Springfield Typographical Union Collection

Title

Springfield Typographical Union Collection

Subject

Labor union members
International Typographical Union
Printing industry--Employees--Labor unions
Printing industry--Employees
Printing industry
Labor unions
Employees

Description

The Springfield Typographical Union No. 177 received its charter from the International Typographical Union in Mary 1978. The Springfield Typographical Union worked to advance the interests of the printers and to promote harmony among them.

The first issues the unions dealt with were pay, working hours and conditions. After the unions became more established they worked for more long term concerns such as old age pensions, mortuary benefits and paid sick time, which the Springfield local passed in 1915, with one dollar per day being paid after one week of sickness. The unions also worked to start an apprentice program.

In 1915 the Springfield local voted to make the term of apprenticeship five years, with pay of $5.00 per week the first year. Apprentices had to qualify by having their grammar, spelling and other academic skills tested, to assure that their work on the linotype or teletype setters would produce accurate results. The Woman’s Auxiliary of the ITU was formed in 1902 to raise awareness of union products, the union label, and to raise funds for the Printer’s Retirement Home or to help families of members during hard times. Jacksonville’s union joined No. 177 in 1897. It was not until 1971 that Taylorville joined. Then Decatur merged with the Springfield union in 1975, Quincy in 1976 and Danville in 1978. The union name changed to Central Illinois Typographical Union No. 177 in 1975.  

In the 1980’s computers allowed for the writer and editor of a story to also act as printer causing union membership to drop drastically.

Collection Items

Typographical Union No. 177
Members of Typographical Union No. 177, Springfield, gather on the steps of the Old State Capitol.
View item

Collection Tree