Charles Bratt Papers, 1933-1952

Processed by Kaleesha Washington
Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research
6120 South Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90044
Phone: (323) 759-6063
Fax: (323) 759-2252
Email: archives@socallib.org
URL: http://www.socallib.org/
© 2001
Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research. All rights reserved.

Register of the Charles Bratt Papers, 1933-1952

Collection number: MSS 034

Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research



Los Angeles, California

Contact Information:

  • Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research
  • 6120 South Vermont Avenue
  • Los Angeles, CA, 90044
  • Phone: (323) 759-6063
  • Fax: (323) 759-2252
  • Email: archives@socallib.org
  • URL: http://www.socallib.org/
Processed by:
Kaleesha Washington
Date Completed:
August 2000
Encoded by:
Julia Bazar
© 2001 Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Charles Bratt Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1933-1952
Collection number: MSS 034
Creator: Bratt, Charles

Johnson, Clarence
Extent: 1 carton and 2 legal boxes

1 2/3 linear feet
Repository: Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research
Los Angeles, CA 90044
Abstract: This collection consists of the papers of Charles Bratt and Clarence Johnson, both employees of the World War II Era United States Employment Services (USES), part of War Manpower Commission. The documents deal with the work of the Committee on Fair Employment Practices (Executive Order 9346) to prevent discrimination based on race, creed, color, or national origin. Special attention is drawn to discrimination within Unions. Also included is material on the internment of Japanese Americans during the war.
Language: English.

Administrative Information

Provenance

Unknown (legacy collection)

Access

The collection is available for research only at the Library's facility in Los Angeles. The Library is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Researchers are encouraged to call or email the Library indicating the nature of their research query prior to making a visit.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to the Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research. Researchers may make single copies of any portion of the collection, but publication from the collection will be allowed only with the express written permission of the Library's director. It is not necessary to obtain written permission to quote from a collection. When the Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research gives permission for publication, it is 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], Charles Bratt Papers, Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research, Los Angeles, California.

Biography

As an activist for oppressed people, Charles Bratt has fought for equality for people of all races, creeds, colors, and national origins.
Charles Bratt was an agricultural activist as Executive Chairman of the Simon J. Lubin Society of California in the late 1930's. According to the Preamble to the Constitution of the Lubin Society, the goal was to raise the standard of living for the agricultural wage earner, as well as the working farmer, and to protect their interests.
During the war years, Charles Bratt worked for the War Manpower Commission in Los Angeles. He began as an assistant to Tony Racine, the War Manpower Commission State Labor Liaison Representative, and then went to work for the United States Employment Service (USES) in Huntington Park. The USES operated under the War Manpower Commission, which was established in order to ensure that workers were connected to jobs that suited their highest skill that would help in the production of war materials.
Charles Bratt was later appointed to the position of State Minority Specialist to ensure compliance with Executive Order 9346. Issued May 27, 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, it created a new Committee on Fair Employment Practices. This was to prevent discrimination based on race, creed, color, or national origin by companies or agencies contracted with the United States Government.
After the war, Charles Bratt continued to remain active by serving on several committees to prevent discrimination and to assist in the relocation of the Japanese Americans who had been interned in the war by the United States government.
Clarence Johnson, also employed in the Los Angeles office of the War Manpower Commission, fought to end discrimination in the workplace. His official title was Field Employment Assistant of the Negro Employment and Training Branch in the Labor Division of the War Manpower Commission, however he focused mainly on unions. The unions that discriminated against minorities prevented them from working certain jobs they were qualified for when the job required union membership and the union would not accept them. Clarence Johnson's job was to fight the union discrimination. Charles Bratt and Clarence Johnson worked together to fight discrimination in employment.
Ultimately, Charles Bratt wanted equality and dedicated his life and career to the struggle.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of correspondence, case files, government documents, legal materials, clippings, and other documents. The majority of the materials concern the work and interests of Charles Bratt from the 1930s to the 1950s, with the bulk documenting his work with the Los Angeles Office of the War Manpower Commission during World War II and its immediate aftermath (1941-1946). Much of the material focuses on the implementation of the decisions of the Fair Employment Practices Commission (FEPC) and various lawsuits and discrimination cases. The "personal" files provide information on Bratt's pre- and post-war activities and interests, including his education and involvement with the Simon Lubin Society. Also included are documents from Bratt's co-worker Clarence Johnson, the Field Employment Assistant of the Negro Employment and Training Branch, whose work primarily dealt with discrimination by various unions in the shipyards and other war industries.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into three series: 1. War Manpower Commission (Bratt Files), 2. War Manpower Commission (Johnson Files), and 3. Charles Bratt: Personal.

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Title: California CIO Council Union Research And Information Services Records,
Date: 1935-1956,
Physical Description: 9 boxes
Title: Julius Mel Reich Labor Archives Collection,
Date: 1930-1970,
Physical Description: 65 linear feet

A copy of the collection register is kept in the first box of the collection (1/0).
 

Series 1. War Manpower Commission (Bratt Files), 1934-1948

Physical Description: 1 carton

Scope and Content Note

This series includes documents from Bratt's work with the War Manpower Commission, the Fair Employment Practices Commission, the United States Employment Service (USES), and other interracial organizations that were trying to gain employment for minorities during World War II. It documents many discrimination cases and the hardships brought about when thousands of blacks migrated to the west coast from the southern part of the United States, mainly from Louisiana. This series also contains information on the relocation of the Japanese Americans.
Box-folder 1/1

Executive Orders and Directions, 1941-1945

Box-folder 1/2

Wages and Hours, 1939-1944

Box-folder 1/3

Legislation, 1943-1946

Box-folder 1/4

Policy, 1944-1946

Box-folder 1/5-1/7

USES (United States Employment Service)

Box-folder 1/5-1/6

Policies

Box-folder 1/5

1942-1944

Box-folder 1/6

1945-1946

Box-folder 1/7

Legislation and Polity, 1944-1946

Box-folder 1/8

Press Releases, 1944-1946

Box-folder 1/9

Training Materials, 1942-1946

Box-folder 1/10

Training Talk Materials, 1942-1946

Box-folder 1/11

Discrimination Cases, 1944-1946

Box-folder 1/12

Blakeney vs. California Shipbuilding Case, 1945

Box-folder 1/13

Boilermakers Union California Supreme Court Case, [1945?]

Box-folder 1/14-1/15

Japanese Relocation

Box-folder 1/14

1942-1944

Box-folder 1/15

1945-1946

Box-folder 1/16

Conferences, 1945-1946

Box-folder 1/17

Minority Groups (Housing and Employment Problems due to "in-migration"), 1942-1947

Box-folder 1/18

FEPC (Fair Employment Practices Commission) and Miscellaneous Minority, 1942-1946

Box-folder 1/19

Federal Security Agency - Wartime Civil Control Administration, 1942, 1945

Box-folder 1/20

Interracial Organizations, 1945-1947

Box-folder 1/21

American Council on Race Relations (Clearing House and Reports), 1945-1946

Box-folder 1/22

Apprenticeships, 1942-1945

Box-folder 1/23

Stabilization Plans, 1944

Box-folder 1/24

State Minority Specialists Desk Folder, 1944

Box-folder 1/25

Statistics and Speeches, 1939-1946

Box-folder 1/26

Shipbuilding, 1945-1946

Box-folder 1/27

Union Labor Issues, 1937-1946

Box-folder 1/28

Bratt Personal File, n.d.

Box-folder 1/29

Charles Bratt's Personal Employment File, 1946

Box-folder 1/30

Minority Clippings, 1943-1947

Box-folder 1/31

Labor News Committee San Francisco, 1947-1948

Box-folder 1/32

FEPC Annotated Bibliography, 1943, n.d.

Box-folder 1/33-1/35

Miscellaneous

Box-folder 1/33

1934-1936

Box-folder 1/34

Correspondence, 1945-1946

Box-folder 1/35

Clippings and Written Notes, 1936-1946, n.d.

 

Series 2. Series 2. War Manpower Commission (Johnson Files), 1941-1946

Physical Description: 1 legal box

Scope and Content Note

This series contains the files of Clarence Johnson, a colleague of Bratt's in the Los Angeles War Manpower Commission office. It includes labor laws, discrimination cases, and answers to a survey Johnson sent to several companies about their hiring practices. There are also files on over 50 unions in California that were accused of discrimination during the war.
Box-folder 2/1

Labor Laws, 1942-1946

Box-folder 2/2

Discrimination Cases, 1941-1943

Box-folder 2/3-2/4

Employment

Box-folder 2/3

1943-1944

Box-folder 2/4

Reports, 1943

Box-folder 2/5-2/55

Unions

Box-folder 2/5

Aeronautical Mechanics - Seattle, WA, 1942

Box-folder 2/6-2/9

American Federation of Labor Unions (AFL) - California

Box-folder 2/6

Los Angeles, 1941-1942

Box-folder 2/7

Oakland, 1942

Box-folder 2/8

San Pedro, 1942

Box-folder 2/9

San Francisco - Local #6, 1943

Box-folder 2/10

Boeing Aircraft Company, 1942

Box-folder 2/11-2/17

Boilermakers Union

Box-folder 2/11

#A-35 Auxiliary - Los Angeles, CA, 1943-1944

Box-folder 2/12

#6 - San Francisco, CA, 1942

Box-folder 2/13

#6 - Seattle, WA, 1942

Box-folder 2/14

#72 - Portland, OR, 1942

Box-folder 2/15

#513, Auxiliary #A-36 - Richmond, CA, 1943

Box-folder 2/16

#72 - Portland, OR, 1943

Box-folder 2/17

#513 - Richmond, CA, 1942-1944

Box-folder 2/18

Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Employees, 1944

Box-folder 2/19-2/10

Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)

Box-folder 2/19

1942-1943

Box-folder 2/20

Local 902 - United Transport Service Employees of America, 1943

Box-folder 2/21

Cannery Workers Union - San Pedro, CA, 1943

Box-folder 2/22-2/23

Construction and General Laborers Union

Box-folder 2/22

#304, 1942

Box-folder 2/23

#179, 1943

Box-folder 2/24-2/25

Dining Car Employees Union

Box-folder 2/24

Local #465, 1943-1944

Box-folder 2/25

Local #582 Los Angeles, 1942-1944

Box-folder 2/26

Directory of CIO Unions in Los Angeles, 1942-1943

Box-folder 2/27

Electrical Workers Union-Wilmington, CA, 1942

Box-folder 2/28

Employment Practices By Unions (Fees, Wages, Other Practices), 1941-1944

Box-folder 2/29

National Maritime Union, 1942-1943

Box-folder 2/30-2/34

International Association of Machinists

Box-folder 2/30

Local #68 - San Francisco, CA, 1942

Box-folder 2/31

Local #89, 1943

Box-folder 2/32

Local #311, 1943

Box-folder 2/33

Local #824 - Richmond, CA, 1943

Box-folder 2/34

Local #834, 1943

Box-folder 2/35-2/36

International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

Box-folder 2/35

Local 26 - Oakland, CA, 1942-1943

Box-folder 2/36

Local 513, 1942

Box-folder 2/37

International Longshoremen's and Warehouses' Union, San Pedro, CA, 1942-1944

Box-folder 2/38

International Union of Operating Engineers, Los Angeles, CA, 1943

Box-folder 2/39

International United Transport Worker's Union, 1943

Box-folder 2/40

Los Angeles Shipbuilding Company, 1942-1943

Box-folder 2/41

Machinists' Union International (general), 1943

Box-folder 2/42

Marine Firemen, Oilers, Water Tenders and Wipers Association, 1942

Box-folder 2/43

Miscellaneous Workers Ltd., Inc. Oakland, CA, 1942

Box-folder 2/44

Rubber Workers' Union, 1942

Box-folder 2/45

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. - Seattle, WA, 1942

Box-folder 2/46

Service and Research Dept., CIO Unions - Alameda County, 1941

Box-folder 2/47-248

Shipfitters and Helpers

Box-folder 2/47

A-33, 1943

Box-folder 2/48

#7 - San Francisco, CA, 1943, 1945

Box-folder 2/49

Shipyard and Marine Shop Laborers Union - Local 886 - Oakland, CA, 1943

Box-folder 2/50

SIEMS-Drake Company Seattle, WA, 1942

Box-folder 2/51

Steamfitters' Local 590 - San Francisco, CA, 1943

Box-folder 2/52

Todd-California Shipbuilding Corp Richmond, CA, 1942

Box-folder 2/53

Toyad Corporation - 832 E. 62nd St. Los Angeles, CA, 1942

Box-folder 2/54

United Federal Workers of America (UFWA), Local 2545, n.d.

Box-folder 2/55

United Rubber Workers of America, Local 43 CIO, 1942

Box-folder 2/56

Union Agreements, 1941-1942

Box-folder 2/57-2/58

United States Employment Service (USES)

Box-folder 2/57

Oakland, CA, 1942

Box-folder 2/58

Pasadena, CA, 1942

Box-folder 2/59

Western Union Telegraph Company, 1942

 

Series 3. Charles Bratt: Personal, 1933-1952

Physical Description: 1 legal box

Scope and Content Note

This series contains personal information related to Charles Bratt, events he was interested in, and Bratt's involvements before the war. It also includes some information about the Welfare Council of Metropolitan Los Angeles (California Youth Authority).
Box-folder 3/1

Amherst College Alumni, 1933-1940

Box-folder 3/2

California Labor School, 1947

Box-folder 3/3

California Department of Agriculture, 1936-1938

Box-folder 3/4

Congress of Industrial Organization, 1943-1945

Box-folder 3/5

Farm Labor / Simon Lubin Society, 1935-1938

Box-folder 3/6

Farm Security Administration, 1938-1944

Box-folder 3/7

Miscellaneous Agricultural, 1933-1938

Box-folder 3/8-3/9

Hearst Trial

Box-folder 3/8

Clippings, 1934-1936

Box-folder 3/9

Research Material, 1935

Box-folder 3/10

Labor and the Smith Act, 1937-1952

Box-folder 3/11

National Negro Labor Council, 1952

Box-folder 3/12

Pacific House, 1939

Box-folder 3/13

San Francisco School of Social Studies, 1937

Box-folder 3/14

San Jose Public Schools - Department of Education, 1934

Box-folder 3/15

Sugar Beet Correspondence, 1938

Box-folder 3/16

Welfare Council of Metropolitan Los Angeles - Los Angeles Youth Project (California Youth Authority), 1947