Topic: Connecticut Labor History in Archives & Special Collections

Materials collected by Dr. Wardwell during his involvement with and participation in the activities of the University of Connecticut chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

The collection contains oral histories recorded on reel to reel or cassette tapes and, for the majority of the collection, associated transcripts. The audio recordings are housed separately from the transcriptions and are not available for research. The interviews were conducted by various individuals from the center including Bruce Stave (Director of the Center), Katya Williamson, Allice Hoffman, Jane Allison, Michael Chaney, Morton Tenzer, and Leslie Frank. Interviews included in this finding aid are limited to those for whom access permission has been granted. Associated, administrative, and project related files have been processed separately and identified as part of the records for the Center for Oral History.

Founded as the Mount Nebo Silk Company in Manchester, Connecticut; the company adopted the family name in 1843. Aided by booming national markets, a protective tariff, and innovative production methods, the company grew into the nation's largest and most profitable silk mill by the late 1880s, pioneering the wastesilk spinning method and the Grant's reel. The company reached its peak in 1923, after which it quickly declined due to industry wide overproduction and competition from new synthetic fibers such as rayon. Digitized materials include employee service cards, hiring specification manuals and information about strikes.

Union formed in April 1967 by 350 members from the Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown. Connecticut, where the union's founder, Salvatore J. Perruccio, worked as a cook.

Individual narratives and life histories and studies of customs of social and ethnic groups residing in Connecticut.

Online items includes letters and reports related to a strike by the workers in the late 1930s and the company's response.

Lock manufacturer founded in 1868 in Stamford, Connecticut. The collection focuses primarily on 20th century workers experiences and include correspondence, newspaper articles, magazine articles, oral history audio tapes, photographs, video tapes, maps and artifacts.