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https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Herb_Janick_Papers_MS012/7996/ms012_11_38_king[1].mp3
ae4341de8abfbac538d988e7c67b96b4
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Herb Janick Papers, MS012
Description
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The Herbert F. Janick, Jr. Papers spans the years 1889-2002 and consists mainly of Janick’s research for his book on the centennial history of Western Connecticut State University.
Contributor
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Janick, Herb
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<a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/findingaids/ctdbn_ms012_janick.xml">Link to finding aid.</a>
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f32271cc-b16e-4921-8776-db43f2dc8a6f
Oral History
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Transcription
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00;00;00;00 - 00;00;13;13
Unknown
I guess it was 19 years ago. In 1978. Yeah, so said, like, what kind of fields that you teach?
00;00;13;15 - 00;00;41;23
Unknown
Well, I came here originally. they had started Basic studies program, which I guess still exists, and so modified for. But at any rate, they wanted somebody to work part time, I guess half time in there. And then the other half of the assignment was to, to be determined, so to speak, based I suppose, and other things on who you are and what your background was.
00;00;41;26 - 00;01;14;28
Unknown
And when I came here, I was in my early forties and I had been teaching for 20 years. So I had done a lot of things and I think the first seven years, most of the first seven years I was here, there was a and clinic. So I basically I started which still operates and that originally was intended to be of service specifically to basic studies students.
00;01;15;00 - 00;01;40;13
Unknown
But as things are in this life, what happens is that the rich get richer and so on, and the students who tend to become the students who well, it wasn't the students who needed it most, who came for it that way. They had certain kinds of students who were, you know, driven to do well and, you know, more driven to do well.
00;01;40;15 - 00;02;06;10
Unknown
And so I would get students from calculus classes and pre-calculus and even more advanced courses like differential equations, who would come when it was expected that different kind of people would come. So at any rate, it didn't work out quite as it was originally intended. And then I went on sabbatical. So 1986 and after that someone else took it over.
00;02;06;12 - 00;02;41;06
Unknown
And I guess now they have a person who is essentially responsible, I think, for the clinic pretty much on a full time basis. And I guess she teaches at least one course of any rate. That's that was that that was her principal responsibility. And as time went by, it wasn't my principal responsibility was originally get my responsibility as a partially by responsibility, but I ended up doing other things Well, for example, I worked with students, which was for those first seven years also.
00;02;41;08 - 00;03;07;14
Unknown
So it was, yeah, But when I came back, the department was different and I guess assignments had been shifted around and I ended up doing some counseling. Yeah, I actually I tried, you know, an institution like this, it's often I don't want to say always, but it's often not a good idea to pursue. I'm sorry to hire people who have a narrow range of interests.
00;03;07;14 - 00;03;41;01
Unknown
You need people who are willing to do different things. And I tried hard to do that for a long time. So I taught courses in very basic level. But he also got some graduate courses in trying to find a regular course and be able to and you know, a lot of undergraduate courses. I had the opportunity to teach part of that, the courses because, the people who were running the department would find the Chairperson like he was brought over.
00;03;41;04 - 00;04;06;12
Unknown
And the after that came over was. Chairperson And they were open to the idea of people trying different things rather than having a specific narrow range of courses to teach. So I did a lot of different things, not only because I wanted to, but because they were open to that sort of thing and always had some sort of customer service in the whole course as opposed to by the that level.
00;04;06;19 - 00;04;41;19
Unknown
So I remember in the early days it was very difficult to hire computer scientists to teach computer science courses. So what happened was that there was there were there were a number of us who basically tried to bootstrap ourselves and, you know, learn enough computer science so we could teach the lower level courses which would free up people I'd get jobs for who was still here, of course, and Rohnert Park was to teach the more advanced courses they were proposing, specifically computer science.
00;04;41;21 - 00;05;09;19
Unknown
And that was kind of fun to, you know, to try to do something different. I'm not sure how good it was for the students, but this one for the actually in the department is about 13 people that probably were at one time and other maybe about eight of us who did that, you know, taught us 100 and maybe one or two other courses just because there was a need and there weren't enough to get, you know, you couldn't hire computer science people to do it.
00;05;09;21 - 00;05;38;14
Unknown
And then, of course, the supply of computer science prepared people changed. And nowadays, for example, it's it's possible for a place like Western to not only hire a computer scientist, but even insist that they have a Ph.D. in computer science before they come. So it's dramatically different from what it was in the early eighties. So I think it comes down to really they they didn't need me to do computer science anymore.
00;05;38;17 - 00;06;07;15
Unknown
So but it was fun and I learned a lot in the process. And you're how how's has West Ham changed? I mean, like, you know, like the student base, you know, how it is is different, especially for a two to I don't think I see a significant difference. But in terms of I do think it was when I first came in basic studies program, it was a distinct program.
00;06;07;17 - 00;06;39;09
Unknown
And so essentially you had the regular program and then the basic studies program for other students. And those things have been changed now in such a way that I guess the what I guess students who don't meet the normal interest requirements that I quoted, I think that's a I think it's an inherent to the acronym. But the point is those people are merging with regular students in all places.
00;06;39;11 - 00;06;59;21
Unknown
And I suspect that's, first of all, better for them from the point of view that they're not different from everybody else and and they're not just matter of fact, in most other ways. I mean, they do they probably are about as successful at the same rate as other students. And if there's a difference, it's not a large difference.
00;06;59;21 - 00;07;44;06
Unknown
And I think at this point, that program does merge with radio and that idea. So I think that's one big change that we no longer have this clear distinction between regular students and basic studies students. Beyond that, I don't know. I mean, I don't see an awful lot of difference otherwise, I well, of course, I was here before the West Side campus was was in use, so I really forget the exact reason, But I think it was happening to maybe one when we you know, they had to make some decisions about who would move over to the West Side campus.
00;07;44;09 - 00;08;19;11
Unknown
I think it was assumed for the first time that the business school or the school, but it was also clear that was only the white people in that building, you know, more and more programs and the metropolitan community, for whatever reasons, had the opportunity to move over there. And I remember that there really wasn't an awful lot of opposition, at least I believe there was, for example, the office space that was available to me that was in the basement of their office, which is a pretty dreadful place that they were.
00;08;19;14 - 00;08;45;02
Unknown
So, you know, I mean, it's it's dusty and I understand they have fences down there with the dust around some of that was out. There are people with asthma problems that it was just a kind of grinding place. There was no privacy. If you had the students about something, you know, there were the cubicles were all open overhead and it just wasn't conducive and not a good place to meet the students.
00;08;45;04 - 00;09;08;13
Unknown
So when we had the chance to move on to the west Side, most of us were anxious to go. And, and I think even now it's like my guess is that most people think it was still a good idea when most things developed over the years. And it seems now that most of the best courses are for mid-term and most of the computer science courses of Westlake.
00;09;08;16 - 00;09;32;12
Unknown
Yeah, for the most part. So the department is kind of split in terms of where to start. And I don't know if that's good. I think that's just that that's a fact of life that to to get to the university, all those people. And so you know for me the West Side campus was it was it was a great opportunity.
00;09;32;12 - 00;09;54;14
Unknown
I like being over there. And to this day, I still find it a kind of friendly place to be, which is unusual from friendly, you know, new place and, you know, new state. 100 years ago, I was I was in an urban area and the old school was downtown, and they opened up the $2 million campus at the far edge of town.
00;09;54;17 - 00;10;17;23
Unknown
And it was a pretty concrete block. And then they had about five brothers sitting on this block. And every everybody who went there thought it was forced and very, very and perhaps it wasn't the beginning. But of course, as the years go by, things grow up and you get used to it. But that's part of the point is at the beginning, a new campus.
00;10;17;23 - 00;10;37;25
Unknown
So I think that's very forbidding to people. And to me, the West Side never looked like that. Maybe, maybe it's because of winter traffic. But I just look at your office window and see deer. And in recent years there have been wild turkeys, you know, And those ones, that's know, I always regarded it as a nice place to live.
00;10;37;27 - 00;11;02;16
Unknown
The I don't know. How would you describe the faculty? I mean, I assume that the faculty back in, you know, earlier when you first started teaching here is probably a smaller, maybe more cohesive unit. And maybe over the years it's grown. You feel a change in there? I don't I don't really think it's much larger than what I think it's larger at all.
00;11;02;18 - 00;11;32;04
Unknown
My recollection is that there was 13 full time members of the department that I think and if that number was not correct, that was close to that like 11 or 12. I think it would be fair to say that the this department has always been relatively cohesive. In fact, as far as I'm concerned, one of the one of the, one of the best parts about working here for those 20 years was the fact that it was with a congenial group of people who knew how to get along.
00;11;32;06 - 00;12;01;21
Unknown
That's nothing for differences among us. But with very little exceptions, people knew how to you know, what to say, how to avoid that kind of counterproductive, open hostility, taking complaints in some of the classes, not necessarily here, but an enormous, steady group of people that worked closely together. And somehow we knew how to avoid those kinds of things.
00;12;01;24 - 00;12;26;06
Unknown
And frankly, I think it was part of the cause of the atmosphere. Well, it's like a lot of it's the leadership from the top. I mean, that's one of the ways. But over 19 years and five was just that kind of day. I don't want to say it's it's too much. Well, they say it's trite to use a phrase like one happy family.
00;12;26;07 - 00;12;55;21
Unknown
I think that's not quite true. But we know how to organize a department where people got along, shared responsibility. We traded favors, whatever, you know, would fill in for each other when there was a need to do so. And General Oliver succeeded, but was a very strong leader. Giving sometimes intimidates people who don't know him, but he's one of the nicest and most thoughtful people I know.
00;12;55;23 - 00;13;24;27
Unknown
And I know how you have to be careful. But, you know, for some reason Jimmy has this knack for kind of scaring people, especially the. But if you get to know him, he's really well. As I say, he's just one of the most thoughtful and kind people I know. so the point is that with people like that leading the department, we'd have to be a pretty ugly group for you to have difficulty getting what they set the tone.
00;13;24;29 - 00;13;47;11
Unknown
And I it was just it to me was a good example of a group of people who knew how to submerge their individual aspirations for the sake of the group, you know, for the sake of making, you know, getting the job done. And I, I it was it's one of the best experiences of my life to be able to work in that kind of a department.
00;13;47;11 - 00;14;16;21
Unknown
And it never really changed in character, which is saying something. I actually think about the fact that the department has two different groups of people, most people in computer science, people who tend to work on different campuses, and yet it was at least up until the time I left, always this general willingness to get along and share responsibility and get the job done, try to understand what their problems are.
00;14;16;24 - 00;14;48;07
Unknown
So I left a clean I'm happy to come and I left a happy that was that way. And although I can't say I will move, you know, you will see people in other departments in a superficial way. I love to talk to the machine, but I never really knew much about the internal workings of the department. It's quite obvious that some of the partners had a strong sense of cohesion in your work.
00;14;48;10 - 00;15;19;28
Unknown
The chemistry department, for example, has always struck me that way of, you know, Paul Haynes and Rangitoto and microchip design. I mean, these things are always people who worked very hard for the State Department. And of course, when you run your thought it was, I thought that was kind of a shattering experience for a group. That was that was the height of the doing the level I don't know.
00;15;19;28 - 00;15;39;07
Unknown
I think I remember hearing about it. I think I guess about three years. But yeah, I remember before I was here, I was on the street writing with the Department of Chemistry Department chairperson for probably five or six years. I believe you served two or three terms. It might have been longer than that run maybe chair for year.
00;15;39;09 - 00;16;00;10
Unknown
But he was you know, he was a relatively young man. He was probably still in his forties and just had an auto accident on the way home at the time. And I suppose I don't want to get on a soapbox. My recollection is that he didn't have a suit that day and that that was a major factor in anything that happened to you.
00;16;00;13 - 00;16;38;10
Unknown
So. So anyway, I guess the answer to the question is I, I suspect that there are other departments you know, when you say a productive as a group, the chemistry department, people like to say think a professor. I can't remember. The first one was crazy and there was where they did they were and I guess they were all different types of people.
00;16;38;16 - 00;17;03;13
Unknown
And I guess the first one, first person, the last one is Roach. And, you know, I mean, this is ridiculous, but believe that at the moment I can think of in the Middle of the festival and just no, but I actually I think that that kind of just wrote you for many years. I said that it takes a special kind of teacher to teach junior high school kids.
00;17;03;15 - 00;17;37;27
Unknown
You, not anybody do not trust anybody can do that. Well, I think it takes the same kind of person. Some you know, I say it takes a special person to be the you know, the lead person in the university accept the fact that the buck stops with him. Everything flows in his direction or direction, for that matter, and somehow survived that can feel, you know, feel not swamped by all of the responsibility and work that comes your way.
00;17;37;29 - 00;18;21;09
Unknown
So I don't know. I mean, I respect all of them, but also from a distance, I didn't know any of this well. But I just know the job is extremely demanding, probably very stressful. And I think that's one reason why a lot of teachers hide in the classroom where you can just do your thing in your own little world and not worry about all those administrative details So well, being a history major, I remember last year of I guess there was kind of kind of a I don't know how to describe it, but I guess the president in the hierarchy of the West Coast was about to cut jobs and stuff.
00;18;21;09 - 00;18;39;25
Unknown
And I remember I remember all the history professors trying to rally support. There was kind of a lot of tension between the two groups. I wonder if there's anything like that between, well, there have been problems between the faculty and the president that from time to time. And of course, now, now my mind is starting to kick in in the middle.
00;18;40;01 - 00;19;06;10
Unknown
Steve Feldman, is the president. The face of the league for quite a while? Was something close to ten years. I mean, about ten years of my 20 running here. And, you know, it's like anything else. Steve Feldman was a very capable man in many ways, but he had more trouble getting along with the faculty. I think at first he did and probably got it to work as well.
00;19;06;13 - 00;19;37;26
Unknown
And but I don't know much about those things. I guess from an internal I'm the kind of guy that's kind of I guess I kind of hostility in the first place. And it's a lot easier to not get involved in this kind of scrapes anyway. I really don't know much about the military. Little to do with any national trends that is like something like the Gulf War or something.
00;19;37;26 - 00;20;05;28
Unknown
You know, people really, you know, I don't I don't remember the Gulf War having a significant effect on what happened on this campus. But that may be because I was tied up with my own problems, not problems or concerns I had. I have a son who at that time was in the Marine Reserves and he was of five.
00;20;05;28 - 00;20;35;04
Unknown
So his unit was called up and he had to make a decision about whether he was going to go to war or not. So I was a letting, you know, a lot of young men did. And of course, most of them weren't. But while he was, you know, and this is one of those things, but at the same time, he a woman and, you know, so on and and I think I was more concerned about him and what might happen to him and what was going on here.
00;20;35;07 - 00;21;02;25
Unknown
I don't really know. I do remember that when I came here in 1978, that was not too many years after. Well, I, I was teaching at community college in New York City in the early seventies. And this was a time when young men were in it involved in a full time, you know, involved as a full time student at the college.
00;21;02;28 - 00;21;26;10
Unknown
And I don't know if there was any other criterion beyond that. Then the you know, they weren't drafted at that point. So, of course, what happened is that had large numbers of young men who really didn't want to go to Vietnam, which was quite understandable to all within the role. But they were very their students because their heart just wasn't in it.
00;21;26;13 - 00;21;51;13
Unknown
And I mean, that was such a common phenomenon at the time that when I think about the Gulf War, I don't recall anything remotely much different circumstances would change. Obviously, some of the young men went through more than a few lost their lives. But it wasn't it wasn't the same as it had been 20 years earlier. And nowhere near as profound.
00;21;51;15 - 00;22;17;17
Unknown
You know, I think I think probably See, this goes back yeah, I was going to say the most significant events that I can remember were the assassination of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King in the same summer as I recall. But that was ten years before I came here. So that was that was almost mind boggling. You had the feeling the country was going over the edge at that point.
00;22;17;20 - 00;22;55;16
Unknown
I think it was three major assassinations in about five years, pretty close to us. And bang, bang. Yeah, that's an interesting figure of speech on the day. But, you know, in very close succession and you had the feeling that things were swirling out of control. And I just don't remember anything. I should have been wanting the disruption of that sense that you might be losing hope, that things might get, you know, getting taken totally chaotic and or anything like that at all.
00;22;55;19 - 00;23;17;29
Unknown
You I think it's been a relatively pleasant I feel the same way being I've only been here a little more almost two years. It was just seemed just very quiet. Well, of course, there's something to be said for that in a way. I mean, I you know, I realize that young people obviously have to make that point just like the rest of us.
00;23;18;01 - 00;23;42;22
Unknown
And, you know, but you're right, we tend to do it in somewhat different ways. But I mean, when I think about, you know, the kind of out of control situation that you kind of in the last couple of days, I would like to see it come to that here. And there have to be ways to blow off yourself to write about that.
00;23;42;24 - 00;24;30;24
Unknown
So I think both and overall, yeah, I think what closed door or quiet campus, like you said, you just do your own thing. You just have a perspective of the fact that I think that had something to do with something. You know, when I interacted with people a week as I came from upstate New York and we still have a presence up there, I described this place to other people as a blue collar kind of And, you know, obviously that's an oversimplification, but it probably captures something significant about the place because I feel like it's a place where people live at home and save money in many cases and they come to school because they're
00;24;30;24 - 00;24;55;08
Unknown
commuting to work also. In fact, one of the most amazing things about this place is the number of students who are full plate students and working full time as well. I mean, that's almost beyond belief. But, you know, the love that some so many people every year have, you know that for a fact. And, you know, jobs here and after, you know, just walk the street to a job.
00;24;55;10 - 00;25;16;17
Unknown
Would you ever, ever like to see a I don't know, ever like to see what's going coast change in any ways. Like in the future, perhaps, you know, if your personal taste would be like a larger canvas or with technologically a bit more grassroots approach. Well, I don't know. I you know, we use the word cohesion several times before referring to the partners.
00;25;16;20 - 00;25;38;18
Unknown
But I think the one thing that sometimes is a problem here is not so much cohesion among students because of the fact that it's not a residential school so much. And I think that troubles me a little bit. I you know, there's so many people of necessity come here from a distance and go home afterwards and have a little stake in the place.
00;25;38;20 - 00;26;02;14
Unknown
You know, in emotional terms, they haven't made it. And, you know, they don't come for social events. And this, of course, is true that all of the students but the faculty, I live in the military. So, I mean, I would go home at the end of the day, the number of times know, I would drive back 20 miles for a social event here or, you know, a lecture speech or a dramatic reduction or very few and far between.
00;26;02;16 - 00;26;27;23
Unknown
And I think I missed out on something for having lived too far away from. So know, I guess there's no question there that I think if anything I would I would like to see the college move in the direction of being a more residential college just because I think it would improve the sense of community among the students in the social.
00;26;27;25 - 00;26;48;24
Unknown
I don't know exactly. I think it's getting better, but I think it's going to be I know one for is going to reconcile. I'm not sure that will help because it's the West side rate. But nevertheless, I would agree with that. But, you know, I thought it was worth a double, at least double the size of the previous one.
00;26;48;26 - 00;27;18;09
Unknown
And then I don't know exactly. And I think that one of the guys that I'll address right here, I suddenly, you know, at one time in the entire college was supposed to move up there. Yeah. Yeah, I've heard that. But apparently not enough of the land can be developed. But it was also, you know, my my recollection and this goes back to the timing and especially the president of the college.
00;27;18;09 - 00;27;44;07
Unknown
So that would be like, you know, that 1988 year. But in the it had been decided, I guess, that they were going to build on the west side and the long term plan had been to build the entire entire new campus and basically available at this point, maybe not completely, but certainly, you know, to make the West side yet major site.
00;27;44;10 - 00;28;14;07
Unknown
And my my recollection and I guess you have to talk with something like her Janet Cruzan, who's been here for a longer than I would know. But my recollection was that, first of all, at that time there were well, let's put it this way. Did you are colleges who were not anxious to see other colleges prosper at what they see as their expense?
00;28;14;07 - 00;28;37;27
Unknown
You know, for example, of college, a loss of students to college, be that certainly college aid is going to do some in some ways to resist the growth of big or not maybe going to, but it's at least a possibility. So my recollection is that in the summer that it was that there were other colleges or not going to see state money spent to build a whole campus of West Side.
00;28;37;29 - 00;28;57;19
Unknown
And if I remember the story correctly, that was that the last place was supposed to be was about the size of a water main. That's sort of the West Side campus. You know, obviously, if you restrict the size of a watermelon with the size, you know, that would be the number of buildings that can be served by the water system.
00;28;57;21 - 00;29;25;21
Unknown
And so a deal was struck when Percy was here that the West Side campus would be developed, but that the downtown campus would not be there. And from that point on, it was decided that this would be a two campus university. And I think the estimate at that time was something like for at least the next 35 years, know, that's something like that of.
00;29;25;24 - 00;30;01;15
Unknown
So I forget the question are you well I mean that you were a history major. Yeah. And I think that's a bit frustrating that I heard it might be able to fill you in on that. I mean, it is interesting whether we like it or not. I mean, these things are not only you not only have to be concerned about the environment and, you know, what does it cost to put up a building, But it's politics as well, definitely, for better or for worse, would you like to to I don't like it to campus so I really don't.
00;30;01;17 - 00;30;29;15
Unknown
I, I would if there had been enough room to expand the campus here as time went by, I think that would have been a better choice. But it appears as if, you know, we're kind of like a landlocked way of life here. Not much unless we go straight up, which some universities. And then I guess what the University of Pittsburgh was to have a tower for.
00;30;29;17 - 00;30;55;13
Unknown
I don't I mean, it may not be the entire kids, but it's it's certainly a large part of it. I have yet to see how they're going to work that out. Are they going to hope that that would now be sort of I don't know. I guess what what I think the plan is to put up a temporary, what they call limbo and for the library holders to swim building.
00;30;55;16 - 00;31;29;23
Unknown
Then they're going to put an addition onto the present library. Well, consumer products doesn't quite move up, which is why that's why the prices are rising. People without the parking garage, nothing would have happened. I yeah. Parking was really well forever. And the faculty, students alike, it didn't make any difference. And was always and ever since I've been here and the parking has always been at a premium that parking garage has kept a great deal.
00;31;29;25 - 00;31;55;17
Unknown
I guess people still don't like to use it. It's not the choice. First choice. People still battle for the parking spaces over there. If you have to, or on the street at those streets outside, you definitely have a choice. Well, I guess I guess, you know, the new the expanded library is supposed to consume part of the present parking lot, whether it's the student area or the faculty area.
00;31;55;17 - 00;32;17;08
Unknown
I really don't know. I'll give you a guess what it probably is. And then when it's finished, the idea is that they can move all the holdings back into the library and the Swindell will become something else. And then I thought they're going to renovate like other buildings, like the dorms or something. I think there's a plan to renovate things, which I think is there.
00;32;17;09 - 00;33;09;08
Unknown
There definitely is in some parts of the white hall here near there as well. And during the winter time you feel that some days are cold in there, that it's just going to march or something to that effect on the buildings, that all new windows in this building. So goodness. Yeah. As I recall, sometimes there are though I tried I must I think this is actually a pretty old building and I think they've done a pretty good job in keeping track of what's most needed building to be sure that it doesn't fall down or is creeping into windows and what I think is some years ago was crucial because otherwise the school was uninhabitable for.
00;33;09;11 - 00;33;33;08
Unknown
yes, yes. Green Well, I don't you possibly wouldn't know about this is a of I don't remember the exact title I needed, but it's definitely known as a setting. It was the chief engineer for, you know, for those kinds of things. And Dan retired last year, although I suspect he's probably back here part time as a consultant.
00;33;33;10 - 00;34;03;02
Unknown
But you know, I, I had occasion to talk to start a number of times. And when you take an old campus like this where the buildings were never there was never any attempt to, as far as I could see, to make the buildings cohesive in terms of architectural styles of the dining halls. Did everything you could try to make this campus more, you know, more attractive.
00;34;03;02 - 00;34;25;13
Unknown
And as time went by and I mean I don't know who originated the idea at the time was certainly a major figure in implementing that plan to get through the process. I probably had a difference with that over. So you have a more something that's a little bit more nearly conventional acquired in that. That was nice, but I used up all the little things.
00;34;25;13 - 00;34;48;13
Unknown
I know he made use of copper as on various buildings. He's also made use. I don't know how to describe it, but if you look at it, there's some sort of white facing at the top of the white brick walls and the like. I have to go around and look at it now to see if I'm remembering correctly.
00;34;48;15 - 00;35;14;16
Unknown
But I know he did a lot of little things to try to make the place look more cohesive. And I think there's clearly a limit to what you do to make this campus look more attractive without spending billions of dollars. But I think John did a great job with what he had here. Part of I'm sure he had a great deal to do with that.
00;35;14;18 - 00;35;38;05
Unknown
Yeah, of course. I guess the job was only half done by the time he left, but he certainly had to have been involved in its in the planning, the expansion. I understand that's open now. Well it's very close. Very close. I mean they got doors and windows up. Yeah. I did. I still have access to an email account here and I did read that there's a groundbreaking sometime to make.
00;35;38;08 - 00;35;55;21
Unknown
I think it's May 11 for the library. I think it is. I remember it around in May. I was that I think it's for the that's the groundbreaking. No, wait a minute. I don't know if it is, but it is going to be some sort of ceremony. And then the student said, result of the help, so to speak.
00;35;55;21 - 00;36;16;22
Unknown
And I think this is this is brilliant. You know, and I mean, I was going to say, if you've been here even for years, I think you've never had access to this. You know, it's always been out of it, missing in action unless you call the university all across the street. And what have what will they do with that?
00;36;16;24 - 00;36;42;14
Unknown
I don't know. I mean, I wonder if they just completely turn it all over at the offices, maybe students or faculty offices. And actually, that's probably not a bad building, but they need to probably it's across it's across a busy and highly traveled street, so it makes it a little awkward. Yeah. Yeah. And the funny thing is, you know, I've seen these overhead, these overhead walkways.
00;36;42;17 - 00;37;06;01
Unknown
You'll find this in a lot of places there, and people somehow don't want to use those. They'd rather run a run between close to one of them on Route 22 over in New York State that's used by I can't really say that was sort of one of those exclusive private schools, but their buildings are on one side of Route 22 and their athletic fields are on the other side.
00;37;06;03 - 00;37;28;29
Unknown
It's sort by growing, I believe I see that, too. I know I have a as a as a kid. I know my parents always brought me up to promote that. I remember. I know, I know. I was a kid before talking about I can't remember the name it, but it's in Portland or near Portland. And I drove up with the other day and I looked at it wondering, I wonder if anybody wants to this that.
00;37;29;01 - 00;37;49;27
Unknown
Here's another one I saw one many years ago at Memorial University in Philly, in Canada, and in order to I mean, the problem, of course, is the usual one that at one point they had a student killed by car. And so they built this walkway over, you know, a street that had, I think, four lanes with a median down the middle.
00;37;50;00 - 00;38;14;26
Unknown
And then they put a fence down the median to try to prevent students from walking across. And when we got there, which was in 1977, I said to visit relatives. And what had happened is that students had somebody I say students, somebody at home. He was trained in a fence so they could walk across. You know, they just didn't want to use that walkway.
00;38;14;28 - 00;38;40;01
Unknown
And I think I understand that. I suppose I would probably say that it does get rough if you're late for class or something. You know, walking up the stairs and going around down there takes a valuable time anyway. So I just I really I don't know. I'm talking perhaps too much and I'm not sure what questions are. You're supposed to be asking me here or what I'm supposed to know, I guess, is the wrap it up.
00;38;40;03 - 00;39;10;27
Unknown
I guess we should end with you in school. That's right. And you need to get your degree. wow. I grew up. Actually, I sent them from upstate New York. Yes, I sort of see myself that way. But actually, I grew up in New York City, in Queens County of Queens, and what I'll tell you is one of the memories I had of a long time ago, You know, I grew up in Queens, which is not exactly Manhattan, but it's it's a big city.
00;39;10;28 - 00;39;35;01
Unknown
It's talked about. That was blue collar, though. And my father was a carpenter. And I remember across the street, my name is Bernardo, who was a plumber, and there was a hermit who houses from our house who used to come out only at night. And I don't know, it was just kind of mixed neighborhood like that, at any rate, I didn't know anything about any place else.
00;39;35;03 - 00;40;11;19
Unknown
I used to go play ball in the schoolyard two blocks away, and when I was 12 years old, my mother and father drove from there into western Massachusetts to a place east of not east could see, I think it was called Garfield. They killed. At any rate, there were no interstates there. So they drove basically up Route seven through Danbury and I think maybe maybe I saw Pittsfield years after that.
00;40;11;21 - 00;40;33;22
Unknown
Anyway, the things I remember going through Danbury and liking its appearance very much, I was, you know, as a city kid, I thought it was really neat to find a small city that looked so attractive to you and whether that had anything to do with it or not, I don't know. But I know when I got out of high school four years later, I had no problem leaving New York City.
00;40;33;25 - 00;41;01;17
Unknown
And when I went, I went upstate to Albany State and I was still pretty young kids. I was I was still only 16 when I got up there. I never had an hour or an instant homesickness. I was like a bird made out of a cage. And, you know, so I worked all these states, got a bachelor's degree there, started teaching high school in upstate New York, and then, I don't know, two or three times I took a year off and did some graduate work.
00;41;01;17 - 00;41;34;12
Unknown
I ended up teaching for a couple of years in Syracuse, New York, got a masters degree in mathematics from Buffalo at the University of Buffalo, a resume high school teaching for a while and I taught in a community college in Glens Falls, New York, and another one in Schenectady. finished school. Doctor And indeed, as we call it, the vegetation you would expect to be dead.
00;41;34;15 - 00;42;05;11
Unknown
Nobody wanted to refer to this as dead people finished in Albany State and about five years after that, my early forties came here. So it kind of, you know, you can tell the university has been around. I, you know, I guess I have managed to sell a master's degree for Syracuse in the middle of all that. And I have probably taken courses in about five or six other places, and I still do that.
00;42;05;14 - 00;42;29;03
Unknown
I still have academic interests. And I find sometimes, you know, if you set your own goals, you it's too easy to set them aside, you know, for other things. And but if somebody if you if you go to a formal class and somebody says, do this for next week, it's a little more likely to get done. Definitely, because I, I my current interest is my interest is in statistics.
00;42;29;03 - 00;43;04;07
Unknown
And I was thinking about taking a course or two in one case or another. You can do a simple example. It's statistics courses. But I mean, I made just one week ago, I completed the if you know, school now. Yeah well yeah I that that was possibly a mistake. I don't know. Is the high school here? I is no point in getting ready for a high school year that advertised for someone to teach AP calculus.
00;43;04;10 - 00;43;27;03
Unknown
The regular teacher was pregnant and had to leave at the end of the first semester, and her replacement basically lasted only a month. And I wasn't doing too much. I was having I was enjoying myself, spending time with my kids, grandchildren and so on, doing things around the house. And I thought, well, I could probably help them do that if they don't have anybody else.
00;43;27;06 - 00;43;55;02
Unknown
So I went down to some and it turned I was really the only one that they had interviewed who could do the the AP calculus course. The problem was that they really needed five courses covered and I wasn't going to do that, but they really didn't want to split up the job. And too many people either. So in the end, they agreed to teach to other courses in the elderly too.
00;43;55;05 - 00;44;28;18
Unknown
And I don't know what to tell you, but I taught Algebra two for the first time exactly 40 years ago this September, and it's pretty hard to look on that with any Susie ism at all after the umpteenth time. So I guess what it comes down to is I have two courses that I don't enjoy very much and the calculus pins are fine kids and fun to be with, but most of all they focus on the job at hand and they're pretty good.
00;44;28;20 - 00;44;52;11
Unknown
So it's a mixed blessing. And I suppose like most things in life, you know, teaching school, high school wasn't one time when I thought I wanted to end my career the way it started, which was teaching high school. And I didn't really I mean, for that to happen, it just kind of happened this year. And it's a little sobering in a way, because I'd forgotten how silly 10th graders can be.
00;44;52;14 - 00;45;20;08
Unknown
You know, for one thing. And then maybe my you know, maybe my tolerance level isn't what it used to be either. I'm just not sure. But at any rate, I in some sense, I'm glad I did it, but I probably wouldn't do it again. Find other ways to amuse myself. But I guess to wrap it up is overall, your experience at least was enjoyable or positive?
00;45;20;10 - 00;45;41;23
Unknown
What could be negative? And certainly. sure. You look a funny thing at it. Look, let me talk. Let me. Yes, that was an analogy. Many years ago, my wife and I went to Buffalo because I wanted to do I wanted to do some relatively serious working mathematics. And buffalo, of course, as you probably know, has a rather unsavory.
00;45;41;23 - 00;46;11;15
Unknown
Well, what do you say? It's not it's not anybody's idea of a neat place to be, you know, And we went there sort of with that attitude, like somehow we'll survive it. And we were there, I guess, for two years and that and while we were there, I can only remember that was relatively difficult because not only the work, I mean, well, I had a department chairman who told me, for example, that if you were serious about doing mathematics, you'd be working 100 hours a week.
00;46;11;17 - 00;46;34;12
Unknown
And that's literally what he said. Well, what he meant was would spend it, you know, as if we were poor at the time. And I found myself in a situation where I was expected to really spend almost all of my waking moments and that for that. And I did that for two years. But I knew that in the two years that I've had it.
00;46;34;15 - 00;46;52;22
Unknown
Well, the funny thing is usually we realized that the only thing we could remember about Buffalo Springfield, for example, that there are certain restaurants we went to in Buffalo was a good city for that. It was a place where you could go out and, you know, like on a Friday night and get a good meal and it would be inexpensive.
00;46;52;22 - 00;47;15;13
Unknown
But I can remember in those days, in those years, you could get a good meal for about $2. There were places like that. There was a place called the Lake Hotel. I think it once that was not in view of any lake, but they had a smorgasbord. And if you got a smorgasbord, I believe it was before 530, the price was much less than what later on.
00;47;15;16 - 00;47;41;20
Unknown
So we did that quite a lot. And the point is that, you know, the things you remember are the pleasant things. We had to really struggle to remember what we liked about Buffalo. The only thing, even now that I can remember, other than what we've talked about, is that when you left the city, it took a long time to find the cattle, whereas before they find a cow in 5 minutes in any direction.
00;47;41;23 - 00;48;06;23
Unknown
So, so I mean even, I suppose even then that, you know, you can get away from the city rather quickly and in Buffalo that was very difficult. Well, so I mean the same thing probably is true, you know, about this place. I can look at the 19 years I've been here, and if I try real hard, I can probably remember some unpleasant things.
00;48;06;25 - 00;48;35;07
Unknown
But the truth is, those are the things you remember in any natural way. I remember the good people and there were a lot of those. I remember a lot ones you often don't remember the names, but you remember them and you know they're good memories, right? So I think a lot I'm happy to be gone, but I'm happy I was here.
00;48;35;09 - 00;48;39;18
Unknown
The good thing I think we get.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Dr. Bruce King (interview)
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Larkin, Sean
Leone, Faye
Description
An account of the resource
47 mins
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
Coverage: 1978-1997
Topics discussed : (side A): Time at WestConn; 1978; 1997; Basic Studies program here when he came; worked part; time in that program; Taught about 20 years before coming to WestConn; Started Math Clinic; intended to be used by basic studies students; most who came weren't the ones who really needed it though; some from advanced courses came primarily; took it over after 1986 after sabbatical; Taught basic level and grad level courses; Geometry; Bob Hoburg and Jim Oliver; chairmen of Math department when he was there; Computer Science; hard to hire teachers for it during 1980s; taught some lower level courses; Student changes; no significant changes; Westside campus; came before it opened (opened early 1980s); decisions on who would move there; Business school was always going to move there; math department had opportunity to move there, but didn't; math department would have been able to have better offices; Higgins Hall offices; Split in department; math taught basically at Midtown, computer science at Westside; Feelings about Westside; enjoys the campus; Faculty in math department; hasn't grown much; about 11; 12 full; time members and always cohesive; they always got along really well; Bob Hoburg; was chairman for 19 years; knew had to organize the department; Jim Oliver; followed Hoburg as chair of the department; was a nice guy; could be intimidating to people who don't know him (especially students); Other departments; didn't really know much about other departments; Chemistry department; Dr. Paul Hines and Ron Gordano; department shattered when Gordano was killed in auto accident; WestConn presidents; came first under Bersi; left under Roach; takes special person to be able to lead a university; respected all, but didn't know any personally; Problems between faculty and administration; have been problems in the past; Steven Feldman; had problems getting along with the faculty; National events and effects on WestConn; Gulf War and his son being called; didn't pay much attention to campus because more concerned about his son; Vietnam War; was over by time he got to WestConn; taught at a community college in NY at the time; Assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.; WestConn atmosphere; quiet campus; "Blue collar college"; students and faculty not really involved in the university; should be a more residential college to promote university activities; Westside; Grasso Hall and plans for new dorm; plan originally to move entire university to that campus; environmental concerns also factor; not fan of two campus setup; Library; plans for renovation; build a "swing building" to house library temporarily; Parking; always been a problem since he was there; new library might consume part of the parking area; Renovations; Landscape at WestConn; likes the changes made so far at WestConn; Student Center; close to opening again; University Hall; Over head walkway; Background; grew up in Queens, NY; lived in upstate NY later; bachelor's and doctorate Albany State; Master's University of Buffalo; taught high school in upstate NY; later at Glens Falls community college; came to WestConn about 5 years after getting doctorate (side B): Final thoughts; enjoyed his time at WestConn; now teaches a high school class; time he and his wife spent in Buffalo.
Date
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1998
Subject
The topic of the resource
Universities and colleges--Faculty.
Identifier
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ms012_11_38_king
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
6ad7be8d-bd00-4728-8d19-73fe2ddf901d
Western Connecticut State College
Western Connecticut State University
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Herb_Janick_Papers_MS012/7995/ms012_11_42_lee[1].mp3
9d227382e574166e5745b2c303acbc0c
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Herb Janick Papers, MS012
Description
An account of the resource
The Herbert F. Janick, Jr. Papers spans the years 1889-2002 and consists mainly of Janick’s research for his book on the centennial history of Western Connecticut State University.
Contributor
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Janick, Herb
Has Version
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<a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/findingaids/ctdbn_ms012_janick.xml">Link to finding aid.</a>
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
f32271cc-b16e-4921-8776-db43f2dc8a6f
Oral History
A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge.
Transcription
Any written text transcribed from a sound.
00;00;01;16 - 00;00;24;12
Interviewer 1
This interview took place in April of 1998. Between interviewers Andrea Peck and Shannen Doherty and interviewee, while as the A math teacher, retired math teacher at Western Connecticut State University in the basement of Y Hall for Dr. Jennings Introduction to Historical Research Class.
00;00;24;14 - 00;00;26;27
Lee
Of the days, you know, you're going to have to look up the date.
00;00;26;28 - 00;00;35;27
Interviewer 2
We sure are looking more for a general perspective of the university and how it's changed perhaps during your tenure.
00;00;35;29 - 00;00;47;00
Lee
So I can say that I started here around 1965, around 1965 at 20 of the 29 years. This kind of thing is.
00;00;47;03 - 00;00;48;11
Interviewer 2
What you do. Exactly.
00;00;48;13 - 00;01;13;15
Lee
Okay. And when I got here in 1965, it was still a teachers college, I believe. And Bob Hallberg and Chester Floyd, I think, were the other three members of the math department when I got here. And I was the fourth. I might be begetting somebody, but.
00;01;13;17 - 00;01;15;07
Interviewer 2
I don't call that the train.
00;01;15;07 - 00;01;26;14
Lee
Car. That's right. And those offices are still being used. But that was it. There were just around three, four, three or four offices for the entire math department.
00;01;26;16 - 00;01;33;14
Interviewer 2
What other physical changes happened during your tenure that you can remember as far as the campus?
00;01;33;17 - 00;01;36;29
Lee
The new campus didn't exist at that time.
00;01;37;01 - 00;01;46;01
Interviewer 2
Was that the. Yes. Did you do many courses or teach many courses over there? And that's all you. So your focus changed?
00;01;46;04 - 00;01;56;15
Lee
Yes. My office was over there and I taught some classes there, but I also taught some classes here on the main campus. So we'd go back and forth.
00;01;56;17 - 00;01;58;02
Interviewer 2
When did you retire?
00;01;58;05 - 00;02;16;05
Lee
I retired about three years ago and I haven't regretted it. I enjoyed teaching very much, but now, instead of, you know, spending time here on the campus teaching, I go to the War Memorial and I work out.
00;02;16;07 - 00;02;23;13
Interviewer 2
For a I detect a New York accent maybe. Did you grow up and say, I'm from New York or Queens yet?
00;02;23;15 - 00;02;50;28
Lee
I was on Park. I lived in Woodmere long Island for a while, and then we moved over the Ozone Park and I graduated from John Adams High School in Queens and went to the New Teachers College of Connecticut, where I got a bachelor's degree. And Teachers College of Connecticut is now central Connecticut State University. So I after I got out of.
00;02;51;00 - 00;02;55;24
Unknown
School in New York, I.
00;02;55;27 - 00;03;06;05
Lee
Suddenly went to Teachers College in Connecticut and I started living in Connecticut. And I've lived in Connecticut ever since.
00;03;06;07 - 00;03;33;17
Interviewer 2
I was I was so fortunate to get where originally we were going to collect coffee or bring a coffee over and maybe it cost you in your front yard and you bought like a hard copy or something worked out that you were able to come by here specifically to your field. We were wondering if you noticed a curriculum change during your tenure, being that the national trend has been more towards science and math.
00;03;33;20 - 00;03;37;08
Interviewer 2
I wonder if you could expand on that.
00;03;37;10 - 00;04;01;03
Lee
Well, when I started teaching and one of the reasons I went into mathematics was because I, I don't feel comfortable using my hands, you know, mechanical things that I'd much rather work with my mind. And math was just perfect for me because this is that I was going to be teaching of courses that that, you know, wouldn't change.
00;04;01;05 - 00;04;28;03
Lee
And, you know, I felt I could do it and I enjoyed doing I, I still enjoy doing puzzles. I do the crossword puzzle every day in The New York Times and the News Times. So I'm probably more at that. I like to deal with problems and use my mind and math at that time was just perfect for me and I enjoyed it very much.
00;04;28;05 - 00;05;05;10
Lee
Now math is getting very involved with computers and it has to be that way. I, I definitely feel that the teaching of calculus should students should work with graphing calculators because the graphing calculators do the arithmetic type of work and leave you with the actual mental problems that are involved. In other words, it's just like an accountant adding up a whole bunch of numbers.
00;05;05;12 - 00;05;07;20
Lee
It's much easier if he does it on a machine.
00;05;07;22 - 00;05;08;15
Interviewer 2
The legwork.
00;05;08;18 - 00;05;26;24
Lee
Yeah, because anybody can do it. It's just going to take a lot of time if you do it, you know, adding up one well at a time. But if you've got a calculator, it does it so much faster. It's like, it's like somebody learning how to walk, you know, you've got to know how to walk before you can run.
00;05;26;26 - 00;06;03;15
Lee
And if you can do away with the walking and just go to the running, it just speeds things up. You know, you get to the place where you're going to at a much faster rate if you run instead of walking. And that's the use of the calculators, you can run instead of walking. So I really believe that computers and graphing calculator is a very necessary in math because they free up, you know, a lot of your time so that you can be involved in the real essence of mathematics, which is the thinking portion of it.
00;06;03;18 - 00;06;07;26
Interviewer 2
So I think technology won't be a detrimental be, it'll be more of a benefit in the long run.
00;06;07;27 - 00;06;54;10
Lee
Absolutely no question in my mind and my last few years of teaching, I started getting into that. There's so much to it though, and it would require so much more work for me to really do an excellent job at it. And I was right at the point of retiring. And so, you know, I felt that I don't know how much how much it would have been worth for me to spend so much energy towards, you know, getting the knowledge for myself that I could, you know, in part to the students on how to use these technical facilities, because I'd only be teaching for another couple of years.
00;06;54;13 - 00;07;16;10
Lee
But I definitely think that somebody coming into mathematics right now must have a tremendous technical background so they can feel very much at ease using graphing calculators and computing machines to augment the teaching of mathematics, because it means he can go so much farther with the school.
00;07;16;13 - 00;07;38;06
Interviewer 2
That's interesting that you say that kind of academic generation gap between the I hadn't thought of it. I, I see it with, with children who know more about computers in their parents, but I hadn't thought of it in the student faculty. When you think that a lot of faculty are having to to reorient themselves towards that.
00;07;38;08 - 00;08;02;13
Lee
They should be. They definitely should be. In my estimation. There are some people that feel now we teach math the same old way, you know, just and we don't need any of these graphing calculators or computers to to help augment the work and just concentrate on the theoretical aspects of it. And, you know, that's their point of view, but it's not my.
00;08;02;16 - 00;08;20;15
Interviewer 2
Do you think it's beneficial that the fundamentals are still fine? I mean, how much is technology going to be going to detract from people's basic math, mathematics skills? How can they get from the walking to the running or to we just do away with with the walk?
00;08;20;17 - 00;08;40;04
Lee
Do you watch TV? Yes. How do you operate the TV remote? Do you operate it with a remote? Do you understand the making of the remote and the TV? You understand everything that that's involved in. You are being able to see a TV show.
00;08;40;06 - 00;08;46;19
Interviewer 2
As far as the logistics of production and things of that nature or just the actual everything.
00;08;46;21 - 00;08;54;08
Lee
Everything, everything. You understand, all the electronics involved, you understand all of the mechanics.
00;08;54;11 - 00;08;55;19
Interviewer 2
You can't say, No.
00;08;55;22 - 00;09;02;10
Lee
It's not necessary, is it, to understand what you see on the TV screen?
00;09;02;12 - 00;09;12;11
Interviewer 2
So you think this will free up the future generations minds to to grapple with the more abstract and maybe useful?
00;09;12;14 - 00;09;13;26
Lee
I think so.
00;09;13;29 - 00;09;44;29
Interviewer 2
With fractal geometry, perhaps some of the newer York. Hello. What changes have you seen in a during your tenure? Did you notice a certain time where student attitudes and student discipline was either at its highest or lowest? Then you see a certain period, perhaps the early seventies, or have you, which have been pretty much constant.
00;09;45;02 - 00;10;13;16
Lee
Of doing the Vietnamese war. Of course, we had student demonstrations here on campus and I was involved with the students in the Committee to End the War of the CW, which we set up here, which was, you know, an anti Vietnamese war student faculty group. And we had lots of things going on here on the campus and in the administration about all these things.
00;10;13;16 - 00;10;20;02
Lee
And there was some conflict on campus. Very interesting times.
00;10;20;05 - 00;10;21;21
Interviewer 2
Physical confrontations.
00;10;21;23 - 00;10;22;17
Lee
Not physical.
00;10;22;24 - 00;10;27;00
Interviewer 2
No. You know, just heated exchanges between.
00;10;27;02 - 00;10;46;19
Lee
Yeah. And you know, some people wanted to demonstrate and other people didn't want to demonstrate and you had that conflict going on. But at that time, you know, it was the student movement throughout the entire country. And it it had some ramifications here on the West campus for.
00;10;46;21 - 00;10;50;00
Interviewer 2
For distractions or you just probably.
00;10;50;00 - 00;11;14;11
Lee
Sitting type of things. Yeah, I, I don't think we had too many cases where classrooms were disrupted here at West Cowan, but there was talk of that and there was there was quite a bit of of of action at that time, you know, demonstrations against the war that didn't interfere with classes. So we, it was an interesting time.
00;11;14;16 - 00;11;27;13
Interviewer 2
Students would actually come in and disrupt a class or just from all the things that were going on. It was a, it was a distraction or disrupting class. Yeah. If there were active, you know, segments coming into classes.
00;11;27;13 - 00;11;29;23
Lee
No, nothing could.
00;11;29;25 - 00;11;30;20
Interviewer 2
Stop the war.
00;11;30;20 - 00;11;35;11
Lee
And so but there were demonstrations on campus.
00;11;35;13 - 00;11;38;01
Interviewer 2
Do you notice a difference in the quality.
00;11;38;03 - 00;11;45;22
Unknown
Of student in the student body?
00;11;45;24 - 00;12;09;10
Lee
From the beginning to the end? I've had some very good students and I've had some poor students, so I, I can't say that there's been too much of a difference in the quality, especially, you know, I taught math and so I had some good students and some not so good students. And I. I haven't seen that much difference through the years.
00;12;09;17 - 00;12;17;24
Interviewer 2
It didn't see the proficiency in math going up. Perhaps maybe towards the end of your tenure. Not pretty constant.
00;12;17;27 - 00;12;19;21
Lee
Pretty constant.
00;12;19;23 - 00;12;31;24
Interviewer 2
Pretty constant. Did you teach any. So I know Andrea and I are both in the elementary education program. Did you teach any courses focusing on teaching of, of mathematics?
00;12;31;27 - 00;12;34;13
Lee
Nothing. Why? I've never taught any of those course.
00;12;34;20 - 00;12;35;19
Interviewer 2
Really?
00;12;35;22 - 00;12;54;17
Lee
Mostly advanced where I taught some advanced and general mathematics courses. But, you know, that was one, one aspect of the department that I didn't get into.
00;12;54;19 - 00;12;58;08
Interviewer 2
And as they come out of question.
00;12;58;10 - 00;13;00;09
Lee
The, I could at some.
00;13;00;15 - 00;13;01;01
Interviewer 2
Point I.
00;13;01;01 - 00;13;31;25
Lee
Could, I could tell you that when I first came here, there was very little faculty participation in their working conditions. And their salaries. For instance, you know, it was more or less the state says this is the way it's going to be done. And that's, that's it. And, I was very much involved in the AP when I first got here.
00;13;31;25 - 00;14;02;03
Lee
I became president of the AP here on the campus. And then, you know, and again then, I, I, I was pretty active in the AP, and I, I went to national conventions and I got a pretty good idea of what the AP was all about. And I felt that it wasn't a strong enough organization to really make changes.
00;14;02;05 - 00;14;33;07
Lee
they were more or less an elite organization. Most of the, the major colleges, were involved in the AP, the leadership. And the AP at that time was, you know, from Harvard, Yale, places like that, the elite schools where the professors, you know, received very high salaries in comparison with the salaries that we were getting. And they were more or less on a level with the administration.
00;14;33;07 - 00;14;51;28
Lee
And they didn't they didn't see any reason, you know, for being more militant. Well, you just got to work with the administrators and they'll take care of it for you. And we couldn't do that. You know, we were like workers and the administration in the state, you know, came down with the salary schedules and, you know, the benefits and what have you.
00;14;52;02 - 00;15;02;20
Interviewer 2
Do you think they had a there was a conflict of interest there, a little. Do you think they were manipulated or in cahoots with? No. Well, you know what? The administration.
00;15;02;22 - 00;15;27;19
Lee
If the work is and this goes for any type of organization, if the work is not organized and the management feels that they can, you know, do whatever they feel like without having any problems, naturally your benefits are not going to be as high as they could be. So that's that's the way the situation was at that time.
00;15;27;23 - 00;16;00;29
Lee
You know, we would, have meetings with them to, you know, increase things, but if they didn't want to go along with it, they, they just didn't, you know. So that was the situation. And so I felt the AP wasn't strong enough. in that sense to, to continue on. So I changed around a little bit and I became an advocate of the American Federation of Teachers, the AFT, which was affiliated with the as well.
00;16;01;06 - 00;16;30;01
Lee
I started up a chapter here and, it grew to the largest, organization on campus. And, I was, I work with Senator Wayne Baker and we were very instrumental, you know, the AFL CIO along with and we started up a TI chapters at all of the four state colleges at that time central.
00;16;30;05 - 00;16;32;16
Interviewer 2
If you were Senator or state senator.
00;16;32;16 - 00;17;13;22
Lee
State in Ohio State to make it Well, anyhow, we started up a 50 chapters of all of the four schools and we worked with Wayne Baker and we had the AFL CIO backing us and we had Wayne Baker at that time was the head of the Labor Department, the Labor committee in the State Senate, and we managed to put push through a collective bargaining agreement so that all four state colleges would be in one unit and we would have an election and we would choose the collective bargaining agent that we wanted to.
00;17;13;25 - 00;17;41;06
Lee
Before this time, we had collected what was called collective bargaining work. Like I said, we'd go there, we'd say, we'd like to have this, you know, we're falling behind here. And they just, you know, would pass this law. You know, we had no power like that. But this this way we had we got that bill through and we had a collective bargaining election, the 51 here at Western, but the U.P. one at the other three schools.
00;17;41;13 - 00;17;46;17
Lee
And so we became the collective bargaining agent, became the A U.P..
00;17;46;19 - 00;17;48;15
Interviewer 2
So it remains that way.
00;17;48;17 - 00;17;52;13
Lee
It's it's still remain that way. That's right. You feel you.
00;17;52;15 - 00;17;55;13
Interviewer 2
Were instrumental in getting that through? We got.
00;17;55;13 - 00;17;55;29
Lee
The collective.
00;17;55;29 - 00;18;03;22
Interviewer 2
By what they had to start again. That's right. And I happen to think yeah.
00;18;03;24 - 00;18;24;13
Lee
And that's that's one of the things that I'm most proud of, you know, working here at West Coast. I, I still remain. Well, I wasn't the first president, John. I, I was the first president. The AFL was involved in the English department, and I don't have a doctorate.
00;18;24;13 - 00;18;29;24
Unknown
By the way. I just have a masters degree from Notre Dame. And it was a.
00;18;29;26 - 00;19;09;27
Lee
Like I was the first president and then I became president after that after a while. And I also became president of the Danbury Labor Council, and I was president in the Labor Council for ten or 11 years. So I became very active in the after and the a the AFL CIO attended many national conference. That was where I spent a lot of my time, just about every week I'd have two or three meetings associated with Labor, you know, So that took me away from, you know, concentrating a lot in math and doing a lot of work in math.
00;19;10;03 - 00;19;15;04
Lee
I don't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but that's that's the way things turned out.
00;19;15;04 - 00;19;24;05
Interviewer 2
I think that's a worthy cause to be distracted by. When did you become federated with the AFL? What? What time were we talking?
00;19;24;08 - 00;19;26;08
Lee
Well, I don't know. I.
00;19;26;10 - 00;19;28;24
Interviewer 2
I, I'm 37 days around.
00;19;28;27 - 00;19;48;03
Lee
You could look up and see when that collective bargaining bill was passed is Wayne Baker was in the Senate at that time. Since then, out of out of that I don't know if you're familiar with him, but he's a lawyer. Here is that time, you know, with the collective bargaining, even with the AAUP, you know, doing the bargaining salaries have gone up quite a bit.
00;19;48;03 - 00;20;07;15
Lee
Our working conditions have gone up quite a bit. We now can choose our own department chairmen. You know, the members of the department can choose rather than have the administration tell us who the department chairman was going to be. So a lot of the departments changed radically, and I think much for the better.
00;20;07;17 - 00;20;14;21
Interviewer 2
I was going to I was going to ask some other than salary, what were some of the other reforms you were trying to impose? So those.
00;20;14;21 - 00;20;16;13
Lee
Are some of the reforms.
00;20;16;15 - 00;20;25;04
Interviewer 2
And any small and particular peevish ones that you had in the margins of the agreement or those were your main ones.
00;20;25;07 - 00;20;26;27
Lee
Though those were pretty much the main ones.
00;20;26;27 - 00;20;29;15
Interviewer 2
I hated private rooms, stuff like that.
00;20;29;18 - 00;20;34;16
Lee
No, nothing, nothing like that. And, you know, did you think we've been.
00;20;34;16 - 00;20;41;26
Interviewer 1
Very religious since a lot of animals be from the administration because you tried to get this going, at least in.
00;20;41;28 - 00;21;08;04
Lee
I think the administration probably benefited a lot from it, too. As a matter of fact, mostly the administrators now belong to unions to ask me the American Federation of State, County and Municipal, once they started up their union. Also, we have to, after we got the collective bargaining, we had unions. So their conditions have improved quite a bit also.
00;21;08;06 - 00;21;11;11
Lee
So I don't think there was that much animosity from them.
00;21;11;13 - 00;21;16;06
Interviewer 2
How was that union tie in with the NEA?
00;21;16;09 - 00;21;44;12
Lee
Well, the NEA is not affiliated with the AFL. CIO, and for years and years those a lot of people in the party have worked for a merger of the two unions and just this year, Bob Chase, who is from Danbury, by the way, and is the the president of the National Education Association, the NEA, which covers the entire country from Denver, he's from Danbury.
00;21;44;18 - 00;22;11;03
Lee
He's come out with a statement saying that, you know, they want to have a merger with the AFL. He's meeting with Sandy Feldman, who is now the president of the AFC. And hopefully that that will take place. It's going to be up to the conventions to vote on that this year. And if it does come into being, then you'll have one of the most powerful unions in the entire country.
00;22;11;03 - 00;22;24;28
Lee
All teachers are affiliated with the NEA and the AFGE. That's big affiliates throughout every state in the country. That is going to be a very powerful union in the AFL.
00;22;24;28 - 00;22;42;17
Interviewer 2
CIO wonder what now? Is this too empty, just college faculty? Or when we become teachers, are we going to be asked to join that or are we going to be asked to join the NEA? I'm curious that, you know.
00;22;42;19 - 00;23;04;10
Lee
It depends on where you get a job, because for the last, I'd say six or seven years, the NEA in the area to have more or less a reach reaching agreement, not to read one another. When I first started out there was tremendous competition between the AFL and the NEA and there was reading going on all the time.
00;23;04;10 - 00;23;26;19
Lee
There were collective bargaining elections taking place all the time. I Do you want to vote for the NEA or the AP? And there was that competition last seven or eight years. There hasn't been too much competition like that, and both groups have agreed to work together. And that's why I feel it. You know, the time is right for a merger between the two groups.
00;23;26;27 - 00;23;58;16
Lee
The only thing that's been holding it back has been the affiliation with the AFL. CIO. The NEA at one time was very elitist. You know, we're teachers. We don't want to be associated with other common workers right now. I think that, you know, they realize that they need to help ordinary workers to get through their particular bills. Anything that helps education is going to help the children of the workers because they're the ones that come into the schools.
00;23;58;19 - 00;24;06;15
Lee
So, you know, it's a natural it's a natural type of affiliation. Right.
00;24;06;17 - 00;24;30;02
Interviewer 2
It's really helpful. Now, I'm glad Dr. Janick had mentioned that you were involved in the union, and I'm glad you brought it up, because I really did not touch on that. But you have anything else to. And I think that that's above all, really you could be being, you know, included in someone's dissertation because of the stuff.
00;24;30;04 - 00;24;58;07
Lee
That's right. And stuff. That's that's the that, that's what sets me apart from the other people too to you. I've been very active in that before and we had a terrific group of union people in years that once they got involved in it, once they found out what it was all about, you know, some of the teachers here, they became very good unionists.
00;24;58;09 - 00;25;24;24
Lee
We had demonstrations set up here. We picketed against the mayor skill when he was in town because of his anti teacher proposals and cutting back funding for the state colleges. This was when he was governor. I don't know exactly what the governor. Yeah, yeah. But we we had.
00;25;24;27 - 00;25;33;08
Interviewer 2
I don't know El Grasso's as far back. Wow. All right. Well, I think we could wrap it up.
00;25;33;10 - 00;26;03;22
Lee
I can tell you something about El Grasso. please. When she was a state representative for Connecticut, I remember we had a convention in Washington and AFL CIO convention, and I was there with Al Casale, who is one of the representatives for the state of TI. And we got an appointment to see Ella Grasso while she was in Washington, in York, and we went to see her.
00;26;03;22 - 00;26;15;17
Lee
And we urge to very much to run for governor of the state of Connecticut. And, you know, we let her know that labor was fully in back of it. And we we hoped that she would run it.
00;26;15;19 - 00;26;16;26
Interviewer 2
She was certainly one.
00;26;17;00 - 00;26;18;18
Lee
She was a state representative, state.
00;26;18;18 - 00;26;26;29
Interviewer 2
Rep, you know, really. And she ran she she was served two terms. I think she.
00;26;27;02 - 00;26;31;29
Lee
Was going to be more. Yeah. I think she died while she was screwed up.
00;26;31;29 - 00;26;48;12
Interviewer 2
Yeah. You know, that's one of my formative years. Who was the governor? We remember her as one of the one of the best mean. I don't know what we can substantively, but I.
00;26;48;15 - 00;26;57;22
Lee
Always feel that you had a little bit to do with it. Anyway. I know that was. That certainly was not any major cause, You know.
00;26;57;24 - 00;27;01;24
Interviewer 2
Certainly I don't think she would have been considered to have the backing of labor.
00;27;01;27 - 00;27;27;24
Lee
And she remembered it because there was one time when when we Labor wasn't too happy with it. She was laying off state employees just before Christmas. I thought that was a terrible thing to do. And I was in Hartford at the time and she was governor and a lot of labor leaders were trying to get into her office to speak to her and they couldn't get in.
00;27;27;26 - 00;27;55;27
Lee
And I just happened to be there. And I think it was I was by myself at the time. And I let word, you know, that I would like to talk to her and that I felt that she more or less owed it to me because I had been a strong supported supporter of her. And she gave me an interview with that time.
00;27;55;27 - 00;28;17;22
Lee
She let me come in to see her and I told her of my concerns and that I was disappointed and she listened to it all. And one of the reasons that she let me in and, you know, the other labor leaders that she's going to talk to you, you've got an appointment to see you because these you know, this is something like the president of the AFL, CIO for the state.
00;28;17;22 - 00;28;44;26
Lee
He couldn't get in to see her. You know, she just had had it with labor people all that time because we were coming down on her so badly for laying off state employees just before Christmas. And we thought that this was a horrible thing to do, even though it was a political type situation, you know, where she wanted the Republicans to do something and she was, you know, trying to show the public that she wasn't completely beholden to labor.
00;28;44;26 - 00;29;24;28
Lee
You know, they were they were criticizing her for that fact. And so this was her way of showing that, you know, she's she's strong. And, you know, she she she was not in the pocket of labor, so she did this. But I got in to see her and I spoke to her about it. And I think one of the reasons that she she let me come in to see her was because of the fact that I had supported her strongly in the past and that she also wanted to get some information about the president of the AFC at that time, Ron O'Brien, who she didn't like and who I didn't like either.
00;29;25;02 - 00;29;44;29
Lee
But with me about him, you know, after she heard of my complaint, she told me about how she wasn't too happy about what Grant O'Brien did to her at a particular meeting in the AFC. You know, a lot of the local sports, that's another interesting story. But that has more to do with unions than it does with West Coast.
00;29;45;01 - 00;30;07;14
Interviewer 2
Well, those kind of marginal things are the kind of things that turn out to be really valuable when we're doing this kind of a project, because you can start off somewhere and you can come to Dr. Janet Cohen in a couple of weeks and people talk about what their accomplishments in their lives and they really take your you're staying up to, you know, to write off, you know, this kind of stuff is really what makes up the history.
00;30;07;16 - 00;30;12;26
Interviewer 1
Okay. My tape recorder is playing around with me. If you stop me, if you starting back up.
00;30;12;28 - 00;30;15;04
Interviewer 2
So. Right. I think we're. All right.
00;30;15;06 - 00;30;16;18
Interviewer 1
Well, thank you for your time.
00;30;16;18 - 00;30;23;04
Interviewer 2
That's very kind to me. Yes. Nice meeting you. I will tell to.
Dublin Core
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Title
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Wallace Lee (interview)
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Lee, Wallace
Doherty, Shannon
Pack, Andrea
Description
An account of the resource
90 mins
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
Coverage: 1960s-1990s
Topics discussed : (side A): Background at WestConn; started around 1965 and taught for 29 years; believes WestConn was still a teacher's college; Bob Holberg and Chester Floyd; other members of math department when he arrived; Math department; only 3; 4 offices for entire math department; Physical changes of WestConn; Westside wasn't here when he began; Westside; his office did move there later; taught some classes there, but also taught at Midtown; Retirement; retired about 1995; enjoyed teaching, but enjoys retirement now; spends time at War Memorial now; Background; originally from Queens, NY; graduate from John Adams high there; received bachelors degree from Teacher's College of CT (now Central CT State University); began living in CT after going to school here; Curriculum changes; got into math because he could use his mind more than hands; now math is heavily involved in computers, which is essential; graphing calculators and the benefits of using them; Computers; have made math much more easier; they have speeded the mathematical process up; have benefited math and will continue to do so; got into using them his last few years teaching; Faculty and computers; professors should start reorienting themselves to using them; Basic fundamentals of math; computers will speed up the learning; not essential to know everything; Student changes; student demonstrations on campus during Vietnam War; he took part in some demonstrations; some conflict (non; physical); Quality of student; has had both good and bad from beginning to retirement; not much difference over the years; Teaching of math; never taught any teaching of math courses; only upper level courses; Faculty participation; little activity in working conditions and salaries in beginning; what state said the faculty went along with; AAUP; was involved w/ it; was president of it on campus; went to national conventions; thought it wasn't strong enough to make changes; elite schools like Harvard, etc, were a part of it; needed a union that was less elite; AFT (American Federation of Teachers); affiliated w/ AFL; CIO; he started up chapter at WestConn and grew to be largest on campus; worked w/ Sen. William Baker; both began chapters at all 4 CSU schools; Wayne Baker; head of labor department in state; worked w/ him to get AFT set up at the CSU schools; backed by the AFL; CIO; AFT won at Western, but AAUP at the other 3; AFT President; was a former president; John Encrichrot was first (in English department); Danbury Labor Council; was president of it for 10; 11 years; Changes at WestConn after AFT; salaries went up; departments allowed to choose their department chairpersons; Animosities between administration; the administration benefited from unions; have their own as well; NEA and AFT; NEA not affiliated w/ AFL; CIO; Bob Chase, Danbury resident and president of NEA, has said want to merge w/ the AFT; such a merger would benefit teachers; which union a teacher joins depends on where they work; Governor Meskill; cut money for education while governor; Ella Grasso; was a state representative before she became governor; he met her in Washington, DC during and AFT convention there; urged her then to run for governor of CT
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1998
Subject
The topic of the resource
Universities and colleges--Administration
Identifier
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ms012_11_42_lee
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
aec7155f-006c-4bc3-912b-04e0c16b0fe9
Danbury State College
Western Connecticut State College
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Herb_Janick_Papers_MS012/7991/ms012_11_62_ryan.mp3
254c0cb5b20f7510197effc7a7fcc44c
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
Side A
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Herb_Janick_Papers_MS012/7991/ms012_11_62_ryan_b.mp3
181eaea5d934b6bc7b0a618143c60e11
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Herb Janick Papers, MS012
Description
An account of the resource
The Herbert F. Janick, Jr. Papers spans the years 1889-2002 and consists mainly of Janick’s research for his book on the centennial history of Western Connecticut State University.
Contributor
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Janick, Herb
Has Version
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<a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/findingaids/ctdbn_ms012_janick.xml">Link to finding aid.</a>
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
f32271cc-b16e-4921-8776-db43f2dc8a6f
Oral History
A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Elsie Ryan (interview)
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ryan, Elsie
King, Jim
Delvecchia, Dave
Description
An account of the resource
49 mins
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The recording had degraded significantly, making us unable to provide a transcription.
Topics discussed : (side A): Role at WestConn; was a secretary in several departments/areas; began as secretary in social science department; followed by being secretary for Dr. Cook until he retired; then worked for Dr. Teal who replaced Cook before he retired; worked for 2 executive deans, followed working in education department; Student activities; didn't know many until working in education department; placed students into student teaching jobs; Dr. Haas; had an open door policy; was always here early; she was down to Earth and a remarkable woman; library named after her; Library; opened in 1969; prior to that, it was located in Old Main; it was beautiful until they painted it; Dr. Bersi and Dr Feldman; not liked because lack of communication; no open door policy for either; Dorms; Fairfield Hall was the first dorm; guys weren't allowed in beginning; Basic Studies program; began in 1973; Vietnam; no problems on campus; no protesting; Name change; college to university; no one seemed to really notice; Dr. Bersi; close door policy, faculty felt kind of shut out; Dr Feldman; seems very standoffish; charming to talk to; Faculty; too many assistants and high paying jobs; high position people; some unnecessary jobs in the administration; Catherine Pickett; works same job as she did; Tensions at WestConn; confrontations between faculty and administration; poll on Feldman's competence a/ a lot of negative response; Unions at WestConn; she currently works for AAUP; first union began around 1976; helped w/ grievances the faculty had; some were more involved than others; Large enrollment at CSU schools; Saul Meeks; excellent teacher and good for the students; stepped on too many toes and went about things the wrong way; she had a confrontation w/ him over use of Xerox machine; he could be abrasive at times; started the credit union; most students liked him; now teaching at small school in Midwest; Westside campus; split campus; it was a hassle for both students and faculty; was talk about moving entirely to Westside, but now keeping midtown; money prevents it from happening; Racial problems; not aware of any race problems; small campus keeps any problems out; Well; balanced school; Sports; too much emphasis placed on sports; never cut budget to the sports; most minorities come to Western for sports programs; many athletes were in the Basic Studies program (side B): Student evaluation; teachers evaluating if students could make it as a teacher; one student in a wheelchair was told by one teacher he didn't think he would make it as a teacher; physical education was once a requirement to become a teacher; Western evolvement; the business school grew; named after Ancell, who donated money to Western; started by John Bratton; now education, business, and criminal justice are over on Westside; Bulletin boards; amount of advertisement; Stan Klein; worked w/ him for 5 years; was chairman of the education department; Faculty interest; faculty in education department care about students; Dr. Janick and Dr. Leopold are similar; Truman Warner; was her first boss when she began at Western; he was chairman of the social science/history department then; Enjoyed time at WestConn; made many friends over the years; miss them, but keep in touch w/ most of them
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1986
Subject
The topic of the resource
Universities and colleges--Administration
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ms012_11_62
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
1d78590a-a957-4383-9d5e-c64ef926e1ff
Administration
Racism
Student life
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Herb_Janick_Papers_MS012/7988/ms012_11_55_rosenberg.mp3
a6bcbdd572c58958d47f464c0ce3cd32
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Herb Janick Papers, MS012
Description
An account of the resource
The Herbert F. Janick, Jr. Papers spans the years 1889-2002 and consists mainly of Janick’s research for his book on the centennial history of Western Connecticut State University.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Janick, Herb
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/findingaids/ctdbn_ms012_janick.xml">Link to finding aid.</a>
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
f32271cc-b16e-4921-8776-db43f2dc8a6f
Oral History
A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Dr. Ellen Rosenberg (Interview)
Creator
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Bitterman, Lauren
Hill, Christopher
Rosenberg, Ellen
Description
An account of the resource
33 mins.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
Topics discussed: (side A):
0-10 minutes: Introduction; retired in June 1995; Classes taught; Interview w/ Dr. Warner; her perceptions of the history/social science department; Role of women teachers; Physical changes at WestConn; Two campuses; Midtown and Westside;
10-20 minutes: Problems/negatives of teaching at WestConn; Drop in average age of students; due to the times and events of period; Basic Studies program; came about due to integration; Teaching about Africa; Current events; would talk about them in class; students' feelings about them;
20-30 minutes: Changes she would make about herself and WestConn; One semester sabbatical; Keeping up w the Times; it is essential in a social science class; Majors of students; business majors increased; political issues influenced student decisions; Events during her teaching career; developed lectures around the current events; Students in the classroom; manners and behavior; Technology;
30-40 minutes: "Only at WestConn"; negative image of Western from its students; Dr. Ruth Haas; Dressing at the school; Final comments
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1998
Subject
The topic of the resource
Danbury (Conn.)--History
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ms012_11_55_rosenberg
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
b09a00aa-bac7-468e-b4c5-a6dd79a13dea
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Herb_Janick_Papers_MS012/7987/ms012_09_18_orgelman_marguarite.mp3
1b4698585d244570f01b98e8d8e662b8
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Herb Janick Papers, MS012
Description
An account of the resource
The Herbert F. Janick, Jr. Papers spans the years 1889-2002 and consists mainly of Janick’s research for his book on the centennial history of Western Connecticut State University.
Contributor
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Janick, Herb
Has Version
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<a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/findingaids/ctdbn_ms012_janick.xml">Link to finding aid.</a>
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
f32271cc-b16e-4921-8776-db43f2dc8a6f
Oral History
A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Marguerite Orgelman (interview)
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Janick, Herbert F.
Orgelman, Marguerite
Description
An account of the resource
~30 mins.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
This interview is a continuation of this interview: <a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/items/show/2914">https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/items/show/2914</a><br /><br />0-10 minutes: (Side A) (Illegible conversation); Ms. Johnson; Southern Discrimination; Long Ridge Women’s Group; Long Ridge Library <br /><br />10-20 minutes: Joining Women’s Group; Attending Meetings; Participation; Presidency; History of Danbury; Family History; Family Records Xerox <br /><br />20-30 minutes: John Green History; Description of California; Sierra Nevada; Spanish-American War
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1988
Subject
The topic of the resource
Danbury (Conn.)--History
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ms012_09_18_orgelman
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
380d483d-5d64-4bfc-a0ef-bb4779a816d9
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Herb_Janick_Papers_MS012/7981/ms012_10_19_driscoll_a.mp3
e6d84d4f6fe43b760296c607427d3231
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Herb_Janick_Papers_MS012/7981/ms012_10_19_driscoll_b.mp3
cb36ef8c3824ae9673119ec909f191ec
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Herb Janick Papers, MS012
Description
An account of the resource
The Herbert F. Janick, Jr. Papers spans the years 1889-2002 and consists mainly of Janick’s research for his book on the centennial history of Western Connecticut State University.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Janick, Herb
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/findingaids/ctdbn_ms012_janick.xml">Link to finding aid.</a>
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
f32271cc-b16e-4921-8776-db43f2dc8a6f
Oral History
A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Dr. David Driscoll (Interview)
Description
An account of the resource
60 mins.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
Coverage: 1960s-1970s
Topics discussed : (side A): Growth of WestConn from 1960s; Dr. Haas; she had been there for many years; very pleasant and easy to get along with; Changes in student body; influx of minority students; academic preparedness of students was poor in some aspects; many of the better students were women; Academic standards of faculty; easy/relaxed standards; Teacher/student relations; student was a student, teacher was a teacher; Vietnam War; had effect on the male students between 19; 21; male students upset; Minority students; many were black males w/ attitudes; faculty felt threatened by them and their grading policies were effected; "Nature of Man"; the beginning of humanities at WestConn; Name change; went from DSC to WCSC while he was there; Transition from teacher's college to liberal arts college; student wanted program that allowed them to earn a degree that gave them opportunity to teach in CT; students wanted opportunities to stimulate leaning process; Dr. Greenwald; was in charge of the "Nature of Man"; he was also chairman of department; both used to talk about what the program meant; Make up of "Nature of Man"; a four year program w/ each year following the previous; "Old School"; teacher's training; concern was the educational background; preparing students to teach; neither he nor Dr. Greenwald cared about training teachers; both concerned about philosophical ideas; His role in "Nature of Man"; he taught the "Nature of Man I" course; Defining "Nature of Man"; selling the idea to the faculty; Student reaction to "Nature of Man"; general reactions was mixed; some unsure, others got it; students didn't change in his opinion over the course of the program; Kent State; students at WestConn didn't change much after the incident
(side B):
0-10 minutes: New Faculty; joined the college during the mid 1960s; many were young, mostly men; not sure about the impact of the new faculty had on college; Generation gap; may have been some by students; he didn't feel there was one; general attitude was liberal and not against student beliefs necessarily; Dr. Greenwald was the same way as him; the gap came from those who came from the teacher's college time; these faculty were more focused on teacher education; Dr. Haas stayed out of the way potential gap; Dr. Haas and how she viewed change of the college; her attitude was you didn't disrupt the status quo;
10-15 minutes: Dr. Haas as president; she was overall a liberal woman; must have had a great deal of difficulty in her position; she had to deal w/ the state a lot; as faculty increased, they had ideas and had to adjust to them
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1991
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ms012_10_19_driscoll
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
f8b164f4-7dcd-49c0-a33e-2a79ba163e31
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Herb_Janick_Papers_MS012/7980/ms012_10_18_detzer.mp3
5ad7437e93b8921be6560bfcf09f949e
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Herb_Janick_Papers_MS012/7980/ms012_10_18_detzer_b.mp3
716ec56d11aa72dbcf7497307fbceb6b
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Herb Janick Papers, MS012
Description
An account of the resource
The Herbert F. Janick, Jr. Papers spans the years 1889-2002 and consists mainly of Janick’s research for his book on the centennial history of Western Connecticut State University.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Janick, Herb
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/findingaids/ctdbn_ms012_janick.xml">Link to finding aid.</a>
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
f32271cc-b16e-4921-8776-db43f2dc8a6f
Oral History
A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Dr. David Detzer (interview)
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
McNamara, Harold
Detzer, David
Description
An account of the resource
60 mins
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
Coverage: 1966-1990s
Topics discussed : (side A): Growth of WestConn; History of WestConn before 1966; had been just an education school and before that just elementary; Dr. Haas; she had been here for awhile; lived in Fairfield Hall as dorm mother prior to becoming president; Buildings; Old Main, Higgins, Berkshire, Fairfield, and Memorial; Liberal Arts; added by time he got here; changed the atmosphere of the college; Liberal Arts majors vs. Education majors; nursing program added; music ed was one of the best in the country at that time; women were now going into other programs than just education; Size of school; was small at the time; tuition was $50; "Baby Boomers"; many couldn't afford a private school; enrolled in state schools; Type of student; education minded students; women still outnumbered men; local residents; Dr. Haas in her role as president; had expectations of the students, especially the females; the girls were expected the wear certain clothes; New faculty; many of the current faculty were hired during this time; many were about the same age; some hired didn't even have their Master's degree yet because of need; was offered more money to come here to teach; College population; division of students and faculty could be seen; Traditional type of student; social life was gentle; Problems of the young faculty; many had troubles coping w/ difficulties of the time; use of drugs; sexual relations between students and faculty; ran and taught classes the way they choose to; Faculty senate; wrote the faculty constitution; things like this were able to be done because young faculty outnumbered the older faculty; couldn't happen today; members are elected (representative body); not sure of structure today; Liberal arts degree program; limited number of history majors at this time; majority of students were training to be history teachers; education majors pressured to "act professional"; Social issues; feminist movement; all his bosses at one point were female; civil rights and minority students; issues were talked about among students, but were very distant; Growth of faculty in History department; was called Social Science/History department in beginning; many were young w/ attitudes; none are at Western anymore; many in department were fairly conservative and quiet; he was fairly radical at time; there was one in department that was self; proclaimed Marxist; Radical faculty members; many were forced out or quit; attracted a student following; Dr. Bersi; Westside campus; the plans Dr. Haas had for the new campus; asked everybody if they wanted a new campus; all those who voted for it are still on the midtown campus though; Anti; war movement; Dr. Young would be best person to ask about it; teach; ins, discussions, and debates over Vietnam War; the conservative of the department was Dr. Roman; meetings were open to the public; the college was seen as a community center; Minority students; the creation of the Afro; American Club; students came up w/ list of demands they wanted from Dr. Haas; they decided to go to Dr. Haas' office and have a sit in
0-10 minutes: (side B) (Dr. Young joined the interview); Morality of students; school as a substitute parent (Dr. Young left) (interview interrupted on a few occasions); Students of the 1970s; sex, drugs, and rock' n roll; students living together as roommates; drugs on campus and first exposure to students w/ pot (a young female student showed him a bag of pot); Nationwide Moratorium; occurred in the fall of 1969; Kent State; some at WestConn reacted to the shootings at Kent State; more involved in national demonstrations of 1969; Typical demonstration organizer; most weren't traditional college students; tended to be older;
10-20 minutes: Students voting; conservatism in the 1972 election; it was in contrast w/ their attitude two years before; classrooms saw many discussions and debates concerning the war; Students of the 1990s vs. 1970s; seen a change in students of early 1970s and students today; issues today have made students more relaxed; Commune; reaction to the times; Drug culture; not many students were prepared to deal w/ drugs and alcoholism; How he relates to students of now and then; he was closer to their age in the late 1960s; early 1970s; his perceptions have changed; experimented w/ his teaching style during the 1960s;
20-30 minutes: Teaching cycle; sees another cycle of new teachers coming in next few years; those hired when he was are getting ready to retire; scares him in a way; History department; went from one person and increased; it is now at 6 w/ many close to retirement; David Driscoll; Jim Dyer; former student at WestConn and former mayor of Danbury; his political origins begin at WestConn; took photographs at Western; heavily involved w/ student body (was on Board of Trustees)
Recording has deteriorated significantly.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1991
Subject
The topic of the resource
Universities and colleges--Administration.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ms012_10_18_detzer
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
77a49c1e-bab4-4efc-8b95-af4a1da29ec0
Jim Dyer
Ruth Haas
Student life
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Herb_Janick_Papers_MS012/7977/ms012_02_33.pdf
888b42011949914fc1f594c61b175751
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Herb_Janick_Papers_MS012/7977/ms012_02_34.pdf
a00304b8c1789f6180d1da3ce9be138e
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Herb Janick Papers, MS012
Description
An account of the resource
The Herbert F. Janick, Jr. Papers spans the years 1889-2002 and consists mainly of Janick’s research for his book on the centennial history of Western Connecticut State University.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Janick, Herb
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/findingaids/ctdbn_ms012_janick.xml">Link to finding aid.</a>
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
f32271cc-b16e-4921-8776-db43f2dc8a6f
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Student Activism, 1967-1970
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Janick, Herbert F.
Detzer, David
Wilder, David E.
Description
An account of the resource
~100 pgs
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
Includes a David Detzer essay on student activism in the late 60s at WestConn.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2002
Subject
The topic of the resource
Student protesters
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ms012_02_33-34
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
d2c305a8-e486-466a-abaa-5c7d7de4c0a8
Herb Janick
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Herb_Janick_Papers_MS012/7876/ms012_15_19_001.pdf
ae315d7062d6664d034424ee0cb44a6c
PDF Text
Text
Hi E:tOfl nS :hiricter1 re the f rst World Wr s
Uni on rnembershi
boon to orqni red 1 bor.
I ncresed substtnti & 1 q nd wqes soired. Sirnue1
bornpers stteqi of unquol I fled support for the war effort ci evated the
Amen can Federation of Labor to favored status with
admni strati on sumbol 1 red bq the
11
rst apriearance
0?
the
Wilson
a Urn ted State:E;
President at an AFof L conventi I:!n in 1 9 1 7. Government bac:ki nq enabled
1 abor to reach the 1 onq souqht qoal of the ci qht hour daq I n the rail road
I ndustri,
become the
a breakthrouqh that uni on 1 eaders expected woul
national standard. The fact that even the steel industr, an implacable
enemt of unions, made some concessions to their workers, indicates the
degree of proqress made b!_I organl red I bflr duh n 1
‘
1 7 and 1 9 1
.
(1
:
The fate of the hattinq I ndustr in Danburij, Cornecti cut was an exceDti on
to this pattern. Hat manufacturers in the sinqie industr! town of
appro::.:imatel! 22,000 eoi1e exploited wartime clrc:umnstances
to
accomnpl i sr their twentq gear obj ecti ‘c of c:urtai Ii nq the influence of the
Urn ted Hatters of North Amen ci A
bi
ttet— stn ke aqai nst four of the
iarqest hat firms in the ctu, provoked bq manaqemnent in 1917 contrar!
to
the ublic:1i exressed wishes of the Wilson adrrnnstration, draqqed on
until 1 922 when the urn on conceded that i t
mnemnbers cou I d work i n all
local non—urn on factories thereu ack:nowledqi nq its i mrwotence. This paper
will show how aqqresive fai::tori owners, with crucial help from the
Connec:ticut_ Manufactut—er—s Assoc:iation and its affiliates
,
vanquished the
United Hatters despite the simpathet c presence of the federal
qccvernment and transformned Danbun from a union stronqhold to an open
shop t ci wn
�The hitti riq I ndustrq I ri the Urn ted E;ttes ‘t the
resisted rtiomliztii:in. Coni::entrated in
start
of World Wôr I hd
holf dozen cites in
L:onnec:tic:ut, New York, ond Pennst1vnio it enc:ompissed rnônt smell to
medium sized firms th8t enqqed in ruthless price competition. Efforts to
c:reite
national industnal assoc:iatii:in that could impose order on the
trade met with limited suc:c:ess.
situation was equalkj chaotic.
‘::
me
Within ec:h httinq center the
connecticut Department of Factor!
!nspec:ti Ofl 11 sted 3b businesses in Daflbur!4 In 19 1 fE tflat either matie hats
or directlq serviced the hat industr’. (3) Some semblance of unit was
provided b! the Hat Manufacturers Assoc:iation of Danburi and 6ethel
which was set up in 1903 but ni:it all firms were members. The most
natable absentee was the si :able E.A. Ma] i ctr—q
C:ompan,
The rival r amoeq
L:’anbur! hat firms appalled a field aqent of the Manufacturers Association
of
Connec:ti
c:ut sent to the ci t; n 1 91 9 who reported to tfle state
or—qani zatq on that the maj or problem he found in the communi tu was a
lack of ‘::ooperation amonq businessmen who Thad insufficient desire and
abilit to serve their loint ends because thei_j were more or less kniffinq
one an!:lther.
4:
The abi Ii t’ 011 actor’ o’vners to c:ontrol tre s!stem 01 hat product 1
was
c:omp] i c:ated bq the presenc:e of established urn one. As earlj as 1 791 loc:al
I ourneimen beqan to formalize the terms of their empi otjment. In 1 E00 the
I_Irti ted and True Assistant Soi::i eti4 of Hatters, the nations fi ret hat urn on,
vas established in Danbur to spell out in detail the rules and
responsibilities of membership in this artisan fraternitt. (5) As the scale
�iJI
the industr qrew sui::h ioc:al mani:ations c:i:ins:ilidated into nati’:’nal
uni ons. Pepresenti nq t hose ‘ht: perf orrned the most ski 11 ed t asks of
stlin, polishinq, and curlinq, the elite ht finisrfers were te first to
amaqamate formi nq the Hat Finishers National Trade Assocati on in 1 a54.
Thei r counterparts i n the st: cal led back shop, the flat makers, were unabi e
to form a national tront until I iEiIE5. Collabr:tration between the unions
representinq each seqrnent of the hat manufacturinq process was sporadic:
urti 1 the Depressi’:n of I Ei93 prompted the rnerer of the two qroups into
the United Hatters of North America in 15% which imnmnediateiq affiliated
with the American Federation of Labor. The membership in the DanburLj
I4p
LO
di str c:t of the new union was 1 are and influential. (6; The LrrL! Ht
Tfl mmers LIni on, c:omp!Jsed cxi:: 1 usi vel q 01 women Who retresented about
one—third of the work force in eai::h factori, never joined the United
Hatters and
often more militant than their male coil eaques. (7)
The labor unrest that exploded in Danbur.j as the Urn ted States ended its
three qears of neutra1it had deep roots. As one astute observer put it
“The c:i t t has been dead—i ocked for !jears with hat manufacturers on one
side, union labor on the other” (5) The Hat Makers and the Hat Finishers
each faced a mna or threat to their job set::uri t!. With the i ntrot1uct on of
the forminq machine in I 5461wh1c:h shaped the basic: hat c:one1a pattern of
qreater mnec:harn zati on cback shop 1 essened dependanc:e or ski 115 of the
worker. n the c:ase. of the Finishers the mHc:e consisted in fewer hats to
&a1l
�4
finish. in::e 1 Ei92 when Hrri Mc:Lc:h1iri i:i—iqinite tre s::rteme to
SiCCi
1 I :e in tibric:ti nq rouqh heit bocli es thit w!:lu1 d be completed in
srnal 1 “buck—cue” shops all over the count rq more Danbur’ N rms turned to
trii3
mss production ipproii::h. 5 1917 the Director of the
I ndustri al 6ureau of the Chamber of ,::ornmet—ce esti mated that m!:re than
half of the output of Danbur’ hat factories was beinq finished
elsewhere mostlq in New York C:itt. Nine factories e se r!:tuqh
cwt..
eC’ifi’fl.
hats outsi ‘Ic the ci tLl br ii fli sf1 nq. (9.: Thessue and others 4—’* S nç
stri nqent apirenti c:eshi p rules and requl ati on of the pace of
work——Danburi hatters enforced the “stint” or ac:ceptatil e daqs out
put——were resonsible for a 16 week lockout in I E;93—94 and a 21 week
work stoppace in 1909 as well as numerous shorter interruptions. The
frequenc:q of labor c:onfri:ntations increased after 1 903, not onlq because
I oceil rnanoqement was more uni f i ed, but because the Supreme Court
decision in the famous Danburi Hatters case (Loewe vLawier) depnved
the United Hatters of its most effective weapon, the boic:ott.( 10)
War i ntensi fi ed the tensi on between labor and menaqement Elecause
.
hat t nq was not a vital war i ndustr! and hat c:ompani Cs rec:ei ved few
qovernment c:ontract 5 Danburtj did not share in the prosperi t j that the war
C0 €.t%
stimulated in
rni:’st
of the nation.
&.
wnrkerc; in this staqnant industrLj
suffered di sproporti onatel q from the hi qh cost of ii vi nq fueled bLi inflated
wa’es in other sec:tors of the ec:oriomt. In order to provide relief the
Executive Committee of the United Hatters decided that the new waqe
c:ontrai::t which woW d replace the bill of prices that voul d exp re on
�Mai 1 1917 must be tied to the se11inqtJj:: hatIs nther than the
production costs. In the e’es of ‘.ini on offi ID1 al s this was far from a radical
proosa 1 havi nq been the pri i::i nq standard for the rnanufa::ture of stiff hats
si rice 1 902 and i ntrodw::ed as the basi 5 for remunerati on f’:’r maki nq soft
hats in the 1916 contF-act. In ot-der to a11a’ manaqernents fear) of
constant waqe i ncreases as hat prices went up union leaders aqreed to
freeze wagE; for an entire hear.
The war p1 ar::ed the hat manufacturers i n a di ff cult posi ti on also. Paw
materials i rnported from Europe, such as rabbi tt fur ani chemical d!es.,
were now scarce. With two million men in the service the demand for
civilian hats was weak. Ijnder the ci rc:umstances theta were uneasi. about
ranti nq waqe i ncreases wi thout knowi nq thei r exact costs. On] q a few
firms followed the e::::ample of E.A.Mall orq and Sons, one of the c tis
01 dest and 1 arqes t ci:mpani es, who Wi thi n a few da!s of the expi rat i on of
the ol d contract si qned a new areement wi th the union where the waqe
rate was peqqed to the sell i nq price of hats.
More attrac:ti ye was the response of Frank J.Lee the 1 arqest empi oher in
the ci t!, who sensed that unsettl ed condi ti :ins provi led an opportuni t!
ti:
break the uni on. Al onq with Harr M::Lachl an, a Scotch i mrni qrant who
beqan as a journehman in the 1 E90’s and was in partnership with Lee from
1909 to 1914, and the sort of John Wi3reen who had rec:ent1. taken over
control of that establ i shed comparit, Lee dcci dci to provike a strike. The
three firms took the provoc:atlve position that linkinq waqes to the se1lint
pfl ce was a departure from past practi c:es and had to be subject to
�hi
arbi trati on as spelled out i ri the so cal led “Father KennedL Aqreement” that
settled the 1 909 stri ke. Local s 1 0 and 11 responded predi ctabi r that waqe
polici was a national issue and could not be sub jec:t to local arbitration,
an acc:epted pri nd il e I n 1 abi:ir—manaqement rd ati ons. (1 1 )
Frank: Lee, the most mlii tarit foe of the United Hatters in E:ianbur—i.j, was an
uni 1 kel i. uni on buster. The !JOungest 01 ten chi 1 dren who was raised on a
Connec:t i cut farm he ‘vas a j ourneqman and uni ‘:‘n member before start i nq
hi :3 own if ai::tori I n Eiethel 1 n I 6. In 1 909 he construc:teil a modern steel
and conc:ret e fai::tor that i n 1 9 1 E empl oied I 1 00 workers and qrossed
,
over 2.5 rrii lii on dcii lars in business. Despite his financial success he
mal ntai ne’i an unost entat I ous ii if est!l e on a hi 11 top farm. He knew most of
his ernploiees b!J their first names and earned their respect for 1nteqntL
and qener’:sit to the c:ommnumtq. Even in the midst of labor unrest n 1917
President Jeremiah Scull q showed his admiration for Lee bi tell inq a
qathen nq of the Hat Makers union that Lee “has qone awa’ from us but i n
ever! dealinq with me he has been fair and honest.” (1 2)Yet Lee resented
the intrusion ‘:f a nati’:’nal union inti:’ the affairs of his fa,::t,:,ru
that he was wi 111 nq
ti:’
El:,
strl:inql!
endure ,::i:,nsi derabi e e,::,:in,:,ml c 1 ‘:‘ss to remni:’ve its
presenc:e. He adrni tted In I i
1I
that the strike he tn qqered had cost him a
half million dollars and reuced his work fi:iri::e bt one—half. (13)
The con,::lusi,:,n that Lee deliberatelq brouqht on the strike with the
1 ntenti on of darnaqi nq the uni on I s enescapabi e. L.ont emnporari es not
affiliated with the umon rei::i:iqnized his mnotivaton. E.cGintU, a former
�E:’onbur p01 i cc captain, tol ii the L:onnec:t 1 cut Federati on of Labor meet i n
in Danburu in 1 Y 17 that the purpose of the strike was “sirnp1i to crush and
destro’ the United Hatters of Amen ca.” (1 5) Mcdi ators dispatched bi the
IJni t cii States Department of Labor on t NO separate oci::asi ons, thouqh
unable to resolve the impasse, praised the union for cooperation and
viii I fled manaqement for their “antaqoni sti c mental condition.: the
rnani festl !j absu
nature of their stance on arbitration
thef “stubborni
the uni on E .E.
“that the buro
obtains i n t h
who, n m
i
refuse to off I ci all
end for the wau
deal i n anL manner whatsoe,’er WI th
tenwal t .1 n frustrat i on, reported to hi s superiors in 1 9 1
/ of
responsi bi 11 t’ for the reqrettabi e. Si tueti on that now
ommuni
tq rests upon the shoul ders
i:if
the manufai::turers,
qement, ireci i toted wi thout suffi ci ent reesi:ins,
::i:insi den nq the i::i:indi t 1 i:ins of the won
Ii
ani our i::i:iuntri, an i ndustri al
troubi e that has brouqht 1 ncal ::uabi e harm to the busi ness i nterests
i:if
the
communi ui” (1 6)
The Lini ted Hatters recoqm zed Lees acti on as a direct cialienqe to their
intl ueni::e and were warq in thei r response. On Mat 1 6, 1 9 1 7, after the 0111
cont rai::t had e::.::pi red and neqi:it i at i i:ins were stall ea i:iri the I ssue
‘:if
arbi trati on, the uni on withdrew the label f rorn four f ei::ton es c:ontro] 1 ed bq
Lee, McLachl an, and Green but permitted uni on members ti: ci:nti nue work
in other factories run b! members of the Danbur! Hat Manufacturers
Assi:ci ati on. To strenqhten their i::redi bill tq the uni on i mmedi ate] !J 5i qnea
a new pact with E.A.Malli:irq (600 emnp1oiees) anti several smaller 1rms
�fl
whi:i were not members of the hat manuf acturers orni zati on that ti cii the
ii11 of prices with the sellinq price ‘:if hats. Within two weeks the union
beqan to di stri butetri ke benefits to empi oLees of the four tarqeted
ii rms at the rate 01 seven ‘loll ars a week for marri cci men mid fi ye ‘ii:’i 1 rn—s
for si nql e workers. Al thouqh far bel ow the normal earm nqs of hatters
whi c:h was c:1 cisc to twenti dcii] ars per week, this f I nanci al support
ti qhtened the discipline of the urn on. (1 7)
Adherence of the Danburq 1 i:i::al 5 to nati onal uni i:;n rul es was si:i’:in test ed.
After five weeks of seei nq his fai::ti:irL( 1 del arid yowl nq that “he did not
mean to be dri yen from the manufacture of hats” Lee threatened to
iermanent —‘hijt down his rnociern facti:irt——known I n town pan anc:e
si mp1i as the “bi q plant”-2 and
ti:
shift his operati ‘:ins
ti:’
a srnal icr open
sh’:’’ fact ortj in DanbuF—q i:ir possi bi Lj i n N’:irwal k. Thi s warni nq pri:idui::ed
c:i:ir,sternat 1 i:in amcnq Lees stri ki nq empi i:’’ees whi:’ formed a Comnmni tt cc
Eiqht
ti:
i:if
i::i:infer with the Linited Hatters on a suitable respi:inse. This
meeti nq, described bi the DanbuF— Eveni nq News as “more or less
a’:;ri moni ous” and one where “personalities were i ndul qed in’ showed that
Lee had thrust a wedqe into union ranks. Some workers were c:ni ti c:al of
the poll c:i es of the national 1 eadershi p and were adamant about the need to
keep the Lee factor operatinq in :‘anburi. Patrii::k Connoli!L a fcrrner
%ec:retari of tre Hat Makers loc:al and an cx Connec:ti cut Labor
L:omr-imisioner, warned that the l’:ss of the lee fai::tori “miqht kill Danburi.”
Herbert Low, a Lee ernploiee and member of the
publi::4_4qreed with rnanaqement that the issue
cirrimni ttee cii Eiqht,
i:if
pric:es like all others
�should be dcci ned bq I ocal arti btrt on arini attacked national Secretart
Mart in Lawl or who, Low Cl al mcd, had stated that he was will 1 Q to
scat fi cc the Lee factorq for the principle 01 attachinq waqes to the
sd ii nq price.( 1 i)
Grurnbl i nq aqa 1 nst uni on poll ci qrew I n vol ume. T he 1 oc:al newspaper
published letters from hatters critical of national union 1eadershp. one
from an cx hatter in Norwalk: predicted that “Kaiser Lawlor is qoinq to qet
a bad bump as Kaiser 6111 is” (19) Respected leaders in the c:ornmunit
ur’ed uni on members to di sreqard the di recti ons cn thel cii Ii cers.
Reverend A.Cf:oburn, iounq rec:tor of St_lames Epi scopal Churcri, spoke
about the situation from the pulpit. 1_Isi nq anal oqi es to the war,
apprn:npri ate fri:nrn cnne who vol unteecd tn:n be a ml ii tar! i::hapl ai n, Coburn
i::n:irnpared “bl eedi nq Danbur” tn: “61 cciii nq 8e1 qi urn” and i mn 1 ored stn kers
to “qet toqether and show the won ii we
are
nn:nt si an::kers.” He went n:nn tn:n
tell his conqreqati on that the onl i. si:nl uti on tc’ labor unrest i ri Danbur! was
di ren::t ne ol ti at ions between E:Ianbuftj bniSses
termed “home rul e.”
(2o).
and
Danbuni.i workers, what he
Reverend Walter Shanl e’, the fi rerq pastn:nr n:if
St Peters l::athn:n ii c: Chunn::r, whn:n never hesi t ated to wn te n:’r speak about
sui::h pubi in:: I ssues as temperann::e and qamnb ii nq turned his attenti i:nn tn: the
•.
strike. In an open letter to the Danbur!J Eveni nq News he casti qated Martin
Lawl er for drawi nq a hi qh sal ar as a uni n:nn exn::euti ye wri Ic 1 n:ii::al wn:;rkers,
mari! 01 them his pat—i :E;r,oniers, suffered. He j udqed that “never in Danbur
have the work:ers expressed qreaten i ndi qnati on aqai mist the officers than
at present.” These blunt senti mnents also found expressi on in his Sundat
�1o
sermons. One 11 fe—i onq Danburq resident remembered t hat Shani eqs
remarks provoked Jeremi ah Scull
,
the Presi dent of the Hat Makers urn on,
to the unheard of ac:ti on of speaki nq out in protest from hi s pew before
:3tal kinq out of mass.(2 1 :
More damaqi nq than words was the belated action of the other members of
the Hat Manufacturers Assi:n::i at i on who on June 1 6 vot cii
ti:’
ci cisc thei r
plants rather than ac:cept a contract based on the sell i riq ph ce In
announcinq their decision in an open letter to the press the !ssoi::iation
indic:ted the national offic:ers for poiic:ies that benefited them but not the
workers wrii:i ‘were fi:irc:ed to I cave the ci tq of fi nil work. T heq label ed
the current stn ke as a “death blow to Danbur’.”(22)
Union officials fouqht back. Mar—tin Lawl or deni cii that he ever c:onsl dered
“sacri fi c:i nq” the Lee p1 ant and deni:iunc:ed Father Shanl ey as a I onq t i me
apol oqi st for the mnanuf at::turers. The mi:st ci i:iquent uni on repi q ‘was the
c:onti nued support of the rank: arid file.
On
June 2 1 after three hours of
heated di sc:ussi on at Ci tq Hall where more than 1 000 members amme’ the
meet i nq roi:rn ,spi 11 ed out i nt ci the hal 1 waqs, and even sat ‘:in the i::i:iurt
rai ii nq and i:ln the j ude%beni::h the 1 arqest ever mneeti nil
,
union vi:;ted
ti:i
i:if
the Hat Makers
support the national position ani not pursue separate
neq:t i ati ons with the Danbur’ fa::t:irf ‘wners. The f:l 1 i:iwi nq da’ the Hat
Finsriers
with t::onsiderabl! less enthusiasm arid urnt!, foll:wed suit. On1i
226 of the 400 members who attended the meeti nq c:ast ballots and 42
votes were rei::orded in opposition to the national position. (:
�11.
The response of Lee and his associates to the hatters solidarity was
direct. Lee leased the abandoned Geltaire factory, a small wooden
structure on
North Main Street, and began to hire workers regardless of union
affiliation. He announced to prospective employees that, although he
would never deal with a national union , he would be willing to arbitratre
all issues with a local union. Lee advertised his South Street factory for
sale in the New York city newspapers and he started negotiations with
Norwalk businessmen about opening a factory there. The three other struck
firms also reopened on an open shop basis. In August all four incorporated
as the United States Hat Company and with capitalization of one million
dollars became the largest hat company in the district responsible for
more than half of the local output. (24)
As hatters, some of them union members, began to file into the factories
of Lee and his partners the union escalated the tension by opting to picket
what they termed the “foul shops.” Although union leaders were careful to
decry violence and boasted that they did not use force in labor disputes
there is some indication that this strike was not entirely peaceful. Of
course there is no direct evidence of this in the local newspaper always
concerned about Danbury’s reputation. The press recorded peaceful marches
of hatters carrying American flags up Main Street to the Lee plant.
However Kenneth Hanna, the son of the then City Clerk, recalls that verbal
abuse and frequently rocks were hurled by strikers at men who crossed the
picket lines.(24) The terse newspaper report that Lee shot at a prowler
near his home at the height of the strike takes on added significance in the
context of his daughters description of her father sleeping with a gun
�12
under his pillow t this time, hivinq the qrounds of his home illuminited,
arrangi nq tor Danburq p01 i cc to st aq overni qht at the I arm, and
Wi thdrawi nq hi s children from St Peters school to protei::t them from
phqsicil hrm nd from the tunts
0?
“scib” hurled bLI the r
ci assmates (2%)
The hardeni nq f pi:isi ti ofls i n the current strike occ:urreI qii nst the
backdrop of the denouement of the Danburi Hatters case, a qraphi c
remi rider of the resourceful ness and deterrni nation of the open shop
advo,::ates. After 1 4 !Jears
i:if
I eqal manuveri nq whi i::h 1 ni::l uded twi:i
‘:;uiterfle u:urt hearinqs, the $240,000
li1rrin
;
assessed aqairist the union
was si::hedui cii fi:r paiment in Jul ij, 1 9 1 7 Wi th the rnoneLI to tie ral sed bq
the auction of the homes of 247 Cor,nec:ti c:ut members of the LIril ted
Hatters, mi:ist
i:if
whi:irn lived in Danburi. The forc:ed sale
i:if
these
resi deni::es, whi i::h had been under attai::hmnent si rice 1 903, reai::ried the
staqe where the auction date was pucized and each propert described
in the 1 ocal press befi:ire it was canc:el cii when the Amen c:an Federati on of
Labi:ir paid the bl ‘:‘i:i’i rnorieLI” as Marti n Lawl i:ir desi::ni bed
it
(26)
Frank Lee and other Danburq busi nessmen who wanted to free themsel yes
from the power cit organized 1 ab’:ir hail eaqer allies in the Manufacturers
Assoc:iati on of I::onnecti cut and its affiliates: the Fm rfiel 1 Couritq
Empl i:iters Asscii::i ati i:in, The Hart f i:ird Ciunti Manufai::turers Assiji::i at 1 on,
arid the 6ridgeport Manufacturers Association.
assi:n::iation dei::ided
ti:i
In
1917 the state
qo beLIi:ind its traditii:inal ri:ile as a ieqislative
�13
watchdog for business interests to become an agressive promoter of the
open shop. Spearheading this anti-union drive was Clarence V.Whitney, a
Hartford industrialist whose hatred of organized labor was so strong that
the President of the Association decribed him in 1919 as someone who
regretted “that the action taken by Governor Coolidge of Massachusetts and
by Judge Gary in connection with the steel strike has not been taken by
Connecticut manufacturers.” (27) When Whitney was searching for ways to
mobilize the state Association his attention focused on the fight that Lee
and his colleagues were making to establish the open shop in Danbury.
Named to head a special Danbury Committee of the Manufacturers
Association Whitney provided a number of curcial services to the local hat
firms.
Most important the Manufacturers Association helped overcome the
fragmentation and isolation of the Danbury industrialists. On September
13, 1917 the Fairfield County Employers Association met with local
businessmen at the Hotel Green. At this gathering Whity and others gave
glowing testimony to the patriotic nature of the open shop. Lee, McLachlan,
and W.Harry Green pledged their dedication to giving workers “the liberty
to work to their full potential.” Other Danburians pledged their support.
Reverend Coburn, for example, said that he was willing to “temporarily
alienate workingmen” in order to’t the open shop. (26) One month
later a Danbury branch of the Fairfield County Employers Association
headed by Arnold Turner, a maker of hat machinery, was formed. At the
first session of the new group a stream of out of town speakers promised
�14
thesuGP5it of the state Association and predicted that this new approach
would remove “Danbury’s unsavory reputation as a labor town. Walter
Drew, an attorney retained by the state Association to help build a Danbury
employers organization, captured the revivalistic tone of the meeting
when he intoned” I believe the light is breaking over the hills of Danbury’s
bringing “a new era that would see Danbury safe for democracy.” (29) The
Manufacturers Association then took its message to the public by
underwriting a half—page advertisment in the local newspaper that
reprinted Elbert Hubbard’s 1910 article from the ycrofters entitled “The
Closed or Open Shop” (30)
In addition the Manufacturers Association subsidized the services of savvy
lawyers who presented the Danbury employer’s’postion in the best light
before courts and government agencies. Ralph O.Wells, a Hartford attorney
retained by the state Association since 1912, argued persuasively that the
War Labor Board, sympathetic to organized labor, had no jurisdiction over
labor matters in the Danbury hat industry. (31) Wells, as counsel for the
United States Hat Company, obtained an injunction from the Superior Court
in Bridgeport to curtail picketing near Lee’s plant and handled the
contempt proceedings against John O’Hara, Secretary-Treasurer of the Hat
Makers union for allegedly violating this injunction. (32)
One benefit to Danbury hat manufacturers of the alliance with like minded
state industrialists is easier to allege than it is to prove. On numerous
occasions hat union officers asserted that striking hatters were
discriminated against when they sought work in Bridgeport munitions
�15
factories during the summer of 1917. In particular it was claimed that
Remington Arms instructed all hatters who applied for positions to “go
back to Danbury and go to work.” John O’Hara went further and reported to
Secretary of Labor William Wilson that hostile Bridgeport employers
maintained a blacklist that forced hatters to accept employment in
Danbury open shops. (33) Ultimately this charge was relayed to the War
Department but there is no indication that any investigation was made.
However it is strange that hatters in large numbers were forced to take
menial jobs on the railroad and on farms if positions in war plants had
been available to them. (34)
The Manufacturers Association’s determination to nurture the open shop
movement in Danbury continued into the postwar period. The.field
Secretary of the Association and a special counsel spent much of their
time in 1919 in Danbury attempting to unify the business community
behind what they referred to as a system of “industrial democracy.” One of
their accomplishments was to help establish the Danbury Boosters Club at
whose weekly luncheons the advantages of the open shop could be
proclaimed. (35) When Frank Lee and Harry McLachlan decided in 1919 that
it would be prudent to purchase a vacant hat factory rather than let it
reopen as a closed shop the Association provided a loan of $20,000 as a
gesture of encouragement. (36) Testimony to the importance of the
Manufacturers Association’s assistance to the open shop in Danbury was
given by Frank Lee at the 1919 meeting of the state group. At that time
Lee paid tribute to Clarence Whbitney as the one who “has inspired me in
�16
the Open Shop propoganda more then any other member of the Association1”
and then added significantly 9 dare say there was a time and a period in
my open shop propoganda when, if it hadn’t been for Clarence Whitney, I
might have weakened, but fortunately we continued on.” (37)
The most effective strategy used by Lee and other open shop employers to
“continue on” with their anti-labor campaign in the postwar years was to
exploit Danbury’s very dependance on the hatting industry, dramatized by
the city’s experience of being cut off
0 from the wartime economic
boom. On August 6, 1918 a group of 25 prominent local businessmen met to
form a corporation whose purpose was to attract diversified industry to
the city. The Danbury Industrial Commission ultimately played an
Important role in revitalizing Danbury’s economy in the 1940’s and 50’s
following the collapse of hatting, but in the early years it was primarily a
mechanism to counteract what Arnold Turner, one of the founders of the
organization, termed Danbury’s “bad press about labor problems.” Three of
the five officers of the company were hat executives including Lee and
McLachlan. Lee served as the first President of the Industrial Commission
until his death in 1937. His interest in the corporation was clear from his
comments at the original meeting when he expressed willingness to
subsidize the construction of a modern factory building that could be
rented to relocating industries. However this offer was valid, he
emphacized, only if the community welcomed the newcomers with “the
proper spirit.” It is apparent from the type and number of industries
brought to the city by the Industrial Commission that to Lee “proper spirit”
meant “hostility to unions.” (38)
�17
Aqal nst this powerful business attai::k the IJrn ted Hatters had meaqre
weapons. Theq forqed an & Tiini.:. of c:on’y’enj ence Wi th the bull di nq trades
represented bq the canburq Central Labor Lini oFsorneth1 n’ the hatters
I t:ical s had shunned for manq qears The c:onvent ion of the c:onriei::tl cut
Federat i on of Labor was hel d I n Eantiuri in I 9 1 7 provi di nq a psicho1 oqi cal
boost and a propoqanda platform where state deleqates were urqed to
honor the unl on 1 abel (39) Urn on 0111 Cl al s orchestrated a modest letter
wri ti riq c:ampai qn t ci c:ount er the 1:: 1 al ms of the manuf act urers that en open
shop pal ii hi her waqes and provi tied more sati sfi nq worki nq
c:ondi ti ons.(4cie Fac:e to fai::e meeti nqs betwen the United Hatters national
President and Danburq manufacturers in JanuarW and Februarq 1 9 1 5 fail cii
to break the i mpasse.(4 1 Probabl q the most prudent uni on tac:t ii:: was to
perrni t members to work i n all oien shop factori es exc:ept those ownei b!J
Lee McLachl an
arid Lireen even thouqh
product I on cpac:1 t!. 6j the end
&,
t:if Auqust
c:ontrol 1 cii 57: of the local
1 9 1 7 all t:tther Dariburq hat
companIes had withdrawn from the Danburq Hat Manufacturers Assi:tci at i:in
and
had reai::hed a rm:idus vi vendi with the uni on.
Appeals to ci ass and racial fears that became rnl:tre e::<pl 1 i::i t as the 1 ahor
situation deteriorated were c:entral to the hatter3’strateqt. Martin Lawl or
tol tithe del eqates to the Connecti c:ut Federati on of Labor Meetiriq hel ii in
c’anri1ftj over Labi:’r Daq 1 n 1 9 1 7 that the ‘:‘pen shi:ip had
1 ured I nti:i the
c:ommunitij undesirable immiqrants with a lt:iwer standard of livinq and a
WI lii nqness t i: subordi nate themse I yes to mai::hi nes 1 n the hat fai::ti:rrl es. He
quaranteed that 1 oc:al merc:hants coul ii testi f’ to the “ri ft—raft of
outsi tiers” that
fl o’jded I nt o c:’anhurt.($2) When the Reverend Coburn
expressed s!JmPeth!J with the r:’pen shop the uni on advi seti hi m
�1 El
3irc:i5tj c1 I i to stirt
“open c:hpei
ifl
the vici niti !j
Of
5eaver Street
where the I atest aqui sit 1 on4o Danburs peaceful population live and work
in the open shopS” (43) F’atn ck 131 ntW, a j ourneqman, was more bi unt when
he charqed that the open shop had brouqht to Danburq a 1 ow class of
people... the scum of Europe.” (44.:
The most promi 51 nq source of support for the Danburq hatters was the
federal qovernment parti culari q the Department of Labor headed b!
Wi Iii am Wi 1 son, a former United Iii ne W’:irkers offi ci al The IJni ted Hat t ers
.
coni::] uded that I nterventi on of federal outhori t I es more sensi t ye t ci
1 abors p11 qht than an’ previous admi ni strati on who, I n addition, were
eaqer to auel 1 an labor troubi es that marred the war effort would be to
their advintaqe. Yet on two occasions, in August 1 ‘El 1 7 and in April 1 9 1
,
federal mediators failed to bri nq the fuedi nq parties together. When the
National War Labor 8oard in Jul q, 1 9 1 El ruled that it was not appropriate
for them to intervene in a strike that did not di rectl q effect the conduct
of the war the c:ause of the union was doomed.
i:tri qi nal l! it was a worn cii ci t! government rather than the hatters union
that turned ti:’ Washi n ti:in fi:ir assi stani::e. When a Ci ti zens Ci:immi ttee
authorized bq the Ci tq i::citric:i I and appointed bq Ac:ti nq Maor Mi c:haelU
Sullivan was unable to budqe the twi:i :31 des after several cii Fit meet i nqs
desperate
ci ci erk I3eorqe Hanna asked the Labor Department
to send a
1.
mcdi at or to Danbur’. (45) 1 n respi:inseAl3eneral Robert McWade, an
experi eni::ed di p1 ornate whi: had been the i::i:insul qeneral I n Chi na, orri ve’i
�it
•
•
•.•
19
in early August 1917 only to find that neither managme4nt or labor
welcomed his presence. However after a series of meetings McWade
concluded that it was the intransigence of the hat manufacturers that
prolonged the strike. In a press conference before his departure and in his
off ical report to the Labor Department he portrayed labor as willing “to go
as far as the limits would allow to settle the matter” while he
characterized the owners as stubborn and hostile. His final verdict was
that Lee and asociates had acted unfairly in trying to take advantage of the
war emergency. (46) Possibly because McWade sided so strongly with the
union-—United States Hat Company attorney Ralph Wells judged that he did
“not impress the manufacturers as in any sense an impartial or open
minded concillatol,” he was unable to bring the strike to an end. (47)
Encouraged by Mcwade’s evaluation the hat union was responsible for
injecting the Labor Department into the local scene for a second time in
the Spring of 1918 after an attempt to apply community pressure misfired.
In October 1917 the United Hatters circulated a petition urging that the
strike be settled and Danbury’s factories be operated “under union
conditions.” This statement, signed by 300 persons including all elected
city officials and 86 others who identified themselves by their small
business or profession, argued that non union factories have attracted
workers “that are not of a type or class to which Danbury is accustomed,
and whose standard of living is far lower than that of Danbury citizens.”
a
To underscore the claim that loyal Amencans
idle while undeserving
.
foreignersimployed over 50 of the signers added such phrases as “son
in army,” “boy in army,” after their names. (48)
�U
When public pressure fi 1 ed
ti:i
Hit r1k:ers uni on f or’vrd1the
cover letter requestinq
hudqe the mmiuftcturers John OHr of the
peti
ti on to Secretrq of Lobor Wi 1 son with
federol investiqtion of the unpatrioitic
activities of the hat companies who flq the American flaqs over their
factori es that were purc:hased b! their 1 :ial workers who were then
locked out and replaced with aliens. (49) Once aqain, in April 191 E, a
federal mediator came to Daribur. The disqust of E.E. l3reenwalt after
meeti
nq with both sides was even more extreme than that of his
predec:essor. Li ke Mi::Wade he found the uni on cooperative anil manaqement
t—i qi ii,
““so posi ti YC
1 fl
the r assert i ons” t hat he coW d make no headwaq. For
the rei::ord he stated that in hi 5 j udqement owners took: advantaqe of
unsettled c:ondi ti ons to irovoke the strike and for self I sh reasi:ins thei
were pro] onqi nq it to the detriment of the communi t!j. (50)
jtD
Al thouqh two federal mciii ators had been ineffective in
/
labor was heartened that both aqreed t theq were
manaQemerits resolve to establish the open shop in [:‘anbur. Therefore
after alm,:st a gear on strike and with n!:t siqn ‘:‘f weakinq of the resi:ilve
i:’f
Lee and associates, the United Hatters in desperation aqai n souqht federal
intervention this time with a charqe that the strike was di srupti
nq
the
conduct of the war. Admitting that the hat facti:iries themselves had few
qovernmnent i::i:intrai::ts the union
that a blai::klist existed whii::h
prevented hatters frt:mn f I ndi nq empi i:ument I n the 6ri dqepi:rt war
i ndust n es and that manaqement was i mport I nq “al i en enemi es to work
“
in
the i:rpen shops i n Daanburq. (5 1) The Nat i onal War Labi:r 6oard ii i i::t:insent
�t:i
hold heari nqs in Washi nqton and asked both si des to f 11 e bri ef s but I n
the end failed to take anq action on the qrounds that what was hapeni nq
in Danburq did not hinder the conduct of the war—.(52)
With that terse rulinq the ossibi1itq that Qovernment mlqht restablish
Danbur’ as a union town disappeared. The open shop factones prospered.
6oth Lee and McLachl an boasted to the press in 1 91 9 that thei had so much
business the were eaqer to hire an’ hatter mmcdi atel q. (53) The
rlanulac:turers Association with satisfaction, rated the industrlal scene
I r Danbur a few !.lears later as 96 normal and 25: above the averaqe for
the entire state. (54) Si mu] taneousl q pressure mounted amon local union
mernberto face real i t and lift the restri cti oris aqa nst empi oment in
open shoi factories. In Januar
1 922 both the Hat Finishers local 1 0 and
the Hat Makers loc:al 11 with the bl eSSI nqs of the national exec:uti ye
board of the United Hatters voted to permit
-i
rnernDers to accept
obs I n al 11 oc:al factories. (55) c:fantut—i. was no 1 onqer a I abor stronqho Id.
The United Hatters of North Amen ca locals in Danburt were as muc:h
IIpjfl.:;
of World War I as
ani
battlefield casualties. What is more the
union never reqained its influential postion in the economic life of the
c:ommuni tq. When the depression of the 1 930s and the support of the New
Dee1] revi tall zed the I abor movement the hat i ndustrt n E:’aribur had bequn
its rapid sI ide to exti nc:ti on.E;q 1 90 1 ess than 20:of the Cl tq vor.:: force
vias sti 11 enaqed In hatti nm rom call g it was Danbunis new reputation as
an cipen shop town that contributed to its e,::onomic: :urv1val. Mani of the
apro::i mnate.1
fi ft C:Omflpafli Cs that settled i ml Danbur between 1945 and
I 960 were attracted b! a pool of non union factor’ yorkers.
�
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417eddf3443664f2a954a530c1f9ed7f
PDF Text
Text
Historians
characterize
labor.Union
membership
Gomper’s
the first World
increased
support
the first appearance
of an 1merican
of Labor
elevated
Wilson
convention,
administration.
the steel
The
industry,
labor during
Hatters.
year objective
A bitter strike against
administration,
lasted
members
could
explore
the way
Danbury
from
1,Two
work
a union
respected
labor problems,
Here:The
University
War
Press
forces
and
258—63;
(NY:Harper
Strike
,
though
factories.
and local
shop
treatment.
Robert
Ferrell
progress
provoked
wishes
by
of the
conceded
This paper
that
its
will
transformed
town,
front, though
Kennedy,
(New
Woodrow
1985)192—196.David
(Philadelphia:
temporary,
,
to accomplish
responses
David
Society
to
of
hat firms,
the union
on the home
American
and Row:
of 1919
by
of the United
expressed
when
to an open
of the war
War
1980)
Crisis: The Steel
the real
1922
typify this positive
First World
the influence
non—union
national
surveys
14917—1921
indicate
until
town
circumstances
to the publicly
stronghold
made
an exeption
was
industry
four of the largest
in all local
in which
such
some
made
Connecticut
wartime
of curtailing
contrary
the
fact that
The
of progress
the amount
in Danbury,
used
in 1917,
with
labor to achieve
of unions
by
Federation
status
industries.
in this single
people
Samuel
1918.(1)
industry
22,000
management
Wilson
and
Hat manufacturers
approximately
their twenty
indicates
1917
fate of the hatting
this pattern.
enemy
soared.
effort, symbolized
to favored
enabled
backing
an implacable
wages
at an American
President
Government
to organized
for the war
the organization
to their workers,
concessions
organized
and
goals as the eight hour day in many
long sought
even
as a boon
substantially
of unqualified
strategy
War
not ignoring
Over
York :Oxford
Wilson
Brody,
and World
Labor
J.B.Lippincott,1965)50—65
in steel
jg.
�_______
The
hatting
industry
Connecticut ,New
firms
with
met
equally
that engaged
limited
chaotic.
38 businesses
directly
organization
in Danbury
Association
appalled
E.A.Mallory
who
problem
“had insufficient
they were
more
David
8ensman,
19th
Century
provides
conduct
.
Factory
IDID
.LIJI,
‘
Association
listed
or
provided
which
Danbury
to the statewide
was
Inspection
and Sethel
was
by
set up
absentee
was
hat firms
of Connecticu
organization
cooperation”among
sent
that the
businessmen
their joint ends
because
one another.
of Solidarity:American
University
of Illinois Press,
description
Hat Finishers
1985).
in
Bensman
of the structure
and
in America.
Documents,
1918,
Report
of the Department
of
,pp9l.92.
Association
of Connecticut,
Report
a
on the trade
the scene
The rivalry among
and perceptive
Public
Inspection
center
of unity was
and abil ity to serve
The Practice
(Urbana:
of hatting
Maru±acturer’s
desire
to create
notable
“insufficient
or less knifling
a complete
Connecticut
was
Efforts
The most
reported
he found
to medium
either hat factories
of Danbury
I had
small
order
of Factory
of the Manufacturer’s
who
impose
hatting
semblance
members.
Company.
a field agent
to the city in 1919
were
each
that were
to hattingome
many
price competition.
that could
War
cities in
it included
Department
in 1918
but not all firms
the sizable
Within
success((2)
the Hat Manufacture’s
major
in ruthless
The Connecticut
related
in 1903
in a half dozen
York, and Pennsylvania
manufacturer’s
national
at the start of World
States
CLd
rationalization.
resisted
sized
in the United
of the Annual
Meeting
�3
The ability of factory
complicated
was
began
the United
of membership
such
local
those
who
performed
organizations
Trade
were
the hat makers,were
Cooperation
1896
was
unable
erratic
of the two
and
all these
immediate
the largest
and most
exclusively
of women
at each
factory,the
fraternit
As the scale of the industry
way
skilled
to national
tasks
to form
a national
prompted
local
about
was
the
America
Federation
of the Danbury
one—third
established
in
in
of Labor.
district
union
shop
1885.
of North
the American
represented
Hat Trimmers,
front until
Hatters
the
the Hat Finishers
in the back
of 1893
()iAnother
.
Representing
and curling,
forming
counterparts
into the United
with
unions.
of polishing
Their
the membership
who
the first hat union,
the rules and responsibilities
in i54.
influential
local
detail
..
affiliation
organizations
WaS
in the trade. in
of Hatters,
until the depression
groups
made
As early as 1791
of employment
the first to amalgamate
Association
hats were
unions.
Society
gave
the most
elite hat finishers
mereger
out in
in this artisan
grew
the terms
Assistant
to spell
the way
of established
to formalize
and True
established
National
to control
by the presence
journeymen
1800
owners
was
In
among
composed
of the work
and often
force
was
the
/
most
mil itant
presence
)
in the city (
S
-rf%4%.
•4t
(tcIqI
g
.0anbury
makers
Dana
graduate
Evening
residing
Frank
News
the Hat Trimmers
4,1909
) lists 1303
finishers
and
1350
in the city.
“Hard
paper,
(February
in Hat Town:The
Times
History
Department
position
was
Danbury
Yale University
too extreme
Lockout
(1981)
for their male
of 1893—94”
shows
how
associates.
b%bOI4
�4
The
labor unrest
ending
that exploded
its three
years
of neutrality
put it “The city has been
on one side, union
Finishers
just as the United
‘dead—locked’
a major
for yars
with
was
observer
hat manufactuerers
The Hat Makers
and the Hat
to their job security.
threat
States
roots1 As one astute
had deep
labor on the other’.(B)
faced
each
in Danbury
Mechanization
in
i ac
iiM’
by the addition
the backshop
in fewer
consisted
McLachlan
hit on the scheme
completed
in small
firms
the Industrial
of Danbury
half of the capactity
in New
export.(9)
of Commerce
factories
on these
of the pace
issues
was
being
and others
the director
more
finished
rough
of
than
elsewhere
hats for
like apprenticeship
hatters
be
Danbury
estimated
manufactured
of work——Danbury
that would
more
By 1917
the
Harry
hat bodies
technique.
City. Nine factories
York
Sensitivity
and regulation
production
lessened
when
all over the country
shops
of the Chamber
Bureau
1892
rough
to fabricate
machines
of the Finishers
In the case
hats toinish. Since
“buck-eye”
to this mass
turned
mostly
ad—blowln’
on the skills of the Makers.
dependance
menace
of forming
enforced
rules,
the “stint”
r
or acceptable
and a 21
work
week
1903,
because
v.Lawler)
effective
involved
in 1909
in a 16 week
as well
lockout
as numerous
of the labor confrontations
not only because
the Supreme
(Loewe
stoppage
The frequency
interruptions.
since
output——were
days
Court’s
local
management
decision
had deprived
was
in the famous
the United
Hatters
in 1893—94
shorter
had
increased
better
organized,
Danbury
Hatters
of the boycott,
but
Case
it s most
weapon. (10
8. E.C.Ginty
to Editor,July
16,1917
contained
in files of National
War
Labor
tb-t
Board,
National
Archives.Ginty
after the settlement
true situation
sent
of the Hatters
in Danbury.
Ginty
a series
Case
to Danbury
of letters
in an effort
Evening
to many
to inform
News
(June
newspapers
them
of the
r
�June
Telegram
pri1
3,12,1915;
30,1917).
9.Ginty
to Editor,
10.The
best treatment
July 16,1917,
of war
impact
1948).
Hatting
both
prosperity.
was
Yet workers
cost of living fueled
consumer
United
Hatters
prices
that would
Danbury
in this stagnant
To provide
industry
did not share
sectors
contract
in war
suffered
relief the Executive
on May
1, 1917
must
on
for labor
and received
few
irduced
from
the high
and shortages
Committee
to replace
of
of the
the bill of
p5
expire
Spotlight
and opportunities
in other
wages
Robinson
pp 201—208.
industry
that the annual
decided
is Donald
not a vital war
by inflated
products.
Case
the problems
contractt eet1y
government
5
See also Bensman,
magnified
and management.
NWL8
of the Hatters
(NY: Dial Press,
a Union
The
to Bridgeport
Gnty
7, 1917);
22,26,28,July
be tied to the selling price
LV
0+
hats rather
was
far from
hats since
1902
and
up union
leaders
The war
placed
were
hats was
They
employer
a departure
to arbitration
worried
as rabbitt
granting
important
with
the position
strike. Normally
situation
prices
were
also. Raw
dyes,
without
led by Frank
an opportunity
wages
and therefore
Fr.Kennedy
went
for civilian
increase
owners
that linking
to
year.
that this was
by the so called
gs3ture
the demand
three
past practices
f or soft hats
fur and chemical
a price
this
for stiff
as hat prices
for an entire
in the city, sensed
took
increases
in the service
about
costs. More
as provided
the 1909
men
standard
a reasonable
in a difficult
Europe,such
2 million
With
the union. They
price was
settled
from
their exact
the largest
wage
prices
officials
for remuneration
they considered
to freeze
of union
the pricing
as the basis
the hat manufacturers
weak.
knowing
break
agreed
In the eyes
been
fears of constant
imported
scarce.
In what
costs.
having
introduced
contract.
managements
materials
proposal
a radical
in the 1916
offset
the production
than
negotiated
Lee,
to
t the selling
had to be subject
agreement
annually
1#%
that
by local
u,...ei-- ‘.
�shop
committes.
national
issue
Hatters
succinct
of North
Board,Record
America
Group
thought
of the expiration
of the cities oldest
selling
3. Lee
emerged
as the most
who
raised
was
his own
knowing
respect
,former
partnership
had recently
of the Hat Makers
with
me
a Scotch
with
taken
immigrant
1909
also began
force
away
at the peak
from
Along
at the bench
of that venerable
it would
their
f or Lee by telling
and the son of John
though
buster
Even
fair and honest.°(12)
that the strike had already
his work
union
his respect
mean
cost him
News
(February
Harry
and who
was
W. Green
who
compan,Lee
economic
loss.
a half million
by one half. (14)
7, 1937)contains
us but in
with
Jc 50) Lr7
Evening
steel
and grossed
and earning
that Lee ‘has gone
to 1914,
a strike.(13)even
—
13. Danbury
who
showed
starting
a modern
to the community.
over the management
in 1919
and reduced
union
he has been
Lee from
to provoke
Lee admitted
Scully
had
before
workers
an unlikely
the
of ten children
a hatter
by their first name
and generosity
who
he constructed
Lee was
one
followed
members,
1,100
a few
on the
based
The youngest
he became
employed
Jeremiah
Labor
E.A.Mallory,
ut most
and union
that in 1916
of his employees
War
labor. Within
1, 1917
followed.
In 1909
in business.
is United
National
,
a contract
foes of unions.
farm
sides
et.al
on May
in 1886.
dollars
6
to challenge
signed
journeymen
agressive
President
dealing
McLachlan,
dollars
companies
for his honesty
a gathering
decided
smaller
factory
most
of tension
every
firms,
in 8ethel
over 2.5million
wise
and largest
on a Connecticut
factory
and concrete
it was
accepted
Archives.
of the old contract
price. Several
lead of Frank
H.Lee Company
2, File 15, National
that a
(Ii)
of the issue on both
v. Frank
responded
arbitraticn,an
relations.
statement
Not all manufacturers
days
to local
in labor—management
IL The most
Hatters
of the United
not be subject
could
interpretation
II
10 and
Locals
an elaborate
in
�obiturary
of Lee
History
; Danbury
of Fairfield
biographical
sketch
Meeting,1919,p.39;
The
Group
conclusion
the union
Labor
Council
that he employed
in Danbury
State
Industrial
Library.
persons.
on the strike with
besides
the intention
union
that the purposeof
the United
and destroy
Federation
the strike
of America.”
Hatters
of hurting
officials
E.C.Gint’ told the Connecticut
in 1917
On January
of
was
(15)
The two
“4
mediators
dispatched
the parties
together
cooperation
by the Department
praised
“the manifestly
of Labor
the union
nature
and for the way
they
whatsover”with
the union. E.E.Greenwalt,
superiors
“that the burden
that now
ibtains
manufactureres
considering
industrial
interests
refuse
trouble
in my
unable
to officially
judgement,
deal
in frustration,
mental
on arbitration,
in any manner
reported
f or the regrettable
rests upon
the shoulders
precipitated
the conditions
of the world
that has brought
incalcuable
to bring
for their
of their position
of responsibility
in the community
who,
were
for their ‘antagonistic
absurd”
“stubbornly
who
representatives
and villified management
condition”,
reason,
for a
of Annual
of Defense,
just 214
Contemporaries
his motivation.
to crush
Wilson,
Lynn
pp300—303
Report
64, Connecticut
that Lee brought
meeting
“simply
State
29, 8ox
is inescapable.
recognized
of Connecticut,
Connecticut
Lee reported
22,1918
30,1917)
(June
of McLachalan.
Association
Record
News
(Hartford:S.J.Clarke,1929)
County
14. Manufacturers
Sruvey,
Evening
without
sitiatuon
of the
sufficient
and our country,
harm
to his
an
to the business
of the community.”(16)
15. Danbury
Evening
Connecticut
Federation
16. Robert
McWade,US
8.Wilson,Secretary
(September
Conciliation
News,
September
fL bcr..Annual
Commissioner
RG 280;
Ecad—+- the
Neeting,1917.
of Conciliation,
of Labor,”Adjustment
20,1917) ;Department
Service,
6,1917;
of Danbury
of Labor,
33/585;
Federal
Danbury
to William
Hatters
Mediation
Evening
News,
Strike”
and
August
�8,ffl191?;
E.E.Greenwalt,’Preliminary
Ccnci1iation’
Board
April
27,1918,
RG 2, File 15, 33/1199;
Department
Danbury
Report
of the Comfnissioner
of Labor,
Evening
National
News,
April
War
0+
Labor
19, 1918.
�8oard
Danbury
RG 2, File 15, 33/1199;
The United
Hatters
recognized
position
in the community
contract
expired
Evening
that this was
and were
wary
and negotiations
were
News,
April
a direct
19 1918.
challenge
in their response.
stalled
to their
When
on the issue
the
of mediation
from
the four factories
controlled
by Lee,
May
16, 1917
but permitted
their members
to
work
in the other
factories
run by members
Manufacturer’s
Association.
the union
withdrew
the label
and Greenon
McLachlan
continue
immediately
signed
a new
the selling price with
firms
two
who
were
weeks
men
of close
the discipline
(600
employees)
f or
single. Although
dollars
dollars
far below
a week
linked
was
to
smaller
organization.Within
strike benefits
at the rate of seven
the union
and several
of the hat manufactuer’s
Hat
to the employees
per week
for married
the normal
earnings
this financial
support
of
tightened
of the union.(17)
special
assesment
1917
the bill of prices
to distribute
to twenty
Evening
both
where
E.A.Mallory
firms
17. Danbury
IO
their creditbility
contract
the union began
and five dollars
hatters
To strengthen
not members
of the four target
of the Danbury
and
in the following
1918.
News,
June
7,1917.
on all local s
In 1917
30 when
sent
to idle workers
in the city. United
New
York
Account
University,
Books,
Hatters
to pay strike benef its
the amount
year until June
The United
paid out was
benefits
Hatters
1915—1922,
Box
$4,344.23
Taimiment
55.
a
in Danbury
$137,546.68
stopped
Papers,
placed
in
while
was
Library,
�)t2
Discipline
union
and
needed
was
rules was
for adherence
soon
tested;
hats” Lee threatened
parlance
operations
referred
challenge
a Committee
response;
a wedge
of the policies
to keep
former
publicly
agreed
with
should
be decided
Martin
Lawlor
sacrifice
Low,
Local
a Lee employee
management
by local
who,Low
striking
and were
in Danbury.
that the issue
arbitration
claimed,
and member
had stated
for the principle
News
June
19,20,21.
workers
adamant
that he was
of attaching
were
about
Connolly,
Connecticut
“might
kill
Secretary
willing
wages
a
Labor
of 8,
like all others
national
or
in” showed
Patrick
of prices
who
as “more
of the Committee
and attacked
price; (18)
Evening
indulged
that the loss of the Lee factory
the Lee factory
18.Danbury
were
and an ex
in
on a suitable
News
Evening
leadership
in
Lee’s employees
Hatters
ranks; Some
operating
of the Hat Makers
Herbert
Danbury.”
“personalities
of
and to shift
among
the United
idle
factory——
or possibly
by the Danbury
of the national
warned
in Danbury
with
into union
the Lee factory
Secretary
Copmmissioner
selling
described
and one where
that Lee had thrust
the need
plant
consternation
his factory
modern
his huge,
open
shop
to national
the manufacture
as “the big plant”——
of 8 to confer
less acrimonious”
from
to simply
produced
This meeting
critical
close
locals
of seeing
to be driven
to permanently
to a smaller
Norwalk .This
formed
five weeks
that “he did not mean
vowing
town
fter
of the Danbury
to
to the
�Criticism
critical
of the union
of local
comments
in Norwalk
that depicted
predicting
that “Kaiser
disregard
rector
pulpit. Using
to be a military
Belgium”
implored
not slackers.”
He went
in Danbury
and Danbury
workers,
to speak
gambl ing
,
Evening
salary
as a union
parishoners,
expressed
was
Danbury
Jeremiah
about
one who
local
He judged
that “never
against
reembered
that the only solution
to
Danbury
the President
who
out in protest
from
never
and
letter to the
for drawing
a high
of them
have
his
the workers
than at present.”
in his Sunday
his pew
Walter
as temperance
in Danbury
These
One
sermons.
remarks
of the Hat Makers
bosses
Reverend
many
that Shanley’s
the world
are
issues
the officers
expressions
to !bleeding
we
Church,
workers,
the
volunteered
Danbury”
between
Lawlor
to
from
to the strike. In an open
Martin
Bill
the situation
rule.” (20)
publ ic
hatters
and show
Catholic
such
while
also found
of speaking
“home
of St.Peter’s
indignation
resident
Scully,
he termed
as Kaiser
young
“bi eeding
negotiations
and
.C.Coburn,
from
to “get together
he castigated
suffered.
about
appropriate
direct
executive
greater
spoke
on to tell his congregation
what
News
local
Reverend
compared
his attention
blunt sentiments
action
Coburn
or write
turned
Danbury
time
to the war,
the fiery pastor
hesitated
Church
strikers
labor unrest
Shanley,
of their leaders.
chaplain,
and
urged
the
an ex—hatter
as “meddlesome”
to get a bad bump
in the community
publish
a letter from
leadership
is going
Lawlor
Episcopal
analogies
they printed
the national
the directions
of St. James
Not only did the newspaper
hatters
figures
is.”(19) Respected
grew.
stance
long
provoked
union, to the unheard
before
stalking
of
out of
mass.(21)
1CL(tt7
)
L
20 Danbury
Evening
News,
June
11,1917
21. Danbury
Evening
News,
June
16, 1917.
day,1986;
Shanley
and Lawl or
were
Kenneth
old antagonists.
Hanna
to author,
Shanley’s
no
talk at an
�early Chamber
of Commerce
insisted
that the organization
troubles
in Danbury
replies
angry
and counter
letter taking
Evening
him
News
to task
May
1l,19,2O25,
the Hat Manufacturer’s
plants
rather
announcing
than
strike
22. Danbury
Evening
said anything
judges
forced
as Ha death
officials
News,
fought
about
union
of heated
bench,
apologist
the support
unanimously
voted
to support
negotiations
with
the Danbury
with
of the 400
votes
were
considerably
members who
recorded
denied
charges
the manufacturer’s.
of the rank
of the Hat Makers
manufacturers.
less enthusiasm
attended
more
on the courthouse
the national
in opposition
label led
the
that he had ever
Father
The most
and file. On June
at City Hall where
meeting
but not the
the Lee plant and denounced
the building,sitting
the largest
them
(22)
Lawlor
for
discussion
the Association
ii-e
16, 1917
June
their
on the selling price. In
to Danbury.H
blow
members
to close
the city to find work.They
to leave
back. Martin
reply was
jammed
Finishers
16 voted
that benefited
for policies
11sacrificying
as a long time
members
on June
letter to the press
were
of this
a personal
of the other
in an open
current
hours
who
action
their decision
who
three
the belated
Association
union
him
of
a priest. Danbury
based
workers
eloquent
for criticizing
a contract
the national
Shanley
had written
salvo
1, 8, 1915.
June
was
labor
In the course
accept
indicted
Union
that Shanley
he
off an emotional
newspaper.
as a Catholic
than words
damaging
to the local
in which
and blaming
touched
agitators
revealed
13, 1915
not anti—union
was
outside
replies
Lawior
dialogue
More
on
on April
meeting
position
than
21
after
1000
railing and the
Association
and not pursue
separate
The next day the Hat
and unity followed
the meeting
to the national
cast ballots
policy. (as)
suit. Only
and
�sincerely
on North
never
deal
issues
with
a local
sale in New
york
businessmen
to hire
Evening
1’I
,some
what
to decry
avoided
force
was
June
of them
recorded
Street
recalls
union
violence
concerned
peaceful
about
marches
that verbal
abuse
with
other
all
for
Norwalk
struck
firms
all four
capitalization
of
in the district
August
members,
22,24,
began
escalated
1917.
to file into the factories
the tension
Although
by deciding
union
leaders
that the hatters
is some
is no
hint of this in the local
of hatters
Hanna,
and frequently
indication
reputation.
carrying
were
that this strike
Instead
American
to
always
there
the community’s
to the Lee plant. Kenneth
he
trade.C24)
and later boasted
There
advertised
was
and with
of
to arbitrate
basis. In August
hat factory
the “foul11 shops.
in labor disputes
that although
negotIations
Hat Company
22,25,26,27,
the union
not totally peaceful
always
States
wooden
regardless
be willing
shop
of
was
small
a
factory
“I
in the eyes
solidarity
there. The three
on an open
the largest
they termed
careful
Street
than half the local
News,
he would
that
J.Shanley.”
employees
he started
a factory
factories
of Lee and his partners
picket
and
opening
became
more
union
union. Lee’s South
newspapers
dollars
As workers
to prospective
a national
as the United
representing
Danbury
to the tter’s
and began
there
incorporated
Walter
Street,
announced
acidly remarked
condemned
of the Reverend
factory,
with
about
also re—opened
7/
do not stand
8eltaire
Main
would
Lawlor
the abandoned
affiliation.He
1 million
Unions
of Lee and his associates
direct. Lee leased
structure
1917.
2122
as they do in the eyes
response
union
June
that the Trade
hope
a just God
The
News,
Evening
23. Danbury
newspaper
the press
flags up Main
the son of the then City Clerk
rocks
were
hurled
by strikers
at
�Dt’
daughther’s
at this time,
Danbury
from
taunts
wall
description
having
police
the grounds
school
of “scabs”
with
hurled
to protect
sleeping
of his home
at the farm,
them
from
by their classmates
Josephine
later vividly recalls
of the barn saying
at a prowler
“We
Robinson,
note7ritten
will
March
near his home
in the context
significance
of her father
to stay overnight
St.Peter’s
Interview
years
on added
of the strike takes
height
that Lee shot
report
newspaper
terse
The
with
a gun under
floodlighted,
harm
of his
his pillow
arranging
for
his children
and withdrawing
physical
at the
and from
the
(1)
21,i987
in red letters
get your children!”
Mrs, Robinson)
y
nailed
70
on the
�the men
who
newspaper
crossed
the picket
that Frank
significance
from
it
Evening
Hanna
Lee shot at prowlers
in the lig
withdrawn
lines. A brief notation
News,
to author,1986;
on his farm
his daughter’s
school
because
June
with
takes
(,24
on added
recoflection
that she was
of her father’s
fear of union
30,July
Interview
in the September
2 September
24,19l7
Mrs. Josephine
Robinson,
Kenneth
March
21,
1987,
This heightened
tension
occurred
of the Danbury
Hatters
determination
of the open
appeals
included
which
damages
against
auction
most
was
the fine “blood
2L° William
two
Supreme
was
of 247
money”
Devlin,
We
reminder
Court
Crown
hearings,
members
that had been
newspaper
as Martin
the $240,000
each
since
by the
Hatters,
1903.
property
Federation
described
All :An
in July 1917
attached
where
and
of trials and
of the United
the American
Lawlor
Them
14 years
for payment
Connecticut
only when
of the denouement
of the resourcefulness
After
scheduled
in the local
canceled
the backdrop
advocates.
lived in Danbury,
auction,publicized
described3
a graphic
shop
the union
of the homes
of whom
case,
against
The
was
of Labor
paid
it. (25
I1lustrated
History
of Danbury
,,
(Wood 1 and
Hills, California:
summarizes
C
C...
Frank
from
C
Lee and other
the power
Manufacturer’s
County
(.
the case
Manufacturer’s
Danbury
the local
Association
who
of Connecticut
and the Bridgeport
Company,
1984)
pp.71—75
perspective.
wanted
labor had powerful
Association,
Association,
Publishing
businessmen
of organized
Employer’s
Association,
from
Windsor
and
the Hartford
Manufacturer’s
transformed
to free themselves
allies in the
its affiliates
County
Manufacturer’s
Association.
itself from
the Fairfield
In 1917
the
a staid businessman’s
)
�club into an agressive
prointer
state. Spearheading
Hartford
this open
industrialist,
of the Association
regretted
“that the action
Gary
Connecticut
the state
him
to head
Association
were
a special
Whitney
Danbury
provided
Whitney
Committee
o the
a
that the
as someone
who
of Massachusetts
was
and
taken
searching
focused
to establish
a number
so strong
strike has not been
his attention
making
V.Whitney,
Cool idge
the steel
When
was
in 1919
by Governor
with
in all parts
Clarence
described
organization
Lee and his colleagues
drive was
of unions
taken
in connection
democracy
hatred
manufacturers.”
revitalize
Named
shop
whose
President
by Judge
of industrial
by
f or ways
to
on the fight that
the open
shop
in Danbury.
of the Manufacturer’s
of crucial
services
to the local
hat
firms.
-
Most
-
important
fragmentation
13,1917
and
isolation
the Fairfield
businessmen
glowing
testimony
and W.Harry
workers
their support.
shop.(27)
One month
Employers
machinery,was
out of town
predicted
formed.
speakers
pledged
when
Walter
to help organize
he intoned
bringing
“
a new
the support
approach
as a labor town.
Association
by Arnold
would
Danbury,
“I believe
shop. Lee,
to permitting
Other
Turner,
to support
a maker
of this new
the open
of hat
group
a stream
of the state Association
“Danbury’s
an attorney
captured
the revival istic
see Danbury
and
by the state
tone of the
over the hills of
made
of
unsavory
retained
the light is breaking
era that would
Danburians
said that he was
in order
remove
Drew,
gave
of the Firfield County
At the first session
that this new
reputation
Danbury”
headed
branch
local
and others
of the open
workingmen”
later a Danbury
with
Whitney
for example,
the
On September
met
their commitment
Coburn,
alienate
Association
Association
to their full potential.”
Reverend
overcome
industrialists.
nature
pledged
“the liberty to work
helped
At this meeting
the patriotic
Green
willin)o “temporarily
meeting
Employer’s
Green.
about
Association
of the Danbury
County
at the Hotel
McLachlan,
pledged
the Manufacturer’s
safe for
�democracy.”
the public
Hubbard’s
Shop”
(28)The
Manufacturer’s
by subsidizing
1910
Association
a half—page
article from
advertisement
the Roycrofters
its message
that reprinted
entitled
“The Closed
the services
of savvy
to
Elbert
or Open
(29)
2. Danbury
Evening
News,
September
28. Danbury
Evening
News,
October
23, 1917.
29. Danbury
Evening
News,
October
24,1917.
The Manufacturer’s
who
then took
could
courts
Association
present
represented
over
US Hat Company,
Bridgeport
contempt
obtained
proceedings
Makers
unnuion
30. Ralph
O.Wells
Wells,”In
the Matter
States
against
to William
Hat Company,
O.Wells,
“The History
Connecticut
industry
a Hartford
ort W&r
in Danbury.
who
from
Lab1
uw-J
Wells,
argued
labors had no
as counsel
the Superior
Court
for the
in
near Lee’s plant. He also orchestrated
John
O’Hara,
violating
Secretary—Treasurer
this injunction.
L.Stoddard,
War
Labor
of the Danbury
Hat Strike”
July 10, 1918,
United
of the Manufacturer’s
(July 1925)
light before
attorney
to organized
<30)
p.6.
Board,
War
April
the
of the Hat
(21)
May
Memoradum
States
Board,National
Archives,
RG 2, File 15.
‘V
31. Danbury
Evening News, September
18,1917,
B.Sands,
in the best
lawyers
Se,ce i9r
an injunction
picketing
for allegedly
position
highly sympathetic
labor matters
to curtail
Ralph
Association
that the Board,
jurisdiction
employers
agencies.
the state
persuasively
subsidized
the Danbury
and government
13,1917
20, 1918;
for the United
Labor
18,1918;
Association:The
Anna
War
Years”
�One benefit
to Danbury
industrialists
occasions
businessmen
is easier
hat union
discriminated
to allege than
officers
against
during
the summer
Remington
Arms
instructed
to Danbury
to Secretary
William
maintained
a blacklist
employment
in Danbury
relayed
to the War
investigation
numbers
was
in war
32. OHara
to Wilson,
plants
had been
April
R6280;
Assistant
of Labor,
Federal
September
33. William
Z.Ripiey, War
Department,
Archives;
Danbury
exempi if ed
into the postwar
August
Danbury
of the Manufacturer’s
counsel
that any
that hatters
in large
and on farms
if
(33)
to Labor
Mediation
Secretary
to OHara
and Conciliation
Archives,Proceedings
Department
Support
special
was
+—th Convention
September -——4Th7 ;Danbury
Evening
4, 1917.
Mediation,Labor
15, National
and maintained
this charge
to them.
to “go
to accept
is no indication
available
that
employers
sobs on the railroad
ot—-eonnctTEderationof Labor,
News,
Ultimately
16,1918;
33/585Nationa1
further
to force hatters
it is strange
claimed
for positions
applied
went
munitions
it was
that sympathetic
(32)
to take menial
state
were
in 8ridgeport
who
but there
However
20,1918,Department
Service,
shops.
work
OHara
Wilson
open
made.
forced
were
John
that operated
like minded
hatters
In particular
hatters
Department
positions
April
of 1917.
and go to work11’
of Labor
that striking
they sought
all
with
it is to prove. On numerous
asserted
when
factories
back
of the alliance
to Chief
28,1918,
Evening
News,
Association
by the beachead
unify the business
much
community
of their
behind
War
Labor
of
Soard,
July 2, August
f or the open
shop
time
movement
of the Association
in 1919
in Danbury
this philosophy.
R6 2,File
9,1917.
of the four hat companies
period. The Field Secretary
spent
of Department
in
extended
and a
trying
One of their
to
�accompi ishments
week
to get union
was
in the Danbury
Boosters
and non union
Cl ub
employers
presumabi y
where
to meet
each
the advantages
of the
€3
open
shop
1919
could
be proclaimed.
it would
that
let it open
be prudent
as a closed
a gesture
given
Lee himself
by Frank
At that time
inspired
the Association.”
and a period
Clarence
(35)
to Clarence
open
propoganda
shop
I might
Whitney,
significantly
any other
but fortunately
“has
member
if it hadn’t been
when,
weakened,
have
of the state group.
I dare say there
“
was
as the one who
than
as
of the
in Danbury
meeting
more
than
a loan of $20,000
shop
Whitney
propoganda
Shop
rather
to the importance
annual
in
decided
hat factory
provided
the open
at the 1919
and then added
in my
a vacant
Testimony
in nurturing
Lee paid tribute
in the Open
me
Lee and McLachlan
to purchase
of encouragement.
Association
When
the Association
shop
Manufacturer’s
on..H(36)
(34)
of
was
a time
for
continued
we
31
34. Anna
B.Sands,
Connecticut:
of the Manufacturers
The History
The Post
Periods
War
Connecticut
Association
Industry
of
(August,
1925)p.13.
35. Sands,
‘The History
Connecticut :The
clarified
War
of the Manufacturers
Years”
Connecticut
and the Association
agreed
put up by Lee and McLachlan
was
while
immediate’y.
Connecticut
of the Annual
meetingjj
p.38—40.
Association,
attack
forged
an alliance
the Danbury
many
held
Central
years. The Convention
in Danbury
in 1917
of Annual
Union
with
locals
something
psychological
was
symbolic
and
Association,
Meeting,1919
had meagre
trades
the hatters
of the Connecticut
providing
loan was
the building
Lee
for the purchase
Manufacturers
the hatters
of convenience
Labor
that the money
Report
of
(Jul y,1p .6
Industry
the Association
returned
36. Manufacturers
Association
strength
p.39.
weapons.
They
represented
had shunned
Federation
Report
of Labor
by
for
was
and a propoganda
�Open
shop
employers
economic
to further
boom,
a group
6,1918
a corporation
city. The
whose
Danbury
of twenty—five
purpose
was
Industrial
to attract
Commission
but in the early years
Arnold
“bad press
Danbury’s
the organization
were
the first President
His interest
when
building
that could
of the Industrial
to subsidize
be rented
showed
the
‘proper
that were
attracted
termed
of
Lee served
as
in 1937.
of a modern
factory
but only if the
from
the type and number
t the city that to Lee “proper
spirit”
“non—union.”
meant
Danbury
Evening
News,
August
Association”
(July 1925)
and the state
organization.
in the open
shop
gift of 200
shares
and
of
at the original
companies
It is clear
the
of the five officers
the construction
spirit’
an important
of the group
his comments
to out of town
to the
until his death
Commission
to form
a means
Lee and McLachlan.
clear from
was
he offered
of industries
including
met
and 50’s following
prjmarily
Three
years. On
industry
played
of the founders
labor problems.”
hatters
in the group
meeting
community
about
diversified
in the 1940’s
Turner,one
the wartime
businessmen
it was
industry,
in the postwar
ultimately
collapse
what
labor
prominent
the city’s economy
of hatting
cut off from
organized
role in revitalizing
counteracting
C3
of being
weaken
on the hatting
dependance
by the city’s experience
dramatized
August
Danbury’s
used
1932
became
industry
presence
Industrial
1969,
In gratitude
of tianbury
a permanent
University,
p.6 confirms
drive Lee presented
not a single
Danbury’s
6,1918;
Transition”
ppl2—30.
Sands,”History
of the Manufacturers
the connection
between
f or the payment
of legal
the Manufacturers
Industrial
attracted
Commission
Masters
Essay,
expenses
with
Association
stock. Between
by the Industrial
in the city. Raymond
this effort
1918
Commission
J.Trimpert,”A
Western
a
Study
Connecticut
of
State
�3e1
where
platform
Union
officials
the claims
state
delegates
orchestrated
were
a modest
of the manufacturers
to honor
urged
the union
letter writing
that an open
shop
label .(37)
campaign
meant
to counter
higher
wages
and
tc,
more
United
satisfying
Hatters
working
national
and February
1918
permit
union
members
owned
by Lee, McLachlan
production
plants
capacity.
had withdrawn
had reached
a modus
conditions.
President
c
failed. Probably
to work
(38)
Direct
and Danbury
the most
in all open
and Green
though
vivendi
the Danbury
with
shop
factories
1917
was
except
57
all remaining
Hat Manufacturers
the
in January
decision
they controlled
the union.
between
manufacturers
prudent
But by the end of ugust,
from
meetings
to
those
of
local
ssociation
and
�of the manufacturers
the claims
more
satisfying
United
working
1918
permit
union
members
owned
by Lee, McLachlan
production
plants
President
failed.(39)
and February
a inodus
37. Danbury
Evening
the Connecticut
38. Camila
News,
Crotty
October
24,25,26,29,30,
39. United
Hatters
War
Labor
Board,
York
University,
standard
machines
was
except
57
to
those
of
all remaining
local
Association
and
Annual
4 1917.
Proccedings
Meeting,
to editor, W.G.Pauli
McCarthy
of
to editor,
to editor, Danbury
Evening
News,
v.Frank
Lee et.al
Hatters
Papers,
.
Brief
presented
Taimamert
to National
Library,
New
16.
that got more
fears
explicit
Lawlor
was
a central
of the hatter’s
theme
as the labor situation
told the Connecticut
of Labor
Federation
in Danbury over Labor Day in 1917 that the open shop
/
/
lured desirable immigrants
-into the community
with a lower
meeting
had already
testify
United
to class and racial
convention
in January
they controlled
1917
the
decision
factories
and
1917.
1918,
deteriorated.Martin
manufacturers
25,September
of Labor
of America
HRD
between
meetings
shop
wages
the union.
August
to editor, Joseph
higher
Hat Manufacturers
to editor, C.O.Lathrop
Gillotte
arguments
with
Federation
Patrick
Appeals
in all opn
the Danbury
vivendi
meant
the mos—prudent
and GreV though
had wi!PaW( from
d
Direct
and Danbury
Probably
to work
shop
Bu)t- end of August,
capacity.
had re
(38)
conditions.
national
Hatters
that an open
of living and a willingness
1n the hat fdCtot ies
to the “riff-raff
When
the Reverend
union
advised
him
Coburn
to subordinate
He chdrged
of outsiders”
expressed
to start an “open
that
that have
sympathy
chapel
local
themselves
merchants
flooded
with
could
into Danbury.(4
the open
in the vicinity
to
shop
of Beaver
the
Street
�where
aquisitions
the latest
work
in the ‘open shop’.” (41)
when
he charged
of Europe.”
Evening
(341. Executive
most
had brought
September
4,191
News,
promising
source
particularly
United
more
Mine
sensitive
who
the war
in July, 1918,
Workers
News,
Evening
effort
,were
seemed
in 1917
eager
and again
parties
together.
ruled that it was
than the hatters
and City Clerk
meetings
mediator
experienced
who
union
Committee
Mayor
Hatters
was
city government,
Sunderland
was
desperate
to Danbury.
diplomat
of federal
When
George
City Clerk
In response
who
was
for them
Labor
to
of cting
for armyion
the two
(43)
War
of the war
asked
the Labor
Robert
general
a
by the
joint
Department
McWade,
rather
When
and appointed
after several
consul
Mayor
training,
for assistance.
sides
General
the former
Mayor
acting f or the g
Hanna
to Washington
Hanna
mediators
the conduct
in the hands
by the City Council
to budge
to offer hope. Yet on
the National
affect
that
doomed.
had volunteer
authorized
officials
not appropriate
then
that turned
unable
by William
any labor unrest
in 1918——federal
of the United
nothony
the federal
headed
to quell
to hatter
the cause
Sullivan
was
official. Intervention
in a strike that did not appreciably
a worried
29,1917.
of Labor
intervene
acting
of
to labor’s plight than any previous
,in addition
failed to bring the fueding
October
of help for the hatters
the Department
occassions——once
Citizens
class
a low
Proceedings
Evening
harm
Michael
“
blunt
(42)’fr)
to editor, Danbury
administration
It was
more
was
to Danbury
to editor, Danbury
a former
Board
shop
Ginty
Hatters
authorities
two
News,
board,
government
would
Patrick
live and
20,1917.
42. Ginty
Wilson
.Journeyman
popLuation
United
September
The
peacetul
that the open
people...the scum
40. Danbury
to Uanbury’s
to send
an
in China,
arrived
a
�n early cugust
to tina tnat neitner
emoarrasea
welcomed
his presence.
concluded
that it was
prolonged
the strike. In a local
in his official
However
after a series
the intransigence
report
press
would
characterized
as stubborn
that Lee and associates
was
of the war
union——United
impress
Though
the manufacturers
conciliator.”——he
43. Report
Federal
was
Mediation
Hanna
Mediation
and Conciliation
Mediation
August
to Secretary
and Conciiation
7,1917
Mediation
and Conciliation
United
he
judged
with
the
that he did “not
or open
minded
Council
Record
Wilson,
Service,
RG 280
Labor
Department,
Hatters
Servicve,
Groupn
National
280,
July 28,1917,
Federal
33/585
R G 280,
Hatters
July 24, 1917.
August
Hanna,
33/585.
Papers
7, 1917.
HRD
National
“Minutes
of
16;Mc
Strike,
September
RG 280,
33/585;
30,1917,
Federal
Evening
Danbury
7,1917.
August
45. Wells,
while
were
an impartioal
Service,
of Labor
United
of Danbury
labor as willing
to take advantage
sympathies
to Common
Service
meeting”
Wade,Adjustment
News,
Kerwin,
and
His final verdict
in trying
Wells
that
to bring an end to the strike.(45)
and Conciliation
to Hugh
unfairly
lawyer
Committee
Archives.;
McWade
and antagonistic.
as in any sense
unable
of Citizens
he portrayed
McWade’s
Hat Company
States
McWade
his departure
before
to settle the matter”
allow
had acted
emergency.(44)
of conferences
conference
“to go as far as the limits
aoor
or
of the hat manufactueres
Department
to the Labor
the owners
inanageineit
In the Matter
States
of the Danbury
Hat Company,
Hat Strike,
July 10,1918,
Memorandum
National
War
Labor
f or the
8oard,
RG 2,
File 15.
Encouraged
by McWade’s
responsible
for injecting
second
time
In October
in 191
1917
strong
words
the Labor
after another
the United
Hatters
if not his results
Department
effort
the hat union
into the local
at community
locals circulated
scene
pressure
a petition
was
for a
misfired.
urging
that
�LaDor
oarO
Although
Lianoury
i111;
federal
two
mediators
encouraged
labor was
determination
Consequently
after almost
Lee’s resolve,
the hatters
conduct
this time
of the war.
government
prevented
hatters
the open
union
finding
charged
shops
The National
in Danbury.(49)
in Washington
49O’Hara
both
on the grounds
effect
that government
iapeare.
importing
and asked
end failed to take any action
the war.
might
again
seek
disrupting
With
Labor
sides
existed
which
munitions
in
to work
Board
did consent
to file briefs but in the
that what
was
that terse
dislo
the
had few
“al ien enemies”
War
of
federal
in the Bridgeport
employment
the open
possibility
of
in Danbury,
that a blacklist
was
did not directly
shop
that the hat factories
admitting
and that management
Danbury
the strike
a victim
that the strike was
a charge
the union
to once
decided
industry
hold hearings
in ending
a year on strike and no sign of weakening
with
from
J.i1i1.
that labor was
to establish
Though
contracts
&pri
ineffective
had been
that both agreed
management’s
intervention
iews,
vening
open
happening
in
ruling the
shop
in Danbury
5’;—
to Wilson,
April
official
of the Hat Makers
Danbury
Central
Labor
16,1918,National
union
Union.
made
War
this appeal
Labor
Board.
O’Hara
as the President
,an
of the
to
�tne stri:e oe settte
union conditions.”
officials
attracted
workers
citizens.”
the argument
standard
To underscore
phrases
pressure
union
a cover
activities
with
to Danbury.
sides
was
found
the union
even
assertions”
The disgust
more
his judgement
management
and Conciliation
47.John
O’Hara
Mediation
of North
27, 1918;
O’Hara
of the
Wilson
flags over their
locked
out and
a federal
after meeting
mediator
with
For the record
of unsettled
reasons
the two
Like McWade
rigid, “so positive
advantage
of Danbury
America”
Service,
he
in their
he stated
conditions
that in
to
they are prolonging
it to
“Danbury
Service,
William
National
Report
Hatters
are in Controversy
of signatures.
with
Federal
the
Mediation
Archives.
of Labor
“Preliminary
who
l3pages
National
to Secretary
and Conciliation
48.E.E.Greenwalt,
April
John
of the community.(48)
46. “To the Hat Manufacturers
Hatters
such
of the unpatrioitic
no headway.
took
added
investigation
fly the American
the strike and f or their selfish
the detriment
are idle while
of Labor
and management
make
is
than that of Danbury
than that of his predecessor.
cooperative
that he could
Danbury
to Secretary
of E.E.Greenwalt
extreme
or
have
Americans
by tt?eir loyal workers
who were
eDI
aliens. (47). Once again, in April 1918,
came
United
to which
the manufacturer’s
a federal
who
all city
after their names.(46)
the petition
letter requesting
factories
purchased
replaced
provoke
failed to budge
forwarded
including
over fifty of the signers
“boy in army”
of the hat makers
factories
that patrioitic
unoer
by their business
that non union
are employed
as “son in army”,
Hat Makers
themselves
of living is far lower
the claim
foreigners
public
persons
“that are not of a type or class
and whose
undeserving
oe once again run
by 300
identified
who
centered
accustomed,
with
This statement,signed
and 86 people
profession,
When
anc tne cities tactories
Wilson
(no date)
Archives
33/585
of Commissioner
Summary”
June
Federal
of Conciliation”
20,1918gm
National
War
�Matter
of the Danbury
Company,
America
v.Frank
Frederic
C.Hood
and Adam
that terse
Danbury
Both
National
Wilkinson,
National
as a union
business
town
industrial
above
restrictions
The Open
to the local
Shop
press
later as 96X
(52)
Simultaneously
against
employment
Local
of the national
Labor
prospered.
that they had so
in 1919
years
members
that
satisfaction
rated
normal
the
and 25
pressure
to face reality and lift the
in open
shop
factories.
10 and the Hat Makers
executive
board
Local
of the United
In January
11
with
Hatters
1922
the
voted
to
4.5
permit
was
union
members
no longer
51. Danbury
4’1
52. Danbury
53 .Danbury
a union
to accept
in all local
News
Evening
News,
News,
April
factories.C53)
‘Th
town., /
Evening
Even ng
jobs
2,1919
December
January
of
preserve
factories
a few
union
War
might
with
local
of North
BoardS
that government
of the entire state.
Hat
16;Report
of the National
Association
in Danbury
States
HRD
Manufacturer’s
both the Hat Finishers
blessings
Hatters,
the
Hatters
hire any hatters
situation
among
United
“United
immediately
the average
mounted
Labor
disappeared.
boasted
Board;
that they would
The
applied.(5l)
War
for the United
A Section
ruling the possibil ity
Lee and McLachlan
much
Labor
War
Lee et.al.,nc day, 1918,
July 10,1918,
Board,
With
Hat Strike Memorandum
July 10,1918,
position.HIn
brief of the manufacturer’s
filed a 27 page
2,1921
4,13,1922
Danbury
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Herb Janick Papers, MS012
Description
An account of the resource
The Herbert F. Janick, Jr. Papers spans the years 1889-2002 and consists mainly of Janick’s research for his book on the centennial history of Western Connecticut State University.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Janick, Herb
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/findingaids/ctdbn_ms012_janick.xml">Link to finding aid.</a>
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
f32271cc-b16e-4921-8776-db43f2dc8a6f
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Union Stronghold to an Open-Shop Town: Danbury post-Great War
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Janick, Herbert F.
Description
An account of the resource
2 x 21 pgs
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
Two versions of a draft of the article that became: From Union Town to Open Shop: The Decline of the United Hatters of Danbury, Connecticut, 1917-1922. The article was published in Connecticut History in 1990. One is incomplete and without citations.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1990
Subject
The topic of the resource
Danbury (Conn.)--History
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ms012_15_19
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
75144152-e1c1-41c1-b61c-7d9ebbd4cad9
Hatting
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Herb_Janick_Papers_MS012/7851/ms012_09_09_hajj.mp3
5a095df2f4c78ad29a16d6b8ad3c087e
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Herb_Janick_Papers_MS012/7851/ms012_09_09b_hajj.mp3
f0dffb92046b768208ccde739b7ba788
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Herb Janick Papers, MS012
Description
An account of the resource
The Herbert F. Janick, Jr. Papers spans the years 1889-2002 and consists mainly of Janick’s research for his book on the centennial history of Western Connecticut State University.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Janick, Herb
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/findingaids/ctdbn_ms012_janick.xml">Link to finding aid.</a>
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
f32271cc-b16e-4921-8776-db43f2dc8a6f
Oral History
A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Alfred Hajj
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Hajj, Alfred J.
Janick, Herbert F.
Description
An account of the resource
Cassette, 45mins and 15mins
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
Hajj was a WestConn graduate, teacher, and WestConn Administrator. He was of Lebanese descent and talks about that community in Danbury from the time his father moved there around 1930. Father worked in the leather industry, successful in Worcester, MA, strikes, Americanization, school, church, stresses.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Lebanese Americans
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ms012_09_09_hajj
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
0dd28342-3b7f-4690-a2e3-29bfc8e65c43