Labor Archives of Washington (LAW)
Preserving the Voices of Labor
Discover the past, empower the present, and shape the future with the Labor Archives of Washington.
A unit of the Special Collections of the University of Washington Libraries, the Labor Archives is a collaborative project of the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies and the University of Washington Libraries. Initial funding for the Archives came largely from the labor movement; the contributions of dozens of unions and hundreds of individuals made this possible. Their names are recorded in the Labor Archives Founders Circle.

LAW is committed to capturing the essence of the labor movements that have left an indelible mark on our society. Our mission is to collect, preserve, and make accessible a comprehensive collection of materials that chronicle the labor experience, promoting a deeper understanding of the vital role workers play in shaping communities and industries.
The goal of the archives is to ensure that Washington State’s regional labor heritage is preserved and that current and future generations understand the struggles and accomplishments of organized labor and working people. The archives serves as a center for historical research, ensuring that new generations understand the importance and history of the labor movement and working people in the past and their importance to the future of our state and nation.
In 2008, a group of dedicated labor historians and activists came together with a shared vision: to create a repository that would safeguard the rich heritage of labor movements in the Pacific Northwest. The Labor Archives of Washington (LAW) was born from this collective passion for preserving the stories, struggles, and triumphs of workers who have shaped our region’s history.
LAW isn’t just about dusty records. We are committed to making history come alive. Our dedicated team hosts and install traveling exhibitions, educational programs, and public events that engage the community and showcase the relevance of labor history in contemporary issues.
Since it began operating in 2010, the LAW has grown into a haven for archival treasures, including photographs, documents, oral histories, artifacts, and more. We take pride in being the guardians of history, meticulously cataloging and preserving these invaluable resources for future generations.
As we move forward, LAW remains dedicated to fostering connections between labor history and the present. Our digitization efforts and online resources ensure that anyone, anywhere, can access the stories that have shaped our communities.
At the heart of LAW are the stories of real people—workers, activists, organizers, and their families—who have stood up for their rights and contributed to the social fabric of our region. These stories remind us of the ongoing struggle for justice, equality, and fair treatment in the workplace.
The Labor Archives houses over 350 collections of labor and labor-related materials from individuals and organizations. These collections provide comprehensive documentation of the local, national, and international aspects of the labor movement in the Pacific Northwest. Moreover, they shed light on the intricate intersections between labor unions and social justice, civil rights, and political organizations that focus on labor relations and labor rights.
As we move forward, LAW remains dedicated to fostering connections between labor history and the present. Our digitization efforts and online resources ensure that anyone, anywhere, can access the stories that have shaped our communities.
The Labor Archives of Washington invites you to be a part of our journey. Whether you’re a historian, researcher, student, or simply curious about the labor movement’s impact, your involvement helps us continue our mission of preserving and celebrating the voices of labor.
The Labor Archives is guided by an Advisory Board drawn from labor, academic, and community leaders of Washington State.
Membership
Michael McCann, Committee Co-Chair
Professor of Political Science
University of Washington
Lisa Oberg, Committee Co-Chair
Interim Director of Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
James Gregory
Professor of History
University of Washington
Anne Jenner
Pacific Northwest Curator
Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries
Ian Kennedy
Past President, International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 52
Terri Mast
Secretary Treasurer
Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific
Eugene Vrana
Director of Educational Services (Retired)
International Longshore and Warehouse Union
Robin Walker
Director of Educational Services, Librarian
International Longshore and Warehouse Union
Visit us in person at the Special Collections Reading Room the the University of Washington’s Seattle campus or explore our website to learn more about our collections, upcoming events, and how you can contribute to this vital repository of labor history.
Head, Labor Archives of Washington
MA, MLIS, CA
- Labor Unionists
Discover the papers of individuals who served as labor union officers, members, and dedicated activists. - Labor Scholars and Researchers
Delve into the papers of academics, authors, and researchers who have delved deep into labor history and the lives of workers. Some collections include research files and manuscripts of published works. - Labor/Civil Rights Activists and Supporters
Explore the papers of individuals who championed workplace equality, fought against job discrimination, and advocated for new pro-labor sociopolitical relations. Some may not have been formal members of labor unions. - Workers’ Occupational Histories
Unearth the occupational histories of individual workers. Many of these collections contain narratives or documentation of their work lives. - Union Collections
Many unions have made the Labor Archives the official repository for their historical records — minutes, office correspondence, membership files, publications and contracts. Unions are the collective bargaining agents of workers. This section also includes regional labor councils, which are composed of local union affiliates.
Immerse yourself in our extensive digital archives, which include over a thousand photographs and digitized documents. These resources showcase workers, industrial settings, strikes, union activities, civil rights campaigns, and much more. Explore the Digital Resources of the Labor Archives of Washington.
For those embarking on research within our archives, we offer invaluable resources and guides to enhance your experience:
- FAQ: Archival Research at UW Special Collections: A comprehensive how-to guide outlining essential reference resources, bibliographies, and tools to initiate your research at UW Special Collections, with a particular emphasis on labor and labor-related collections.
- FAQ: Primary Reference ToolsDiscover selected resources and research tips tailored for labor history researchers and those interested in ethnic, social, local, political, and women’s history.
- Using Archives: A Guide to Effective Research by Laura Schmidt: Gain a comprehensive overview of how to initiate research in archives and special collections, applicable not only to labor but also to various research interests.
Resources
Welcome to our online exhibits, where we bring the rich history of labor and social justice to your screen. Explore the captivating stories and visual experiences in these exhibitions:
- Author, Poet, and Worker: The World of Carlos Bulosan Explore the digital version of LAW’s exhibit dedicated to Carlos Bulosan, a prominent Filipino American labor activist, writer, and poet. Delve into the world of Carlos Bulosan and discover the labor, activist, and ethnic communities that shaped his remarkable life and work.
- Images of Labor and Social Justice: The Art of Richard CorrellThis digital exhibit showcases the work of Richard V. “Dick” Correll (1904–1990), a master printmaker known for his striking black-and-white linoleum cuts, etchings, and woodblock prints. Correll’s art captures themes ranging from nature and everyday life to powerful depictions of labor struggles and social justice movements. His work reflects a lifelong commitment to activism and the fight for workers’ rights, making this collection a compelling tribute to the intersection of art and advocacy.
- Industrial Workers of the World Photograph Collection Exhibit This exhibit explores the history and impact of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) through a rich collection of photographs. Showcasing images of labor struggles, activism, and daily life, the collection provides a compelling visual narrative of the IWW’s role in the labor movement. Visitors can engage with the historical context behind these photographs, gaining insight into the experiences and resilience of workers who fought for economic and social justice.
- Solidarity Centennial: The Legacy of the Seattle General Strike Era and the Centralia Tragedy of 1919The Seattle General Strike of 1919 brought the city to a standstill for an astounding six days, uniting diverse groups across various occupations and political affiliations. Later that same year, a violent confrontation in Centralia, Washington, marked a tragic turning point in the aftermath of the strike’s success. This exhibit was part of a statewide series of Solidarity Centennial programming in 2019, and was made possible by the generous support of the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies.
- Washington State Farmworker StrugglesThis exhibit traces the history of farmworkers in Washington State from the 1910s to the 2010s, highlighting their ongoing fight for fair wages, safe working conditions, and labor rights. Through photographs, documents, and personal stories, the exhibit explores the struggles and triumphs of the workers who have been essential to the state’s agricultural industry. It provides a deeper understanding of their contributions, activism, and the movements that have shaped labor history in the region.
- Women at Work: Highlights from Labor Archives of Washington Collections on Women in the TradesThis exhibit explores the history of women in the building and construction trades, a traditionally male-dominated industry. Featuring materials from the Labor Archives of Washington, the exhibit traces key moments in this history, from the influx of women into shipbuilding and metal trades during WWI and WWII to the apprenticeship programs of the 1970s and 80s. It also examines the systemic barriers that have limited women’s participation, including gender discrimination, lack of training opportunities, and the compounded challenges faced by women of color.
We invite you to explore these exhibits, where history, art, and social justice intersect. Discover the past, gain insights into the struggles and triumphs of the labor movement, and appreciate the artistic expressions that have shaped our world.
Please click on the exhibit titles to begin your journey.
Welcome to our online oral history projects where we bring the rich history of labor and social justice to your screen. Explore the captivating stories of working people in our region:
- SeaTac-Seattle Minimum Wage History Project, This digital archive comprises documents and interviews, including audio and video interviews with supporters and opponents involved in the struggles over a $15 minimum wage at SeaTac and in Seattle, as well as the broader national impact and ongoing efforts.
- International Longshore and Warehouse Association (ILWU), Pacific Coast Pensioners Association (PCPA) Oral History Project. The Pacific Coast Pensioners Association Oral History Committee (PCPA) has been collecting oral history interviews with PCPA members, officers, and convention visitors since 2013. Oral historian Harvey Schwartz, historian Ron Magden, and labor archivist and oral history project manager Conor Casey conducted interviews at the PCPA annual conventions.
- The Working in the Time of COVID-19 Oral History Project, a collaborative effort to document the impact of the pandemic on workers. This project, conducted between 2020-2021, comprises three main components: Working in the Time of COVID-19 Oral History Project Led by: Labor Archives of Washington Seattle COVID-19 Oral History Project Led by: University of Washington history student, Wendi Zhou Musical Work in the Time of COVID-19 Led by: UW Music faculty member, Mark Rodgers The Labor Archives provided training on oral history interview techniques and supported project and file management for the other projects. Project Collaboration This collaborative project involved: LAW Staff UW Faculty Students and Student Workers Community Stakeholders Component project leaders developed shared questions in consultation with each other and with community stakeholders, coordinated outreach efforts, and selected narrators. They worked with labor community members to develop core questions for all narrators and industry or community-specific questions for different groups.
- The Seattle Labor Chorus Oral History Project, initiated and led by chorus member Cindy Cole from 2015 to 2017, was created in collaboration with the Labor Archives of Washington, part of the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections. This project involves interviewing and audio recording members of the Seattle Labor Chorus to capture their personal stories. The goal is to document the lives of these chorus members, focusing on their social activism, passion for music and labor, and their journey to joining the Labor Chorus. The interviews form part of the Labor Archives of Washington.
- The Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA) Oral History Project is a collaboration between PSARA and the Labor Archives of Washington, a part of the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections. Spearheaded by PSARA activists Angela Bartels and Karen Richter, this initiative conducted a series of interviews between 2018 and 2019. The project features engaging conversations with PSARA members and retirees who have dedicated decades to activism within their unions, community organizations, or faith groups. This portion of the oral histories form part of the Labor Achives of Washington, while another portion on the PSARA website comprise the bulk of the project. The Labor Archives is backing up these as part of an web archives for longterm digital preservation.
Oral History Portals:
- Oral History Portal, Explore dozens of oral histories related to workers and their lives, with particular strengths in oral histories of labor activists and organizers, women, African Americans, Japanese Americans, and Jewish Americans. Our collection also extends to the Internet Archive.
- Oral History Portal on The Internet Archive We regularly capture and preserve labor union and labor-related websites and social media accounts across the Pacific Northwest. Our captures are more frequent, comprehensive, and distinct from those in the Internet Archive’s WayBack Machine. Union/Labor Websites
We invite you to explore these oral history projects, where the interrelated stories of working people in this region come to life. Discover the past, gain insights into the struggles and triumphs of the workers, and appreciate the cultural expressions that have shaped the Pacific Northwest.
Please click on the oral history project titles to begin your journey.
- View our collection at HistoryPin.com
- Lonnie Nelson, “Seattle Labor Landmarks Map,” Puget Sound Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, 1997
- Russell Grant, “Tacoma Labor Landmark Tour: A Guide to the Labor Heritage Sites in Downtown Tacoma” (Map)
- Katelynn Sortino, “Seattle Longshore Workers History Map,” The Waterfront Workers History Project. Retrieved (December 23, 2014) from
- Pacific Northwest Labor History Association, “Walking Tour for Centralia Tragedy Commemoration”
- Pacific Northwest Labor History Association “Portland Labor History: A Tour”
- Simon Fraser University Initiative for Labour Education ; Pacific Northwest Labour History Association ; Vancouver and District Labour Council ; BC Heritage Trust ; researcher and writer Juanita Nolan “Labour, Work, and Working People : A Working Class and Labour History Walking Tour, Vancouver, BC ,” 2001
- Labor Landmarks of the Pacific Northwest Map– In-progress, collaborative map of current and historic labor landmarks of the Pacific Northwest.
View Labor Landmarks of the Pacific Northwest in a larger map
Related Collections
- International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Ann Rand Memorial Library and Archives– Online selection of the publications of the ILWU and its precursor organizations. Digital resources include the The Dispatcher digital archive, 1942-2014; Voice of the Federation digital archive, 1935-1941; and the Waterfront Worker digital archive, 1932-1935.
- King County Archives – Research guide to labor and social justice-related collections.
- Labor Archives in the United States and Canada: A Directory– The directory is organized by state, then by repository, with Canadian repositories listed last. Please contact officers of the Labor Archives Roundtable, Society of American Archivists, if you have additions, comments, corrections, or questions
- Map of Labor Archives in the United States and Canada: A Directory– Interactive map of directory above, created by Conor Casey for the Labor Archives Roundtable.
Labor and Public History Websites
- Pacific Northwest Labor and Civil Rights Projects– Labor and civil rights movements have been central to the Pacific Northwest’s history and remain a powerful force in contemporary society and politics. This page is a gateway to a set of labor and civil rights history projects directed by Professor James N. Gregory at the University of Washington and supported by the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies, the Simpson Center for the Humanities, and the Center for the Study of Pacific Northwest.
- Labor History Links This site is the most comprehensive bibliography of information, documents and links of U.S. labor history sites on the internet. It was developed by labor historian Rosemary Feurer for the Labor and Working Class History Association
- HistoryLink.org– Welcome to the first and largest encyclopedia of community history created expressly for the Internet. HistoryLink.org is an evolving online encyclopedia of Washington state and local history. It provides a free, authoritative, and easily accessible history reference for the benefit of students, teachers, journalists, scholars, researchers, and the general public.
Affiliated Organizations
- The Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies, University of Washington– The Bridges Center coordinates the efforts of faculty members throughout the University of Washington to develop and expand labor-related components of the University’s curriculum and provide encouragement and assistance to young scholars studying work and workers. The Bridges Center co-founded the Labor Archives of Washington in 2010.
Donate / Support
The Labor Archives of Washington (LAW) is dedicated to serving the labor movement in the Pacific Northwest by preserving its historical records and offering guidance on managing active records. We conduct regular workshops on historical records preservation and records management for labor unions. To schedule training, please contact Labor Archives Head Conor Casey.
For many labor organizations, maintaining effective records management is vital. It not only helps in locating key documents dating back to the founding charter but also ensures the retrieval of vital records when needed. A robust records management strategy can empower unions in their core activities, such as organizing new members, bargaining with employers, and safeguarding members’ rights on the job.
Preserving Union Records
- Presentation Slideshow: Explore“Don’t Mourn, Organize! Creative Approaches to Preserving Historical Labor Records”by Robin Walker and Conor Casey.
- How to Keep Union Records (Download PDF): A practical guide for union officers and staff on labor records management by Debra Bernhart. Courtesy of the George Meany Memorial Archives.
- A Commonsense Guide to Union Records Management (Download PDF): A quick guide to records management for union officers and staff by Eugene D. Vrana and Rae C. Shiraki. Courtesy of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), with special thanks to ILWU Librarian/Archivist Robin Walker.
- How to Clean Out a Union Office Without Destroying History (Download PDF): This 3-page publication by Helmut Knies, Collection Development Archivist at the Wisconsin Historical Society, offers a step-by-step guide on setting up a records management system for local unions, preserving historical archives, and decluttering unnecessary materials.
- Don’t Throw It Away! Documenting and Preserving Organizational History (Download PDF): A practical how-to guide for organizations of all sizes on preserving their records.
- What Records Should I Keep? (Download PDF): This handout outlines the typical formats of labor records, specifying which records of enduring value should be retained or donated to the Labor Archives of Washington.
- What Will Processing Archival Records Cost? (Download Document): Many unions collaborate with the Labor Archives to help fund part or all of the processing of their archival collections. This handout provides insights into the costs associated with processing records, allowing donors to estimate the expenses involved in processing their collection.
Donating Records to the Labor Archives
When considering what to retain or donate to the Labor Archives of Washington, please refer to the following guidelines:
Definitely Retain
- Agendas
- Agreements
- Annual reports
- Articles of incorporation
- Artwork
- By-laws
- Buttons
- Charters
- Committee files
- Conference/Convention programs
- Contracts (Drafts, Final, Printed in Booklet Form)
- Correspondence
- Directories/Rosters/Yearbooks
- Documents pertaining to legislative activity or lobbying
- Flyers
- Grievances
- Meeting minutes
- Memoranda of Understanding
- Newsletters
- Interviews
- Issues files reflecting your organization’s work
- Job descriptions of major staff
- Officer’s files (Identify name of officer and position)
- Organizational flow charts
- Photographic materials – photos, movies, negatives, albums, etc. [Please identify individuals in photos and events pictured if possible]
- Picket Signs
- Policies
- Political action files (Committee on Political Action or other committee)
- Programs from conferences or other events
- Reports (annual, financial, committee, etc.)
- Posters
- Programs from events
- Resolutions
- Scrapbooks
- Speeches (audio and transcript)
- Testimony
Retain
- Publications ranging from books produced by the organization to brochures
- Research files on particular actions, negotiations, campaigns, or targets
- Maps
Additionally, we can’t accept the following:
- Cancelled checks
- Financial transaction records
- Job applications
- Personnel files
- Planning files for events
- Financial files
- Tax returns
For any queries or further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
The Labor Archives: Supporting Labor History
The Labor Archives began as a joint project of the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies and the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections. Now independently funded by a dedicated gift fund and state funds, LAW still fundraises to provide ongoing service to the Pacific Northwest. LAW is made possible by the generous donations of unions and their friends. Major sponsors include the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO; the King, Pierce, Snohomish County Labor Councils; and the ILWU and its Longshore Division.
Support the Labor Archives
The Friends of the Labor Archives works to advance labor history through support and outreach for the Archives. Members receive regular updates on the activities of the Archives, invitations to special events, souvenirs, and more.
Send your check to:
Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies
University of Washington
Box 353530
Seattle, WA 98195-3530
Be sure to write “Friends of the Labor Archives Fund” in the memo field of the check.
You may also donate securely online.
Smith-McWilliams Endowment for Working Women’s Archives
The Labor Archives of Washington and the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies are proud to announce the establishment of a new endowment dedicated to funding the collection, preservation, and accessibility of working women’s history and the history of women in the labor movement.
The fund is a result of a generous donation on the part of two long-time labor activists, Lila Smith and Brian McWilliams, who wish to increase the recognition of women as members of labor organizations; individual workers and activists; and leaders in the labor movement.
Supporters may make their own financial contributions to the fund credit card online, or call 1-800-326-7566.
Friends of the Labor Archives
An organization dedicated to saving and celebrating the heritage of working people!
The Friends of the Labor Archives is dedicated to advancing the preservation and promotion of labor history through financial support and community outreach for the Labor Archives at the University of Washington.
Members of the Friends will receive regular updates on the activities of the Labor Archives. They also receive special invitations to events highlighting the labor history education, outreach, and research made possible by the Archives.
The Labor Archives of Washington is made possible by the grassroots contributions of the labor movement. In that spirit, the financial support pledged by the Friends is an essential part of continuing the work of the Labor Archives into the future.
Questions? Contact the Bridges Center at (206) 543-7946 or [email protected].
Download a membership form!
To join the Friends of the Labor Archives, print, complete and mail the membership form to the address provided on the form. You may also join by donating on-line. Review the membership levels, and make a corresponding gift through the University of Washington’s secure on-line giving website.
For full-color copies to share with your community, organization, or union local, contact the Bridges Center.
Download a Labor Archives brochure!
Founders Circle Campaign Background
Founded in 2010, the Labor Archives of Washington began as a collaboration between the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies and the University of Washington Libraries. Funding for the Archives comes largely from the labor movement. The LAW depends on donations and must do its own fundraising. Your support is critical because LAW’s budget is independent from the Bridges Center and the UW Libraries. LAW receives no direct funds from these sources. Your donations power processing, teaching, exhibits, and student workers. LAW receives some state funding. Most of these funds go to permanent staff and supplies.
The contributions of dozens of unions and hundreds of individuals made the Labor Archives possible. Their names are recorded on a plaque accompanying the statue of Harry Bridges in the entrance to Suzzallo Library on the University of Washington campus.
Major donors include the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Longshore Division ($150,000); Washington State Labor Council ($30,000); Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies ($30,000).
Donors
Donors who gave $500 or more to the Labor Archives of Washington are memorialized as members of the Labor Archive Founder’s Circle. Founder’s Circle names are inscribed on a plaque and displayed with the Harry Bridges statue in the entrance to the University of Washington’s Suzzallo Library.
- Make a Monetary Gift online to the Labor Archives.
- View the Full list of Founders Circle members who are making the Labor Archives of Washington State possible
Campaign Background
Recognizing the need to protect the heritage of labor in Washington state, a group of labor leaders and labor scholars associated with the Harry Bridges Center launched the campaign to create a Labor Archives in 2008. They called themselves the Labor Archives Organizing Committee. The campaign quickly drew the support of the Washington State Labor Council which endorsed the plan at its annual convention and pledged $10,000 a year for three years. The Harry Bridges Center pledged a similar amount.
The biggest commitment came from the Longshore Division of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. The ILWU issued a matching challenge, pledging to match contributions up to a total of $50,000 during each of three years from 2009-2011.
Dozens of unions, labor councils, and other organizations have responded to the challenge and have been joined by more than one hundred individual donors.
In Spring 2010, the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies and the UW Libraries finalized an agreement about managing the Labor Archives and announced a national search for an experienced labor archivist to manage the enterprise.
Conor Casey, Head of the Labor Archives, was chosen and accepted the position. The Labor Archives of Washington officially opened in October 2010. In 2015, after LAW received state funding, Crystal Rodgers, Labor Archivist for Processing, was hired to expand LAW’s scope of activities.
Labor Archives Organizing Committee (This committee became the Friends of the Labor Archives)
Past Co-chairs Past Members
- Jeff Johnson, President, Washington State Labor Council
- Dave Freiboth, Executive Secretary, M.L. King County Labor Council
- Patty Rose, Secretary-Treasurer, Pierce County Central Labor Council
- Rick Bender, Former President, Washington State Labor Council
- Steve Conway, State Senator 29th District
- Robert Duggan, ILWU lawyer, retired
- James Gregory, Harry Bridges Chair of Labor Studies, UW
- Holly Hulscher, Vice President, ILWU Local 23
- Ian Kennedy, past President, ILWU Local 52
- Vance Lelli, President, Pierce County Central Labor Council
- Margaret Levi, Jere L. Bacharach Professor of International Studies
- Department of Political Science, University of Washington
- Thomas Lux, IAM District 751
- Ronald Magden, historian, Tacoma Community College
- Terri Mast, Secretary-Treasurer, InlandBoatmen’s Union
- David Olson, former Harry Bridges Chair, UW
- Ross Rieder, President, Pacific Northwest Labor History Association
- Rick Sawyer, Vice President, UNITE-HERE
- Sandra Schroeder, President, AFT-Washington
- Mike Sells, Secretary-Treasurer, Snohomish County Central Labor Council
- Conrad Spell, past President, ILWU Local 23
- Eugene Vrana, ILWU Director of Education Services, retired
Services
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- Research help
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- Curation of collections and materials in all formats
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- Donating collections and funding
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- Reference questions
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- Consultations on records management, research workshops, oral history, exhibits, and appraisal
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- Tours for groups
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- Labor Archives press and publicity
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- Class orientations for faculty
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- Oral history, digital humanities, exhibits, and archives projects Project Proposal Form
Permissions of use for labor materials
- Oral history, digital humanities, exhibits, and archives projects Project Proposal Form
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- Research help
At LAW, we play a crucial role in historical research by preserving the records of unions, labor leaders, and activists.
Our dedicated staff collaborate with unions, offering guidance on records management and facilitating donations of historical materials to LAW.
LAW develops educational projects accessible to union members, schools, and the public. Students also have the opportunity to serve as interns in the Labor Archives, gaining firsthand knowledge about unions and their essential role in our region’s history.
For inquiries, please reach out to us regarding:
- Reference questions
- Preservation and processing questions
- Regional records survey information
- Social media inquiries and collaborations
- Research help
Projects
Please fill out this form to submit your project proposal.
Labor and Labor-Related Organizations, and Cultural Institutions:
Participate in the Labor Archives of Washington’s Regional Records Survey
The Labor Archives of Washington (LAW) extends a warm invitation to all labor and labor-related organizations across the Pacific Northwest. If you possess records that are linked to labor history, civil rights, or social justice organizations and activism, we encourage your participation in the Pacific Northwest Labor Records Survey.
For Labor Unions and Labor-Related Organizations
Participating in this survey will provide LAW with essential insights into the distribution of records within the region. By sharing this information, you help us:
- Identify the locations of these records.
- Understand the various formats these records take, both existing and ongoing.
- Gain insight into your storage conditions, staffing, and other factors related to your records.
For Archives, Libraries, and Cultural Institutions
If you represent an archive, library, or cultural institution, your participation is equally valuable. Sharing information about the labor history records within your collections allows us to:
- Create a comprehensive regional directory of labor historical records.
- Integrate this data into the Society of American Archivists, Labor Archives Section’s “Labor Archives of the United States and Canada: A Directory.”
Participate in the PNW Repository Survey
If you prefer to complete the survey via phone or on paper, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Head of the Labor Archives, Conor Casey, at [email protected] or call 206-685-3976. Your contribution is invaluable in preserving and documenting our labor history.
Thank you for your dedication to preserving our rich labor heritage!
