Finding aid for the 1952 Steel Crisis pamphlets
6011
Finding aid prepared by Glenid Rivera-Cuevas
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
2012 September
Title: 1952 Steel Crisis pamplets
Collection number: 6011
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.21 Linear feet
1 box
Date: 1947-1952, 1967 (bulk 1952)
Abstract: Collection of pamphlets from various unions and the United States government about the conflicts and strikes in the first
administration of President Harry S. Truman.
Historical note
In the United States the end of World War II was followed by an uneasy transition from war to a peacetime economy. President
Truman was faced with the renewal of labor disputes that had remained in a dormant state during the war years, severe shortages
in housing and consumer products, and widespread dissatisfaction with inflation, which at one point rose by 6% in a single
month. In this polarized environment, a wave of strikes destabilized major industries, and Truman's response to them was generally
seen as ineffective. In the spring of 1946, a national railway strike, which had never happened in the country, led virtually
all passengers and their luggage to remain at a standstill for over a month. When the railway workers and coal miners turned
down a proposed settlement, Truman seized control of the railways and threatened to deal with the issue of striking workers
with use of the armed forces. While delivering a speech before Congress requesting authority for this plan, Truman received
the news that the strike had been settled.
In the 1950s the administration of President Truman experienced additional strikes that provoked a number of national crises.
The steel strike of 1952 was organized by the United Steel Workers of America against the steel industry. The strike was set
to begin on April 9, 1952, but Truman nationalized the American steel industry hours before it began. In response to bitter
disagreements over wage and price controls between the union membership and leadership, Truman instructed his Secretary of
Commerce, Charles W. Sawyer, to take control of a number of steel mills. Truman cited his authority as Commander in Chief
and the need to maintain an uninterrupted supply of steel for munitions for use in the Korean War. The Supreme Court found
Truman's actions unconstitutional and reversed the order in a major separation of powers, Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer.
The 6-3 decision stated that Truman's assertion of authority was too vague and was not rooted in congressional legislative
action.
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections 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.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], 1952 Steel Crisis pamphlets, Collection no. 6011, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California
Scope and Content
Pamphlets from unions and the United States goverment advocating for and/or condemning the seizure of the steel industry in
1952. Also included in the collection is a copy of the New York State Labor Law of 1927, a magazine of the 11th Convention
of the UAW-CIO, and a pamphlet published by the Telephone workers union about their strike.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Inland Steel Company. -- Archives
International Union, United Automobile Workers of America (CIO). -- Archives
Jones & Laughlin Steel Company. -- Archives
Marshall, Walter P. -- Archives
Procter & Gamble Company. -- Archives
Randall, Clarence B. (Clarence Belden), 1891-1967 -- Archives
Republic Steel Corporation. -- Archives
Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972 -- Archives
United Steel Workers of America. -- Archives
Labor unions--United States--History--20th century--Archival resources
Pamphlets
Periodicals
Publications
Steel industry and trade--United States--History--20th century--Archival resources
United States--History--20th century--Archival resources
United States--Politics and government--20th century--Archival resources
Box 1, Folder 1
A Senseless Strike
1952 April 22
Scope and Content
Leaflet with the speech given on April 22, 1952 by Walter P. Marshall, President of The Western Union Telegraph Company over
the Columbia Broadcasting System radio network in which he discusses the strike and the consequences for the general public.
Box 1, Folder 2
Seizure... the New Push Button Warfare on Business
1952 April 25
Scope and Content
Booklet with the address of Clarence B. Randall, President of Inland Steel Company, made before the National Press Club about
the decision of President Truman to seize the steel industry.
Box 1, Folder 3
President Truman Discusses the Steel Crisis
1952 April 8
Language of Material: English
Scope and Content
Booklet with the radio and television address given by the President of the United States, Harry S. Truman, about the steel
crisis. He explains the government's positon about the imminent strike and the crisis in the steel industry. In his address
to the American people, the President explains the problems for the nation of this shut down, and why he decided to seize
control of the steel industry.
Box 1, Folder 4
These are the facts, Mr. President
1952 April 9
Language of Material: English
Scope and Content
Booklet with the radio and television address by Clarence B. Randall, President of the Inland Steel Company, about his position
on the steel crisis, in response to President Truman's intent to seize control of the steel industry.
Box 1, Folder 5
One step leads to another...
circa 1952
Scope and Content
Mini comic booklet stating the position of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America demanding repeal of
the McCarran law.
Box 1, Folder 6
Michigan Labor Mediation Act
1947
Scope and Content
Copy of the Michigan Labor Mediation Act. Act No. 176 of the Public Acts of 1939 as emended by Act No. 318 of the Public Acts
of 1947. This law created a board for the mediation of labor disputes, and to prescribe its powers and duties; to provide
for the mediation and arbitration of labor disputes, and the holding of elections there on; to provide for the creation of
arbitration boards; to regulate the conduct of parties to labor disputes and to require the parties to follow certain procedures;
to regulate and limit the right to strike and picket; to protect the rights and privileges of employees, including the right
to organize and engage in lawful concerted activities.
Box 1, Folder 7
Telephone workers seek only justice
1952
Box 1, Folder 8
These are the facts in the steel controversy
1952
Scope and Content
Booklet published by the steel companies explaining their position on the steel industry situation in 1952. In a group of
arguments that they called "the facts of the steel industry", they explained how steel profits have declined since 1951.
Box 1, Folder 9
Side by Side...
circa 1952
Scope and Content
Pamphet published by UE Publications explaining the position of the union in favor of equal treatment for all, and elimination
of discrimination by sex or color of skin.
Box 1, Folder 10
Editorial judgment on the steel wage demands
1952 January 7
Scope and Content
Booklet published by Steel Companies in the Wage Case. In this publication there are a group of editorials and articles from
different newspapers with the position of these companies against the position of the government. The items are from November
13, 1951 to December 29, 1951.
Box 1, Folder 11
Facts... about Union Shop
1952
Scope and Content
Booklet published by the United Steel Workers of America, CIO. A statement by the union about the benefits of maintaining
a union shop contrary to continuing with a closed shop. In this booklet the union explains one by one why union shops bring
benefits to union workers.
Box 1, Folder 12
The freeman lessons of the steel strike
1952 September 22
Scope and Content
Pamphlet written by Leo Wolman giving his opinions on the results of the steel strike.
Box 1, Folder 13
Charles E. Wilson's own story of break with Truman
1952 May 2
Scope and Content
Pamphlet with the interview given to the U.S. News & World Report by Charles E. Wilson, who was the Director of Defense Mobilization
in charge of inflation control. Mr. Wilson resigned his position and broke with President Truman.
Box 1, Folder 14
A steelmaker discusses the issues
1952 January 11
Scope and Content
Pamphlet with the radio transcript of the address by Admiral Ben Moreell, Chairman of the Board and President of Jones & Laughlin
Steel Corporation.
Box 1, Folder 15
In the Great Tradition 11th Convention, UAW-CIO
1947
Scope and Content
Magazine of the 11th Convention of UAW-CIO.
Box 1, Folder 16
These are the facts Mr. President as viewed by the press
1952 April 14
Scope and Content
Booklet with items from differents newspapers stating the positions and opinions of the steel companies.
Box 1, Folder 17
The union shop?... Yes, but there are other major issues in the steel dispute
1952 June 13
Scope and Content
Report made by Philip Murray, President of United Steel Workers of America, about the union shops and the other issues in
the steel strike.
Box 1, Folder 18
Remarks by Kempton Dunn, Chairman, and William T. Kelly, Jr., President, ABEX Corporation to the St. Louis Society of Financial
Analysts
1967 May 1
Box 1, Folder 19
Printers' Ink. The weekly magazine of Advertising, Management and Sales. Case History: Labor Relations
1948 January 2
Scope and Content
Describes Procter and Gamble's history of avoiding serious labor trouble for 60 years.
Box 1, Folder 20
Our National Soul Erosion Problem. A talk by C.M. White, President Republic Steel Corporation
1952 January 24
Box 1, Folder 21
New York State Labor Law
1927 August 1
Box 1, Folder 22
Employee communications for better understanding
1950 February
Scope and Content
Published by the National Association of Manufacturers.
