United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local 104 Records

The bulk of the records of Local 104, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, is the minutes of the organization for the years 1890-1923, 1926-1939, 1947-1954, and 1967-1969. The minutes are general in nature. They include records of the receipt of communications, payment of expenses, application and initiation of members, elections of officers and delegates to union councils and conventions, and contributions for the relief of members in distress. There are occasional references in the early minute books to labor issues, but no details are recorded on these subjects.

The hour and wage goals of the union in 1890 and 1900 are recorded in Minutes Books 1 and 2, respectively. In volume 1, there is a reference to the local's first, and unsuccessful, strike, from May 16 to June 7, 1980. In 1919, there are frequent records of requests for aid from striking unions and of Local 104's actions on these requests. In 1920, proposed rules for job stewards are recorded. From the 1920s, reports on expenditures from the unions various funds appear regularly in the minutes; prior to this, expenditures are not recorded for specific accounts. There are gaps in the minutes from February 1923 through May 1926, January 1940 through June 1947, and 1955 through 1966. Minute Book 11, 1923-1926, appears to have been missing as early as circa 1939, when an inventory of minute books was prepared.

Miscellaneous loose papers removed from the minute books include correspondence, rough drafts, financial reports, and committee reports. Among these miscellaneous loose papers are two sheets which appear to be notes excerpted from an earlier minute book. They mention events in the history of the Local from the 1880s.

The financial records consist of one folder of bond reports and quarterly audits, 1934-1953, and three ledgers: receipts and expenses, 1947-1954, and in two volumes, accounts of the General Fund, Building Fund, Sick Benefit Fund, Emergency Fund, and Contingency Fund, 1957-1963.

Ephemera consists of miscellaneous printed items, including: a card containing a brief history of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, an "ode card;" a pension fund report dated 2/1/73; and union stationery.