Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library
5933 6th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98108
Phone: 206-324-1126
URL: http://www.mohai.org
1989.82
Alaska
Fishermen's Union
Alaska Fishermen's
Union Records
1919-1977
3 boxes plus 46 ledger books
12.9 linear feet
Minutes, correspondence and other
materials generated by and of interest to the Alaska Fishermen's
Union
10b.1.4-7 (ledger books)
13b.4.10 (boxes)
VII.a.19 (maps)
Collection materials are
in English.
Historical Note:
The Alaska Fishermen's Union was operational by 1919 and their
headquarters were located in downtown Seattle. Their initial records consist of
shipping lists, which name the vessel, the cannery, the fishing company, the
captain, and the union members on each voyage in a particular fishing season.
Over the years their records grow to include not only minutes and financial
statements but also correspondence and reports related to significant issues in
the fishing industry, including the First, Second and Third United Nations Law
of the Sea (UNCLOS) conferences. Issues at the UNCLOS conferences included the
breadth of the territorial sea, international fishing rights, and protection of
marine resources.
The Alaska Fishermen's Union had branches in Oregon (Portland,
Astoria), Washington (Bellingham), California (Monterey, San Francisco) and
Alaska (Anchorage, Ketchikan) and represented shore-side workers including
deckhands, cooks, pile drivers, dock workers, beach gangs, waiters and
waitresses. Their headquarters were at 2505 1st Ave., Rm. 3, in Seattle for
many years until they merged with the Seafarers International Union in 1997 or
1998. The SIU is headquartered in Piney Point, Maryland, and has a local union
hall in Tacoma.
The collection consists of both bound materials kept in binders, and
loose papers filed and foldered in boxes. The bound materials include shipping
lists on Alaska Fishermen's Union forms, which noted the names and membership
numbers of men who signed on for different fishing companies, canneries and
vessels; delegate lists, which were similar to the shipping lists except that
they were written on fishing company forms; and typed minutes and
correspondence from the local union halls. The minutes and correspondence
include records of the weekly union hall meetings, election rosters, telegrams,
lists of new, retired and deceased members, documents indicating political
involvement in terms of issues relevant to the union, resolutions, and articles
related to conservation and the fishing industry. The bound materials are in
leather-bound or cloth-bound binders, measuring 38cm x 25cm, with two metal
posts and gummed labels for the insertion of documents. In a few cases
documents are bound in brown board binders with a clip mechanism for
binding.
Documents pertaining to the First, Second, and Third Law of the Sea
conferences are included in the boxed materials. Materials here range from
loose papers to stenographer notebooks and brown board binders. There are also
two maps in the collection.
The collection is open to the public by appointment.
The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in
the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research,
publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI
before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to
all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may
require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
The Alaska Fishermen's Union Records, Museum of History &
Industry, Seattle
Donated by Harold M. Holten in 1989.
These materials are part of a donation that also included items of
special interest to the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society. These
documents are cataloged and stored separately by the Puget Sound Maritime
Historical Society at MOHAI.
Accession PS1042.1-.5 in the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society's
collection contains five publications transferred from the Alaska Fishermen's
Union Records. These include four publications of the International North
Pacific Fisheries Commission (1954-1977) and one Coast Guard publication on
safe construction of fishing vessels.
Seattle
(Wash.)
Bellingham
(Wash.)
Portland
(Or.)
Astoria
(Or.)
Monterey
(Calif.)
San
Francisco (Calif.)
Ketchikan
(Alaska)
Anchorage
(Alalcshska)
Labor unions-- Records and
correspondence
Fisheries--Records and
correspondence
Fishing and Canning
Labor
Unions
Alaska
Shipping Lists
Shipping lists contained information on the dates of sailing, the
name of the company, cannery and vessel and a list of the names and membership
numbers of the union members on each particular voyage. Lists were compiled on
official Alaska Fishermen's Union forms.
10a.3.2
1989.82.1
Shipping Lists
1919 April-1920 March
10a.3.2
1989.82.2
Shipping Lists
1921 April-1923 April
10a.3.2
1989.82.3
Shipping Lists
1924 May-1926 June
10a.3.2
1989.82.4
Shipping Lists
1926 April-1929 May
10a.3.2
1989.82.5
Shipping Lists
1927 April-1930 May
10a.3.2
1989.82.6
Shipping Lists
1928 March-1930 May
10a.3.2
1989.82.7
Shipping Lists
1931 May-1936 May
10a.3.3
1898.82.8
Shipping Lists
1932 May-1936 May
10a.3.3
1898.82.9
Shipping Lists
1937 May-1937 Sept.
10a.3.3
1898.82.10
Shipping Lists
1938 May-1939 May
Roll Book and Members Lists
The roll book contains lists of members (arranged in loosely
alphabetical order), their member numbers, and members in bad standing, retired
or deceased.
10a.3.3
1989.82.11
Roll Book and Member's Lists for
1937 and retired members list for 1932-1939
1932-1939
Delegate Reports
Delegate reports are similar to shipping lists but more detailed.
Each page lists the cannery, the company, the season, the superintendent and
the delegate. Each worker's work position, and home city are noted. Additional
information includes cases of specific kinds of salmon packed, number of traps
and seines used, inside-outside fishermen, overtime paid, etc. These volumes
also contain numerous shipping lists. The lists are mostly typed, and are
organized in alphabetical order by the name of the cannery or the fishing
company.
10a.3.3
1989.82.12
Delegate Reports
1940-1943
10a.3.3
1989.82.13
Delegate Reports
1943
10a.3.3
1989.82.14
Delegate Reports
1944-46
10a.3.3
1989.82.15
Delegate Reports
1948
10a.3.3
1989.82.16
Delegate Reports
1954-56
10a.3.3
1989.82.17
Delegate Reports
1957-60
10a.3.3
1989.82.18
Delegate Reports
1961-64
10a.3.3
1989.82.19
Delegate Reports
1971-77
Corporate Minutes and
Correspondence
These binders contain the minutes of weekly meetings and
correspondence of the AFU headquarters in Seattle, as well as union hall
branches in Portland, Astoria, Bellingham, San Francisco, Ketchikan and
Monterey. Correspondence includes election rosters, telegrams, lists of new,
retired and deceased members, and documents concerning political involvement in
terms of issues relevant to the union.
10a.3.3
1989.82.20
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1928 Oct.-1934 Feb.
10a.3.3
1989.82.21
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1929 Feb.-1933 Feb.
10a.3.3
1989.82.22
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1933 Feb.-1935 March
10a.3.4
1989.82.23
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1933 Feb.-1935 Nov.
10a.3.4
1989.82.24
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1935 March-1936 Nov.
10a.3.4
1989.82.25
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1935 March-1937 Feb.
10a.3.4
1989.82.26
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1938 Feb.-1938 Oct.
10a.3.4
1989.82.27
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1940 April-1939 Oct.
10a.3.4
1989.82.28
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1940 Feb.-1940 Nov.
10a.3.4
1989.82.29
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1940 Nov.-1941 April
10a.3.4
1989.82.30
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1941 April-1942 April
10a.3.4
1989.82.31
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1942 April-1944 April
10a.3.4
1989.82.32
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1949 Jan.-1949 Nov.
10a.3.4
1989.82.111
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1950 Jan.-1950 Dec.
10a.3.4
1989.82.33
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1951
10a.3.4
1989.82.34
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1952
10a.3.4
1989.82.35
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1953
10a.3.5
1989.82.36
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1954
10a.3.5
1989.82.37
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1955
10a.3.5
1989.82.38
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1956
10a.3.5
1989.82.39
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1957
10a.3.5
1989.82.40
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1958
10a.3.5
1989.82.41
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1959
10a.3.5
1989.82.42
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1961
10a.3.5
1989.82.43
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1962-1963
10a.3.5
1989.82.44
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1964-1965
10a.3.5
1989.82.45
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1966-1967
10a.3.5
1989.82.46
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1968-1969
10a.3.5
1989.82.47
Corporate minutes and
correspondence
1970-1971
Constitution and By-Laws
This pocket-sized volume, detailing the constitution, procedures
and bylaws of the Alaska Fishermen's Union, was published for the use of the
union's members.
1
1989.82.48
Constitution and By-Laws of the
Alaska Fishermen's Union 12.5 cm. x 7.5 cm.
1972 April
Boxed Items
1
1989.82.49
Correspondence regarding the "Law
of the Sea"
1958-60
1
1989.82.50
Correspondence regarding closure
of the Public Health Service Hospital
1971
1
1989.82.51
Correspondence regarding Pacific
fisheries treaty negotiations
1963
1
1989.82.52
Correspondence regarding the
Conference of Japanese and United States Fishing Unions
1959
1
1989.82.53
Correspondence regarding Alaska
fishing
1950-1960
1
1989.82.54
Correspondence regarding
Washington State fishing legislation
1958-1959
1
1989.82.55
Correspondence regarding national
and international fishing regulations
1962-1976
1
1989.82.56
Correspondence and reports of the
AFU Trial Committee
1950-1951
1
1989.82.57
Miscellaneous correspondence
(including correspondence related to a resolution concerning Blaine Harbor and
a proposed merger with the International Longshoremen's and Warehouser's Union)
1950-1951
1
1989.82.58
Negotiation correspondence
1946-1951
1
1989.82.59
Negotiation correspondence
1952
1
1989.82.60
Negotiation correspondence
1954
1
1989.82.61
Negotiation correspondence
1955-1956
1
1989.82.62
Negotiation correspondence
1960-1965
1
1989.82.63
Termination notices
1951-1953
1
1989.82.64
Pension correspondence and lists
1951-1965
1
1989.82.65
Shipping lists
1951-1952
1
1989.82.66
Shipping lists
1954
1
1989.82.67
Shipping lists
1955
1
1989.82.68
Financial statement
1949 December 29
1
1989.82.69
Financial statement
1950 December 31
1
1989.82.70
Financial statement
1951 December 31
1
1989.82.71
Financial statement
1952 December 31
1
1989.82.72
Financial statement
1953 June 30
1
1989.82.73
Financial statement
1953 December 31
1
1989.82.74
Audit report
1954 December 31
1
1989.82.75
Audit report
1958 December 31
1
1989.82.76
Report on examination (of
financial statements)
1959 December 31
1
1989.82.77
Report on examination (of
financial statements)
1960 December 31
1
1989.82.78
Report on examination (of
financial statements)
1961 December 31
1
1989.82.79
Report on examination (of
financial statements)
1962 December 31
1
1989.82.80
Report on examination (of
financial statements)
1963 December 31
1
1989.82.81
Report on examination of
financial statements
1964 December 31
1
1989.82.82
Report on examination of
financial statements
1965 December 31
1
1989.82.83
Report on examination of
financial statements
1966 December 31
1
1989.82.84
Report on examination of
financial statements
1967 March 31
1
1989.82.85
Report on examination of
financial statements
1967 June 30
1
1989.82.86
Report on examination of
financial statements
1967 September 30
1
1989.82.87
Report on examination of
financial statements
1967 December 31
1
1989.82.88
Report on examination of
financial statements
1968 March 31
1
1989.82.89
Report on examination of
financial statements
1968 September 30
1
1989.82.90
Report on examination of
financial statements
1968 December 31
1
1989.82.91
Report on examination of
financial statements
1969 March 31
1
1989.82.92
Report on examination of
financial statements
1969 June 30
1
1989.82.93
Report on examination of
financial statements
1969 September 30
1
1989.82.94
Report on examination of
financial statements
1969 December 31
1
1989.82.95
Report on examination of
financial statements
1970 March 30
1
1989.82.96
Financial statements
1970 June 30
1
1989.82.97
Financial statements
1970 December 31
1
1989.82.98
Financial statements
1971 June 30
1
1989.82.99
Financial statements
1971 December 30
1
1989.82.100
Financial statements
1972 June 30
1
1989.82.101
Financial statements
1972 December 31
1
1989.82.102
Financial statements
1973 June 30
1
1989.82.103
Financial statements
1974 June 30
1
1989.82.104
Financial statements
1974 December 31
1
1989.82.105
Financial statements
1975 June 30
1
1989.82.106
Minutes -- AFU Astoria
1969-1971
1
1989.82.107
Minutes -- AFU California
1957-1959
1
1989.82.108
Minutes -- AFU California
1969-1974
1
1989.82.109
Minutes -- AFU Bellingham
1948-1949
1
1989.82.110
Minutes -- AFU Bellingham
1957-1959
1
1989.82.112
Minutes -- AFU Portland
1947-1948
1
1989.82.113
Minutes -- AFU Portland
1949
2
1989.82.114
Minutes -- AFU Portland
1950
2
1989.82.115
Minutes -- AFU Portland
1951-1952
2
1989.82.116
Minutes -- AFU Portland
1953-1954
2
1989.82.117
Minutes -- AFU Portland
1955-1956
2
1989.82.118
Minutes -- AFU Portland
1957-1959
2
1989.82.119
Minutes -- AFU Portland
1970
2
1989.82.120
Minutes -- AFU California
1950-1951
2
1989.82.121
Minutes -- AFU California
1947-1950
2
1989.82.122
Minutes -- AFU Alaska
1949-1950
2
1989.82.123
Minutes -- AFU Cannery
1944
2
1989.82.124
Minutes -- AFU Cannery
1946
2
1989.82.125
Minutes -- AFU Cannery
1950
2
1989.82.126A
Minutes -- AFU Cannery
1961-1964
2
1989.82.126B
Minutes -- AFU Cannery
1965-1975
2
1989.82.127
Minutes -- AFU Seattle
1947
2
1989.82.128
Minutes -- AFU Seattle
1948
2
1989.82.129
Minutes -- AFU Seattle
1949
2
1989.82.130
Minutes -- AFU Seattle
1950
2
1989.82.131
Minutes -- AFU Seattle
1951
2
1989.82.132
Minutes -- AFU Seattle
1952
2
1989.82.133
Minutes -- AFU Seattle
1953
2
1989.82.134
Minutes -- AFU Seattle
1954
2
1989.82.135
Minutes -- AFU Seattle
1955
2
1989.82.136
Minutes -- AFU Seattle
1956
2
1989.82.137
Minutes -- AFU Alaska
1954-1957
2
1989.82.138
Minutes -- AFU Bellingham (steno
pad)
1951-1952
2
1989.82.139
Minutes -- AFU Bellingham (steno
pad)
1952-1953
2
1989.82.140
Minutes -- AFU Bellingham (steno
pad)
1954-1955
2
1989.82.141
Minutes -- AFU Bellingham (steno
pad)
1955-1956
2
1989.82.142
Minutes -- AFU Bellingham (steno
pad)
1957
2
1989.82.143
National Marine Fisheries Service
Documents related to Alaska fishing
1973-1977
2
1989.82.144
Miscellaneous Documents related
to Alaska Fishing
1957-1977
2
1989.82.145
1st and 2nd Law of the Sea
Conference documents
1959-1961
3
1989.82.146
3rd Law of the Sea Conference,
multiple sessions
1974-1976
2
1989.82.147
15 articles about Pacific fishing
1959-1974
Maps
VII19
1989.82.148
Areas and species of major
foreign fisheries
1974 June 16
56cm x 78cm
1989.82.149
Pacific Ocean. Washington D.C.
1947
85.5cm x 116cm
Hydrographic Office (with additional information added on
Japanese fishing areas in the north Pacific and areas needing protection for
North American salmon.