Skip to main content

Clyde L. Johnson collection

 Collection
Identifier: larc-ms-0135

Scope and Contents

Materials related to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA) at the national, California and local levels, including convention proceedings, bylaws, agreements, and pamphlets, collected in the course of Johnson's work as business agent for UBCJA's Local 550 Chapter in Oakland, California. While the majority of the collection reflects official documentation from UBCJA and California State Council of Carpenters, also present are publications from workers and players within the Millmen and Carpenter industry. Some materials reflect Johnson's long standing conflict with the National UBCJA organization.

Dates

  • 1954-1983

Biographical Information

Clyde Johnson (1908-1994) was a lifelong labor organizer who worked within many different industries during his lifetime. Throughout his long career as an organizer, Johnson worked with students, iron and foundry workers, coal workers, sharecroppers, electrical workers, agricultural workers, and carpenters.

In 1955 Johnson moved from Washington, D.C. to Oakland, California where he joined Local 550 of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA). He served as the business agent for UBCJA from 1960-1966 before joining the Institute of Industrial Relations at University of California, Berkeley in 1967. In his later years, Johnson devoted himself to telling the story of working class resistance and organizing struggles, including Millmen 550: A History of the Militant Years (1961-1966) of Local 550 United Brotherhood of Carpenters, which details his role as the union's business agent during the time period.

Johnson's book Organize or Die: Smash Boss Unionism--Build Union Power, Organize Two Million Carpenters and Woodworkers critized the national UBCJA body and President William Hutcheson, a conservative craft-unionist who was often at odds with local chapters, revoking the charters of those that he believe held Communist sympathies. As a Communist, Johnson fought for worker controlled unions and militant organizing strategies, such as strikes and lockouts. Due in part to his efforts, Local 550 became known for its focus on civil rights and trade union democracy. Clyde Johnson died on October 5, 1994.

Extent

2.5 Cubic Feet (2 cartons)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Materials related to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA) at the national, California and local levels, including convention proceedings, bylaws, agreements, and pamphlets, collected in the course of Johnson's work as business agent for UBCJA's Local 550 Chapter in Oakland, California. While the majority of the collection reflects official documentation from UBCJA and California State Council of Carpenters, also present are publications from workers and players within the Millmen and Carpenter industry. Some materials reflect Johnson's long standing conflict with the National UBCJA organization.

Arrangement

Arranged as received.

Location

Vault 08:06:C

Physical Location

Available onsite.

Related Materials

The Millmen Local 550 (Oakland, Calif.) Records, Labor Archives and Research Center.

Transcript of David Oberweiser's interview with Clyde Johnson, Labor Archives and Research Center.

The Clyde Johnson Papers, 1930s-1990, University of North Carolina. https://finding-aids.lib.unc.edu/04642/#d1e282

The Clyde Johnson Papers, 1941-1944, University of Texas, Arlington. https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utarl/02297/arl-02297.html

Separated Materials

The following books were retained by LARC and were relocated to the Book Collection:

Bertram, Gordon W. Consolidated Bargaining in California Construction: An Appraisal of Twenty-Years’ Experience. Institute of Industrial Relations, University of California, Los Angeles, 1966.

Christie, Robert A. Empire in Wood: A History of the Carpenters’ Union. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 1956.

Daly, Donald F. Know Your Union: A Guide to Jobs in the Building Trades. Dorrance & Company, Philadelphia, 1964.

Galenson, Walter. The United Brotherhood of Carpenters: The First Hundred Years. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1983.

Mills, Daniel Quinn. The Industrial Relations and Manpower in Construction. The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1972.

Schorr, Alvin L. Slums and Social Insecurity: An appraisal of the effectiveness of housing policies in helping to eliminate poverty in the United States. U.S. Department of Health, #Education and Welfare. Social Security Administration, 1966.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment and Earnings: States and Areas 1939-70. Bulletin 1370-8, 1971.

Selected pamphlets and other print material on subjects other than the building trades was relocated to the Ephemera Files. It can be identified with the accession number 2002/048.

Processing Information

Processed by Labor Archives staff; finding aid written by Leah Humphreys, 2020.

Title
Finding Aid to the Clyde Johnson Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid written by Leah Humphreys.
Date
2020
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Labor Archives and Research Center Repository

Contact:
San Francisco State University
J. Paul Leonard Library, Room 460
1630 Holloway Ave
San Francisco 94132-1722 USA
(415) 405-5571