Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries
Harold Pritchett papers and oral history interview
Pritchett, Harold, 1904-
1475, 1749
0.33 cubic feet
and 1 sound cassette
1937-1971
1940
Interview, papers and ephemera of a Shingle weaver and labor organization leader
Collection materials are in English.
Harold Pritchett was born in England in 1904. He immigrated to Canada, and began working in a Port Moody sawmill at age 15. He was the first president of International Woodworkers of America, 1936-1940. Thereafter, he organized woodworkers in British Columbia and was a member of the British Columbia Federation of Labor.
Organized into 2 accessions.
- Accession No. 1475-001, Harold Pritchett papers and oral history interview, 1937-1971
- Accession No. 1749-001, Harold Pritchett papers, 1971
Interview, correspondence, reports, ephemera, xerox copies of correspondence, and union newspapers. Oral history interview includes discussion of Pritchett's involvement and subsequent election to president of the International Woodworkers of America, and later affiliation with the CIO (Congress of Industrial organizations), 1930s to early 1940s.
Listen to the audio recording and view the transcript of this interview on the Internet Archive.
Listen to the audio recording of this interview on the Libraries' Digital Collections website.
No restrictions on access.
Audio and transcript of the audio cassette are available on the Internet Archive and the Libraries' Digital Collections website. The original cassette is not accessible due to preservation concerns.
Request at UW
Audio and transcript of the audio cassette are available on the Internet Archive and the Libraries' Digital Collections website. The original cassette is not accessible due to preservation concerns.
Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Wikidata is available for this collection
Pritchett, Harold, 1904- --Archives
Pritchett, Harold, 1904- --Interviews
Orton, O. M
Coughlin, Paul
Pressman, Lee
Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)
International Woodworkers of America
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (AFL)
Communist Party of the United States of America
International Woodworkers of America. Local 180
Labor Archives of Washington (University of Washington)
Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Labor History
Labor Unions
Accession No. 1475-001: Harold Pritchett papers and oral history interview, 1937-1971 (bulk 1940)
0.33 cubic feet
textual materials
1 sound cassette
Scope and Content: Interview, correspondence, reports, ephemera, xerox copies of correspondence.
In the interview, Pritchett discusses his involvement and subsequent election to president of the International Woodworkers of America, and later affiliation with the CIO (Congress of Industrial organizations), 1930s to early 1940s. He talks about the reasons why the Woodworkers union wanted to leave the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (AFL) and resistance to joining the CIO. He describes conflicts between the union and employers and the attempts to create strife within the union itself and also conflicts with the Longshoreman's Union. He talks about a constitutional amendment to expel all communists and fascists from the union, the strike at Bloedel Donovan in Bellingham, Washington in 1937 and attempts to organize in the "deep South" in 1940.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users. The interview and transcript can be accessed online. The original analog tape cannot be played due to preservation concerns.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Harold Pritchett, Burnaby, B.C., October 31, 1970.
Harold Pritchett papers and oral history interview
1475-001 Box 1
Accession No. 1749-001: Harold Pritchett papers, 1971
1 vertical file
16 pages
Scope and Content: Union newspaper-IWA Local 180 bulletin, centennial edition, 1971 containing Pritchett's historical account of IWA.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Harold Pritchett, Port Coquitlam, B.C., November 12, 1971.
Harold Pritchett papers