The Maritime Federation of the Pacific Coast records document the activities of the Maritime Federation of the Pacific Coast (MFPC), more commonly known as the Maritime Federation of the Pacific (MFP), an organization representing the interests of longshoremen, seamen, ship cooks and stewards, other various maritime occupations, agricultural and cannery workers in California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska. The collection consists of the organizational records of the MFP, including material related to conventions and conferences, the Executive Board, constitutions, officers, District and Subdistrict Councils, subject files, financial records, and records pertaining to the Federation's publication Voice of the Federation. Also contains material related to organizations supported by the MFP, including the Bay Area Committee to Aid Agricultural Workers, the Council of Marine Crafts of America, the Marysville Defense Committee, and the Modesto Defense Committee. Materials include correspondence, minutes, clippings, telegrams, circular letters, teletypes, reports, and financial and legal material.

The Maritime Federation of the Pacific Coast (MFPC), more commonly known as the Maritime Federation of the Pacific (MFP), was established in 1935 when waterfront workers and seamen joined together to further the interests of unionism for all maritime workers on the West Coast. Efforts to build greater unity among different maritime workers had been previously attempted in the early part of the 20th century with organizations such as the City Front Federation. Following the historic 1934 Pacific Maritime and San Francisco General Strike, labor unions and individuals representing different seafaring and shipping occupations overcame their divisions to form a more cohesive organization that would become known as the Maritime Federation of the Pacific Coast. The Maritime Federation elected Harry Lundeberg, head of the Sailors Union of the Pacific, as its first President and the Federation was a visible and outspoken presence in the ensuing strikes and labor events of the mid-1930s.

35.75 cubic ft. (65 boxes, 2 oversize boxes)

Copyright has not been assigned to the Labor Archives and 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 and 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.

Collection is open for research.