UUS_CAINEmss022.xml Guide to the B.L.F.E. Re-Echo Lodge #195 Records, Montpelier, Idaho 1884-1950 B.L.F.E. Re-Echo Lodge #195 Records, Montpelier, Idaho 1884-1950 Finding aid created by Special Collections and Archives Utah State University, Merrill Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library Utah State University 3000 Old Main Hill Logan, UT 84322-3000 Phone: 435 797-8248 Fax: 435 797-2880 Email: scweb@usu.edu
©2011 Encoded in oXygen XML editor by Sara Skindelien, 2011 July 28. Finding aid encoded in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition). 2009 Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines. Overview of the Collection UUS_CAINE MSS 22 B.L.F.E. Re-Echo Lodge #195 Records, Montpelier, Idaho 1884-1950 Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Manuscript Collection
Merrill-Cazier Library Utah State University 3000 Old Main Hill Logan, UT 84322-3000 Phone: 435 797-8248 Fax: 435 797-2880 Email: scweb@usu.edu
23 boxes 15 linear feet Records from this railroad union from 1884-1950. Included are lodge meeting minutes, correspondence, grievance reports and financial records. Material in English

Processed in May of 2006

The materials in this collection were purchased by USU Special Collections & Archives for inclusion in the Marie Eccles-Caine Archive of Intermountain Americana.

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the B.L.F.E. Re-Echo Lodge #195 Records, Montpelier, Idaho must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Initial Citation: B.L.F.E. Re-Echo Lodge #195 Records, Montpelier, Idaho USU_CAINE MSS 22, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:USU_CAINE MSS 22, USUSCA.

 Biographical Note

The history of the labor movement in the Western United States is one dominated by the unions representing the major industries such as mining and railroading. The papers in Caine collections 22-24 chronicle railroad union activity on the Oregon Shortline (later the Union Pacific) of Idaho, Utah, and Oregon. Specifically the collections contain records from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, which later became the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen; the Women's auxiliary to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen; and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. These records were found together in the Oddfellows Hall in Montpelier, Idaho, at which location the unions held their regular meetings. The records span the period from 1884 through 1954.

Construction of the Oregon Shortline Railroad, a subsidiary of the Union Pacific Railroad, began in 1881 and was finished in 1884. The line left the mainline of the U.P. at Granger, Wyoming and joined the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company line at Huntington, Oregon. By the end of 1882, the company had built 330 miles of track. The route of the road came through Montpelier, so that in 1883 this Idaho farming community became a division point for the railroad. By the turn of the century a shop and roundhouse had been built in the Idaho town. Town histories indicate that the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers established a lodge in 1883. Another union, the Brotherhood of Locomotive of Firemen's Re-Echo Lodge 195 moved their headquarters from Shoshone, Idaho to Montpelier in 1887. The earliest records in this collection chronicle the B.L.F.'s Re-Echo Lodge 195 and date back to 1884 when the lodge was headquartered in Shoshone, Idaho.

he railroad was a boon to Montpelier and became the main employer of that town into the 1950's. However, as trains became faster and more powerful and as engines changed from steam power to diesel, the need for a large railroad work force in Montpelier declined. By the 1950's many of the union men were moved to the divisional headquarters in Pocatello.

These railroad labor records cover important periods for the American labor movement. They document union activity through two world wars as well as the Great Depression. They also describe a period in which railroad employment played a key role in small western towns such a Montpelier, Idaho. In addition, the papers recount the difficulties of a manufacturing type of industry blending into a religious farming community.

The records of the Re-Echo Lodge 195 cover the most extensive time period and contain the most complete record of activity of the three lodges. The Re-Echo records begin in 1884 and continue through 1950. The 1884 date is significant because it is only seven years after the general strike of 1877 that destroyed the American labor movement. This collection contains minute books, financial records, correspondence files, grand lodge publications, and reports from the general chairman's association, usually affiliated with grievance issues. The lodge also served as the parent lodge for members who worked in Kemmerer, Wyoming.

The earliest records are holographic ledgers that include meeting minute books and financial records. The minute books begin in 1884 and end in 1942. They record the meetings of the lodge, which were held on a weekly basis. The financial ledgers begin in 1886 and continue into the 1930's. These records document payment of dues and the purchase of insurance policies. The financial records also show the interaction between the local, regional, and national organizations.

The lodge files make up the bulk of the collection. These files contain a variety of documents—correspondence, reports, receipts, etc. These files have been kept in their original filing order, which was chronological. The local correspondence consisted primarily of issues addressed are primarily non-payment of dues or need of extension on dues payments. Otherwise, the correspondence tends to be between the lodge secretary and the regional representative. Much of this correspondence involves grievances brought by the union against the railroad company. In addition, the files contain material pertaining to legislative action taken by the union. The union established the Idaho Legislative Council in the 1930's that became the political arm of the union.

Finally, the collection contains a variety of reports from the different union committees. Included are the Chairman's Association, joint union meetings, and Idaho or Central Division Grievance Committee. Most of these documents concern grievances brought by the union against management and report upon how they were resolved.

This collection is arranged by ledger type.

Fife, Kimball M. Montpelier, Idaho's locomotive firemen and enginemen : a community of railroaders, 1900-1920 (BOOK COLL 42 No. 87)

Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen Lodge #607 Montpelier, Idaho(CAINE MSS 23)

Ladies Auxiliary of the B.L.F.E. Liberty Lodge #397 Montpelier, Idaho(CAINE MSS 24)

 Economics and Banking Railroads Labor History Labor Unions Ross, Ben C. 1876-1946 Robertson, David B. Eschler, Rube Hughes, William Phillips, W. L. Bohi, Alvin Oregon Short Line Railroad Union Pacific Railroad Company Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Order of Railway Conductors of America Switchmen's Union Of North America Railroads--Employees--Labor unions--Idaho Railroads--Employees--Labor unions--Wyoming Railroads--Employees--Labor unions--Utah Montpelier (Idaho)--History Idaho--Politics and government Kemmerer (Wyo.)--History Salt Lake City (Utah)--History Pocatello (Idaho)--History Minute books from the Re-Echo Lodge # 195 1884-1942 (14 volumes) Book 1 1884-1942 1 Book 2 1888-1895 1 Book3 1895-1903 1 Book4 1903-1905 1 Book5 1906-1912 1 Book 6 1912 1 Book 7 1913 1 Book 8 1914-1915 1 Book 9 1915-1925 1 Book 10 1925-1927 1 Book 11 1928-1930 1 Book 12 1931-1934 1 Book 13 1936-1940 1 Book 14 1941-1942 Financial ledgers 1884-1925 (11 volumes)

NOTE: There is no BOOK 1

 2 2 Account Book 1886-1900 2 3 Account Book 1903-1906 2 4 Account Book 1903-1906 2 5 Account Book 1904-1906 2 6 Receiver Account Book 1902-1903 2 7 Grand & Subordinates dues 1884-1887 2 8 Receiver's Register 1888-1889 2 9 Treasurer's Cash Register 1903-1904 2 10 Membership rosters 1884-1906 2 11 Attendance record 1917-1925 Financial ledgers 1887-1942 (3 volumes) 3 1 Financier's ledger 1887-1906 3 2 Treasurer's cashbook 1939-1942 3 3 Secretary's cashbook 1936 Lodge files, primarily correspondence 1905-1932 (18 folders) 4 1 1905 4 2 1906 1906 4 3 1907 1907 4 4 1920 1920 4 5 1922 1922 4 6 1923 1923 4 7 1924 July & October 1924 4 8 1924 November & December 1924 4 9 LaFollette-Wheeler Presidential Campaign 1924 4 10 1928 1924 4 11 1930 1930 4 12 January-March, 1931 1931 January-March 4 13 April-June, 1931 1931 April-June 4 14 July-September, 1931 1931 July-September 4 15 October-December, 1931 1931 October-December 4 16 January-March, 1932 1932 January-March 4 17 April-June, 1932 1932 April-June 4 18 July-September, 1932 1932 July-September Lodge files, primarily correspondence 1933-1936 (16 folders) 5 1 January-March, 1933 1933 January-March 5 2 April-June, 1933 1933 April-June 5 3 July-September, 1933 1933 July-September 5 4 October-December, 1933 1933 October-December 5 5 January-March, 1934 1934 January-March 5 6 April-June, 1934 1934 April-June 5 7 July-September, 1934 1934 July-September 5 8 October-December, 1934 1934 October-December 5 9 January-March, 1935 1935 January-March 5 10 April-June, 1935 1935 April-June 5 11 July-September, 1935 1935 July-September 5 12 October-December, 1935 1935 October-December 5 13 January-March, 1936 1936 January-March 5 14 April-June, 1936 1936 April-June 5 15 July-September, 1936 1936 July-September 5 16 October-December, 1936 1936 October-December Lodge files, primarily correspondence 1937-1939 (15 folders) 6 1 January-March, 1937 1937 Janury-March 6 2 & 3 April-June, 1937 1937 April-June 6 4 July-September, 1937 1937 July-September 6 5 October-December, 1937 1937 October-December 6 6 January-March, 1938 1938 January-March 6 7 April-June, 1938 1938 April-June 6 8 July-September, 1938 1938 July-September 6 9 October-December, 1938 1938 October-December 6 10 C.G. Anderson Case 1938 6 11 January-March, 1939 1939 January-March 6 12 April-June, 1939 1939 April-June 6 13 July-September, 1939 1939 July-September 6 14 October-December, 1939 1939 October-December 6 15 Testimonial Dinner to David B. Robertson 1939 Lodge files, primarily correspondence 1940-1942 (12 folders) 7 1 January-March, 1940 1940 January-March 7 2 April-June, 1940 1940 April-June 7 3 July-September, 1940 1940 July-September 7 4 October-December, 1940 1940 October-December 7 5 January-March, 1941 1941 January-March 7 6 April-June, 1941 1941 April-June 7 7 July-September, 1941 1941 July-September 7 8 October-December, 1941 1941 October-December 7 9 January-March, 1942 1942 January-March 7 10 April-June, 1942 1942 April-June 7 11 July-September, 1942 1942 July-September 7 12 October-December, 1942 1942 October-December Lodge files, primarily correspondence 1943-1950 (16 folders) 8 1 Salt Lake Yard agreement 1943 8 2 January-March, 1943 1943 January-March 8 3 April-June, 1943 1943 April-June 8 4 July-September, 1943 1943 July-September 8 5 October-December, 1943 1943 October-December 8 6 January-May, 1944 1944 January-May 8 7 January-March, 1945 1945 January-March 8 8 April-June, 1945 1945 April-June 8 9 July-September, 1945 1945 July-September 8 10 October-December, 1945 1945 October-December 8 12 July-December, 1946 1946 July-December 8 13 January-June, 1947 1947 January-June 8 14 July-December, 1947 1947 July-December 8 15 1948 1948 8 16 Amalgamation question 1950 Official Grand Lodge publications (17 folders) 9 1 Circulars 1922-1929 9 2 Circulars 1930-1931 9 3 Circulars 1932-1933 9 4 Circulars (Amalgamation report) 1935 9 5 Circulars 1937 and 1939 9 6 Circulars 1940-1948 9 7 Flyers & Bulletins 1929 9 8 Flyers & Bulletins 1931-1932 9 9 Flyers & Bulletins 1933-1934 9 10 Flyers & Bulletins 1936-1937 9 11 Flyers & Bulletins 1938-1939 9 12 Flyers & Bulletins 1941-1942 9 13 Flyers & Bulletins 1943-1944 9 14 Flyers & Bulletins 1945-1946 9 15 Flyers & Bulletins 1948 9 16 Flyers & Bulletins 1949 9 17 Flyers & Bulletins 1950 General Secretary & Treasurers reports from the Grand Lodge of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Engineers 1900-1940 (14 folders) 10 1 Treasurers report 1900-1901 10 2 Treasurers Assessment Bulletins 1906-1907 10 3 Monthly Report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1922 10 4 Monthly Report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1927 10 5 Monthly Report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1928 10 6 Monthly Report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1930 10 7 Monthly Report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1931 10 8 Monthly Report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1932 10 9 Monthly Report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1933 10 10 Monthly Report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1934 10 11 Monthly Report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1937 10 12 Monthly Report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1938 10 13 Monthly Report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1939 10 14 Monthly Report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1940 General Secretary & Treasurers reports from the Grand Lodge of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Engineers 1940-1950 and monthly bulletins 1920-1929 (16 folders) 11 1 Quarterly report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1941 11 2 Quarterly report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1942 11 3 Quarterly report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1943 11 4 Quarterly report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1945 11 5 Quarterly report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1946 11 6 Quarterly report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1947 11 7 Quarterly report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1948 11 8 Quarterly report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1949 11 9 Quarterly report of the General Secretary Treasurer 1950 11 10 Bulletins 1920 11 11 Bulletins 1924 11 12 Bulletins 1925 11 13 Bulletins 1926 11 14 Bulletins 1927 11 15 Bulletins 1928 11 16 Bulletins 1929 Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen, Bulletins 1930-1937 (10 folders) 12 1 1930 1930 12 2 1931 1931 12 3 1932 1932 12 4 January-June, 1933 1933 January-June 12 5 July-December, 1933 1933 July-December 12 6 January-June, 1934 1934 January-June 12 7 July-December, 1934 1934 July-December 12 8 1936 1936 12 9 January-June, 1937 1937 January-June 12 10 July-December, 1937 1937 July-December Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen, Bulletins 1938-1941 (8 folders) 13 1 January-June, 1938 1938 January-June 13 2 July-December, 1938 1938 July-December 13 3 January-June, 1939 1939 January-June 13 4 July-December, 1939 1939 July-December 13 5 January-June, 1940 1940 January-June 13 6 July-December, 1940 1940 July-December 13 7 January-June, 1941 1941 January-June 13 8 July-December, 1941 1941 July-December Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen, Bulletins 1942-1950 (11 folders) 14 1 January-June, 1942 1942 January-June 14 2 July-December, 1942 1942 July-December 14 3 January-June, 1943 1943 January-June 14 4 July-December, 1943 1943 July-December 14 5 1944 1944 14 6 1945 1945 14 7 1946 1946 14 8 1947 1947 14 9 1948 1948 14 10 1949 1949 14 11 1950 1950 Monthly assessments sent from Re-Echo 195 to the Grand Lodge 1903-1943 (13 folders) 15 1 1903-1907 1903-1907 15 2 1936 1936 15 3 1937 1937 15 4 1938 1938 15 5 1939 1939 15 6 1940 1940 15 7 1940 1940 15 8 1941 1941 15 9 1942 1942 15 10 1942 1942 15 11 1942 1942 15 12 1943 1943 15 13 1943 1943 Monthly, quarterly, and annual reports sent from Re-Echo 195 to the Grand Lodge 1946-1974 (23 folders) 16 1 Monthly reports 1946 16 2 Monthly reports 1947 16 3 Monthly reports 1948 16 4 Monthly reports 1949 16 5 Quarterly reports 1937 16 6 Quarterly reports 1938 16 7 Quarterly reports 1939 16 8 Quarterly reports 1940 16 9 Quarterly reports 1941 16 10 Quarterly reports 1942 16 11 Quarterly reports 1943 16 12 Quarterly reports 1944 16 13 Quarterly reports 1945 16 14 Quarterly reports 1946 16 15 Quarterly reports 1947 16 16 Quarterly reports 1948 16 17 Quarterly reports 1949-1951 16 18 Annual reports 1927, 1930-1931, & 1936-1938 16 19 Annual reports 1939-1940 16 20 Annual reports 1941-1942 16 21 Annual reports 1943-1944 16 22 Annual reports 1945-1946 16 23 Annual reports 1946-1974 Quarterly reports from the General Chairman's office of the Idaho District of the B.L.F.E. 1930-1936 (incomplete) (16 folders) 17 1 1930 October 09 17 2 1931 January 22 17 3 1931 July 17 17 4 1931 November 03 17 5 1932 April 17 6 1932 October 11 17 7 1932 July 15 17 8 1933 January 10 17 9 1933 May 10 17 10 1933 July 10 17 11 1933 October 16 17 12 1934 January 18 17 13 1934 May 5 17 14 1935 January 7 17 15 1936 April 23 17 16 1936 October 15 and 1937 April 06 Reports from the General Chairman's Association Meetings, the Western Line, Central District & National meetings 1933-1937 (24 folders)

Folders 1-8 contain reports from the General Chairman's Association of the Union Pacific Railroad System.

 18 1 1934 September 10 18 2 1935 March 12 18 3 1935 September 09 18 4 1936 October 23 18 5 1937 April 07-08 18 6 1939 February 09-20 18 7 March 31-April 10, 1942 18 8 1945 January 12-29 18 9 Western Line 1933 November 22

(Folders 10-14 contain reports from joint meetings of general committees from the Order of Railroad Conductors, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen, and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. These reports are from the Western Line, or the central district of the Union Pacific Railroad.)

 18 10 1946 January 10 18 11 1936 June 02 18 12 1937 January 08 18 13 1937 January 08 18 14 1937 January 08 18 15 Report about the diesel-electric situation 1937 March 08 18 16 1946 18 17 1946 18 18 National agreements undated 18 19 Minutes of the 6th West Coast Union meeting 1936 June 24-25, 1939 July 14-16, and 1932 August 30-31 18 20 Report of delegate, Lodge 195—31st convention 1928 18 21 Report of delegate—34th convention 1941 July 18 22 Emergency board wage decision with letters from W. Phillips 1941 18 23 Payments to men 1942 24 Agreements between the Oregon Shortline and Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen 1932-1936 General Grievance committee minutes for the Idaho or Central Division of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen 1931-1945 (18 folders) 19 1 1931 January 08 19 2 1931 November 07 19 3 1933 April 06 19 4 1934 March 06 19 5 1935 December 02-03 19 6 1936 January 03 ; 1936 March 07 ; and 1936 June 20 19 7 1937 March 18 19 8 1938 January 14 and 1938 July 13 19 9 1939 January 09 and 1939 June 19 19 10 1940 January 08 19 11 1941 January 06 and 1941 September 07 19 12 1942 March 03 and 1942 May 17 19 13 1943 June 23 and 1943 January 25 19 14 1943 January 29 19 15 1945 January 09; 1945 September 23; and 1945 August 14 19 16 1948 January 12 19 17 1937 January 29

Meeting concerns wage issues

 19 18 Grievance committee treasurers reports 1934-1948 Reports form the General Chairman of the Oregon Shortline and U.P. Central District, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen 1924-1943 (incomplete) (20 folders) 20 1-5 1924-1926 20 6-8 1927 20 9 1931 November 21 20 10-11 1933-1934 20 12 1942 June - 1943 September

(Folders 13-20 contain records of the B.L.F.E.’s Idaho Legislative Board)

 20 13 1930-1931 1930-1931 20 14 1932 20 15 1933 20 16 1934 20 17 1935 20 18 1937 20 19 1940-1946 20 20 1947 Miscellaneous records from RE-Echo 195 1894-1950 (23 folders) 21 1 Applications for exercise of options 1941 21 2 Minutes 1937 October 09 21 3 Lodge 195 ballots ca 1930 21 4 Bank Statements 1940 21 5 Bank Statements 1941 21 6 Bank Statements 1942 21 7 Bank Statements 1943 21 8 Bank Statements 1950 21 9 Applications for membership and transfer of memberships 1941-1942 21 10 Membership roster 1918-1920 21 11 Miscellaneous documents (‘The Railroad Evangelist,” receipts, and beneficiaries certificates) undated 21 12 Traveling cards 1894-1900 21 13 Traveling cards 1903-1906 21 14 Transfer card 1903-1906 21 15 Returns from the joint protective board assessment undated Box 22: Receipts for dues payments 1948-1952 (23 books) Miscellaneous pamphlets and broadsides 23 1924 (6 items)