Collection Guide
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National Writers' Union Records
SPC.2019.051
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Table of contents
Description
This collection contains correspondence; memorandums; reports; notes; meeting minutes; resolutions; newsletters; budget and
financial information; and other documents from the National Writers Union (NWU).
Background
The National Writers Union (NWU) was founded on November 19, 1981 after a meeting of two conferences of freelance writers
organized by "The Nation" magazine in 1980- one in New York and the other in San Francisco. According to NWU's mission statement
"The purpose of the NWU, Local 1981 shall be to promote and protect the rights, interests, and economic advancement of members;
to organize writers to improve professional working conditions through collective bargaining action; and to provide professional
services to members. The NWU, Local 1981 commits itself to representing the interests of the full range of writers in the
US. in all genres, media and formats. These include writers of diverse cultures, ethnicities, politics, religions and racial
identities; writers of all ages and all sexual/gender orientations; writers with disabilities; and writers at all levels of
economic and commercial success." ("Mission", NWU) As of 2020, NWU has 13 local chapters; and three genre-based divisions-
book, journalism, and BizTech as well as a grievance and contract division (GCD). There are approximately 1,300 members of
the NWU who are journalists, book authors, technical and business writers, poets, playwrights, editors, fiction writers, and
other mediums. Since 1992, NWU has been affiliated with the United Automobile Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers
of America (UAW). Along with members, the NWU has three other organizational structures that govern and carry out the work
of the organization:
Extent
7 Linear Feet
Restrictions
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Availability
Material marked as confidential, as well as some personal and finanical information is restricted.