Will Parry papers, approximately 1908-2013

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Parry, Will (Labor activist)
Title
Will Parry papers
Dates
approximately 1908-2013
1977-1981 (bulk)
Quantity
1.79 cubic ft (3 boxes and 1 vertical file)
Collection Number
5316
Summary
Papers of a labor activist in King County, 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, but access to portions of the collection is restricted. Contact Special Collections for details.

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

Will Parry was a labor activist in King County, Washington. From 1977 to 1978, Parry and Ross Rieder, of the Washington State Labor Council, organized King County unions to assist workers in picketing automobile dealerships. The strikes were in reaction to a growing trend among the dealerships to open their shops to non-union work. Parry and Ross paired again to organize the Washington State delegation of union members and supporters for Solidarity Day -- a rally against the Reagan administration initiated by the AFL-CIO Executive Council and held in Washington, D.C., on September 19, 1981.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Contains strike bulletins, clippings, notes, and photographs from the auto trades strike in King County, Washington, 1977-1978. Also contains newsletters, clippings, photographs, and related items about Solidarity Day in 1981, and the United States labor movement's protest against budget cuts in social programs by the Reagan administration. Also contains newsletters, clippings, photographs and correspondence from his early life, work life and travel.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The creator's literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Preferred Citation

Labor Archives of Washington, University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, Will Parry papers, [Accession No.], box number, folder number.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 3 accessions.

  • Accession No. 5316-001, Will Parry papers, 1977-1981
  • Accession No. 5316-002, Will Parry papers, circa 1908-2013
  • Accession No. 5316-003, Will Parry papers, 1971-1978

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 5316-001: Will Parry papers, 1977-1981Return to Top

.21 cubic foot (1 box)

Scope and Content: Contains strike bulletins, clippings, notes, and photographs from the auto trades strike in King County, Washington, 1977-1978. Also contains newsletters, clippings, photographs, and related items about Solidarity Day in 1981, and the United States labor movement's protest against budget cuts in social programs by the Reagan administration. Also contains newsletters, clippings, photographs and correspondence from his early life, work life and travel.

Arrangement: Arranged in multiple series:
  • Auto trades strike
  • Solidarity Day

Restrictions on Access: The papers are open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: The creator's literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Processing Info: Processed by Dan Waters in 2006.

Strikers photo digitized for Web-accessible finding aid housed in Box 1/9. Daniel Waters, 1/25/2006

Acquisition Info: Received from Will Parry via Ross Rieder, October 3, 2001.

Container(s) Description Dates
Auto trades strike
Box/Folder Accession
1/1 5316-001
Fact sheet
1977-1978
1/2 5316-001
Boycotting lists
1977-1978
Strike bulletins
Box/Folder Accession
1/3 5316-001
Reports
1977-1978
1/4 5316-001
The Volunteer Picket
1977-1978
1/5 5316-001
Miscellaneous
1977-1978
Box/Folder Accession
1/6 5316-001
Newspaper: The Scanner
1977-1978
1/7 5316-001
Writing: "Strike Effort Keeps Growing"
1978
1/8 5316-001
Writings of others
1966, 1978
1/9 5316-001
Photographs
Scope and Content: Includes 14 black-and-white and color photographs of picketers and picketing sites. Also includes 2 black-and-white photographs of strike food bank.
1977-1978
1/10 5316-001
Notes
1977-1978
1/11 5316-001
Ephemera
1977-1978
1/12 5316-001
Clippings
1977-1978
Solidarity Day
Box/Folder Accession
1/13 5316-001
Fact sheets
1981
1/14 5316-001
General correspondence
1981
1/15 5316-001
Notices
1981
1/16 5316-001
Calendars
1981
1/17 5316-001
News releases
1981
1/18 5316-001
Lists/rosters
1981
1/19 5316-001
Resolutions
1981
Newsletters
Box/Folder Accession
1/20 5316-001
Jobs & Justice, the Washington State Campaign for Solidarity Day
1981
1/21 5316-001
Miscellaneous
1981
Box/Folder Accession
1/22 5316-001
Speeches and writings of others
1981
1/23 5316-001
Photograph
Scope and Content: 8 x 10-inch black-and-white photograph of a group of Washington State unionists at Solidarity Day, Washington, D.C., in front of a hotel.
1981
1/24 5316-001
Notes
1981
1/25 5316-001
Ephemera
1981
1/26 5316-001
Clippings
1981

Accession No. 5316-002: Will Parry papers, circa 1908-2013Return to Top

1.58 cubic ft (2 boxes)

Scope and Content: Materials documenting Will Parry's life, probably assembled for his 90th birthday celebration in April of 2010. Materials include newsclippings of articles written by Parry, photographs, birth certificates, and material on the Parry family. Records document Parry's activism on behalf of labor rights and progressive political causes. Also included is a 1963 reprint of the June 7, 1889 Seattle PI issue on the Seattle fire.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users, but access to portions of the collection is restricted. Contact Special Collections for details.

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

Acquisition Info: Imogene Williams, partner of Will Parry, 7/1/2014

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Accession
1 5316-002
Personal papers
circa 1908-2013
box:oversize
2 5316-002
Reprint of June 7, 1889 Seattle PI issue
1963

Accession No. 5316-003: Will Parry papers, 1971-1978Return to Top

1 vertical file

Scope and Content: Photographs and letters (mostly photocopies) related to Will Parry. Includes letters from Will Parry, Imogene Williams, copies of photos, and copy of 'Republic of the Penniless' article by Tom Jones Parry.

Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.

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

Acquisition Info: Donated by Will Parry via a number of other people 10 January 2023, original owner unclear.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Demonstrations--Washington (D.C.)
  • Federal aid to human services--United States
  • Labor disputes--Washington (State)--King County
  • Labor leaders--Washington (State)--King County
  • Labor leaders--Washington (State)--King County--Archives
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Picketing--Washington (State)--King County--Photographs
  • Strikes and lockouts--Automobile industry--Washington (State)--King County

Personal Names

  • Parry, Will (Labor activist)--Archives

Other Creators

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