Finding Aid

Prepared by Lucinda Kay Arnold, October 13, 1978; Revised by Gregory Bodwell, May 27, 1997 and Barb Bass, April 6, 1999
6 record storage boxes, 5.5 cubic feet

This collection is housed in a climate-controlled environment off site and requires at least up to three weeks for retrieval. Please call or email the department with requests for this material prior to planning your visit.

Scope and Content

On June 15, 1978, Steve Gietschier of the Ohio Historical Society delivered this collection to Kent State University Archives. He was assisted in his efforts by Mr. Robert Holsinger, the business representative of the Carpenters Local No. 186.

Carpenters Local 186 is an affiliate of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. Its charter shows that it was instituted on August 12, 1881, in Steubenville, Ohio. The records in this collection date from May 31, 1886 to 1955. Records generated or materials produced since that time have been retained by the Local.

This collection is quite diverse in terms of materials included. They include: constitution and by-laws, correspondence, newsletters, receipts and election ballots, minutes, membership application forms, some miscellaneous printed material, and such financial records as dues books, day books, a treasurer's cash book and a roll book. Materials were arranged by form or type, and then chronologically within that type.

While many of the materials offer rather routine information about the financial business of this local, others offer some interesting insights into the structure, function, and activities of unions. Researchers in labor history, and even those exploring various aspects of contemporary unionism, might find these insights very useful. Furthermore, these records may help to document events in the local history of Eastern Ohio. For additional information on unions, one might check under the subject headings labor history and labor unions.

Arrangements for obtaining the literary property rights to these materials are pending.

Box 1
Folder--Content

1. Constitution, By-laws, and Working Rules
2. Correspondence: October 1904 - October 1930 (scattered)
3. Correspondence: March 1931 - December 11, 1931; undated 1931, undated 1932
4. Correspondence: September 1937 - August 1941; 1946
5. Correspondence: May 1953 - November 1954
6. Correspondence: January 1955 - October 1955; undated 1955
7. Newsletter, a quarterly of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (U.B.C.J.) - includes: 1/1908, 4/1954, 1/1955, 4/1955, special circular: 2/1913
8. Newsletter, irregular of the U.B.C.J. of America
9. Ohio Federation of Labor (O.F.L.) Newsletter - Legislative Letter, includes: 2/3/1955, 3/17, 1955, 5/19, 1955
10. Applications for membership, notices of illness or accident, doctors' excuses, steward's report card
11. Financial Report - "Financial Statement of Income and Expenses" from the Office of the General Secretary of the U.B.C.J. of America - includes: 9/1912, 2/1913, 2/1928, 5/1954, 2/1955
12. Receipts and election ballots
13. Misc. printed materials

LEDGERS

1. Minutes of the Executive Board of Local No. 186: 5/3/1886 - 10/21/1889
2. Minutes of the Executive Board of Local No. 186: 11/4/1889 - 12/28/1891
3. Minutes of the Executive Board of Local No. 186: 1/4/1892 - 9/10/1894
4. Minutes of the Executive Board of Local No. 186: 9/17/1894 - 7/2/1900
5. Minutes of the Executive Board of Local No. 186: 7/9/1900 - 9/29/1902
6. Minutes of the Executive Board of Local No. 186: 11/3/1902 - 12/5/1904
7. Minutes of the Executive Board of Local No. 186: 12/12/1904 - 9/28/1908
8. Minutes of the Executive Board of Local No. 186: 10/5/1908 - 4/15/1913
9. Minutes of the Executive Board of Local No. 186: 4/21/1913 - 12/28/1914

Box 2

LEDGERS

1. Minutes of the Executive Board of Local No. 186: 12/28/1914 - 4/2/1917
2. Minutes of the Executive Board of Local No. 186: 4/9/1917 - 12/30/1918
3. Minutes of the Executive Board of Local No. 186: 1/6/1919 - 9/12/1921
4. Minutes of the Executive Board of Local No. 186: 9/19/1921 - 6/2/1924
5. Minutes of the Executive Board of Local No. 186: 6/9/1924 - 4/7/1926
6. Minutes of the Executive Board of Local No. 186: 4/14/1926 - 7/18/1928
7. Minutes of the Executive Board of Local No. 186: 7/25/1928 - 1/6/1932 [?]
8. Minutes of the Executive Board of Local No. 186: 1/13/1932 - 10/30/1940
9. Minutes of the Executive Board of Local No. 186: 9/1/1943 - 6/12/1946

Box 3
Folder--Content

1. Dues Book: 5/31/1886-2/1/1892
2. Dues Book: 1/1/1892-12/1902
3. Dues Book: 1903
4. Dus Book: 1908
5. Dues Book: 1919
6. Dues Book: 1920
7. Dues Book: 1921
8. Dues Book: 1922
9. Dues Book: 1923
10. Dues Book: 1924

Box 4
Folder--Content

1. Dues Book: 1926
2. Dues Book: 1927
3. Dues Book: 1928
4. Dues Book: 1929
5. Dues Book: 1930
6. Dues Book: 1931
7. Dues Book: 1932
8. Dues Book: 1933
9. Dues Book: 1934
10. Dues Book: 1935

Box 5
Folder--Content

1. Dues Book: 1936
2. Dues Book: 1937
3. Dues Book: 1938
4. Dues Book: 1939
5. Dues Book: 1940
6. Dues Book: 1941
7. Dues Book: 1942
8. Dues Book: 1943
9. Dues Book: 1944
10. Dues Book: 1947
11. Dues Book: undated

Box 6
Folder--Content

1. Day book of daily receipts, daily expenses, and dues taken in: 5/31/1886-3/14/1892
2. Day book of daily receipts, daily expenses, and dues taken in: 1/7/1898-12/20/1927
3. Day book of daily receipts, daily expenses, and dues taken in: 10/20/1902-5/21/1906
4. Day book of daily receipts, daily expenses, and dues taken in: 9/24/1941-6/30/1943
5. Day book of daily receipts, daily expenses, and dues taken in: 7/7/1943-3/21/1945
6. Day book of daily receipts, daily expenses, and dues taken in: 3/28/1945-1/30/1946
7. Day book of daily receipts, daily expenses, and dues taken in: 2/6/1946-12/18/1946
8. Day book of daily receipts, daily expenses, and dues taken in: 1/1/1947-10/1/1947
9. Day book of daily receipts, daily expenses, and dues taken in: 10/8/1947-7/28/1948
10. Day book of daily receipts, daily expenses, and dues taken in: 8/4/1948-5/25/1949
11. Day book of daily receipts, daily expenses, and dues taken in: 4/5/1950-1/30/1951
12. Day book of daily receipts, daily expenses, and dues taken in: 2/7/1951-12/12/1951
13. Treasurer's Cash Book of Expenditures: 8/1942-7/1944