Roney (Frank) Papers, 1870-1917, bulk (bulk 1878-1886)

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Summary

Title:
Frank Roney papers,
Dates:
1870-1917, bulk (bulk 1878-1886)
Creators:
Roney, Frank, 1841-1925.
Abstract:
Contains materials given by Frank Roney to Ira B. Cross to complete his book, History of the Labor Movement in California, including correspondence, writings, materials relating to Roney's activities with labor organizations in San Francisco, clippings and ephemera. Writings include Roney's diary when he first arrived in San Francisco, the manuscript of his autobiography Frank Roney: Irish Rebel and California Labor Leader, and drafts and articles about the labor movement including anti-Chinese sentiment.
Extent:
Number of containers: 2 boxes Linear feet: 0.8
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Frank Roney papers, BANC MSS C-B 366, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Background

Scope and content:

The Frank Roney Papers, 1870-1917, consist of a selection of correspondence and writings given to Ira B. Cross to complete his bookHistory of the Labor Movement in California. A substantial amount of this collection is material devoted to Roney's activities with various labor organizations in San Francisco. This material contains union meeting reports and printed circulars. There are also documents regarding a strike of San Francisco iron workers in 1886, led by the Representative Council of the Iron Trades. Roney's documented involvement with the League of Deliverance reflects the anti-Chinese sentiment apparent in the California labor movement during the late nineteenth century.

His writings include his diary (1875-1876) and a handwritten draft of his autobiography, later published as Frank Roney: Irish Rebel and California Labor Leader in 1931.

Biographical / historical:
Frank Roney
Date Event
1841 Born in Belfast, Ireland on August 13th
1875 Settled in San Francisco, California in April
1877 The Workingmen's Party of California is formed
1878 Served as chairman of the executive committee of the Workingmen's Party of California
1880 Served as president of the Seamen's Protective Association
1882
Arrested for anti-Chinese propaganda activity for the League of Deliverance. Roney was tried and declared not guilty for misdemeanor charges in San Francisco on July 25th.
Served as president of the Representative Assembly of Trades and Labor Unions of the Pacific Coast
1885 The Representative Council of the Iron Trades is formed. Roney was the organization's secretary in 1885 and president in 1886
ca. 1906 Met historian Ira B. Cross and began giving him assistance in writing his book, History of the Labor Movement in California.
1915 Completed his autobiography. Published in 1931, as Frank Roney: Irish Rebel and California Labor Leader.
1925 Died in Long Beach, California on January 24th
Acquisition information:
The Frank Roney papers were removed from the Ira Cross: California Labor Notes collection (BANC MSS C-R 12), which were given to The Bancroft Library by Ira B. Cross in 1933.
Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by Nicole Waugh
Date Prepared:
© 2003
Date Encoded:
Finding Aid written by Nicole Waugh and completed by Alison E. Bridger and encoded programmatically by EAD XPress. Date of source: August 2004

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library 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], Frank Roney papers, BANC MSS C-B 366, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Location of this collection:
University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
Contact:
510-642-6481
bancref-library@berkeley.edu
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