Collection Guide
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Guide to the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, Proceedings and Publications
IRLE-CF01
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Table of contents
Title: California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, proceedings and publications
Dates: 1901-2002
Collection number: IRLE-CF01
Creator:
California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
Collection Size:
353 texts
353 digital objects
Repository:
University of California, Berkeley. Institute for Research on Labor and Employment. Library.
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California 94720-5555
Abstract: The California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, was founded in 1901 as the California State Federation of Labor. It was the most
important successor to several earlier labor organizations, such as the Federated Trades Council of San Francisco, and the
Knights of Labor in Los Angeles. The state federation played an early role in coordinating labor union activities throughout
the state. The digital collection provides access to 100 years of proceedings of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO,
selected documents related to the Congress of Industrial Organizations and its merger with the Federation, and legislative
voting records. The collection also includes California AFL-CIO News, the Federation's weekly newsletter.
Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Collection is open for research.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the
Head Librarian, The Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE) Library, 2521 Channing Way, #5555, University of
California, Berkeley 94720-5555. Consent is given on behalf of The IRLE Library as the owner of the physical items and does
not constitute permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. See: http://www.irle.berkeley.edu/library/digitalcollections/permissions.html
California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, proceedings and publications, IRLE-CF01. Institute for Research on Labor and Employment
Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Physical collection was loaned for digitization to the IRLE Library by the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO.
The California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO ("the Federation") was founded in 1901 as the California State Federation of Labor.
It was the most important successor to several earlier labor organizations, such as the Federated Trades Council of San Francisco,
and the Knights of Labor in Los Angeles. The state federation played an early role in coordinating labor union activities
throughout the state, even though labor power was focused primarily in the urban centers of San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno
and Los Angeles.
The Federation's formation was a milestone in California labor history. The state's rapid growth after the discovery of gold,
and the comparatively early urbanization of the city of San Francisco, created conditions where progressive and enterprising
immigrants and citizens could thrive. They joined together to build communities, form businesses and develop social institutions,
often with utopian ideals and a commitment to assisting working people. The region drew immigrants from around the world,
and they developed a cosmopolitan and boisterous society in San Francisco. This setting spawned all sorts of social activism,
with trade unionism in the forefront. Much the same can be said of the labor movement that arose in the Los Angeles area.
The early spread of unionism throughout the state gave rise to journalistic hyperbole. For example, in 1904, Ray Stannard
Baker described San Francisco as the city "Where Unionism Holds Undisputed Sway." (See the California Labor History Map, for
in-depth coverage of California's labor history: http://calpedia.sfsu.edu/calabor/ ). It was from this unique, activist heritage
that the California Federation of Labor, the Congress of Industrial Organizations, and the merged Federation arose, and they
continued to carry the ideals of California's early settlers forward as they grew. As they grew over time, each organization
played important roles in the development of California's economy and society.
This digital collection was funded by the University of California Labor and Employment Research Fund (LERF). The Fund enabled
the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment Library to digitize a large percentage of the Federation's publications.
Scope and Content of Collection
This digital repository enables scholars to study California's labor history over a full century. It provides access to 100
years of proceedings of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, selected documents related to the Congress of Industrial
Organizations and its merger with the Federation, and legislative voting records. The latter appear under varying titles and
as sections of the proceedings. These records are of special interest, because they provide researchers with a chronological
record of labor laws and issues as debated in the California legislature for nearly the entire 20th century. The collection
also includes California AFL-CIO News, the Federation's weekly newsletter.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Labor laws and legislation--California.
Labor movement--California.
Labor unions--California.
Labor--United States--Periodicals.
California Industrial Union Council
California State Federation of Labor
California Labor Council on Political Education