WAUMensalvasChrisD2361.xml Guide to the Chris D. Mensalvas Papers and Oral History Interview 1935-1974 Mensalvas (Chris D.) Papers and Oral History Interview Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries ©2007 (Last modified: 1/31/2020)
Seattle, WA 98195
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections 2361 (Accession No. 2361-001) Mensalvas, Chris D., -1977 Chris D. Mensalvas papers and oral history interview 1935-1974 .25 cubic feet 1 sound cassette Collection materials are in English. Labor union official of Seattle, Washington

Between 1910 and 1930, a wave of Filipino immigrants came to the United States. Instead of better opportunities, many encountered discrimination, poor living conditions, and oppressive labor practices. Chris Delarna Mensalvas (1909-1978) immigrated to the United States from the Philippines in 1927. He became an important figure in the Filipino labor movements of the 1940s and '50s, organizing unions and initiating strikes for just working conditions and fair wages for farm and cannery workers.

Between the years 1949 and 1959, Mensalvas was president of the International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union (ILWU) Local 37 in Seattle - the Filipino Alaska cannery workers union. He was publicity director of the local from 1948 to 1949, when it was Local 7 of the Cannery Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union. Mensalvas actively opposed the deportation of Filipinos under the McCarran-Walter Act of 1952. The noted Filipino author and activist Carlos Bulosan and fellow activist Philip Vera Cruz were among his friends. He was an inspiration for later Filipino activists Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes, who consulted him about his labor organizing experiences. Mensalvas died in 1978.

The collection has been subdivided into three records subgroups depending on creator: Records Subgroup I: International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union, Local 37 Records Subgroup II: Griggs, Everett G. (Re: Boom Men and Rafters Union Local No. 2647 Records Subgroup III: Chris Mensalvas' Personal Papers

The subgroup International Longshoremen's & Warehousemen's Union, Local 37 has been subdivided into series by format and function: Series I: Organizational Features, Undated Series II: Incoming Letters, 1948-1959 Series III: Outgoing Letters, 1948-1959; Undated Series IV: Reports, 1954-1969; Undated Series V: Bulletins, 1935-1953 Series VI: Press Releases, 1953-1958 Series VII: Newsletters, 1957 Series VIII: Court Papers, 1958 Series IX: Yearbook, 1952 Series X: Lists, 1954 Series XI: Agreements, 1958; Undated Series XII: Nominations, 1958-1959 Series XIII: Writings, Undated Series XIV: Convention Credentials, 1953 Series XV: Petitions, 1955 Series XVI: Photographs (Photocopies), Undated Series XVII: Subject Series, 1954-1968, Undated Series XVIII: Ephemera, Undated

Correspondence, reports, minutes, ephemera, bulletins, yearbook, reports of International Longshoremen & Warehousemen's Union. Local 37, 1935-1968; tape-recorded interview with Mr. Mensalvas conducted by Apolonio Buyagawan, 1974; subject file re Carlos Bulosan, 1948, 1972-73; papers of Everett Gallup Griggs, executive of St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company, 1935-1937.

Besides union matters deportation of some Filipinos under the Walter-McCarran Law is an issue reflected in the papers.

Listen to the audio recording and view the transcript of this interview on the Libraries' Digital Collections website.

Open to all users. The interview and transcript can be accessed online. The original analog tape cannot be played due to preservation concerns.

Request at UW

Mensalvas's rights may be quoted and published.

Donated by Chris D. Mensalvas, 11/11/1974.

Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington) Mensalvas, Chris D., -1977--Archives Bulosan, Carlos Griggs, Everett G International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union. Local 37 (Seattle, Wash.) Labor Unions Labor History Agriculture Fishing and Canning Ships and Shipping Washington (State)

 

RECORD SUBGROUP 1: INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN & WAREHOUSEMEN'S UNION, LOCAL 37 1935-1969 1/1 Series I: Organizational Features Undated 1/2-1/3 Series II: Incoming Letters 1952-1962, Undated 1/2 Philippines. Consulate and Embassy 1953-1954 1/3 Miscellaneous A-Z 1952-1962 Undated 1/4-1/5 Series III: Outgoing Letters 1948-1959 1/4 Chris D. Mensalvas 1948-1959 Undated 1/5 Miscellaneous of others A-Z 1954 1/6-1/8 Series IV: Reports 1953-1969 1/6 Delegates Reports 1969 1/7 Committee Reports 1954; Undated 1/8 Miscellaneous Reports 1953-1955 1/9-1/10 Series V: Bulletins 1935-1953 1/9 "To District Key Men" 1935 1/10 Phillipine Consulate 1952-1953 1/11 Series VI: Press Releases 1953-1958 1/12 Series VII: Newsletters 1957 1/13 Series VIII: Court Papers 1958 1/14 Series IX: Yearbook 1952 1/15 Series X: Lists 1954 1/16 Series XI: Agreements 1958; Undated 1/17 Series XII: Nominations 1958-1959 1/18 Series XIII: Writings Undated 1/19 Series XIV: Convention Credentials 1953 1/20 Series XV: Petitions 1955 1/21 Series XVI: Photographs (photocopies) Undated 1/22-1/24 Series XVII: Subject Series 1953-1968 1/22 Ernesto A. Mangaong Trial 1954-1955; 1968 1/23-1/24 Repeal of the Walter-McCarran Law 1953-1960 Undated 1/25 Series XVIII: Ephemera Undated 1/26 RECORDS SUBGROUP 2: GRIGGS, EVERETT G. (Re: Boom Men and Rafters Union. Local No. 2647) 1935-1937 1/27; Tape #413 RECORDS SUBGROUP 3: CHRIS MENSALVAS' PERSONAL PAPERS 1948-1974 1/27 Series I: Subject Series 1948-1973 Undated 1/27 Carlos Bulosan 1948; 1972-1973 Undated Tape #413 Series II: Audio Cassette Tape Interview of Chris Mensalvas by Apolonio K. Buyugawan 1974