John Leonard Miller papers and oral history interview, 1923-1986

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Miller, J. L. (John Leonard)
Title
John Leonard Miller papers and oral history interview
Dates
1923-1986 (inclusive)
Quantity
4.11 cubic feet (7 boxes plus 2 sound cassettes)
Collection Number
2240
Summary
Political activist, labor movement leader
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.

Some material stored offsite; advance notice required for use.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

John (Jack) Leonard Miller was born on November 3, 1889 in Dayton, Kentucky. At 12 he left home and traveled around the country hoboing and taking odd jobs. He worked as a coal miner in Danville, Virginia and a harvester in the Midwest. Because of his interest in worker's rights, Miller joined the United Mine Workers while in Virginia. He joined the Socialist Party while he was in Canada and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) in 1916. He moved to Seattle in early 1916 and was on board the Verona during the Everett Massacre of November 1916. He married Violet Wilson in 1924. After settling down Miller had a number of jobs and began writing. He continued to rally for workers rights and upon his retirement took up lobbying for fair treatment of senior citizens. In addition, he gave lectures and interviews regarding the Everett Massacre, and wrote short stories. He died at age 96 in 1986 of a heart ailment. He was the last living survivor of the Everett Massacre.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Oral history interview, biographical features, correspondence, financial records, writings, newsletters, clippings, ephemera, manuscripts. Most of the material concerns the Everett Massacre and Industrial Workers of the World.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Consult the restrictions governing reproduction and use for each of the accessions listed below.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 5 accessions.

  • Accession No. 2240-001, John Leonard Miller oral history interview, 1974
  • Accession No. 2240-002, John Leonard Miller papers, 1982
  • Accession No. 2240-003, John Leonard Miller papers, 1923-1986
  • Accession No. 2240-004, John Leonard Miller typescript,
  • Accession No. 2240-005, John Leonard Miller papers, 1953-1975

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 2240-001: John Leonard Miller oral history interview, 1974Return to Top

2 sound cassettes (80 minutes)

Scope and Content: Tape recorded interview conducted by Richard Berner on 11 March 1974, covering the years of his youth through 1918.

Interview concerns his youth and his activities in the Midwest and Canada as a United Mine Workers organizer and a member of the Socialist Party, and in Washington as a member of the Industrial Workers of the World. The interview focuses on the Everett Massacre.

Digital Content/Other Formats: Listen to the audio recording of this interview on the Libraries Digital Collections site.

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 John Leonard Miller, 3/11/1974.

Accession No. 2240-002: John Leonard Miller papers, 1982Return to Top

3 pages

Scope and Content: Notes from interview conducted by Meta Buttnick in 1982.

Notes are about the IWW street demonstrations and speeches in Everett by Jewish Wobblies, Oct and Nov 1916.

Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Meta Buttnick, 10/1/1982.

Accession No. 2240-003: John Leonard Miller papers, 1923-1986Return to Top

3.33 cubic feet (5 boxes)

Scope and Content: Biographical features, correspondence, financial records, writings, newsletters, clippings, ephemera.

The bulk of this accession is amateur creative writings, but Box 1 does contain "The Everett Massacre as Seen By Its Last Survivor". A few other autobiographical pieces are present.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.

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

Acquisition Info: Donated by Nylene Schoellhorn, 10/7/1986.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Accession
1 2240-003
Biographical Features
1980-1986
1 2240-003
Correspondence
1923-1986
1 2240-003
Financial Records
1970-1975
1-4 2240-003
Writings of Miller including "The Everett Massacre As Seen By Its Last Survivor," autobiographical pieces, short stories, and poems
approximately 1920-1986
4 2240-003
Writings of Others
1974-1983
4 2240-003
Legislation
1976
4 2240-003
Journals/Appointment Books
1973-1980
4 2240-003
Newsletters
1964-1986
4 2240-003
Publications
1898-1976
4-5 2240-003
Clippings
approximately 1950-1986
5 2240-003
Ephemera
1961-1986
5 2240-003
Subject Series
1976
5 2240-003
Columbia Club, Seattle
1972-1975
5 2240-003
Elder Citizens Coalition of Washington, King County Unit
1973-1976
5 2240-003
U.S. White House Conference on Aging, 1981
1980-1981

Accession No. 2240-004: John Leonard Miller typescript, Return to Top

.42 cubic foot (1 box)

Scope and Content: Typescript, mainly of a novel; undated

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Nylene Schoellhorn, 9/1/1994.

Accession No. 2240-005: John Leonard Miller papers, 1953-1975Return to Top

0.36 cubic feet (1 letter sized document case)

Scope and Content: Manuscripts and reminiscences of John "Jack" Miller's early life, as well as a topical manuscript on "The Hobo" and a variant title: "The North American Hobo." Includes accounts relating to Miller's members in the Industrial Workers of the World and participation in the Everett Massacre of 1916.

Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Jeremy Egolf, who Miller had given the collection to. 2017-09-13

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder Accession
1/1 2240-005
You & How You Came To Be
08/17/1953
1/2 2240-005
Journal to Nylene Winette Schoellhorn
08/17/1953
1/3 2240-005
Memories Not Memoirs
02/26/1984
1/4 2240-005
Hobo Defined
1953-1975
1/5 2240-005
Making Of Hobo
1953-1975
1/6 2240-005
The North American Hobo
1953-1975
1/7 2240-005
We Never Forget
1953-1975
1/8 2240-005
Correspondence
1973-1975
1/9 2240-005
Misc. Writings
1953-1975
1/10 2240-005
Family History
1953-1975

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Coal miners--Labor unions
  • Everett Massacre, Everett, Wash., 1916
  • Labor movement--Washington (State)
  • Labor union members--Washington (State)
  • Labor unions--Washington (State)
  • Labor--Washington (State)
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Miller, J. L. (John Leonard)--Archives
  • Miller, J. L. (John Leonard)--Interviews

Corporate Names

  • Industrial Workers of the World
  • Socialist Party (U.S.)

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Labor Archives of Washington (University of Washington) (creator)
    • Labor Archives of Washington (University of Washington),   host institution (creator)
    • White House Conference on Aging, State of Washington (1981 : Yakima) (creator)