John L. Lewis Collection
Title
John L. Lewis Collection
Subject
Labor unions
Labor unions--Officials and employees
Lewis, John L. (John Llewellyn), 1880-1969
United Mine Workers of America
Congress of Industrial Organizations (U.S.)
Description
John L. Lewis was a labor organizer and leader, serving as president of both the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). Lewis began his career working in the coal mines in Panama, Illinois in 1895. Lewis served as president of his local UMWA beginning in 1911 and quickly rose through the organization and becoming president of the union in 1920. Lewis held the presidency for the next forty years.
During his tenure, Lewis oversaw several labor strikes including a nationa coal strike in 1919. During the 1920s union membership numbers dropped, rebounding during the Great Depression. With the passage of the Wagner Act in 1935 which provided greater rights for labor organizing, Lewis and several other union leaders joined together to form the CIO. Lewis was elected as the organization's first president. Despite being a lifelong Republican, Lewis supported Franklin D. Roosevelt during the 1932 and 1936 presidential elections. Lewis did not support Roosevelt in 1940 however much of the CIO membership did, leading to Lewis's resignation from the union and the UMWA leaving the organization. In the years following, Lewis worked to gain better working conditions and wages for UMWA members. Lewis retired from the United Mine Workers of America in 1960.
Photographs in this collection include portraits of Lewis and images of Lewis participating in union actions.
During his tenure, Lewis oversaw several labor strikes including a nationa coal strike in 1919. During the 1920s union membership numbers dropped, rebounding during the Great Depression. With the passage of the Wagner Act in 1935 which provided greater rights for labor organizing, Lewis and several other union leaders joined together to form the CIO. Lewis was elected as the organization's first president. Despite being a lifelong Republican, Lewis supported Franklin D. Roosevelt during the 1932 and 1936 presidential elections. Lewis did not support Roosevelt in 1940 however much of the CIO membership did, leading to Lewis's resignation from the union and the UMWA leaving the organization. In the years following, Lewis worked to gain better working conditions and wages for UMWA members. Lewis retired from the United Mine Workers of America in 1960.
Photographs in this collection include portraits of Lewis and images of Lewis participating in union actions.
Collection Items
John L. Lewis
John L. Lewis poses for a portrait wearing a dark suit.Photo signature: "To my good friend Wm. Zimmerman. With all good wishes. John L. Lewis."
John L. Lewis at Photo Studio
A man adjusts a backdrop while John L. Lewis poses for a photograph at Moffett Studios in the Drake Hotel in Chicago. On verso: "John L. Lewis found guilty of contempt of court for ordering the coal strike in defiance of an injunction. Lewis was…
John L. Lewis Speaks During Chicago Hearst Newspaper Strike
John L. Lewis delivers a speech during the 1938-1940 strike at Chicago's Hearst-owned newspapers. Related Hearst Newspaper strike images may be found on Chronicling Illinois athttp://alplm-cdi.com/chroniclingillinois/items/browse?collection=174.
Collection Tree
- Illinois Photographic Collection
- John L. Lewis Collection