Vernon R. Stedman Papers, 1933-1972

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Stedman, Vernon R
Title
Vernon R. Stedman Papers
Dates
1933-1972 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.21 cubic feet (2 boxes)
Collection Number
4661 (Accession No. 4661-001)
Summary
Papers of a Seattle labor official and labor historian
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.

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

Vernon R. Stedman (1916-1993) was a National Labor Bureau researcher and labor negotiator for maritime unions. In the 1950s he studied economics at the University of Washington, and conducted research for a dissertation tentatively entitled "Development of Collective Bargaining in the Puget Sound Inland Waterways Industry." The project dealt largely with the history of the Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pacific (IBU), but also to some extent the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA) and the Masters, Mates and Pilots (MMP). In his research he consulted with John M. Fox, who became Business Manager and President of the IBU after also serving with the MMP, and with Clyde W. Deal, who helped form the IBU and who went on to work in the United States Department of Labor's Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Stedman did not complete his dissertation.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Vernon Stedman's papers consist primarily of drafts of dissertation chapters in varying stages of completion, as well as materials which Stedman collected, presumably for use in writing his dissertation. The IBU subgroup contains correspondence between John M. Fox and Clyde W. Deal, as well as a large number of labor agreements and wage scales. The subgroup also contains scattered materials from both MMP and MEBA, and materials that concern more than one union such as jointly-negotiated agreements. The National Labor Bureau subgroup includes records of and exhibits from proceedings on behalf of MEBA, as well as reports and other writings not clearly related to Stedman's dissertation. Personal Papers contains dissertation chapter drafts, fragments and research notes, a transcript of an interview Stedman conducted with Clyde W. Deal in 1955, and notes from an interview with Ralph Goldsmith, also affiliated with the IBU. Also present are Stedman's coursework, and several subject files covering topics which Stedman documented primarily through newspaper clippings. Folders containing dissertation chapters have been kept in original order and often include fragments, notes, revisions and related material. In several of the chapters, the most complete draft as assembled by Stedman is followed by a folder with other drafts, fragments or revisions.

Major correspondents include Clyde W. Deal, John M. Fox and economist Robert J. Lampman.

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

The collection is organized into three subgroups:

  • Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pacific, 1933-1961
  • National Labor Bureau Seattle Office, 1947-1959
  • Personal Papers, 1940-1972

Acquisition Information

Donated by Winifred Stedman in 2003.

Processing Note

Processing completed in 2007 by Janet Polata.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pacific, 1933-1961Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Historical Features
circa 1937
General Correspondence
Box/Folder
1/2
Between John M. Fox and Clyde W. Deal
1940-1951
1/3
Miscellaneous Correspondence
1933-1940
Box/Folder
1/4
Intraorganizational Correspondence
1940-1959
1/5
Reports: President's Report
1936
1/6-10
Agreements and Wage Scales
1947-1961
1/11
Subject File: Disaffiliation with Congress of Industrial Organizations
1947
1/12-15
Speeches and Writings of Others
1940, 1950
1/16
Ephemera
circa 1951
1/17
Clippings
1956

National Labor Bureau Seattle Office., 1947-1959Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/18
Speeches and Writings
undated
Proceedings
Box/Folder
1/19
Arbitration Proceeding between Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association, Local No. 38, and Puget Sound Navigation Company
1948
1/20
Arbitration Proceeding between Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association, Local No. 38, and Puget Sound Navigation Company
Exhibits only.
1949
Box/Folder
1/21
Hearings: Labor-Management Problems of the American Merchant Marine
Before the United States House of Representatives Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries
1955
Reports
Box/Folder
1/22
Report on the Investigation of the Earnings, Property, Operations, Rates, Services and Facilities of the Puget Sound Navigation Company
Prepared by the Accounting Section, Department of Transportation, State of Washington
1947
1/23
Analytical Report on Puget Sound Navigation, Incorporated
Prepared by Dun and Bradstreet
1949
1/24
Waterborne Foreign Statistical Report: Imports and Exports, Port of Seattle
1955
1/25
Federal Responsibility for Medical Care of Seamen (C.J. Simpson, National Labor Bureau)
1954
Subject Files
Box/Folder
1/26
Alaska Canned Salmon Industry
1945, undated
1/27
Seattle Halibut Fleet
1957-1959, undated
Box/Folder
1/28
Negotiations and Agreements
1958
1/29
Notes
1954, undated
1/30
Ephemera
undated

Personal Papers, 1940-1972Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/31
General Correspondence: regarding dissertation
1955-1956
1/32
Interview Transcript: Clyde W. Deal
1955
1/33
Interview Notes: Ralph Goldsmith
1958
Speeches and Writings
Dissertation: "Development of Collective Bargaining in the Puget Sound Inland Waterways Industry" (working title)
Numbers in parentheses are Stedman's chapter numbers.
Box/Folder
1/34
Outlines and Research Notes
undated
1/35
Fragments, Unidentified Page and Table Drafts
undated
1/36
Material for Untitled Chapter (2)
undated
1/37
"Origins of Ferryboatmen's Union of California" (3)
undated
1/38-39
"The Organizing Drive on Puget Sound" (5)
undated
1/40-41
"The Drive for Recognition" (6)
undated
1/42-43
"The NRA [National Recovery Administration] Period" (7)
undated
2/1-2
"Collective Bargaining Begins" (8)
undated
2/3
"The British Columbia Organizing Drive" (8a)
undated
2/4
Untitled Chapter (15)
undated
2/5
Untitled Chapter (16)
undated
Box/Folder
2/6-8
Miscellaneous
undated
Box/Folder
2/9
Speeches and Writings of Others
undated
Subject Files
Box/Folder
2/10
Black Ball Line
1953-1955
2/11
Freight Boats
1954, 1956
2/12
"PSN [Puget Sound Navigation Company] Rates & Feb 4? strike"
1940-1949, 1959-1960
2/13
Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society
1959
2/14
"UMW [United Mine Workers Local] #50 Raid"
1956-1957
2/15
Washington State Ferries
1955-1959, undated
Box/Folder
2/16
Clippings
1960-1961, 1970, 1972

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Labor movement--Research--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Merchant mariners--Labor unions--Research--Pacific Coast (North America)

Personal Names

  • Deal, Clyde W.--Correspondence
  • Fox, John M., 1902-1978--Correspondence
  • Stedman, Vernon R.--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Inland Boatmen's Union of the Pacific
  • International Organization of Masters, Mates, and Pilots
  • National Labor Bureau. Seattle Office

Form or Genre Terms

  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
  • Correspondence
  • Dissertations
  • Drafts (documents)
  • Interviews
  • Transcripts

Other Creators

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

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)