Description
Contains a transcribed copy of Lucille Kendall’s
1976-1977 interviews with Helene Powell covering her involvement with the
International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union (ILWU), Local 6, in San
Francisco as a steward and member of the Legislative Committee and Executive Board.
The interview also covers Powell’s appointment as the ILWU’s International
Representative to Los Angeles in 1943. Supplementary materials include newspaper
clippings, ILWU-related ephemera, photocopies of a speech given by Powell, a
transcript of a radio interview she participated in, and a
Life magazine article featuring a photograph of Powell.
Background
Helene Powell was born on April 17, 1919, and raised by a close-knit family in a
small black community in San Jose. When Powell turned seventeen, her family moved to
San Francisco, where she attended college preparatory courses at Lowell High School.
After high school, Powell enrolled in University of California, Berkeley, earning a
bachelor’s degree in Spanish. At U.C. Berkeley, Powell served as president of the
Negro Students Club and participated in the Associated Student Government’s
Committee for Peace, California Youth Legislature, and Student Workers Federation.
Upon graduating in 1941, Powell took a job with Alexander Balart Coffee Company in
San Francisco, participating in a three-day strike against the company over wages.
Powell’s involvement in the strike prompted her to become active in the
International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union, Local 6. As a member of Local
6, Powell frequently served as shop stewardess, spoke at membership meetings, and
conducted house meetings. In 1943 Powell was appointed as the ILWU's International
Representative to Los Angeles. With Local 26, she organized aircraft workers at Aero
Reclamation Company. In Los Angeles Powell became particularly active in organizing
African American and Mexican American women warehouse workers and in housing reform
for minorities. Powell also served as an election worker for the CIO Political
Action Committee, registering black voters around Los Angeles’ Central Avenue. In
the mid-1940s Powell returned to San Francisco and Local 6, becoming active in the
Legislative Committee. As a member of the committee, Powell took up a variety of
issues, including Local 6’s involvement in the war effort, gender discrimination,
rent control, and housing reform.
Restrictions
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collections are protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) and may not
be used without permission of California Historical Society. Use may be restricted
by terms of CHS gift or purchase agreements, privacy and publicity rights, licensing
terms, and trademarks. All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise
use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Library
and Archives, North Baker Research Library, California Historical Society, 678
Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Restrictions also apply to digital
representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to
research and educational purposes.
Availability
CHS is not taking appointments for research at this time. Please check the Library's website updates: https://californiahistoricalsociety.org/collections/north-baker-research-library/