Lawrence B. Martin Transport Workers Union of America collection
Scope and Contents - from the collection guide
The first folder is “Biographies” which lists the scope of his 38 years in public life. A significant biography was prepared for Martin’s retirement celebration booklet which covers his life in some detail from childhood to retirement and is illustrated with many photos. For his first elected position as steward of the Presidio Division, there is a binder holding documents he collected to perform his duties. Additional papers held in Series I cover his appointment to the TWU Civil & Human Rights Division as well as his appointment to the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and his service as Western Regional Director of the A. Philip Randolph Institute. There are also two folders of newspaper clippings reporting Martin’s activities.
The greatest volume of material is that which was created by the TWU - both the Local 250-A and National Office. Included are constitutions, educational programs, candidates’ statements for local elections, legal actions, rank & file material, retirement programs and the retirees’ club.
Significant are records from the Muni Health and Safety Project, originally called the Study of Stress and Hypertension in Muni Transportation Drivers. Documents include the proposal, several reports, and extensive supporting data. There is a large folder of printed pamphlets, some published by the TWU Local 250-A/Muni Improvement Fund. There is a run of the TWU Express, 1969-2006 (broken run) as well as documents from the Educational Center.
Printed documents other than those by the Transport Workers Union include leadership training from the AFL-CIO and others on fair housing in San Francisco and diversity in the workplace.
Primarily documents the TWU, particularly San Francisco Local 250-A. Includes material related to TWU constitutions, educational programs, candidates’ statements for local elections, legal actions, rank & file material, retirement programs, the TWU Express, and the retirees’ club. There is also some biographical material on Martin, and additional material related to AFL-CIO leadership training, fair housing in San Francisco, diversity in the workplace, and the Muni Health and Safety Project. Also included is documentation of Martin's participation in the TWU Civil & Human Rights Division, the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and the A. Philip Randolph Institute.
Dates
- 1952 - 2006
- Majority of material found within 1970 - 1989
Biographical / Historical
The bulk of this collection comes from the records of the Transport Workers Union - both the National Office and Local 250-A, the San Francisco Municipal Drivers Union. Additionally, there is material from other organizations and commissions where Larry Martin served. Except for biographical material, there are few personal papers, but the scope of the collection offers a clear view of Martin's life, his work, and his interests.
Larry Martin earliest work began as a child in Pine Bluff, Arkansas as a child helping in his mother’s grocery store. When he was 13, he began driving for his step-father’s storage company. As soon as he graduated from high school, he and his family moved to Oakland, California.
Martin’s career with the Transport Workers Union began after in 1966 driving Muni buses and within two years, he was elected steward of the Presidio Division. This was a full-time union position he held for six years. Concurrently, he enrolled in a series of labor study classes at the University of San Francisco, University of California, Berkeley, and Merritt College. These classes continued until 1975 when he earned an A.A. Degree. In 1974, he was elected president of Local 250-A – a post he held until he became an International officer in 1980. Prior to his retirement in 2004, Martin served as International Administrative Vice President, the fourth highest position in the TWU.
The Transport Workers Union was Martin’s base, but San Francisco mayors appointed him to several commissions: the Human Rights Commission (1984), the Planning Commission (1993), and the Recreation and Parks Commission (2000). He also was a leader in the A. Philip Randolph Institute, the NAACP, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Coalition of Labor Union Women, and Pride at Work. He also served on the Labor Advisory Boards of San Francisco State University, University of San Francisco, and City College of San Francisco.
The Larry B. Martin Papers offer a history of his life and also documents his leadership in his union, as well as the San Francisco Commissions to which he was appointed, and organizations dedicated to improving the life of working people.
Extent
4.25 Cubic Feet ( (3 cartons) (1 box))
Language of Materials
English
Series Descriptions
Series Description
Series I: Larry B. Martin
Martin’s leadership from 1966, when he joined the TWU, to his retirement is recorded in the following folders: biographies, Local 250-A Elections–Larry Martin Campaign Material, speeches, appointments, programs from tributes, and newspaper clippings on Martin’s activities.
Series II: Transport Workers Union - Local 250-A
Printed documents include constitution and bylaws, correspondence, election campaign material (other that Martin’s) and tally sheets, events honoring Muni drivers, newspaper clippings, newsletters and pamphlets, rank and file activity, and retirement activities. The largest file is the Muni Health and Safety Project originally called the Study of Stress and Hypertension in Muni Transit Operators.
Series III: TWU California State Council and Local Other Than 250-A
Two folders hold a binder titled “TWO California State Conference on Voter Registration,” and documents from other Northern California locals.
Series IV: TWU National Office
Print materials include calendars, convention proceedings, Education Department material, pamphlets and brochures, and a broken run of TWU Express, 1969 - 2006.
Series V: San Francisco Municipal Railway
Most significant are the Muni Official Rule Books and a news clipping which include a brief “History of Muni.”
Series VI: Reports and Documents - AFL-CIO
One folder holds five diverse documents–three from the education department, the Walter Johnson Retirement Celebration booklet, a Martin Luther King observance in 2005.
Series VII: Reports and Documents - Other Than TWU and AFL-CIO)
One folder holds four diverse documents–“One City or Two? Report of the San Francisco Fair Housing Planning Committee for the Racial, Ethnic and Economic Intergration of Residential Neighborhood..., 1973, Claremont EAP (Employee Assistant Programs, “Exploring
Differences in the Workplace...”, 2005 Labor Awards - Instituto Laboral de la Raza, “Charter Revision: What’s It All About?
Introduction
In 2006 and 2007, Larry Martin brought to the Labor Archives and Research Center documents and photographs he collected during the 38 years he served as an active member and leader of the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU). The print material has been processed by Carol Cuenod in 2007.
Processing Information
Processed with Guide Includes artifacts (buttons, audio vinyl disc, posters) and published material.
- Status
- In Progress
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Labor Archives and Research Center Repository
San Francisco State University
J. Paul Leonard Library, Room 460
1630 Holloway Ave
San Francisco 94132-1722 USA
(415) 405-5571
larc@sfsu.edu