Scope and Contents

The agreements in Series I. are for and on behalf of the Pittsburgh Orchestra by Local 60-471. The agreements include the contract period, services provided, benefits, concerts, number and time of rehearsals, and other elements.

This series contains important information about the mission, structure, and governance of Locals 60, 471, 60-471, and the A.F. of M. The constitution and by-laws include information about the duties of officers and committees, qualifications for membership, duties of members, elections, trials, and rules of order. Changes to the by-laws were often printed in slip form for union members to use until an updated version of the constitution and by-laws was issued. Changes were often noted first in the minutes of the Executive Board and then the minutes of the General Membership. Updates were also placed in the monthly newsletter that was sent to all members. The directories offer a variety of information about the members of the local. Each has a list of officers and board members in office the year that the directories were published. Each member of the local was listed alphabetically by name. Each member's address, phone number, and the instrument(s) they played were also listed. The dues cards are of one member of Local 60, Richard Sladek. They provide an example of the information contained on the cards as well as how the actual card form changes throughout the years. Dues were paid quarterly, and the card was stamped when each quarterly due was paid in full. This series contains a 1949 issue of the Carnegie Alumnus and a letter from the editor of the publication. A photo was requested of a Carnegie alum who was a member of Local 60 by the alumni staff at Carnegie Mellon. The series also includes newspaper clippings regarding a series of performances sponsored by Local 60-471 in the summer of 1984.

The band pictured in folder 10 is assumed to be comprised of Local 60 members, but only a few individuals in the photo are identified by name.

The price lists include the per day/event price for musicians and conductors for various types of private and public events. The types of events include amateur and professional baseball games, weddings, funerals, carnivals, church services, and holiday events.

The individual programs offer a variety of pictures and information about Local 60 for the years that the programs were printed. Photos of past presidents, conductors and various bands can be found. Information on the type of music that was played is also found. Advertisements show the variety of music stores that were in business in the city of Pittsburgh. The program for the 1962 Annual Convention held in Pittsburgh is also unique. Since it was co-hosted by Locals 60 and 471, photos of the officers of each local are included in the program. The sample ballots are examples of the ballots used to elect officers and board members of Local 60. It provides names of the candidates running for the various positions throughout the years. Elections of delegates to the annual A.F. of M convention were also elected as well as delegates to the Allegheny Labor Council. There is also a booklet published by the A.F. of M. detailing the history of its first century of existence (1896-1996).

The agreements include negotiations between the A.F. of M. in relation to various industries in which A.F. of M. on the behalf of members employed in those industries. Examples of the agreements include various music, film, and television industries.

Also included are publications concerning various A.F. of M. affairs. Examples include recommendations, an annual report, and a local work dues booklet This series is a publication of wage scales for musicians in various cities throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Scope and Contents

The Executive Board is the primary governing body of Local 60. It consists of the president, vice president, secretary-treasurer, and elected board members. The main responsibility of the Theatrical Commission was to establish wage scales and regulate services for member musicians employed in local theaters. The Theatrical Commission was eventually abolished in 1935 and the duties were absorbed by the Executive committee. The Executive Board and Theatrical Commission met weekly to perform the general housekeeping functions of the union as well as specific duties. The specific duties included acceptance and rejection of applications, changes and additions to the by-Laws, determination of wage scales, approve contracts, and settle disputes. Disputes were cases against members, members against members, or cases against local businesses. Trials were also held to determine the outcome of such cases.

The minutes were handwritten until 1909 when typewritten notes began. Researchers interested in the merger of Local 60 with Local 471 can find special minutes relating to those meetings in the Executive Board minutes for the year 1965. Unfortunately, minutes prior to 1906 are assumed to be lost.

Scope and Contents

General Membership meetings were on about a monthly basis until 1934 when they started to be held four times a year. The minutes often reflect a consolidation of the previous meetings of the Executive Board. The general membership meetings were held to update membership on the issues and finances of the union. It was also a chance for members to voice their opinions and concerns to the officers and the board which were recorded in the General Membership minutes.

Scope and Contents

The Immigrant Registration book was started in order to record that immigrant members of Local 60 were U.S. citizens. The handwritten entries contain a lot of information about those that registered. Most entries include the musician's name, country of birth, the court that issued naturalization/citizenship papers, petition number, and date the papers were issued. Sometimes the instrument that the member played was included. The entries were discontinued in 1934 for reasons that are unknown.

Scope and Contents

A monthly newsletter was published and sent to all members of the union. The starting date of the newsletter is unknown. The first title of the newsletter was The President's Letter. The title of the newsletter changed over the years to The Musicians' Journal (1925), the Official Journal: Local 60, A.F. of M., Pittsburgh Musical Society (1933), and then to the Pittsburgh Musician (1949). The publications informed the members about upcoming meetings and agendas, transfers of new and outgoing members, memorials to members who died, and articles concerning issues of political interest to the union. An unfair list was often published. Union members were not allowed to accept engagements from the individuals and businesses that were listed. Each issued often included a column from the Local 60's president as well as a report from the secretary-treasurer.

Scope and Contents

The membership cards offer the most information available about the various members of Local 471. Memberships go back as far as the 1930's and were updated until the merger with Local 60 in 1966. The membership cards include the individuals' name, address, types of instruments played, starting dates and last dates of membership. Notes are also included on some members and vary in the information provided. Examples include entries denoting past officers, other instruments played, and membership status. A spreadsheet is available on all the membership cards and is available from the archivist. A code was developed by the archive to indicate the status of each member. The code is available with the spreadsheet and is as follows:

A=Members in good standing at merge time, 1965 B=Suspended or reinstated members in 1965 C=Non-financial suspended or "erased" (expelled) members D=Honor Roll, members serving in the armed forces treated as in good standing E=Resigned members F=Paid on application G=Deceased

Scope and Contents

The reel films are in both color and black and white. The original numbers assigned to the films were used. New numbers were used once the original numbers ended. This is noted in the container list. The films are primarily of Old Timers' and Christmas Parties. It is not known if the names Streib and Buddy Murphy are individuals or companies that shot the film. The film type is Kodak Safety Film.

Scope and Contents

This series contains reports, correspondence, and records that document the finances of Local 60-471. Included are annual financial audit reports, as well as dues and spending reports mandated by the federal government. Also included are documents pertaining to members, such as performance contracts, payroll lists, and life insurance claims.