Guide to the Collections of the
United Farm Workers of America
United Farm Workers of America
Manuscript Papers
Audio Visual Materials
Library Holdings
Oral Histories
Related Collections
UFW Bibliography
UFW Page
Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (PDF). 1959-1966. Chartered by the AFL- CIO in 1960. Al Green directed until 1966 when AWOC merged with National Farm Workers Association. Subjects include: organizing, strikes (mainly grape and lettuce), and Public Law 78 (braceros). 31 manuscript boxes.
National Farm Workers Association. 1960-1967. Founded by Cesar Chavez along with Dolores Huerta and some other organizers in 1962. Subjects include: California Migrant Ministry (these papers are also housed at the Walter Reuther Library); immigration, strikes, IBT (Teamsters), US Senate Migratory Labor Committee, Mexican-American organizations, and contracts and agreements. 14 manuscript boxes.
United Farm Workers Administration Files. 1960-1975. Part I (PDF) and Part II (PDF). The Administration Dept. files reflect the wide range of people and groups with whom the UFW corresponded. Important subjects are: boycotts, contracts, grievances, health/pesticides, and growers. 34 storage boxes.
United Farm Workers: Arizona State Office Files (PDF). 1968-1978. Files reflect daily operations of the Tolleson, Arizona office. Subjects include: National Farm Worker Service Center, negotiations, boycotts, and The Robert F. Kennedy Medical Plan. 14 manuscript boxes.
United Farm Workers Boycott: Idaho-Nampa Files. 1966-1972. Subjects include the lettuce boycott and farm labor in Idaho. 1 storage box.
United Farm Workers Boycott: Michigan Files (PDF). 1964-1981. Materials relating to the California grape boycott, and migrant housing and working conditions in the state. Fund raising activities are also documented. 11 storage boxes.
United Farm Workers Boycott: New York Files. 1965-1970. Files consist of the activities of the NY Boycott Office of UFWOC, specifically, the national consumer boycott of California table grapes initiated by UFWOC in August, 1967. The boycott was directed against Giumarra Corp., and New York City was its largest market. 17 manuscript boxes.
United Farm Workers Boycott: Wisconsin-Milwaukee Files (PDF). Files focus primarily on the UFW in Milwaukee during the mid-1970s. National and California boycotts are among the main subjects in this collection. 1 storage box.
United Farm Workers Boycott: Massachusetts-Boston Files (PDF). 1966-1971. National and California boycotts are among the main subjects in this collection. 13 manuscript boxes.
United Farm Workers Boycott: Texas Files (PDF). 1960-1979. Files cover such subjects as: National Farm Worker Service Center in McAllen, Texas, Tony Orendain's radio program, "La Voz Del Campesino", and files documenting Tony's split with the UFW and the formation of the Texas Farm Workers Union (TFWU). 12 storage boxes.
United Farm Workers Boycott: Washington, D.C. Files (PDF). 1966-1976. Files reflect boycott activities in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. 6 storage boxes.
United Farm Workers Boycott: Washington State Files. 1968-1979. Files focus on UFW´s activities in Seattle, Washington. 3 storage boxes.
United Farm Workers Central Files. Files are wide-ranging, and divided into five series: I. Boycott, 1968-1976, II. General Files, 1952-1976, III. AWOC, 1954-1967, IV. UFWOC, 1959-1969, V. Dolores Huerta files, 1966-1970. 16 storage boxes.
United Farm Workers: Marshall Ganz Files (PDF). 1968-1980. Organizer and director of the UFW field office in Calexico, California, from mid- 1970s to 1977, and member of the National Executive Board. Files consist mainly of notes from his time as an organizer, and from NEB meetings. 8 storage boxes.
United Farm Workers Information and Research Department Files, Part 1 (PDF) and Part 2 (PDF). 1939-1978, predominantly 1970-1977. The Research Department collected union-related materials and retained them for research purposes. In addition, it also collected papers of interest to farm workers from other areas. I and R contains a wide variety of subjects including: boycotts, grapes, immigration, lettuce, legislation and elections concerning farm labor, negotiations for contracts, strikes and IBT (Teamsters). 52 storage boxes.
United Farm Workers: Larry Itliong Files. 1942-1976. Founder of the Filipino Farm Labor Union in California in 1956. Assistant director to Cesar Chavez until 1970. Later, appointed national boycott coordinator until 1971. Files consist mainly of Mr. Itliong's post-UFW endeavors and early farm labor organizing. 2 storage boxes.
United Farm Workers: Office of the President Files. Part 1 1951-1971, Part 2 1947-1990 PDF Mainly files of Cesar Chavez. Collection is divided into seven series: I. Cesar Chavez files 1951-1971, II. Boycott Offices, 1968-1971, III. General Correspondence, 1965- 1971, IV. Organizations, 1966-1971, V. Unions (non UFW), 1966-1971, VI. Telephone logs, Mar-Dec, 1971, VII. Clippings & published materials, 1968-1986. Major subjects include: braceros, organizing, grower contracts, boycotts, immigration, church involvement, Community Service Organization, National Farm Worker Association, and Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee. 88 manuscript boxes.
United Farm Workers: Lawrence P. Tramutola Files. 1966-1980. Worked with the Fred W. Ross Educational Center from 1976-1980. Subjects include: Administrative office management, Bruce Church, Inc., and the Consumers' Fraud Campaign. 6 manuscript boxes.
United Farm Workers Vice President's Files: Pete Velasco (PDF). 1963-1979. Peter Velasco served as Vice President since 1973. A portion of these files reflect his involvement in the Stockton, CA area as Field Office Director. Subjects include: Agbayani Village, ALRB matters, and the Filipino-American Political Association (FAPA). 8 storage boxes.
United Farm Workers Work Department Files. 1969-1975. Contains a variety of correspondence concerning farm workers, boycotts, and Teamster/UFW conflicts. Correspondents include: Cesar Chavez, LeRoy Chatfield, Tony Orendain, Dolores Huerta, Fred Ross, Jr. and others. Subjects include: boycotts, Nagi Daiffullah, pesticides, and legislation. 6 storage boxes. PDF
The United Farm Workers Organizing Committee. 1959-1970. Formed in 1966 with the merger of the National Farm Workers Association and the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AFL-CIO). Subjects include: organizing (mainly in California), UFWOC credit union, El Malcriado, health issues and boycotts. UFWOC was the forerunner of the United Farm Workers of America. 10 manuscript boxes. PDF
There is a 15 year restriction on the papers. To use restricted records, permission from United Farm Workers President, Arturo Rodriguez must be obtained.
Some unprocessed UFW material is available. Please contact Kathy Schmeling at (313) 577-2762 or e-mail, Kathy Schmeling K.Shmeling@wayne.edu
Library hours: M-T 11:00-6:45 and W-F 9:00-4:45.
Included in the UFW collection are a wide array of A-V materials such as:
photographs
tapes (reel-to-reel, cassette and video)
vinyl records
posters and banners
bumper stickers
buttons and pins
flags
T-shirts
Contact Thomas Featherstone, (313) 577-2658 or e-mail, T.Featherstone@wayne.edu for more information regarding A-V materials.
The Archives Library contains United Farm Workers publications as well as other reference materials focusing on Latinos and migrant agricultural labor. Among them are:
El Malcriado, in English and Spanish
The President's Newsletter, 1977-1978
UFW clippings, 1960-1980
El Cuhamil , Texas Farm Workers Union, San Juan Texas
El Campesino , San Juan Texas
Government reports on agriculture and legislation
Sable, Martin Howard. Mexican and Mexican-American Agricultural Labor in the United States: An International Bibliography. New York & London: The Haworth Press, 1986.
Books, monographs, bibliographies, theses and dissertations which focus on the life of Cesar Chavez and those who helped form the UFW, farm labor strikes, legislation, the Chicano and Chicana movement, Mexican-Americans, and migratory agricultural laborers, are available but non-circulating.
The following oral history transcripts are located in the Archives Reading Room:
Chavez, Cesar
Oral History Interview with Cesar Chavez, by Dennis J. O'Brien. Robert F. Kennedy Oral History Program of the Kennedy Library, January 28, 1970. Cesar discusses his first meeting with Robert Kennedy as well as his work with the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee.
Chavez,Flora
Oral History with Flora Chavez. Rosie the Riveter Revisited: Women and the World War II Experience, Vol 17, 1983. Flora Chavez talks about her involvement with the Community Service Organization in Los Angeles, and her work with Cesar Chavez.
DeLaCruz, Jessie
Oral History Interview with Jessie DeLaCruz, by Anne Loftis. The 20th Century Trade Union Woman: Vehicle for Social Change Oral History Project. Program on Women and Work, Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations, University of Michigan - Wayne State University, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1978. Jessie discusses her role as organizer for the National Farm Workers Association.
Galarza, Ernesto
Oral History Interview with Ernesto Galarza. "The Burning Light: Action and Organizing in the Mexican Community in California." Regional Oral History Office, the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, California.
Richard Alatorre Files 1969-1976. California assemblyman. Files cover his work as the Chairman on the Select Committee on Farm Labor Violence. 1 storage box.
American Civil Liberties Union: South Texas Papers. See Kathy Schmeling for details.
Carolyn Ashbaugh Papers (PDF). 1979. Material relates to the Maricopy County Organizing Project and the Centro Adelante Campesino farm worker service center in El Mirage, Arizona. 1 folder.
Bob Barber Papers 1970s. Reporter for El Malcriado. Covered UFW/Teamsters disputes in California. Included are cassette tapes of interviews with farm workers, UFW organizers, Cesar Chavez, and Teamster officials. Subjects include: UFW/Teamster elections, braceros, Proposition 14, boycott activity from 1974-1976, agribusiness, and California ALRB. 6 storage boxes.
David Burciaga Papers 1957-1973. Served in various capacities for the Bakersfield, California office of the Community Services Organization. Then, community development director for the American Friends Service Committee. In 1970, he became a union negotiator for UFW. 1 manuscript box.
LeRoy Chatfield Papers. 1965-1973. Served in numerous capacities for Cesar Chavez and UFW. Headed up state-wide campaign to defeat Proposition 22. 1 manuscript box. Chatfield files are also located throughout the UFW collections.
David Cohen Papers (PDF). 1961-1967. Involved with the Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations, Univ. of Michigan/Wayne State University during this period. Served as boycott coordinator for UFW in Detroit and San Diego. Subjects include: Saul Alinsky, Delano grape strike and boycott, and urban renewal. 3 manuscript boxes.
Senator Roger Craig Papers (PDF). 1965-1970. Roger Craig represented Michigan's 10th District from 1964 to 1970. Subjects include: grape boycott, migrant labor, Democratic Party, politics, and civil liberties. 48 manuscript boxes.
Irwin DeShetler Papers (PDF). 1933-1972. Former AFL-CIO regional director. Appointed National Coordinator for UFW from 1968 to 1971. 118 manuscript boxes.
Florida Christian Migrant Ministry Collection (PDF). 1949-1975. Created in 1939 to assist impoverished migrant agricultural laborers. Formerly called The Florida Ministry to Migrants. Subjects include African-American agricultural workers and the sugarcane industry.
Elaine Graves Papers (PDF). 1976-1978. Materials relating to Graves'; masters thesis are found in this collection. Major subjects include: El Malcriado, illegal aliens, Hispanic-Americans, migratory labor and UFW. 1 manuscript box.
Marc Grossman Papers. 1969-1981. Administrative assistant and press secretary to Cesar Chavez. 18 manuscript boxes.
Ronald Haughton Papers. 1949-1969. Arbitrated disputes between DiGiorgio and NFWA and AWOC and the Teamsters. 5 manuscript boxes.
Curt Hyans Papers (PDF). 1907-1972. Teamster in 1916. Early farm labor organizer. Served as permanent representative of the California Federation of Labor from 1940-1966. Files contain information on the National Farm Labor Union and the Los Angeles Central Labor Council. Subjects include the 1947 DiGiorgio Strike, and the harsh working conditions in the Imperial Valley in the 1930s. 1 manuscript box.
Edgar C. Johnston Papers (PDF). 1943-1966. Involved with the governor's study commission on migratory labor. Subjects include: migratory labor in Michigan and U.S. 5 manuscript boxes.
William Kircher Papers (PDF). 1959-1973. Director of Organization for AFL-CIO. Worked with AWOC and UFWOC. Subjects include: Teamster disputes, boycott activities, immigration, and farm labor legislation. 23 manuscript boxes.
Marion Moses, M.D. Papers (PDF). 1960-1970. Served as administrator for the UFW health program from 1966 to 1971. Later, worked as medical director for the National Farm Health Group in Keene, California. Subjects include pesticides and environmental health. 3 manuscript boxes.
Michigan Farm Workers Ministry Coalition Collection. 1950-1990. Created in 1978 under the leadership of Sr. Theresa Grekowicz. The MFWMC worked with National Farm Worker Ministry and the Michigan Council of Churches. Subjects include: green card immigrants, bracero program, grape boycott and pesticides. 26 storage boxes.
National Campaign for Agricultural Democracy Collection (PDF). 1967-1970. Formed in an effort to extend coverage of NLRA to farm workers. NCAD was set up as a temporary single-purposed coalition.
National Farm Worker Ministry Collection (PDF). 1950-1968. Formerly the California Migrant Ministry. Its purpose is to provide services to farm workers, such as education, health services, worship, and vocational counseling. 27 manuscript boxes.
National Farm Worker Service Center Collection. See Kathy Schmeling for details.
National Sharecroppers Fund Collection. Part 1 (PDF) and Part 2. 1937-1985. Incorporated in 1943. Was set up to provide financial assistance and information on governmental aid programs to organizations dedicated to improving living conditions for the rural poor. Contains information on the Migrant Children's Fund, National Council on Agricultural Life and Labor, National Advisory Committee on Farm Labor, Public Law 78 (Bracero Program), and minimum wage for farm workers. 46 storage boxes + 24 manuscript boxes.
Fred Ross Papers (PDF). 1954-1965. Material covers Ross' work with the CSO (Community Service Organization). Included are Cesar's activity reports from 1954 to 1961, and correspondence relating to the establishment of the National Farm Workers Association in 1962. 3 manuscript boxes.
Reverend Victor P. Salandini Papers (PDF). 1954-1973. Research director for UFW in early 1970s. Active in the grape boycott. Papers also include Fr. Salandini's research materials relating to Public Law 78 (Bracero Program). (Dissertation located in our library.)
Sydney Smith Papers (PDF). 1960-1986. Involved with the migrant ministries in California. Files consist of research materials relating to his book, Faith, Community and the Farm Workers. There is some CSO (Community Service Organization) material contained within this collection. 6 manuscript boxes.
William Taylor Collection. 1967-1980. Taylor worked as Cesar's research assistant during the early years of UFWOC. Papers include clippings, grower reports, crop studies, and UFWOC memorabilia. (This collection is presently unprocessed but can be accessed. See Kathy Schmeling for more details.)
Winthrop Yinger Papers (PDF). 1965-1970. Worked with the migrant ministries in California. 4 folders.
