John Leonard Miller papers and oral history interview, 1923-1986
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Miller, J. L. (John Leonard)
- Title
- John Leonard Miller papers and oral history interview
- Dates
- 1923-1986 (inclusive)19231986
- Quantity
- 4.11 cubic feet (7 boxes plus 2 sound cassettes)
- Collection Number
- 2240
- Summary
- Political activist, labor movement leader
- Repository
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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
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Open to all users.
Some material stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
- Languages
- English
Biographical Note
John (Jack) Leonard Miller was born on November 3, 1889 in Dayton, Kentucky. At 12 he left home and traveled around the country hoboing and taking odd jobs. He worked as a coal miner in Danville, Virginia and a harvester in the Midwest. Because of his interest in worker's rights, Miller joined the United Mine Workers while in Virginia. He joined the Socialist Party while he was in Canada and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) in 1916. He moved to Seattle in early 1916 and was on board the Verona during the Everett Massacre of November 1916. He married Violet Wilson in 1924. After settling down Miller had a number of jobs and began writing. He continued to rally for workers rights and upon his retirement took up lobbying for fair treatment of senior citizens. In addition, he gave lectures and interviews regarding the Everett Massacre, and wrote short stories. He died at age 96 in 1986 of a heart ailment. He was the last living survivor of the Everett Massacre.
Content Description
Oral history interview, biographical features, correspondence, financial records, writings, newsletters, clippings, ephemera, manuscripts. Most of the material concerns the Everett Massacre and Industrial Workers of the World.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Use
Consult the restrictions governing reproduction and use for each of the accessions listed below.
Administrative Information
Arrangement
Organized into 5 accessions.
- Accession No. 2240-001, John Leonard Miller oral history interview, 1974
- Accession No. 2240-002, John Leonard Miller papers, 1982
- Accession No. 2240-003, John Leonard Miller papers, 1923-1986
- Accession No. 2240-004, John Leonard Miller typescript,
- Accession No. 2240-005, John Leonard Miller papers, 1953-1975
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Description: Accession No. 2240-001: John Leonard Miller oral history interview, 19742 sound cassettes (80 minutes)
Scope and Content: Tape recorded interview conducted by Richard Berner on 11 March 1974, covering the years of his youth through 1918.
Interview concerns his youth and his activities in the Midwest and Canada as a United Mine Workers organizer and a member of the Socialist Party, and in Washington as a member of the Industrial Workers of the World. The interview focuses on the Everett Massacre.
Digital Content/Other Formats: Listen to the audio recording of this interview on the Libraries Digital Collections site.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: Donated by John Leonard Miller, 3/11/1974.
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Description: Accession No. 2240-002: John Leonard Miller papers, 19823 pages
Scope and Content: Notes from interview conducted by Meta Buttnick in 1982.
Notes are about the IWW street demonstrations and speeches in Everett by Jewish Wobblies, Oct and Nov 1916.
Digital Content/Other Formats: View selections from this collection in digital format.
Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Meta Buttnick, 10/1/1982.
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Accession No. 2240-003: John Leonard Miller papers, 1923-1986
3.33 cubic feet (5 boxes)Scope and Content: Biographical features, correspondence, financial records, writings, newsletters, clippings, ephemera.
The bulk of this accession is amateur creative writings, but Box 1 does contain "The Everett Massacre as Seen By Its Last Survivor". A few other autobiographical pieces are present.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Nylene Schoellhorn, 10/7/1986.
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Description: Biographical FeaturesDates: 1980-1986Container: Box 1, Accession 2240-003
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Description: CorrespondenceDates: 1923-1986Container: Box 1, Accession 2240-003
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Description: Financial RecordsDates: 1970-1975Container: Box 1, Accession 2240-003
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Description: Writings of Miller including "The Everett Massacre As Seen By Its Last Survivor," autobiographical pieces, short stories, and poemsDates: approximately 1920-1986Container: Box 1-4, Accession 2240-003
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Description: Writings of OthersDates: 1974-1983Container: Box 4, Accession 2240-003
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Description: LegislationDates: 1976Container: Box 4, Accession 2240-003
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Description: Journals/Appointment BooksDates: 1973-1980Container: Box 4, Accession 2240-003
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Description: NewslettersDates: 1964-1986Container: Box 4, Accession 2240-003
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Description: PublicationsDates: 1898-1976Container: Box 4, Accession 2240-003
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Description: ClippingsDates: approximately 1950-1986Container: Box 4-5, Accession 2240-003
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Description: EphemeraDates: 1961-1986Container: Box 5, Accession 2240-003
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Description: Subject SeriesDates: 1976Container: Box 5, Accession 2240-003
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Description: Columbia Club, SeattleDates: 1972-1975Container: Box 5, Accession 2240-003
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Description: Elder Citizens Coalition of Washington, King County UnitDates: 1973-1976Container: Box 5, Accession 2240-003
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Description: U.S. White House Conference on Aging, 1981Dates: 1980-1981Container: Box 5, Accession 2240-003
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Description: Accession No. 2240-004: John Leonard Miller typescript,.42 cubic foot (1 box)
Scope and Content: Typescript, mainly of a novel; undated
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Nylene Schoellhorn, 9/1/1994.
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Accession No. 2240-005: John Leonard Miller papers, 1953-1975
0.36 cubic feet (1 letter sized document case)Scope and Content: Manuscripts and reminiscences of John "Jack" Miller's early life, as well as a topical manuscript on "The Hobo" and a variant title: "The North American Hobo." Includes accounts relating to Miller's members in the Industrial Workers of the World and participation in the Everett Massacre of 1916.
Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Jeremy Egolf, who Miller had given the collection to. 2017-09-13
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Description: You & How You Came To BeDates: 08/17/1953Container: Box/Folder 1/1, Accession 2240-005
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Description: Journal to Nylene Winette SchoellhornDates: 08/17/1953Container: Box/Folder 1/2, Accession 2240-005
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Description: Memories Not MemoirsDates: 02/26/1984Container: Box/Folder 1/3, Accession 2240-005
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Description: Hobo DefinedDates: 1953-1975Container: Box/Folder 1/4, Accession 2240-005
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Description: Making Of HoboDates: 1953-1975Container: Box/Folder 1/5, Accession 2240-005
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Description: The North American HoboDates: 1953-1975Container: Box/Folder 1/6, Accession 2240-005
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Description: We Never ForgetDates: 1953-1975Container: Box/Folder 1/7, Accession 2240-005
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Description: CorrespondenceDates: 1973-1975Container: Box/Folder 1/8, Accession 2240-005
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Description: Misc. WritingsDates: 1953-1975Container: Box/Folder 1/9, Accession 2240-005
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Description: Family HistoryDates: 1953-1975Container: Box/Folder 1/10, Accession 2240-005
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Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Coal miners--Labor unions
- Everett Massacre, Everett, Wash., 1916
- Labor movement--Washington (State)
- Labor union members--Washington (State)
- Labor unions--Washington (State)
- Labor--Washington (State)
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
