Session 1, August 21, 1984

Family and Growing Up in Brooklyn in the 1920s 1–10

Entertainment 11–16

First Employment: Gimbel's and Lamplighting 17–19

Family (cont): Depression, Politics 20–28

Education and Early Political Activities 29–38


Session 2, October 25, 1984

Early Political Activities: Young Communist League; Student Organizing 39–50

Spanish Civil War (1936) 51–54

Press and Union Organizing 55–63

   The Nation and Carey McWilliams 55–56
   Press's role in organizing Montefiore (1958) 57–63

Employment at City College and Department Store Union 64–66


Session 3, February 21, 1985

Rapp–Coudert Committee; Anticommunism; CCNY 67–72

World War II 73

Suspended Swing 74–77

Marriage to Anne Berman 78

Military Service in World War II 79–82

Local 1250 and Thursdays 'Til Nine 83–86

Local 65, Education, Entertainment and Politics 87–91


Session 4, February 28, 1985

Role of Culture in Unions / Locals 1250 and 65 and Thursdays 'Til Nine 92–97

1948 Presidential Campaign: Wallace and Progressive Party 98–100

Local 65 101–3

Independent Unions and Anticommunism in the CIO 104–10

Local 1199 (Hospital Workers) 111–16

   Impressions of 1199 111
   Cultural programs 112–16


Session 5, March 28, 1985

Postwar Anticommunism 117–19

Early Career with 1199 120–23

Leon Davis and History of 1199 124–26

Organizing New York City Hospitals: Montefiore 127–44


Session 6, May 23, 1985

1959 Hospital Strike: Issues, Negotiations, Support 145–64

The 1962 Beth El Hospital Strike and Working to Change State Labor Laws 165–71

Reflections on Union Work 172–74

Building a Respected and Politically Powerful Union 175–77


Session 7, June 4, 1985

Changing State Labor Laws and 1965 Bronxville Strike 178–89

Unique Structure and Negotiating Style of 1199 190–95

1199's Political Program: Race and Civil Rights 196–203


Session 8, July 9, 1985

1963 March on Washington 204–6

1199: 1960s Cultural Activities 207–19

Thoughts on Labor and Culture 220–24


Session 9, July 25, 1985

Salute to Freedom / Negro History Programs 225–33

Anti–Vietnam War Activities of 1199 234–42

Black Power Movement and 1199 243–45

Nationalization of Union; Charleston Strike 246–49


Session 10, August 29, 1985

Charleston, S.C., Strike, 1969 250–77


Session 11: October 3, 1985

Expansion of 1199: Baltimore and Philadelphia 278–81

New generation of 1199 Leadership 282–87

Organizing Strategies (late 1960s, early 1970s) 288–90

Family Life 291–92


Session 12, November 12, 1985

African American Leadership in 1199 293–97

1199 Leadership and Structure 298–305

Thoughts on Labor Revitalization 306–9

1199 News (Union Magazine) 310–12


Session 13, November 26, 1985

Bread and Roses: Founding and Government Funding 313–18

Bread and Roses: Organization and Structure 319–20

Bread and Roses: Fundraising 321–22, 325–26, 329–33

Bread and Roses: Early Projects and Posters 323–24, 327–28, 334–37


Session 14, December 12, 1985

Bread and Roses: Fundraising 338–42

Bread and Roses: Genesis and Success 343–51

Bread and Roses: Programming and Exhibits 353–55


Session 15, January 23, 1986

Textile Workers Photography Exhibit 356–59

The Working American Exhibit 360–61

Lawrence, Mass., 1912 Strike Exhibit 362–71

Innovative Bread and Roses Programs 372–76

Take Care 377–82


Session 16, February 6, 1986

Lawrence, Mass., 1912 Strike Exhibit 383–85

Bread and Roses PBS Documentary (1981) 386–87

Images of Labor (1980–83) 388–403

Bread and Roses Song 404–5


Session 17, March 6, 1986

Direct-Mail Programs 406–10

Role of Artist in Labor 411–14

Changing Cultural Climate 415–18

Social Concern and Urban Realism: Paintings of the 1930s 419

International Connections 420–24

Earl Dotter and Southern Textile Workers 425


Session 18, June 12, 1986

Proposed Merger with AFL–CIO 426–34

Doris Turner's Presidency of 1199 435–36, 438–39

Moe Foner Leaves 1199 437


Session 19, June 26, 1986

Unity and Progress–Save our Union Campaign 440–41

Consultancy with Local 342 (Meatpackers) (1983–86) 442–46

1984 Hospital Strike 447–57

Unity and Progress–Save our Union Campaign 458–64


Session 20, September 29, 1986

Unity and Progress–Save our Union Campaign 465–90


Session 21, February 26, 2001

Women of Hope Project 491–496

Bread and Roses 1986–2001: Programs and Staff 497–511

Importance of Bread and Roses 512–13


Session 22, March 5, 2001

1199's Organization of Home–Care Workers 514–16

Public Relations for Unions 517–19

1199's Organization of Home–Care Workers (cont) 520–22

   Use of art in campaign 522

Labor Publications 523–25

1199's Organization of Home–Care Workers (cont) 526–28

Bread and Roses as Outreach 529

Conflict in 1199 During 1980s 530–37

Unseen America Exhibit 538–39

Division of 1199 in 1989 Between SEIU and AFSCME 540–41


Session 23, March 7, 2001

Death of Leon Davis (1992) and Memorial Service 542–45

Health Problems and Current Activities 546–49

Leon Davis (cont) 550–53

Income 554

Current 1199 Leadership and Issues 555–64

1199 Division into SEIU and AFSCME 565–68


Session 24, March 9, 2001

Highlights of Career in Labor 569–85

Personality and Background Influence on Career 586–87

Family Life 588–89

Legacy of Work with 1199 590–92