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Montana Typographical Conference records, 1937-1984

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Montana Typographical Conference
Title
Montana Typographical Conference records
Dates
1937-1984 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.0 linear feet
Collection Number
MC 321
Summary
The Montana Typographical Conference was the state-wide organization for the International Typographical Union. There were local unions in many cities around the state. Records include interoffice correspondence (1958-1980), correspondence with the local unions (1953-1984), correspondence with the international union (1959-1984), and general correspondence (1955-1984) with the Montana State AFL-CIO and others. In addition there are financial records, local union contracts, convention minutes (1953-1984), organizational records, reports, subject files, and miscellany. There is a small subgroup for records of the International Typographical Union.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library and Archives
Montana Historical Society, Library and Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 406-444-2681
Fax: 406-444-5297
mthslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

The National Typographical Union was established in 1852 as the major union in the printing trade. In 1874 it became the International Typographical Union with several Canadian locals. The first Montana local union was formed in Helena in 1867. Gradually additional local unions were established in cities across the state. Initially, the Helena local functioned as the de facto state organization. The Montana Typographical Conference was formed in 1929 to coordinate the work of the local unions. The objectives of the conference included organizing the printing trade around the state, promoting the training of printers, urging buyers of printed material to patronize union shops, encouraging cooperation among locals, and assisting them in contract negotiations. During the Depression and war years the conference was largely inactive. After World War II, the conference became a leading factor in the printers' union statewide. It became actively involved in apprenticeship programs, in training in new printing technologies, in relations with the Montana State AFL-CIO, and contract discussions. Although membership in the local unions was declining rapidly due to new technology, the conference remained vigorous into the early 1980s. The Montana Typographical Conference folded about 1984. After briefly considering a merger with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the International Typographical Union was absorbed into the Communications Workers of America in 1987.

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Content Description

Records include interoffice correspondence (1958-1980) among the officers and board members of the Conference; correspondence with the local unions (1953-1984), correspondence with the international union (1959-1984), and general correspondence (1955-1984) with the Montana State AFL-CIO and others. Among the major correspondents are Stanley E. Thurston, Breen J. Hamry, Konrad E. Braaten, Fred W. Richards, Ben T. Melugin, Harry L. Billings, Sam Butler, Edwin R. Wakefield, Bernard Kempa, Frank E. Winkler, and Donald R. Schmit. In addition, there are financial records, consisting of financial reports (1956-1984) of the secretary-treasurer, local union dues payments (1960-1977), and other items. There are scattered contracts of local unions including Billings, Great Falls, Bozeman, and Miles City. There are convention minutes (1953-1984), including resolutions passed and convention programs. Organizational records include constitutions and bylaws for the conference and for the Billings and Butte local unions; delegate reports, and lists of local unions. There are annual reports (1952-1956), reports of the secretary-treasurer (1966-1968), a report of the president (1973?), and reports from local unions. Subject files include legislation, the Montana Farmer-Labor Institute, the Montana Mechanical Clinic, the Montana United Labor Council, and the Rocky Mountain Labor School. In addition there are miscellaneous other materials including a history of the Montana Typographical Conference by Harry L. Billings, writing contest entries, and brochures from a variety of organizations on a variety of issues. There is a small subgroup of records of the International Typographical Union. Included are convention proceedings (1956, 1961); printed material; and a subject file on a proposed merger of ITU with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in 1984-1985.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. The Library & Archives does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.

Preferred Citation

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged by series.

Location of Collection

15:8-3

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

  • Interoffice Correspondence

    • Description: Montana Typographical Conference (correspondents include Carl A. Steck, George Broeker, Tom Hawkins, Breen J. Hamry, Stanley E. Thurston, Konrad E. Braaten)
      Dates: 1958-1959
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence
    • Description: Montana Typographical Conference (correspondents include Tom Hawkins, Breen J. Hamry, Stanley E. Thurston, Konrad E. Braaten, Ben T. Melugin, Fred W. Richards)
      Dates: 1960
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 2
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence
    • Description: Montana Typographical Conference (correspondents include Ben T. Melugin, Fred W. Richards, Harry L. Billings, Wally Fournier, Sam Butler, Robert G. Thomas, Leonard L. Barclay, Edwin R. Wakefield)
      Dates: 1961-1962
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 3
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence
    • Description: Montana Typographical Conference (correspondents include Leonard L. Barclay, Edwin R. Wakefield, Stanley E. Thurston, Harry L. Billings, Breen J. Hamry, Robert G. Thomas, Alfred N. Johnson, Bernard J. Kempa)
      Dates: 1963-1964
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 4
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence
    • Description: Montana Typographical Conference (correspondents include Stanley E. Thurston, Breen J. Hamry, Bernard J. Kempa, Woodrow J. Wilson, Frank E. Winkler, John Polston)
      Dates: 1965-1966
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 5
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence
    • Description: Montana Typographical Conference (correspondents include Woodrow J. Wilson, Arvid Lundin, Ralph Ammondson, Donald R. Schmit, Peter J. McKeon)
      Dates: 1969-1970
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 7
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence
    • Description: Montana Typographical Conference (correspondents include Bernard Kempa, Eugene Fischer, Peter J. McKeon, John Eckenweiler, Dan Berg, Floyd A. Severson)
      Dates: 1971-1980
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 8
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence
    • Description: Montana local typographical unions (includes Anaconda #255, Billings #398, Bozeman #656, Butte #126, Great Falls #256, Havre #764, Helena #95, Kalispell #723, Lewistown #550, Livingston #489, Miles City #631, Missoula #277)
      Dates: 1953-1973
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 9-13
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence
    • Description: Montana local typographical unions (includes Anaconda #255, Billings #398, Bozeman #656, Butte #126, Great Falls #256, Havre #764, Helena #95, Kalispell #723, Lewistown #550, Livingston #489, Miles City #631, Missoula #277)
      Dates: 1974-1984
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1-3
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence
    • Description: International Typographical Union
      Dates: 1959-1984
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 4-5
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence

  • General Correspondence

    • Description: Montana State AFL-CIO (re organizing, training programs, "right-to-work" legislation, sales tax, legislation, politics, etc.)
      Dates: 1959-1984
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 6-15
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Chronological (correspondents include Montana state agencies, printing companies, politicians, etc.)
      Dates: 1955-1984
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 1-5
      Location: General Correspondence

  • Financial Records

    • Description: Anaconda Company strike fund
      Dates: 1968
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 6
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Audit Committee reports
      Dates: 1964-1965, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 7
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Bank records
      Dates: 1965-1966
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 8
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Financial reports of Secretary-Treasurer [some years missing]
      Dates: 1956-1984
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 9
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Journal and check register
      Dates: 1959-1981
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 10
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Local union dues payments
      Dates: 1960-1977
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 11
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Miscellaneous (includes bills, receipts, etc.)
      Dates: 1960-1966
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 12
      Location: Financial Records

  • Legal Documents

    • Description: Contracts: Billings Typographical Union #398 and Billings Gazette; Great Falls Typographical Union #256 and Great Falls Tribune; Bozeman Typographical Union #656 and Artcraft Printers; Miles City Typographical Union #631 and Star Printing Company; blank sample contract
      Dates: 1964-1983
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 13
      Location: Legal Documents

  • Minutes

    • Description: Convention minutes, resolutions, programs
      Dates: 1953-1984, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 14-21
      Location: Minutes

  • Organizational Records

    • Description: Constitutions and bylaws
      Dates: 1937, 1955-1982
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 1
      Location: Organizational Records
    • Description: Constitutions and bylaws: Billings Typographical Union #398; Butte Typographical Union #126
      Dates: 1952, 1966
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 2
      Location: Organizational Records
    • Description: Delegate credentials
      Dates: 1959-1969, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 3
      Location: Organizational Records
    • Description: Delegate reports (gives data on local unions)
      Dates: 1961
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 4
      Location: Organizational Records
    • Description: Local unions contract data
      Dates: circa 1960-1969
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 5
      Location: Organizational Records
    • Description: Local union lists
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 6
      Location: Organizational Records

  • Reports

    • Description: Annual reports
      Dates: 1952-1956
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 7
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Delegates' reports on Montana Typographical Conference conventions, seminars, etc.
      Dates: 1954-1963
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 8
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Reports from local unions (also includes winning entries in contest "My future in printing under ITU training")
      Dates: 1969
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 9
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Report of president
      Dates: circa 1973
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 10
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Reports of secretary-treasurer
      Dates: 1966-1968, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 11
      Location: Reports

  • Subject Files

    • Description: Legislation
      Dates: 1959-1963, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 12
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Montana Farmer-Labor Institute
      Dates: 1961
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 13
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Montana Mechanical Clinic (re training for new technologies)
      Dates: 1958
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 14
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Montana United Labor Council
      Dates: 1962
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 15
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Rocky Mountain Labor School
      Dates: 1974
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 16
      Location: Subject Files

  • Miscellany

    • Description: Advertisements for new printing equipment
      Dates: circa 1961
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 17
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Election returns for new Constitution and for legislative candidates
      Dates: 1972
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 18
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: History of Montana Typographical Conference by Harry Billings
      Dates: 1963
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 19
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: "History of the Union Label" (contest entries)
      Dates: circa 1964
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 20
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Legislators' voting record on key union issues
      Dates: 1971
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 21
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Political campaign materials
      Dates: 1971-1972
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 22
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: "Right-to-Work" materials
      Dates: 1958-1966
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 23
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Sales tax materials
      Dates: circa 1961
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 24
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Union advertisement contest entries
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 25
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Miscellaneous (includes advertisements, brochures, blank stationery, Consumer Affairs Council membership certificate, press release, International Typographical Union progressive party materials)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 26
      Location: Miscellany

  • Transfers to other programs

    • Description: Convention photos transferred to Photo Archives; The Typo Bulletin transferred to Library
      Dates: 1957; 1959-1970
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 27
      Location: Transfers to other programs

  • Minutes

    • Description: Convention proceedings
      Dates: 1956, 1961
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 28-29
      Location: Minutes

  • Printed Material

    • Description: The Bulletin
      Dates: 1956, 1961 1971-1972
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 30
      Location: Printed Material
    • Description: Contract File [newsletter]
      Dates: 1961-1962
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 31
      Location: Printed Material
    • Description: "Facts about the International Typographical Union"
      Dates: 1956
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 32
      Location: Printed Material
    • Description: ITU Lessons in Printing : Trade Unionism [vol. 6]
      Dates: 1946
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 1
      Location: Printed Material
    • Description: ITU Review
      Dates: 1961, 1964-1968
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 2
      Location: Printed Material
    • Description: Minimum Wage Scale pamphlets
      Dates: 1947-1952
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 3
      Location: Printed Material
    • Description: Official Directory of the International Typographical Union (lists international officers, local union jurisdictions, officers of local unions, conferences, local printing trades councils and state conferences)
      Dates: 1984
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 4
      Location: Printed Material
    • Description: Wage Scales, Hours, and Working Conditions pamphlets
      Dates: 1953-1957
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 5
      Location: Printed Material

  • Subject Files

    • Description: Proposed merger of International Typographical Union with International Brotherhood of Teamsters
      Dates: 1984-1985
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 6
      Location: Subject Files

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Labor unions--Newspaper employees
  • Newspaper publishing
  • Printing
  • Trade-unions--Newspaper employees

Corporate Names

  • Montana Typographical Conference (creator)

Finding aid prepared by MHS Staff; Updated by Aaron Rau
2004; 2024

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