Guide to the Ralph W. Tillotson Collection, 1894-1963 AIS.1976.13
Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Ralph W. Tillotson Collection
Creator
Tillotson, Ralph W.
Collection Number
AIS.1976.13
Extent
1 microfilm_reel
Date
1894-1963
Abstract
Ralph Waldo Tillotson (1885-1964) was a Socialist Party member and an active participant in the organized labor movement in Erie, Pennsylvania, in the first half of the 20th century. This collection contains a small sample of his correspondence, campaign material, and Socialist Party information, newspaper clippings about labor events and elections, some Tillotson family genealogical research done by a relative, and a book about the history of Erie County on one roll of microfilm.
Language
English
.
Author
Mercyhurst College. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process in April 2004.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System Archives & Special Collections Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Biography
Ralph Waldo Tillotson was born in Ohio in 1885, but his family moved to Erie, Pennsylvania shortly thereafter and he remained in Erie the rest of his life. In 1907, Tillotson joined the Metal Polishers Union and Eugene Debs' Socialist Party. From 1908 to 1919, he unsuccessfully ran for various public offices. He later dedicated himself to promoting organized labor, receiving an appointment to the Erie regional directorship of the Congress of Industrial Organization. In 1957, he was appointed a national CIO representative, a position that he held until his retirement in 1964.
Scope and Content Notes
This collection contains some selected correspondence, legal statements, campaign material, and photographs of Ralph W. Tillotson. The correspondence relates to labor arrangements, and there is a also series of letters debating whether an audio recording is the voice of Eugene Debs. The collection also contains printed Socialist Party documents and newspaper clippings about elections, labor events and controversies. Also included on this roll of microfilm is some Tillotson family genealogical research done by one of R.W.'s relatives and an entire book about the history of Erie County, Pennsylvania.
This collection originally existed as two rolls of microfilm, but was consolidated into one roll when reproduced for the Archives of Industrial Society. The former first roll part of the reel has clearly marked divisions between each section, while the following former addenda portion does not. Some of the images of the documents and most of the images of the photographs are very dark and indistinct.
Access Restrictions
No reproduction or publication of any part of this film can be made without written permission from Mercyhurst College.
Acquisition Information
Microfilm purchased from Mercyhurst College in 1975.
Preferred Citation
Ralph W. Tillotson Collection, 1894-1963, AIS.1976.13, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Previous Citation
Ralph W. Tillotson Collection, 1894-1963, AIS.1976.13, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Ralph Waldo Tillotson. Memorial Collection, 1894-1933. AIS 76:13, Archives of Industrial Society, University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
Processing Information
Revision for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Amy Shaffer in April 2004. Information about the collection title and the controlled access terms was extracted from the MARC record in the University of Pittsburgh catalog Voyager ID number: 1437927
Copyright
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
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