Secretary's File, J.E. Duncan - Sec. Treas., 1918-1920

The records of the Dayton Typographical Union No. 57 document the growth of trade unionism and the printing industry at the local level; they also document local involvement in national and international trade union movement and national and international trends in the printing trade.

The records are arranged by type of record into six series: legal reports from 1932-1970; correspondence files of the Secretary-Treasurer from 1930-1967; a varied collection of printed material; minutes of union meetings from 1866-1968; financial ledgers and journals from 1914-1972; and membership records from 1896-1970.

Series I, Legal Reports, 1932-1970, contains arbitration and appeal cases arranged alphabetically within chronological order.

Series II, Secretary's files, 1930-1967, contains correspondence files arranged alphabetically. In these files, one can find commercial printer and newspaper contract negotiations, the minutes and reports of various Union committees, arbitration and appeal cases, membership and apprentice applications, and formal agreements with contractors.

Series III, Printed Materials, 1866-1977, contains pamphlets, journals, newsletters and miscellaneous material arranged alphabetically.

Series IV, Minutes, 1866-1968, are arranged in chronological order and include reports from the Executive Board and various committees, summary financial information and discussion of issues of concern to the Union membership.

Series V, Financial Records, 1914-1972, contains journals, ledgers, receipts and reports arranged alphabetically, then in chronological order. The financial records include accounts of dues paid, sick relief and mortuary benefits, and statistical summary reports.

Series VI, Membership Records, 1896-1970, contain registers and roll books arranged alphabetically, then in chronological order. The records include much information on individual members relating to the stages of apprenticeship, the history of their membership, and the monetary benefits received are found in the membership registers and roll books.

Gaps in the collection include missing volumes of minutes for 1891-1899 and 1919-1934; Financial Secretary's Account 1910-1914; and Membership Roll Book 1924-1926. Also, there are gaps in the Secretary's Files, particularly in the correspondence files of the Secretary-Treasurer from 1920-1936 and 1938-1962. The collection lacks the files of the Union President's office. The records of the Dayton Typographical Union No. 57, however, document the ongoing operation and concerns of a local trade union and contain extensive financial and membership information along with that of detailed contract negotiation.