-1959
- Series XIII: Writings, Undated
- Series XIV: Convention Credentials, 1953
- Series XV: Petitions, 1955
- Series XVI: Photographs (Photocopies), Undated
- Series XVII: Subject Series, 1954-1968, Undated
- Series XVIII: Ephemera, Undated
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
RECORD SUBGROUP 1: INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN & WAREHOUSEMEN'S UNION, LOCAL 37 , 1935-1969 Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 |
Series I: Organizational
Features
|
Undated |
| 1/2-1/3 |
Series II: Incoming
Letters
|
1952-1962, ; Undated |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/2 | Philippines. Consulate and Embassy |
1953-1954 |
| 1/3 | Miscellaneous A-Z |
1952-1962; Undated |
| 1/4-1/5 |
Series III: Outgoing
Letters
|
1948-1959 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/4 | Chris D. Mensalvas |
1948-1959; Undated |
| 1/5 | Miscellaneous of others A-Z |
1954 |
| 1/6-1/8 |
Series IV:
Reports
|
1953-1969 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/6 | Delegates Reports |
1969 |
| 1/7 | Committee Reports |
1954;; Undated |
| 1/8 | Miscellaneous Reports |
1953-1955 |
| 1/9-1/10 |
Series V:
Bulletins
|
1935-1953 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/9 | "To District Key Men" |
1935 |
| 1/10 | Phillipine Consulate |
1952-1953 |
| 1/11 |
Series VI: Press
Releases
|
1953-1958 |
| 1/12 |
Series VII: Newsletters
|
1957 |
| 1/13 |
Series VIII: Court
Papers
|
1958 |
| 1/14 |
Series IX:
Yearbook
|
1952 |
| 1/15 |
Series X:
Lists
|
1954 |
| 1/16 |
Series XI:
Agreements
|
1958; ; Undated |
| 1/17 |
Series XII:
Nominations
|
1958-1959 |
| 1/18 |
Series XIII:
Writings
|
Undated |
| 1/19 |
Series XIV: Convention
Credentials
|
1953 |
| 1/20 |
Series XV:
Petitions
|
1955 |
| 1/21 |
Series XVI: Photographs
(photocopies)
|
Undated |
| 1/22-1/24 |
Series XVII: Subject
Series
|
1953-1968 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/22 | Ernesto A. Mangaong Trial |
1954-1955;; 1968 |
| 1/23-1/24 | Repeal of the Walter-McCarran Law |
1953-1960; Undated |
| 1/25 |
Series XVIII:
Ephemera
|
Undated |
RECORDS SUBGROUP 2: GRIGGS, EVERETT G. (Re: Boom Men and Rafters Union. Local No. 2647) , 1935-1937 Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 1/26
RECORDS SUBGROUP 3: CHRIS MENSALVAS' PERSONAL PAPERS , 1948-1974 Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 1/27; Tape #413
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/27 |
Series I: Subject
Series
|
1948-1973 ; Undated |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/27 | Carlos Bulosan |
1948;; 1972-1973; Undated |
| Tape #413 |
Series II: Audio Cassette Tape
Interview of Chris Mensalvas by Apolonio K. Buyugawan
|
1974 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Personal Names
- Bulosan, Carlos
- Mensalvas, Chris D., -1977--Archives
Corporate Names
- International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union. Local 37 (Seattle, Wash.)
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Griggs, Everett G (creator)
