University Libraries

  Manuscript Register

This document describes a collection of materials held by the
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420
Phone: 319-335-5921
Fax: 319-335-5900
e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu

Posted to Internet: January 2003

Acquisition Note: This collection was donated to the University of Iowa Libraries by Ben Henry in 1963.

Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

Photographs: Boxes 3 and 5

Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department.

Copyright:  Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials"

Use of Collections:  The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.

Biographical Note

Ben Henry was born in Hibgee, Missouri. He moved to Des Moines in 1938.

As a coal miner from 1914 to 1933, he was an official in the United Mine Workers of America and the American Federation of Labor. Elected the first secretary-treasurer of the Iowa-Nebraska States Council, he was a founder of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)

He was appointed CIO regional director in 1939 and elected president of the two-state council two years later. He served in both capacities until 1945 when he resigned to devote full time to his position as CIO regional director.

He was with the organizational staff of the AFL-CIO from the time the groups merged until 1957, when he was assigned to the public relations department. He retired in 1963 and was appointed to the Merit System Council by Governor Harold Hughes. He served on the council until November 1968.

During World War II, he served on several community and regional commissions, including the War Manpower Commission, the War Labor Board, and the War Production Board.

Mr. Henry died in Des Moines on March 7, 1976.

(Taken from "Ben Henry, Iowa Labor Chief, Dies." The Des Moines Register, Tuesday, March 9, 1976.)

Scope and Content

This collection contains papers from Henry's involvement with the labor unions.

Box List

Box 1

Folder Number: Description
.

1: Correspondence chronologically sorted, 1933 --1935

2: Miscellany, undated

3: Local union no. 334. Flagler

4: General correspondence, 1957 -- 1958

5: Excelsior Spring, Missouri, papers, 1937

6: Problem drinker papers, 1962

7: Speakers Bureau, 1961 -- 1962

8: General correspondence, 1961

9: General correspondence, 1960

10: General correspondence, 1959

Box 2

1: Daily Reminder, 1949

2: National Diary, 1941

3: National Diary, 1946

4: National Diary, 1940

5: Daily Reminder, 1951

6: Daily Reminder, 1950

7: National Diary, 1944

8: National Diary, 1945

Box 3

1: National Diary, 1947

2: National Diary, 1943

3: National Diary, 1948

4: UMWA Reports, 1935 --1937

5: Scrapbook

6: Miscellaneous papers

7: Reports to President

8: Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Packing House Workers Organizing Committee, Ben Henry

9: Miss.

10: Photograph of A.J. Thomas

Box 4

1: Boldrini, Louis

2: Haywood, Allan S.

3: Ben Henry, personal

4: Haywood, Allan S.

5: Haywood, Allan S.

6: Newspaper clippings, 1951

7: Miscellaneous, 1953

8: Henry, Ben, personal

9: Lewis, John L.

10: Federated Legislative Council of Iowa

11: Political Action Committee, Iowa, 1948

12: Farmers Education and Cooperative Union of America

13: Circular letters of Mr. Henry, 1938 -- 1939

14: Local Union no. 916, Hiteman

15: Local Union no. 981, Pershing

Box 5

1: Local Union no. 1584, Dallas

2: Local Union no. 2482, Durfee

3: Local Union no. 3802, Rexfield

4: Local Union no. 1933, Charrtom

5: Local Union no. 6654, Knoxville

6: Local Union no. 6748, Kirkville

7: Local Union no. 6655, Otley

8: Letters Ex Board

9: Local Union, Pella

10: Local Union, Hamilton

11: Miscellaneous

12: Miscellaneous

13: UAW-CIO Local 450

14: Statement by the AFL-CIO Executive Council

15: Appointment books

16: Photograph of group including John L. Lewis

Box 6

1: Publicity

2: Miscellaneous labor material

3: Statement by the AFL-CIO Executive Council

4: Miscellaneous printed and mimeographed materials

Register completed: May 26, 1964 by Ronald Fingerson.