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Title: Ernest C. and Jessie M. Dillard Collection Genre: Papers Dates: 1936-1983 Size: 9 linear feet ID#: 500 OCLC: ©Walter P. Reuther Library of Labor & Urban Affairs HEFA.01b.update |
Ø Subjects Ø Transfer |
Ernest and Jessie Dillard moved to Detroit from Montgomery, Alabama in 1937. In 1942, Mr. Dillard began working at the Fleetwood Fisher Body plant, where he became an active member of UAW Local 15 and the first African American elected to a succession of leadership posts. Between 1942 and 1964, when he joined the staff of the International UAW, he served as shop steward, shop committeeman, executive board member, Fair Employment Practices Committee chairman, editor of the Fleetwood Organizer, vice-president, shop chairman, and recording secretary of the local. While on the staff of the International, he served in the umpire section of the General Motors Department (1964-1967), as Citizenship Department coordinator (1968-1969), Education Department assistant director (1970-72), Community Action Program (CAP) coordinator (1973-1976), and CAP assistant director (1976-1979). Mr. Dillard retired in 1980 at the age of 65.
In 1956, the Committee to Communicate Truth to Mississippi, which Mr. Dillard served as executive secretary, published his pamphlet, “An Open Letter of Truth to the White People of Mississippi.” Mr. Dillard was also active in the Trade Union Leadership Council in the early 1960s, and served as president of the Michigan chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute in the early 1980s.
Mr. Dillard and his wife, Jessie, one of Detroit’s leading block club organizers and political activists, played prominent roles in the Detroit NAACP and a variety of civil rights struggles, including a number of successful sit-ins to integrate downtown Detroit restaurants in the late 1940s and ‘50s. Mrs. Dillard was appointed to the Detroit Commission on Community Relations in 1969 and later served as assistant to Detroit City Council President Erma Henderson. Both held leadership positions in the Michigan Democratic Party spanning several decades. Alumni of the Wayne State University Labor School, they remained active in adult education activities. Jessie Dillard died in 1990.
The papers of Ernest and Jessie Dillard consist of materials which reflect the broad range of their professional and political activities. They include lecture notes and materials from the Detroit NAACP and the Socialist Workers Party in the 1940s and 1950s; grievance books and other materials from UAW Local 15 (1950s); speeches presented by Mr. Dillard while employed on staff for UAW CAP and at numerous other venues; materials from the production of the Trade Union Leadership Council newspaper, The Vanguard; and related to Mr. Dillard’s writings, materials documenting Mrs. Dillard’s involvement in Detroit politics and civic affairs, and family correspondence.
Afro-American automobile industry workers
Afro-American civic leaders--Michigan--Detroit
Afro-American civil rights workers--Michigan
Automobile industry workers--Political activity--Michigan
Civil rights--United States
Community organization--Michigan--Detroit
Democratic Party--Michigan
Discrimination in employment--United States
General Motors Fleetwood Fisher Body plant--Michigan--Detroit
Grievance arbitration--Michigan--Detroit
Michigan--Politics and government
Negro American Labor Council
Neighborhood government--Michigan--Detroit
Political activists--Michigan
Socialist Workers Party
Trade Union Leadership Council
UAW--Community Action Program
UAW Local 15
Horace Sheffield
A number of photographs and a few badges and buttons have been placed in the Archives Audiovisual Department, and a small amount of material, including issues of Fleetwood Organizer and The Vanguard , has been transferred to the Library.
Ø The papers in Part 2 of the Ernest C. and Jessie M. Dillard Collection consist of correspondence, reports, clippings, speeches, publications and other material related to their labor, political and publishing activities. [Box8] [Box9]
Contents |
[Box1] [Box2] [Box3] [Box4] [Box5] [Box6] [Box7] [Box8] [Box9] [Box10] |
1. Ad Hoc Committee; “Triple Revolution," 1964
2. Ad Hoc Speakers Bureau; attendance records, 1980
3. ; corres. with UAW concerning 1980 census, 1979-80
4. ; groups spoken to, Nov 1979
5-6. ; messages, 1979-80
7. ; misc., 1979-80
8. ; speaker assignments, 1979-80
9. ; speech notes, 1980
10. ; U.S. Dept. of Commerce information on census, 1980
11. ; ACLU pamphlets, 1960s
12. Austin, Richard; speech to Trade Union Leadership Council (TULC), Jun 1964
13. Citizen\Labor Energy Coalition; Dillard speech on oil companies, c. 1980
14. ; Kentucky Caucus, 1979
15. Citizens Committee to Aid the Implementation of the U.S. Supreme Court Decision Against School Desegregation, 1954-56
16. Citizens Movement for Economic Emancipation, 1961
17. Committee for a Citizens Police Trial Board, 1969
18. Civil rights pamphlets, 1930s-1940s
19. Committee on Political Education (COPE); misc., 1950s-1960s
20. Congress on Racial Equality (CORE); misc., 1961
21. Committee to Communicate Truth to Mississippi; "An Open Letter of Truth to the White People of Mississippi" by Ernest Dillard, 1956
22. ; financial records for "Open Letter" pamphlet, 1956-57
23. ; rough drafts of "Open Letter" pamphlet, 1955
24-25. ; corres. concerning "Open Letter" pamphlet, 1956-57
26. Correspondence; Ernest Dillard, 1930s-1980s
27. ; Ernest Dillard to Doug Fraser, 1977, 1979
28. ; Ernest Dillard from Jessie Dillard, 1930s-1940s
29. ; Jessie Dillard from Ernest Dillard, 1930s
30. ; Jessie Dillard, 1930s-1980s
31. ; Hastings Dillard (from), 1936-39
32. ; Marilyn Dillard (from), 1950s
33. ; misc., c. 1930s-1940s
34. ; TULC incoming, 1960s
35. ; TULC outgoing, 1961-62
36. Detroit ACLU, 1959-60
37. Detroit block clubs list, c. 1983
38. Detroit election handbills, 1960s
39. Detroit Food and Friendship Meal sites, 1981
40. Detroit High School Study Commission report, 1968
41. Detroit Labor Forum speeches, c. 1950s
42. Detroit Labor Forum speech on civil rights, 1956
43. Detroit League of Women Voters, 1956-60
44. Detroit NAACP; Discrimination Action Committee, 1950s
45. ; minutes, 12 May 1952
46. ; misc., 1950s
47. Detroit voter registration sites, 1968
48. Detroit YMCA fundraising for Montgomery Improvement Assn., 1956
49. Community Coordinating Council, Feb 1962
1. Dillard, Ernest; Kenya lecture notes, 1953
2-4. ; misc., 1950s
5. ; school desegregation, 1954-56
6. Dillard, Ernest and Jessie; personal, 1940s-1960s
7. Dillard, Ernest; poems, c. 1950s
8. Dillard, Jessie; Detroit Board of Education flyers, c. 1960s
9. ; 15th Congressional District precinct captain flyers, 1960
10. Duane Street Block Club, 1959-60
11. El Lindo Monica Street Block Club, 1960-61
12. Ferency for Governor Committee, 1966
13. Flint Urban League; “The Negro In America,” 1961
14. Housing desegregation, c. 1960-65
15. House Un-American Activities Committee, 1964
16. “Radical Right-Wing in America, The Threat of the” (AFL-CIO IUD report), 1979
17. In-migration paper by Mel Ravitz, c. 1962
18. Job discrimination, 1961-62
19. McClellan Street Block Club, 1958-59
20. Michigan Democratic Party; delegate list, 1980
21. ; Fairness Coalition, 1984
22. ; leadership list, 1981
23. ; precinct and caucus zones, 1984
24. ; staff list, 1981
25. ; 1st Congressional District staff list, 1961
26. ; 1st Congressional District voter registration drive, 1968
27. ; 13th Congressional District constitution and by-laws, c. 1980
28. ; 13th Congressional District-Jessie Dillard conflict, 1980-81
29. ; 13th Congressional District Democratic Party list, 1983
30. ; 13th Congressional District officers and delegates list, 1982
31-32. ; 13th Congressional District-Wadsworth-Ernest Dillard conflict, 1983
33. ; 14th Congressional District by-laws, [c. 1983]
34. ; 15th Congressional District, 1958-61
35. Michigan Democratic Party Political Education Caucus (Dillard Caucus), 1983-84
36. Mississippi Improvement Association, 1956
37. NAACP, 1959-65
38. ; Discrimination Action Committee minutes, Dec 1950, Jun 1951
39. ; lecture notes, 1958
40. ; Southern racism lecture notes, c. 1950s
41. ; Till, Emmitt, lecture notes, 1950s-1960s
42. ; Youth Council lecture notes, 1950s
43. National Caucus of Black Democrats; Basil Patterson speech on the Democratic Party and the 1976 presidential election, 1976
44. National Organization for Women (NOW); Battle Creek chapter by-laws, c. 1980
45. National Women’s Education Fund campaign workbook, 1978
46. Negro American Labor Council (NALC); constitution, 1960
47. ; founding convention, Nov 1960
48. ; 2nd convention, 1961
49. ; newsletters, 1961
50. National Association of Negro Trade Unionists, 1956
51. Neighborhood organizations; pamphlets and flyers, 1957-60
52. Operation Freedom, 1961
53. Randolph, A. Philip, House dedication, 1961
54. Randolph, A. Philip, Institute; 1982-83
55. ; Flint chapter, 1982
56. ; national conference, 1978
57. Ravitz for Council flyers, c. 1960s
58. Sheffield, Horace; speeches, 1965-66
59. ; testimonial dinner, 1959
1. Socialist Workers Party; flyers and announcements, 1955-60
2. ; "Internal Bulletin," May 1953
3. ; "An Introduction to the Logic of Marxism" (lecture), Jan 1953
4. ; Formal Logic and Dialectics" (lecture), c. late 1940s
5. ; civil rights lecture, c. 1952
6. ; Negro workers lecture, 1954
7. ; misc. lecture notes, 1952
8-9. ; misc. lecture notes from educational meeting, c. 1950s
10. ; notes and addresses, 1946
11. ; "Draft Bulletin on the Negro Question" (position paper), c. 1953
12. ; "Marxism and Inter-Marriage" (position paper), c. 1953
13. ; "PC Resolution on the Wallace Candidacy" (position paper), 1948
14. Southern Conference Educational Fund, c. 1950s
15. "State Legislation Affecting Detroit," by State Rep. Juanita Watkins, c. 1980
16. Stellatto, Carl, for Congress flyers, 1958
17. "The Eagle Eye," (civil rights newsletter from Jackson, Miss.), Nov-Dec 1954
18. “The Failure of Black Separatism" by Bayard Rustin, 1970
19. TULC; constitutions, 1960-63
20. ; executive and general committees, 1962-63
21. ; finances, 1962
22. ; Housing Committee, 1962
23. ; membership meetings, Mar-Apr 1962
24. ; misc. speeches, c. 1962
25. ; pamphlets, 1960s
26. ; Political Action Committee minutes, 18 Feb 1962
27-29. ; Public Relations Committee, 1961-63
30. ; “Report on the Last Two Years,” Dec 1962
31. UAW Community Action Program (CAP), Dillard speeches for; Labor Law Reform Bill, 1979
32. ; national health security, May 1978
33-34. ; misc. speech notes, c. 1970s
35. ; A. Philip Randolph Institute, Sep 1978
36. ; CAP Workshop-UAW Local 174, Mar 1976
37. ; Delaware CAP Convention, Jan 1976
38. ; CAP District 6, c. 1977
39. ; Florida Retired Workers Council, Feb 1976
40. ; Ford Skilled Trades Council, Dec 1977
41. ; energy rally in Kentucky, Jun 1979
42. ; International Retired Workers Advisory Council, Jul 1978
43. ; Region 1A V-CAP Dollar Drive kickoff, Apr 1979
44. ; Region 4, 1977
45. UAW CAP, Dillard speeches for; Region 8 Fair Practices seminar, Jan 1976
46. ; Region 8 Leadership Conference, Oct 1976
47. ; Region 8 Women's Conference, Feb 1976
48. ; Southeastern Michigan Community and Consumer Comm., Oct 1978
49. ; Texas CAP Council, Oct 1977
50. ; UAW Foundry Conference, Oct 1978
51. ; UAW-GM Dept., Jan 1978
52. ; UAW Local 51 CAP drive kickoff, Oct 1975
53. ; UAW Local 212 Retired Workers, Mar 1978
54-55. ; UAW National Advisory Council on Anti-Discrimination, c. 1976-77
1. UAW CAP; education research materials, 1970s
2. ; Education Workshop outline, 1970s
3. ; “In-Plant Organizing Guide,” [c.1980]
4. ; Leadership Training, 1971
5. ; Leadership Training—Region 8, Oct 1975
6. ; pamphlets, 1970s
7-8. ; Political Action Workshop notes, c. 1970s
9. ; psychology course for staff members, c. 1970
10. ; suggestions, 1972
11. ; Staff Training Evaluation, Mar 1979
12. ; Student Questionnaire, May 1979
13. ; Community Action Program Workshop, c. 1980
14. ; Workshop—Region 2B, Oct 1977
15. ; 6th Women's Conference Leadership Development Training, May 1979
16. UAW; Community Health Association (CHA), 1964
17. ; draft article of critique of UAW, c. 1950s
18. ; dues and wages, 1971
19. ; Education Dept. pamphlets, 1960s-1970s
20. ; Steward's Guides, 1941, 1950
21. ; GM National Conference report, May 1961
22. ; GM Sub-Council #2 informational bulletin, Nov 1960
23. ; GM Sub-Council #2 meeting resolutions and notes, Mar 1961
24. ; GM Sub-Council #9 Skilled Trades and Apprentice meeting resolutions and notes, Mar 1961
25. ; IEB Education Dept. report, Feb 1978
26. UAW Local 15; agreement with Fleetwood, 1958
27. ; constitution and proposed by-law changes, 1960
28. ; demands and local settlement with Fleetwood, May 1960
29. ; Dillard article on dues debate, 1950s
30. ; Dillard delegate credentials, 1959-60
31-34. ; election flyers, 1950s-1960s
35. ; election handbills, 1950s-1960s
36. ; Executive Board members list, Jul 1963
37. ; female layoffs & men with less seniority list, 1961
38. ; local agreement With Fleetwood, Dec 1946
39. ; grievance and appeal case lists, c. 1958
40-41. ; grievance dispositions, Apr 1960
42. ; grievance dispositions, c. 1958
43. UAW Local 15; grievance dispostions—misc., 1949-59
44. ; grievance dispositions—racial discrimination, May 1952
45. ; grievance dispositions—settlements, May 1959
46. ; grievance dispositions—Case No. G-430, 1954-55
47. ; grievance dispositions—Case No. J-623, 1959-61
1. UAW Local 15; flyers and strike votes, 1950s-1960s
2. ; SUB, 1956-60
3. ; layoffs, Oct-Nov 1959
4. ; local demands, 1955
5. ; local wage and seniority agreements with Fleetwood, Dec 1955
6. ; Management-Shop Committee meeting, 18 Nov 1948
7. ; , 11 Feb, 21 Apr, 13 May, 19 May 1949
8. ; , 10 May 1951
9. ; , 26 Feb 1953
10. ; , Feb-Mar 1956
11. ; , 18 Sep 1958
12. ; , 12 Apr, Jul 1959
13. ; , 14-29 Mar 1960
14. ; , 1-8 Apr 1960
15. ; , 11-23 Apr 1960
16. ; , 24-29 Apr 1960
17. ; , 2 May, 28 Oct 1960
18. ; , 9 Jun 1961
19. ; meeting on local demands, May 1955
20. ; misc., financial records, 1956-61
21. ; misc. flyers, 1960
22. ; proposed wage rules, 1955
23. ; recreation flyers, 1960-61
24. ; Regular Shop Comm. mtg. agenda and notes, Oct-Nov 1959
25. ; Regular Shop Comm. mtg. report, Dec 1959
26. ; Regular Shop Comm. mtg. agenda and notes, Jan-Mar 1960
27. ; Regular Shop Comm. mtg. agenda and notes , May-Jul 1960
28. ; Regular Shop Comm. mtg. agenda and notes, Aug-Sep 1960
29. ; Regular Shop Comm. mtg. agenda and notes, Oct-Nov 1960
30. ; seniority agreement, 1949
31. ; seniority agreement, Dec 1958
32-33. ; Seniority Grouping meeting notes, 1959-60
34-35. ; Shop Committee report drafts, 1959-61
36. ; Shop Committee reports to membership flyers, 1956-60
37. UAW; Local 212 election flyers, 1950s-1960s
38. UAW; Local 595 Committeeman Bargaining Guide, c. 1950
39-41. UAW; Members Attitude Survey, Nov 1979
42. UAW; pamphlets, 1960s
43. UAW; Public Relations report on Michigan CAP, 1979
44. UAW; Region 1A CHA notes, 1961
45. UAW; Region 10 Union Leadership and Administration course outline, 1966
46. UAW; Research Bulletin—"Unemployment: Reagan’s Lasting Legacy," 1984
47. UAW; Retired Workers Committee, 1977
1. UAW; Spray Painters Local 15, c. 1950s
2. UAW; Skilled Trades Conference notes, 1959, 1960
3. UAW; Sub-Council #9 Skilled Trades meeting, Dec 1960
4. UAW; Members Voting Behavior Survey, Dec 1978
5. UAW; Members Voting Behavior Report, c. 1980
6. United Black Trade Unionists constitution, 1980
7. Vanguard (TULC newspaper); layouts and rough copy, c. 1963
8. ; misc. production material, 1961-62
9. ; ownership papers, 1962-63
10. ; rough copy, 1962
11. ; , 1962-63
12. ; , Mar 1964
13. ; Vol. 1, No. 1 (newsletter form), 1961
14. ; Vol. 1, Nos. 1-10, 12, Nov 1961-Nov 1962
15. ; Vol. 2, Nos. 1-12, Dec 1962-Nov 1963
16. ; Vol. 3, Nos. 1-10, 12, Dec 1963-Nov 1964
17. ; advertising contracts, 1961-65
18. ; distributors, 1962
Ernest Dillard’s Shop Committeeman grievance notebooks, 1953-58
- Ernest C. Dillard Files
1. Membership cards and badges
2. TULC, 1960s
3. 1980 Census
4. Oral history for Detroit Urban League
5. UAW Local 15/Fleetwood plant, 1950s-1980s
6. Ferency for Governor Committee, 1966
7. Detroit Association of Black Organizations (DABO), 1980s-1990s
8. “Social and Economic Profile of Michigan by County,” c. 1980
9. National Black Political Convention, 1972
10. Speech; Detroit Federation of Teachers Retirees Chapter, 1986
11. Speech; Pershing High School Career Day, 1986
12. Speech; UAW Region 2 Summer School, 1970
13. Speech; University of Detroit African-American History Month program, 1990
14. Speech; political action, 1979
15. Speech; The Power of Blacks” (Unitarian-Universalist Church Adult Programs), 1983
16. Speech; Greater Battle Creek A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) chapter, 1981
17. Speech; Lansing APRI chapter, 1982
18. Speech; Buffalo APRI chapter, 1978
19. Speech; “The Need for a Winner’s Blueprint,” n. d.
20. Speech; Belvidere, Ill. Chrysler Local 1268, 1972
21. Speech; politics (WSU Labor Studies class), 1980
22. Speech; UAW Retired Workers Advisory Council, 1978
23. Speech; UAW Foundry Conference, 1978
24. Speech; Highland Park Junior High School, 1968
25. Speech; UAW CAP Council Concerned Seniors for Better Government, 1977
26. Speech; “Labor’s Impact on Our Lifestyle” at “A Time to Remember-A Black Labor History Event” (Oakland University), 1986
27. Speech; UAW retirees, 1980
28. Speech; Texas State CAP Council, 1976
29. Miscellaneous speech notes and right-wing letters, 1982
30. Miscellaneous speaking engagements, 1980s-1990s
31. Democratic National Committee national platform hearing testimony, 1992
32. “Detroit Politics and Urban Theory” by L. F. Williams, 1987
33. National CAP report to Woodcock staff meeting, 1976
34. “Strategies for Coping with Plant Closings” conference, 1980
35. “Michigan Conference to Save Our Jobs...”, 1986
36. “Civil Rights Coalition Conference,” 1973
37. UAW leadership development training, 1988
38. “Propaganda analysis” (workshop?), 1980
39. CAP workshop, 1969
40. “Older Workers and the Black Family” workshop, 1987
41. “Black Men in Unions” conference, 1986
42. Conrad Silveri eulogies, 1981
43. Bob Traxler election campaign, 1973
44. El-Lindo-Monica Block Club, 1961
45. Black voter turnout, 1980-82
46. Awards, 1970s-1990s
47. Voter registration, 1967-68
48. Retirement, 1979-80
49. UAW political action, 1980s
50. Newspaper articles by and about E. Dillard, 1980s-1990s
51. Michigan APRI, 1981-84, 1992
52. “Lest We Forget” by E. Dillard, n. d.
53. “The Cry of White Racism” by E. Dillard, 1988-89
54. “Civil Rights in the 1990’s” by E. Dillard, 1991-92
55. Review of Anti-Slavery by E. Dillard, n. d.
56. “Bring Back STRESS: A Silent Cry of Black Detroit” by E. Dillard, n. d.
57. “Memo to George Bush” by E. Dillard, 1992
58. “An Open Letter to Democratic Candidates for President...” by E. Dillard, 1992
59. Suggestions on UAW leadership communication with membership, 1980
1. Home inspection and mortgages in Detroit; clippings, 1971
2. Essex Wire Hillsdale strike, n. d.
3. Clinton campaign; corres., 1992
4. “The Story of Abraham Bisno, Union Pioneer,” 1970
5. Correspondence, n. d.
6-9. Correspondence, 1950s-1990s
10. Correspondence; family, 1970s-1990s
11. 13th Democratic Congressional District, 1980s-1990s
12. 13th Democratic Congressional District; chairmanship appeal, 1983
13. 13th Democratic Congressional District; Democratic Political Education Committee (DemPEC), 1983-85
14. Ernest and Jessie Dillard biographical information
Jessie M. Dillard Files
15. 13th Democratic Congressional District, 1960s-1980s
16. 13th Democratic Congressional District; appeal, 1981
17. Awards, 1960s-1980s
18. Miscellaneous speaking engagements, 1970s
19. Campaign literature, 1960s-1980s
20. Commission on Community Relations; clippings, 1969-72
21. Police-community relations, 1957-71
22. Committee work, 1960s
23. Newspaper articles re, 1960s-1970s
24. “Of Detroit We Are Proud”; song, n. d.
25. School Board recall investigation, 1987
26. Women’s Conference of Concerns, 1977-78, 1980
27. Town Square Cooperative, 1970s-1980s
28. Museum of African American History controversy, 1989
29. 17th Democratic Congressional District, 1969-71
30-31. Condolences, 1990
32. Memorial contributions, 1990
33. Delener McCamey Defense Committee, 1988-89
34. Polly Johnson Cancer Foundation, 1987
35. “Leadership Detroit” speech, 1980
36. Jessie Dillard vs. Presto Restaurant, 1949
37. Correspondence, 1950s-1980s
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