Ralph Pancallo was a long-standing member of the International Typographical Union (now the Communications Workers of America). He joined ITU in 1935 when he started working as an Apprentice Printer for the Meridian Morning Record. In 1940, he started work with the New Britain Herald as a Composite Printer. In 1958, he took the position of Representative of the I.T.U., a position he held until his retirement in 1979. Ralph Pancallo also served as vice president of the Connecticut State Labor Council, secretary and president of the New Britain Central Labor Council, and as both president and treasurer of the New Britain Typographical Union #679 (now the Connecticut Typographical Union #679).
Ralph Russell was born in Nova Scotia in 1900. In 1902 Russell's family moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he was raised. Due to his political beliefs, as well as his activities on behalf of the United Public Workers Union, Russell found himself accused of being a member of the Communist Party. Despite a vigorous defense, Russell lost his position with the Bureau of Fisheries in 1953 and did not regain his job until 1958, when the Supreme Court ruled such termination unconstitutional. Russell remained with the Bureau until his retirement in 1965.
Randolph W. Whaples and Beatrice C. H. Whaples graduated from Connecticut Agricultural College in 1927. Mrs. Whaples returned to the University of Connecticut in the mid 1950s and was awarded an M.S. degree in 1957. The collection contains course notes, assignments, papers, quizzes, examinations and similar materials related to the academic career of the Whaples.