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John H. Eyer papers, 1930-1986

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Eyer, John H.,  -1986
Title
John H. Eyer papers
Dates
1930-1986 (inclusive)
1950-1974 (bulk)
Quantity
18.45 cubic feet (17 boxes) plus 1 oversize folder
Collection Number
3932
Summary
Papers of John H. Eyer, organizer, international representative, and training specialist for the International Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill Workers from circa 1951-1964 and International Representative and Job Analysis Program Chair of the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers beginning in 1964.
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

Collection is open for research but records stored offsite; advance notice is required for use.

Request at UW

Languages
English
Sponsor
Full processing supported by the Labor Archives Fund and the Labor Archives of Washington State Budget
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Biographical Note

Professional:

John H. Eyer (1906-1986) was an organizer, international representative and training specialist based in Portland, Oregon, for the International Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill Workers (IBPSandPMW) from about 1951-1964. Eyer became training specialist in 1956 which emerged into a permanent position as Representative of the International’s West Coast Research and Education Department in 1957, traveling frequently to locals across the West Coast. Part of this work also included the performance of job analyses, evaluating wages and contracts of locals within the union. At this time, he became a confidant of Research and Education head, George W. Brooks, who figured prominently in the internal campaign for reform, and whose forced resignation in 1961 precipitated the formation of the Rank and File Movement for Democratic Action (RFMDA). An organization created by dissatisfied members of the International, the RFMDA had participation from members of paper worker locals across the United States and even parts of Canada. This reform movement was the catalyst for the formation of new union, the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers (AWPPW) in 1964. Along with many members in favor of the reform, John Eyer moved over to the rebel union, AWPPW, becoming an International Representative and chairing its Job Analysis Program. He also served as General Vice President of the AWPPW in the late 1960s. In addition to union involvement, he was also active in the City Club of Portland and served on the Executive Boards of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon and the World Without War Council of Portland.

Personal:

John Howard Eyer was born August 28, 1906 to Mildred Neal and Wilson Eyer. John also had an older brother named Lowell. In June 1930, he married Alice Meisel. John and Alice gave birth to daughter Janet Helen Eyer, who later gave birth to his granddaughter, Susan. Alice Eyer passed away in 1969. John Eyer married again sometime in the 1970s to Rosa Millo, Recording Secretary of AWPPW Local 644 in Everett, Washington and Secretary-Treasurer of the AWPPW Northern Washington and Alaska Area Council. John Eyer passed away in 1986.

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Content Description

Correspondence, negotiation files, agreements, subject files, newsletters, court papers, and other material, relating to Eyer's activities as international representative of International Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite, and Paper Mill Workers, based in Portland, Or., organizer at mills in the Pacific Northwest during the 1950s, and his later work in the union's Research and Education Dept., where he was in charge on the West Coast. Papers also document the reform movement in the union, including the controversy over the forced resignation of George W. Brooks, head of Research and Education Dept., 1961, resulting in formation of Rank and File Movement for Democratic Action within the union, revolt of West Coast locals and formation of West Coast Pulp and Paper Workers, 1964, in which Eyer served as general vice-president from 1965-1968. Includes files of Burt D. Wells, secretary/treasurer of Rank and File Movement for Democratic Action, and other leaders. Major correspondent is John P. Burke.

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Other Descriptive Information

Forms part of the Labor Archives of Washington.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

Labor Archives of Washington, University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, John H. Eyer papers, 3932-001 [or 002], box number, folder number.

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Organized into 2 accessions.

  • Accession No. 3932-001, John H. Eyer papers, 1930-1986
  • Accession No. 3932-002, John H. Eyer papers, 1967-1969

Processing Note

Processed by Assistant Labor Archivist Crystal Rodgers.

Processing completed in March 2018. Both accessions of the collection were rehoused, including refoldering and reboxing. Preservation issues were addressed, including preservation photocopies made of records printed on thermofax and other vulnerable copy paper as well as several documents showing signs of dormant mold from water damage, rusty fasteners removed and replaced with plasticlips, photographs sleeved, interleaving of acid free paper between news clippings and surrounding documents, occasional weeding of duplication unless kept to maintain context, and folders arranged into series and subseries physically and intellectually of the first accession. See the separated material note for information about separation of 2 groupings of materials in the first accession.

Separated Materials

Material Described Separately:

Due to the following collections' distinctiveness as bodies of records belonging to Burt D. Wells and Rosa M. Eyer respectively, and the materials' historical significance, these collections were separated from the first accession of the John H. Eyer papers during processing in December 2017.

Related Materials

Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers records (Collection No. 2052)

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 


2007 (Last modified: 12/7/2020)

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