Availability
Restrictions
Preferred Citation
Separated Materials
Acquisition
Processing Information
Arrangement
Biography of William Neal Coleman
History of Iron Workers International Union
Scope and Contents
Title: William Neal Coleman Iron Workers International Union collection
Date (bulk): 1954-1986
Date (inclusive): 1942-2001
Creator:
Coleman, William Neal
Collection number: larc.ms.0390
Accession number: 2010/036
Extent:
19.5 cubic feet
(17 cartons)
Repository:
Labor Archives and Research Center
J. Paul Leonard Library, Room 460
San Francisco State University
1630 Holloway Ave
San Francisco, CA 94132-1722
(415) 405-5571
larc@sfsu.edu
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English and Spanish.
Abstract: Consists of materials related to Coleman's work as General Organizer and International Representative for the Iron Workers
International Union. Includes weekly reports, correspondence, convention proceedings, and minutes for the District Council
meetings, and contracts for locals 509 (Los Angeles), 624 (Fresno), 627 (San Diego), 790 (San Francisco, Oakland), 562 (Salt
Lake City), 801 (Reno), and 803 (Honolulu), along with other District Council materials. Includes COPE, Shop Division, and
Ironworkers conference materials, as well as ephemera, photographs, and publications produced by various locals of the International
Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers. Artifacts consist of union memorabilia, including Coleman's
collection of convention pins and badges.
Location: Collection is available onsite.
Availability
Collection is open for research.
Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to the Labor Archives & Research Center. All requests for permission to publish or quote from
materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the
Labor Archives & Research Center as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of
the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], William Neal Coleman Iron Workers International Union Collection, larc.ms.0390, Labor Archives and
Research Center, San Francisco State University.
Separated Materials
Original photographs from Carton 16, folders 17-18 are filed in LARC photograph collection.
Acquisition
Donated by George M. Cross in 2010, accession number 2010/036.
Processing Information
Collection rehoused in 2011 by Jaclyn Gonzalez. Finding aid revised in 2014 by Frances Wratten Kaplan.
Arrangement
Arranged as received, in the following series: Series 1, National; Series 2, Local 509; Series 3, Various Locals; Series 4,
Conference Materials; Series 5, Personal Documents; Series 6, Photographs and Illustrations; Series 7, Publications; Series
8, Artifacts
Biography of William Neal Coleman
William Neal Coleman was General Organizer and International Representative for the Iron Workers International Union, and
a member of Iron Workers Local 509.
History of Iron Workers International Union
In the late 1800s, the increased number of railroads around the United States, combined with the use of new materials such
as cast iron and steel, led to stronger, safer forms of bridges being built to support them. At the same time, these new materials
also allowed for innovative forms of building construction to be developed. The face of the construction industry was changing,
and a specialized type of iron worker was born. Structural and ornamental ironworkers were responsible for the construction
of some of the most famous structures in North America, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Sears Tower,
and the World Trade Center.
The extremely dangerous nature of the work, and the lack of workmen's rights, led to the formation of The International Association
of Bridge and Structural Iron Workers of America on February 4, 1896. Today the union represents 120,000 ironworkers across
America who work on bridges, structural steel, ornamental, architectural, and miscellaneous metals, rebar, and in shops.
Scope and Contents
Comprises materials related to Coleman's work as General Organizer and International Representative for the Iron Workers International
Union. Includes weekly reports, correspondence, convention proceedings, and minutes for the District Council meetings, and
contracts for locals 509 (Los Angeles), 624 (Fresno), 627 (San Diego), 790 (San Francisco, Oakland), 562 (Salt Lake City),
801 (Reno), and 803 (Honolulu), along with other District Council materials. Includes COPE, Shop Division, and Ironworkers
conference materials, as well as ephemera, photographs, and publications produced by various locals of the International Association
of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers. Artifacts consist of union memorabilia, including Coleman's collection
of convention pins and badges.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
International Association of Bridge, Structural, and Ornamental Iron Workers. Local 509 (Los Angeles, Calif.)
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers.
Iron and steel workers--California--Los Angeles.
Iron and steel workers--Labor unions--California--Los Angeles.
Iron and steel workers--Labor unions--Organizing.
Iron and steel workers--Labor unions--United States.