The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) was a radical labor organization founded in Chicago in 1905 that was most active between the turn of the century and the 1930s. The Wobblies, as they were known, believed there must be radical changes in American capitalism to improve the oppressive conditions that workers faced, including an overthrow of the employing class. Many IWW members believed in socialist or communist ideology and some advocated whatever means necessary to effect change, including sabotage and violence. The Seattle chapter of the IWW was also founded in 1905 and contributed to the city’s reputation as a hotbed of labor radicalism. The local office showed a keen interest in labor and Wobbly-related activities across the nation, but most of its activities focused on organizing labor within the state. The Wobblies experienced a decline in popularity beginning during World War II, and the decline continued due to the anti-Communist sentiment of post-war America. As it was no longer able to function effectively, the Seattle IWW office closed in 1965. However, the national IWW is still active today.
This collection contains photographs and photographic postcards that pertain to the members and activities of the IWW, including meetings, strikes, rallies, raids and funerals. This collection also includes photographs of IWW-related buildings such as union halls. Photographs of people depict leaders, organizers and other IWW affiliates. Photographs of IWW documents show signage, fliers and newspaper articles pertinent to the IWW.
Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections website. Access to original photographs is restricted. Contact Special Collections for further information.
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Donor: IWW Seattle Office, May 18, 1965.
Processed by Erin Berg and Senteara Orwig; processing completed in 2012.
Photos transferred from IWW Seattle Joint Branches Records, Mss. Acc. No. 0544-001, circa 1960s; photos transferred from Social Issues files, 2011.
These photographs primarily depict IWW strikes, rallies and funerals that occurred chiefly in the western United States, particularly Washington state. Many of the photographs document the bodies of IWW members who were killed and their subsequent funerals. The photographs, particularly those showing corpses and police brutality, were likely used or intended to be used in IWW publications and propaganda.
The San Diego Free Speech Rally began in February 1912, when an ordinance went into effect, which banned public speaking in an area encompassing 49-square blocks of downtown San Diego, including “soapbox row.” As many as 5,000 Wobblies gathered to protest at the corner of 5th & E streets, leading to enough arrests to successfully over-crowd the local jails. By fall of 1912, private vigilantes drove the Wobblies out of town via terrorization.
Written on verso: Photo from second floor of Hotel Richmond about 12:30 P.M.
Written on verso: 5000 people being moved a la Aquatic route + never mind - Spreckles has lot of water - on the brain!
Written on verso: Left to right ? - Jack Law, Jack Whyte, Stanley Gue
On January 1, 1912, a new law went into effect in Massachusetts, reducing the maximum number of hours in a work week from 56 to 54. Employers retaliated by reducing pay to match the reduction in hours. Joseph Ettor of the IWW and Arturo Giovanitti of the Italian Socialist Federation and Socialist Party of America, were both organizers of the Lawrence Textile Strike of over 20,000 workers. In September of 1912, Ettor and Giovanitti were tried and acquitted for the murder of one of the strikers, who was most likely killed by local police.
The Everett Massacre occurred on November 5, 1916. 300 Seattle IWW workers boarded two ships headed for Everett, where they planned to give a public demonstration. When the first ship arrived at the dock, 200 citizen deputies were waiting to stop the Wobblies from demonstrating. Shooting broke out between the two parties, leaving at least 5 Wobblies and 2 sheriffs dead, as well as 47 other participants wounded.
Printed on verso: Died for Free Speech!! The Everett Massacre, Bloody Sunday, Nov. 5, 1916. Send help to: Box 1878, Seattle, Wash.
Printed on verso: Died for Free Speech!! The Everett Massacre, Bloody Sunday, Nov. 5, 1916. Send help to: Box 1878, Seattle, Wash.
Printed on verso: Died for Free Speech!! The Everett Massacre, Bloody Sunday, Nov. 5, 1916. Send help to: Box 1878, Seattle, Wash.
Printed on verso: Died for Free Speech!! The Everett Massacre, Bloody Sunday, Nov. 5, 1916. Send help to: Box 1878, Seattle, Wash.
Printed on verso: Died for Free Speech!! The Everett Massacre, Bloody Sunday, Nov. 5, 1916. Send help to: Box 1878, Seattle, Wash.
Printed on verso: Died for Free Speech!! The Everett Massacre, Bloody Sunday, Nov. 5, 1916. Send help to: Box 1878, Seattle, Wash.
Printed on verso: Died for Free Speech!! The Everett Massacre, Bloody Sunday, Nov. 5, 1916. Send help to: Box 1878, Seattle, Wash.
Printed on front: Silent Defenders.
The Seattle General Strike was a joint effort by several local unions, including the IWW. 65,000 workers walked out of work from February 6, 1919 to February 11, 1919, in a protest against World War I wage controls. 39 Wobblies were arrested. Although the strikers succeeded in nationally publicizing their grievances, the strike was ultimately called off by senior union leaders.
A banner hanging above the group with a picture of a man in
jail says:
Nation-wide raids were carried out on IWW offices between 1919 and 1922 to try to suppress the activities of the IWW. There was also increasing violence directed toward the IWW members and the government used the IWW anti-war sentiment to turn public opinion against the IWW.
The Centralia Tragedy occurred on November 11, 1919, when the IWW Hall in Centralia, Washington was attacked during the Armistice Day parade. The attackers, mostly members of the American Legion, broke down the windows and doors. In retaliation, IWW members killed and injured several of the attackers. Ten IWW members were put on trial for murder.
Back row - left to right: Bert Bland, John Lamb, Britt Smith, James McInerhey; Front row - left to right: O.C. Bland, Roy Becker, Eugene Barnett
The federal government tried and convicted 150 IWW members with conspiracy to obstruct the war. Cases were brought against IWW members in Chicago, IL, Wichita, KS and Sacramento, CA. The convicted members were sent to a prison in Leavenworth, Kansas.
Enlargement of item 25.
Caption on front: Funeral of Frank Hastings under auspices of the IWW Seattle, Washington. Written on verso: Man in 1st row, kneeling is Herb Edwards
Frank Hastings received a four to ten year prison sentence for violating the Washington State criminal syndicalism law by being a member of the IWW. Herb Edwards (1894-1976) was a Norwegian immigrant who worked as a NW woodsman and bottle maker. In 1923, he became a class-war prisoner after being convicted of criminal syndicalism. He was dismissed multiple times for wobbly organizational efforts in labor camps.
The San Pedro Free Speech fight began on November 8, 1922, when Wobblies holding public meetings at the corner of Fourth and Beacon streets in San Pedro, California. Although police initially allowed meetings to carry on, the rally eventually led to mass arrests of Wobblies as well as the San Pedro Raid.
The San Pedro Raid occurred at the San Pedro IWW hall on June 14, 1924. Thugs destroyed the hall and scalded children of IWW members.
Written on verso: Andrew Kruglis, age 9 is in a serious
condition. He was the first one out of the Hall. As the fiends came rushing in,
Andrew ran as fast as he could for a block when overcome by a man in blue who
threw a pot of boiling grease on his bare legs. Note the blotches on his knee
and right foot where the new skin has formed. The bandaged portions are where
the wounds are deep. He is baring [
Written on verso of duplicate: Andrew Kulcis, age 12. Legs scalded in raid at San Pedro June 14th.
Written on verso: May Sundstedt age 9, a beautiful refined
high school danceress [
Written on verso of duplicate: May Sundstedt age 12. Scalded in the Raid at San Pedro June 14th.
Written on verso: May Sundstedt age 12. Scalded in the Raid at San Pedro June 14th.
Photo is torn.
Written on verso: May Sundstedt age 12. Body scalded from her hips down.
Written on verso: Little May Sundstedt in attendance at the burial of the one who, while still alive, protected and cared for her with her little brother and sister. May was horribly scalded by mob who destroyed I.W.W. Hall on June 14th about 50 days previous. She is still in a very critical condition and may soon follow her mother on the long journey from which no one ever returns. Note the determined look on the fellow workers in the picture who are paying their respects to one who has ably fought with them in San Pedro.
Written on verso: What is left of the Sundstedt family after the breadwinner was placed away in bier at the Wilmington cemetery. From left to right, Lillie age 8 who was burnt about the legs, May age 13 nearly killed by same mob who clubbed her mother and scalded her and her little sister, and Elmer age 11. In order to attend the funeral of her mother little May who has not left her bed now for over 50 days was taken to the cemetery on a stretcher. She may not live long as the result of the scald she suffered. This once happy little brood is now broken up.
Written on verso: No greater tribute was given to anyone. Taken just as the remains of The Fellow Worker, Mrs. Sundstedt were being placed into the hearse about to take her last ride after a short [preliminary] service held in the mortuary. (More pictures to follow.)
Written on verso: Services lasting over an hour with services appropriate to occasion by fellow workers and friends. Beginning with a song in English “The Red Flag.” After which recitation and speeches by his fellow workers followed. The services ended with the last verse of same song. As we marched away the revolutionary funeral song was sung by a group of Russian workers. Mrs. Sundsedt, as well as her little family, were loved by her fellow workers of San Pedro.
Written on verso: The children confined to the hospital are so seriously burned that the attending doctor refused us to take photos of them yet. It is now nearly three weeks since they’ve fell, beaten, and scalded by the protectors of the profiteers in the name of Americanism. (More pictures follow later ~ E.F.M.)
Written on verso: Views of the labor where greed reigns supreme. The only ones arrested by the police so far are the relief committee taking care of the baby sufferers.
The Colorado Mine Strike was organized by the IWW, resulting in the shutdown of 113 of 125 Colorado coal mines between 1927 and 1928. The strike led to the successful unionization of the mine workers and subsequent recognition by the Rocky Mountain Fuel Company.
Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were two Italian immigrants convicted of murdering two men during a 1920 armed robbery in South Braintree, Massachusetts. After a series of highly controversial trials, Sacco and Venzetti were executed on August 23, 1927. That same month, IWW members participated in a three-day protest of the pending executions. In Walsenburg, Colorado over 1,100 coal miners joined the protest, leading directly to the Colorado Mine Strike of 1927-1928.
The Columbine Mine Massacre occurred on November 21, 1927 amidst the general Colorado Mine Strike of 1927-1928. 500 mine workers and their families were denied access into the town of Serene, Colorado near the Columbine Mine. Militia men and police used rifles and tear gas grenades to hold back the miners, who attempted to climb the gates into Serene. At least six people were killed and over sixty were injured.
On front: Murdered by State Police at Columbine Mine, at Nov 21st 1927 Erie Colorado
On front: Murdered by State Police at Columbine Mine, at Nov 21st 1927 Erie Colorado
The Walsenburg shooting occurred at the Walsenburg IWW Hall on January 28, 1928.
Caption on verso: M. Lopaz, gunman trusty from jail 1/12/26 WALSENBURG
Caption on verso: Walsenburg hall immediately after shooting Jan. 12th 1928. Huge hole was caused by machine gun. 22 other holes in window also. The Spectator.
Caption on verso: Walsenburg striking coal miners assembled in front of their hall after shooting of January 12th, 1928. Single story building is where Chevaz was murdered. Other Bldg. houses strike committee upper half soup kitchen lower half. Upper half is where State police claim Chevz (sic) was killed. Stairway leading upstairs was also riddled with bullets from machine gun. The Spectator.
Caption on verso: Bodies of Celestino Martinez age 15
(first) and Klementi Chevaz age 41 murdered Jan. 12th 1928 Walsenburg Colorado.
Martinez was shot in back, bullet leaving body at mid rib. Was shot one block
distant from hall. Chevas [
Caption on verso: Body of K. Chevaz lying in own gore
Walsenburg hall Jan. 12 1928. This is man whom State Police say was shot in
upper story of adjoining hall and dragged here. Note brains and marks where
they skidded from head. Also club.
Hundreds of IWW members gathered for a mass meeting at the Seattle Eagle's Hall.
On June 29, 1936 800 lumberjacks, employed by Clearwater County, staged a walkout led by the IWW. Demands by the strikers included wage raises, overtime compensation and price caps on room and board fees. By July the number of strikers had grown to 1,200. The governor of Idaho C. Ben Ross declared martial law on the strikers after seven men were wounded in a subsequent riot.
Arthur Boose (1877-1959) was a lifelong Wobbly and one of the prisoners after the Chicago convictions in 1918 and was once the cellmate of Ralph Chaplin.
Written on verso: 2nd from left: S. Holbrook
Stewart Holbrook was a lumberjack, journalist at
Written in verso: For IWW strikers
Written on front: To Fellow Worker Thompson from [...] S.F. 1913
Written on verso: Members of IWW Sydney, Australia who got from 10 to 15 years
These 12 members were charged with treason, sedition and conspiracy to commit arson in Sydney.
On front: Part of meeting of 30,000 IWWs in Sydney, Australia
Sign on postcard reads "Arbeiter Wohlfahrt Neuwied" and translates as "Workers' Welfare Association of Neuwied"
In 1933 hop pickers in Yakima, Washington won an IWW-supported strike.
Boose was a soapbox speaker and an IWW leader in both Duluth, Minnesota and Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1922 he was convicted under the Espionage Act and given 5 years in prison at Leavenworth, Kansas.
Joe Hill was a Swedish-American activist and songwriter for the IWW. He was executed on November 19, 1915, after being falsely accused of murdering a local ex-policeman and his son in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Text translated from Swedish: Joel Emanuel Hägglund / alias / Joseph Hillström / alias / Joe Hill / Organizer and poet for Industrial Workers of the World / Born on the 7th of October 1879, Nedre Bergsgatan, Gävle, Sweden. / Executed on the 19th of November, 1915, in Utah State Prison, under the order of the Utah state official and the Utah Construction Company.
Frank Little was an IWW organizer who was murdered by vigilantes in Butte, Montana. He was dragged behind an automobile before being lynched.
Caption on front: Frank Little/Victim of Anaconda Copper Co. Thugs/Died Aug 1. 1917 Butte Mont.
Enrique Flores Magón and his brother founded the Mexican Liberal Party, which aimed to redistribute land and means of production held by the rich to the masses, as well as to overthrow the Mexican government. The Mexican Liberal Party joined forces with the IWW at the San Diego Free Speech Rally in 1912.
Written on verso: Teresa and Enrique to Fellow-Worker C.E. Paynes. Taken at Los Angeles, Calif. November 1922, myself being sick at the time.
Written on verso: Age: 46 years
Written on verso: Group of Fellow-Workers and the whole
Magón tribe after our reception and meeting on March 4th, 1923 at the
Constitución Plaza, Ciudad Juárez, Chih., Mex., when we crossed the line into
Mexico the day of our deportation from the Land of Freedom for Wall Street and
[...] for the Rebel. We spoke from the music stand (or kisko) [
Written on verso: left -> right: Eugene Barnett? Jack Law? Jack Whyte?
Written on verso: seated: Jack Law? left -> right: ? Jack Law? Stanley Guy?
Katie Phar was one of many Junior members of the IWW who provided entertainment during a weekly show at the Seattle IWW hall. The shows included young musicians, singers, actors and comedians who performed around the theme of class struggle. Katie was a popular IWW "songbird"--slang for a female vocalist--who both participated in and directed the shows.
Written on verso: Mr. & Mrs. Phar, Katie and Anna Mae
On front: Yours for Industrial Freedom / Kate Phar
Caption on front: Sincerely Katie and Frank
Written on verso: Yours For Industrial Freedom / Kate Phar
Caption on front: Fellow workers we are in jail for you. What are you doing for us?
Written on verso: James P. Thompson (back, left); others unknown / Front: unknown; Ed Shepler; Steven Reay / 1914: Woodworkers en route to McNeill Island Penitentiary?
Written on verso: May be 205 1/2 Second Ave., Seattle IWW headquarters