The Carl "Jerry" Beck Papers consist of handwritten memoirs, correspondence, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, various documents relating to Mr. Beck's work as a union organizer, photographs and ephemera. Carl "Jerry" Beck was a union organizer, who began his career with the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC) and continued with the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) and the CIO. He was elected president of USWA Local 1462 in 1942. Subsequently, he became the leader of the Mahoning Valley CIO Council. He was a staff representative for the AFL-CIO, District 18, and for the USWA, District 20.
Series 1- Scrapbooks and newspaper clippings. This series consists of two scrapbooks of newspaper clippings covering the struggle to organize steelworkers and negotiate with the steel companies from 1937-1938 and 1941-1947, as well as fifteen newspaper sections and numerous clippings of newspaper articles. The newspaper sections are arranged alphabetically, with the Youngstown Vindicator articles also arranged chronologically. The clippings have been organized by category.
Series 2- Correspondence. This series consists of correspondence relating to union organizing activities, and includes 1937 letters authorizing safe passage into Republic mills for individuals not employed by the steel company, a 1941 letter explaining the settlement of Republic Steel Corp. v. CIO, et al, a Republic Steel letter to employees expressing anti-union organizing views, 1950 AFL-CIO correspondence with Mr. Beck relating to expense reimbursement, and 1969 correspondence related to union organizing efforts in the region.
Series 3- Memoirs and notes. This series consists of Beck's handwritten narrative and chronology of his childhood and family history, including descriptions of conditions and activities in local mills through the Little Steel Strike of 1937. Additional notes relating to the Wagner Act and subsequent Supreme Court rulings and a narrative of the (Republic Steel) Stop 5 riot are also part of this series.
Series 4- Labor organizing materials. This series contains materials relating to Beck's activities as an AFL-CIO district staff member, and includes such items as notices related to organizing efforts at Trumbull county hospitals (1972), program and publicity from a 1981 testimonial dinner in honor of Dan Thomas, USWA staff member, District office and Staff Development and Training Institute participants rosters (1967), constitution of the Northeast Ohio Senior Citizens Council of Organized Labor (1971), and miscellaneous papers.
Series 5- Ephemera. This series consists of items which document Beck's involvement in union organizing, from his 1937 SWOC picket card, 1948 CIO Telephone Workers Organizing Committee card and 1960 USWA membership book (dues record), to his District 20 Staff business cards and USWA New Member Kit of informational pamphlets. A Christmas card from USWA International, a CIO tribute to Philip Murray, and an authorization card complete the series.
Series 6- Convention badges. This series consists of fifty-eight convention badges, most with distinctive medallions attached, for delegates and guests to various USWA and CIO related constitutional conventions, as well as an acrylic paperweight commemorating the U.S. Bicentennial and 40th year of the USWA, a metal honorary membership card, stamped "Carl E. Beck - Local 1462," and five miscellaneous items. Thirty-six badges commemorate the USWA biennial conventions from 1948-1984. Missing are the years 1966, 1970, 1980. Nine of the badges are from Ohio Council-CIO conventions, spanning 1947-1957. Ten of the badges are from CIO national conventions, spanning 1946-1955. The first and second AFL-CIO biennial conventions are each represented by one badge, as is a USWA District 20 Conference.
Series 7- Photographs. This series consists of two panoramic views of USWA
members in attendance at the 2nd Constitutional Convention, May, 1944, and the
International Wage and Policy Committee meeting in 1956.
The Carl "Jerry" Beck Papers were acquired in October, 1996, from Betsy Murphy, Carl Beck's daughter, and processed in June, 1998, by Martha Bishop. The Ohio Historical Society owns the property rights of the collection. What rights the donor possessed in this collection have been dedicated to the public. Consideration of all other copyrights is the responsibility of the researcher. The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Ohio Historical Society. Researchers are requested to cite the collection name, the collection number, the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor, and the Ohio Historical Society in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Container 0143 - 2
Folder: 1
Contents: Newspaper clippings relating to Brier Hill strike, 1945.
Folder: 2
Contents: Newspaper clipping describing evolution of hand strip mill to strip
mill, 1979.
Folder: 3
Contents: Newspaper clippings relating to personal and miscellaneous events,
1941-1981.
Folder: 4
Contents: Political articles and syndicated columns, 1980-1982.
Folder: 5
Contents: Newspaper clippings relating to social security and pension benefits,
1970-1981.
Folder: 6
Contents: Youngstown Vindicator column "...Years Ago...", highlighting
union organizing efforts, primarily in the local steel industry, 1962-1988.
Folder: 7
Contents: Newspaper clippings relating to USWA personalities, obituaries, 1953-1981.
Series 2 - Correspondence
Folder: 8
Contents: Correspondence primarily relating to union organizing activities,
1937-1985.
Series 3 - Memoirs and notes
Folder: 9
Contents: Hand-written autobiographical narrative of Beck's childhood and family
history, and descriptions of conditions and activities in local mills through
1937.
Folder: 10
Contents: Description of the (Republic Steel) Stop 5 riot, June 19, 1937; June
1, 1945 Vindicator editorial, referring to Mr. Beck, and his reflections;
chronology of events.
Series 4 - Labor organizing materials
Folder: 11
Contents: AFL-CIO, District 18, Hospital Division, notices relating to organizing
efforts at Trumbull county hospitals, 1972.
Folder: 12
Contents: Materials relating to testimonial dinner for USWA Staff member, Dan
Thomas; constitution of NE Ohio Senior Citizens Council of Organized Labor;
The Wallace Labor Record; miscellaneous papers.
Folder: 13
Contents: District office and Staff Development and Training Institute participants
rosters; Mahoning county senior citizens I.D. card program participating businesses.
Series 5 - Ephemera
Folder: 14
Contents: SWOC Picket Card; USWA membership book (dues record); Telephone Workers
Organizing Committee, CIO card; authorization card.
Folder: 15
Contents: USWA New Member Kit; Christmas card; Mr. Beck's USWA District 20 business
cards; tribute Philip Murray pamphlet.
Series 6 - Convention badges
Contents: Convention badges from USWA, CIO, Ohio Council - CIO, and AFL-CIO
Constitutional Conventions, 1946-1984; paperweight and miscellaneous items.
Series 7 - Photographs
*Photo Folder* Housed with oversized collections
Contents: Two black and white photographs of 2nd USWA convention, 1944, and
International Wage and Policy Committee, 1956.