Dayton Typographical Union, Local 57 Records

The National Typographical Union, which was founded in 1852 in Cincinnati, and Canadian affiliations, formed the International Typographical Union in 1869.

The Dayton Typographical Union Local No. 57 was organized May 13, 1862 and a charter was issued to twenty-one members who met at various locations including the Sheriff's office. The union was located at 120 West 2nd Street in the Hulman Building in the 1970s. According to the Constitution and By-Laws, the purpose of the Union is to "elevate and protect the interests of the craft in general; to regulate wages and working conditions and all other things appertaining to the conduct of the printing business" within its jurisdiction.

The Constitution and By-Laws established the specific records to be kept by Union Officers. The Recorder was charged with keeping a record book of the proceedings of all meetings and recording the Constitution, By-Laws, Scale of Prices and amendments thereto, and all resolutions relating to the government of the Union. The Secretary-Treasurer was to receive and review all membership applications, register a variety of information on union members, submit financial reports to the Secretary-Treasurer of the I.T.U., answer Union correspondence, keep journals of receipts and expenditures and ledgers of accounts. The correspondence files of three of the Union's Secretary-Treasurers - J.E. Duncan, 1918-1920; E.K. Reinhard, 1936-1938; and Merton W. Phillips, 1962-1965 are included in this collection.

Early problems encountered by the Union included difficulties in obtaining contracts, in collecting dues, and in getting its officials to attend meetings. Officials serve on a part time basis at low wages. There was no full time Secretary-Treasurer until 1938. From 1865 through 1930, the Union campaigned for the controversial 40-hour work week. Technological innovations such as the introduction of the linotype in 1891 and the teletype about 1950 created wage scale and training problems. The Union further adapted to new processes in 1955 when it initiated a vigorous training program in the use of the I.T.U.'s new ruling machines, and had the machines placed in its contractor's shops.

In addition to concern for wages and the training required to keep members abreast of new technology and techniques, the Union actively undertook to educate government officials, businessmen, and members of their families about the history of trade unionism and the importance of supporting unions by buying union-made products. The families of members became involved in the educating process through the auspices of the Women's Auxiliary of the Dayton Typographical Union No. 57, organized in 1933.

Despite problems created by increased mechanization, the Taft-Hartley Art and right-to-work legislation, the Union expanded in the late 1950's and early 1960's when it organized chapters in Greenfield, Troy, and Washington Court House in Ohio. In 1962 the Union celebrated its 100th anniversary.