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Eli L. Oliver papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS2114

Collection Scope and Content

This collection contains correspondence, hearing exhibits, financial reports, campaign literature and posters, reports, expense accounts, photographs, newspaper articles, speeches, press releases, pamphlets, and publications. The material dates from 1927-68.

The collection is rich in materials for the study of labor's involvement in politics from the 1930s to 1952. The correspondence contains letters from union officials from around the country for this period. Material related to Labor's Non-Partisan League includes financial records, organization memos, campaign pamphlets, and press releases. Also included are reports discussing primary and general election strategies form 1938 and 1940. Similar material is present for the American Labor Party of New York relating to the 1940 campaign and for the Labor Committee's backing the Truman-Barkley and Stevenson-Sparkman campaigns in 1948 and 1952. The Brotherhood of Railway Clerks is also represented within the collection material. There is also some personal materials for Oliver including photographs and financial records.

Dates

  • 1927-1968

Creator

Restrictions on Access

Some records may be restricted.

Restrictions on Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Historical or Biographical Note

Eli L. Oliver (b. 1899) was born in Walker, Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1918. His career in the labor field as an organizer and teacher began on the staff of the Federal Trade Commission in 1918 and again in 1920. From 1920-21 he was on the faculty of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and taught evenings at the Philadelphia Labor College. The following year he taught at Brookwood Labor College, Katonah, New York. He later worked as director of Labor Bureau, Inc. serving in its Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco offices.

In 1923, Oliver represented the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union in Cleveland on the Joint Bureau of Standards, setting production standards for the garment industry. From 1923-28 he was an organizer for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of American in its Western Department. For nine years, from 1928-37, he directed the research department of the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks and represented the United Textile Workers on the Textile Work Assignment Board of the National Recovery Administration from 1934-35. In 1937, he became executive vice-president of Labor's Non-Partisan League. Oliver left the Non-Partisan League in 1940 and became the executive director of the American Labor Party of New York for the 1940 election campaign. Following his work for the American Labor Party, Oliver joined the Labor Relations Branch of the Labor Division of the Office of Production Management (later to become the War Production Board) working as Special Labor Assistant to Sidney Hillman. In 1942, he became head of the Washington, D.C. office of the Labor Bureau of the Middle West and remained there until 1971. While he was with this organization, Oliver was Secretary-Treasurer of Labor's committee for Truman and Barkley in 1948 and Labor's committee for Stevenson and Sparkman in 1952.

Extent

8.5 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Eli Oliver was an organizer for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of American in its Western Department from 1923-1928. For nine years, from 1928-37, he directed the research department of the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks and represented the United Textile Workers on the Textile Work Assignment Board of the National Recovery Administration from 1934-35. In 1937, he became executive vice-president of Labor's Non-Partisan League. Oliver left the Non-Partisan League in 1940 and became the executive director of the American Labor Party of New York for the 1940 election campaign. Collection contains correspondence, hearing exhibits, financial reports, campaign literature and posters, reports, expense accounts, photographs, newspaper articles, speeches, press releases, pamphlets, and publications. The material dates from 1927-68.

Acquisition Information

Aquisition information is unknown.

Title
Guide to the Eli L. Oliver papers, 1927-1968
Status
Completed
Author
Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
Date
2006
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository

Contact:
2130 H Street NW
Washington 20052 United States of America