Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of records from the Illinois Labor History Society and records from related organizations including the Jewish Labor Committee, Mideastern Illinois Labor Council, Labor Coalition on Public Utilities, and the Midwest Press Labor Association.
The Illinois Labor History Society (ILHS) began in 1969. It is comprised of academics, unionists, and persons interested in labor history. According to their website in 2016, the mission of the ILHS is "to encourage the preservation and study of labor history materials of the Illinois Region. . . ."
The collection is organized in four series: Administrative (1972-2001), Publications (1971-2001), Event Materials (1970-2000), and Related Organizations (1956-1993).
The Administrative series contains materials from the formation of the IHLS up until 2006. Materials include minutes, reports, and correspondence. The Publications series includes newsletters from both the ILHS and the National Rainbow Coalition Labor Network. The collection also contains event materials such as pamphlets, advertisements, and press releases from meetings, programs, and celebrations. Also included in the collection are materials on the Civil Rights movement from the Jewish Labor Committee and newsletters from the Mideastern Labor Council and Labor Coalition on Public Utilities.
The Library acquired these materials prior to 2016.