Papers, correspondence, documents, and subject files documenting Harry Bridges’ personal life, his four decade presidency of the International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union (ILWU), his activities after retirement, and the honors accorded him after death. Bridges’ work as a sailor in Australia and along the Pacific Coast is evidenced by documents and correspondence. Personal correspondence and subject files document Bridges’ early leadership in the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and his career as President of ILA District 38 and then of the ILWU from 1936-1977. Records of his deportation trials and of the Bridges-Robertson-Schmidt Tax Case, 1958 demonstrate the US government’s repeated attempts to remove Bridges from the country. Bridges’ personal life is documented through correspondence with his Australian family and correspondence, newspaper clippings, and other papers describing his three marriages. The collection also contains correspondence, contracts, and excerpts from unpublished Bridges biographies. A retrospective program celebrating Bridges’ career is evidenced by event planning records, greetings from national and international unions and political leaders, and a financial audit. Letters conveying “good wishes” and honors document Bridges’ retirement; correspondence files, and subject files on his work with senior groups and the World Peace Council evidence his retirement years. Finally, letters of condolence, obituaries, events associated with the 100th anniversary of his birth, the establishment of the HRB Chair at the University of Washington, the Harry Bridges Institute and legal documents with Ian Ruskin’s Harry Bridges Project make up the rest of the collection.

Documents in this collection reflect the entire life of HRB from his baptismal records to the post-mortem years. The papers have been arranged to record his personal life, his years as a longshore union leader, his activities after retirement, and the honors accorded him after he died. HRB had two related careers, first as a seaman, second when he came ashore in San Francisco and worked as a longshoreman and then longshore union leader. Researchers will find materials documenting his trips aboard various ships, both in Australia and along the Pacific Coast, as well as some correspondence to friends with whom he shipped out. His early leadership in the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) is documented by a handwritten draft of demands for longshore negotiations in 1934. There is also his 1935 longshoreman’s registration certificate issued after the 1934 strike. But most of the records generated in his capacity as a union officer are to be found in the archives of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU).

The Bridges papers contain correspondence with his family in Australia, and correspondence, newspaper clippings and other papers describe his three marriages. His third marriage with Noriko “Nikki” Sawada in 1958 fills several folders. Income tax returns and papers on medical care are also here. There are one and a half boxes of correspondence, contracts and excerpts of biographies as well as excerpts of an autobiography assisted by Nikki Bridges and Charles Einstein (unpublished).

Significant are files of HRB’s Personal correspondence from 1936 to 1977 (see Series III) while he was president of the ILA District 38 and the ILWU, and later files after he retired (see Series VIII). During his years with the ILWU, personal letters to and from HRB were typed by his secretary and kept at his office. Correspondence with ILWU and other union members which he chose to keep confidential were also placed in the same personal correspondence series. Of special interest are letters from Joe Curran discussing the 1936 seamen’s strike and one written after HRB retired. Series VI holds correspondence with Communist Party leaders. These Personal files, which HRB took home when he retired, fill over five boxes. There are subject files for the same period and though the folder list covers a range of subjects, none comprise a comprehensive collection on any subject. For the most part, they were random documents significant to HRB which he chose to keep.

The Harry Renton Bridges Papers contain a few documents dealing with the deportation trials. There is a fair amount of material on the Bridges-Robertson-Schmidt Tax Case, 1958, including an excellent detailed trial chronology which is appended to Judge Goodman’s Opinion, 1955 (folder 11/4). But the researcher should look to the Labor Archives’ Leonard Collection for that aspect of HRB’s career.

HRB’s retired as ILWU International President in 1977 but his retirement had been considered for several years. At the 1975 convention, he supported a resolution that “Any full-time elected officer who would reach the age of 65 prior to the time he would begin another term ... shall be ineligible to seek elective office.” This required that three officers, HRB, International President, William Chester, International Vice-president and Louis Goldblatt, International Secretary-Treasurer had to retire in 1977. That same year, 1975, a testimonial dinner was held to honor HRB’s life’s work. It was a major gathering of union, industry and political leaders heralding his emergence as a “labor statesman.” Records documenting this event include a program summarizing his life, many greetings from national and international unions and political leaders, and a financial audit of the event. The series also contains documents supporting his retirement and many “good wishes” letters and honors. His retirement years are documented with correspondence files, most likely typed by his wife, Nikki, and subject files on his work with senior groups and the World Peace Council. His failing health from emphysema is recorded; his correspondence includes many declined invitations due to his illness.

Nikki Sawada Bridges must be commended for collecting documents of the many projects to commemorate HRB’s life after he died. Letters of condolence, obituaries, events associated with the 100th anniversary of his birth, the establishment of the HRB Chair at the University of Washington, the Harry Bridges Institute and legal documents with Ian Ruskin’s Harry Bridges Project are in this final section of the collection.