Walter Reuther Library Opens
The Walter P. Reuther Library opens. A dedicated archival facility at Wayne State University, the building houses the UAW archives.
Welcome to the Walter P. Reuther Digital Archive, a web-based resource celebrating the life, leadership, and legacy of Walter P. Reuther. Presenting primary sources from the largest labor archives in North America, this website brings together a range of content for the purpose of educating the public about the contributions of Walter Reuther and the UAW (International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America) in the 20 th Century. It provides access to extensive collections documenting Walter Reuther’s work as President of the United Auto Workers, including interviews, writing, and speeches, as well as UAW newspapers documenting his activities and the historical and political context of his time.
We view this website as an opportunity to introduce Walter Reuther to new audiences, allowing them to engage with labor history in exciting and empowering ways. By exploring the Reuther Digital Archive, users will better understand Walter Reuther and the UAW’s influence and impact on civil rights, labor, and political history and the development of the U.S. automotive industry and industrial economy.
Built on the Omeka-S platform, this website organizes images, text, and multimedia content in a dynamic and responsive web platform and in a manner that can be expanded over time and through additional project years.
The Walter P. Reuther Library opens. A dedicated archival facility at Wayne State University, the building houses the UAW archives.
Walter and May Reuther, along with four individuals, pass away in a plane crash while flying to the UAW's Family Education Center in northern Michigan.
Walter Reuther donates the first seed funding for what would later that year be the Earth Day holiday.
Walter Reuther marches with striking nurses, the vast majority African American, in Charlston, SC. Members of the union 1199B, the nurses were protesting the unequal treatment of Black workers.
UAW and Teamsters come to a no-raid agreement with the AFL-CIO and their Alliance for Labor Action.
UAW disaffiliates from the AFL-CIO, and soon establishes the Alliance for Labor Action with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Olga Madar becomes the first woman elected to the UAW's International Executive Board, at the union's 20th Constitutional Convention.
The UAW hosts the "United Action for Clear Water" conference in Detroit, an event calling for environmental action across government and business to clean up the Great Lakes waterways.
The Medicare system is passed by Congress. The program was a major goal of the UAW's, and the union dedicated a massive lobbying campaign towards its passage.
UAW leaders march with civil rights demonstrators in Selma, Alabama.
The Citizens' Crusade Against Poverty, a non-partisan coalition dedicated to eliminating poverty in the US, is co-organized by Reuther and the UAW.
The UAW signs its first national agreement in the aerospace industry, a contract with Douglas Aircraft.
Walter Reuther speaks at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, an event Reuther directed his staffs at the UAW and AFL-CIO to help organize. The largest civil rights event of its time, speakers advocated for the passage of what would become the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Walter Reuther marches down Detroit's Woodward Ave with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights leaders during the Walk to Freedom. The event is the largest civil rights event in America up to that point.
Nelson Jack Edwards becomes the first Black member elected to the UAW's International Executive Board, at the union's 18th Constitutional Convention.
A resolution passes at the UAW's 18th Constitutional Convention for the preservation of the union's records, designating Wayne State University's Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs as their official repository.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is the guest of honor at the UAW's 25th anniversary celebration. His his speech, he states, "You have given to this nation a magnificent example of honest, democratic trade unionism. And your great president, Walter Reuther, will certainly go down in history as one of the truly great persons of this generation."
The AFL-CIO is created when the two labor federations merge. George Meany is named President, and Walter Vice-president.
The UAW creates the Women's Department, formerly an office within the Fair Practices and Anti-discrimination Department.
UAW Local 833 begins strike against the Kohler Company. It would go on to be the nation's longest labor dispute at the time and was noted for its hostile confrontations.
Walter Reuther is elected President of the CIO.
Walter Reuther cuts the ribbon on the UAW's new headquarters in Detroit, Solidarity House, where the union resides to this day.
American Bowling Congress, bowling’s governing body, desegregates their bowling leagues in part due to pressure from the UAW’s own integrated leagues and the union's Fair Play in Bowling campaign.
The UAW and GM sign the "Treaty of Detroit." A breakthrough contract during Reuther's presidency, the five-year agreement included major bargaining gains for GM workers: Cost-of-living increases, health benefits, pension plan, guaranteed annual wages, and more. Ford and Chrysler soon sign similar contracts.
The UAW and Ford Motor agree to a new pension plan totally finanaced by the automaker, an industry first.
Walter's brother, Victor, is shot in the face while in his home. The UAW's Education Director, Victor loses his right eye.
Walter Reuther suffers life-threatening injuries when an unknown individual shoots him through the kitchen window of the Reuther family home. Walter never regains full use of his right arm. While recovering, Walter takes a temporary leave of absence from his leadership responsibilities.
The UAW officially dedicates its own FM radio station, WDET, in Detroit.
The UAW forms its Social Secity Department to address health and security issues of its members.
Walter and May's youngest daughter, Elisabeth, is born.
The UAW Fair Practices and Anti-Discrimination Department begins operations, and Reuther soon becomes its co-director with William Oliver. The department leads most of the union's civil rights initiatives.
Walter Reuther announces the UAW will partner with local activists around the nation to form consumers’ cooperatives.
In a closely contested election, Walter Reuther is elected International President at the UAW's Tenth Constitutional Convention. He holds the position until 1970.
As head of the GM Department, Walter Reuther conducts a 113-day strike against the automaker..
The UAW opens the first labor bookstore, in Detroit.
The UAW opens a new office in Washington, D.C.
Walter Reuther is elected International Vice-President at the UAW's seventh Constitutional Convention.
Walter Reuther and GM CEO Charles Wilson debate Walter Reuther's plan for automotive factories conversion into military production.
Walter and May's oldest daughter, Linda, is born.
The UAW's Executive Board pledges to not call any strikes during WWII.
Chrysler officer workers in Marysville, MI, vote in favor of the UAW in an NLRB election, the first UAW white-color worker victory.
Ford signs its first agreement with the UAW, a landmark contract for autoworkers that includes regular raises, a dues check-off provision, and seniority.
Initiated by a wildcat sit-down strike protesting the firing of eight fellow workers, Ford Motor agrees to accept the results of an NLRB election at the River Rouge factory. The autoworkers overwhelming vote in favor of the UAW, thus finally unionizing Ford.
The UAW publishes Walter Reuther's "500 Planes a Day" plan to convert civilian automobile manufacturing to build military aircraft.
Hudson Motor Company signs a union shop agreement with the UAW, the first major automobile manufacturer to do so.
At Vultee Aircraft Corporation, the UAW acheives its first successful NLRB election in the aircraft industry.
Walter Reuther is elected Region 1A co-directed at the UAW's third constitutional convention.
Th Battle of the Overpass takes place. Walter Reuther and other UAW organizers are assaulted by members of the Ford Service Department for attempting to distribute handbills at Ford Motor's River Roue Plant.
The Flint Sit-down Strike takes place over 2 months. Workers occupy GM plants in Flint, Michigan, halting production nationally . Victory, Roy, and Walter Reuther all participate. GM ends up agreeing to recognize the UAW as the bargaining representative for its workers.
A settlement is reached in the strike between the Walter Reuther-led UAW Local 174 and Kelsey Hayes Wheel. A major victory for the union, the UAW's membership skyrockets in Detroit.
The UAW formally joins the Congress of Industrial Organizations.
The second Constitutional Convention of the UAWA, the union becomes autonomous from the AFL. Homer Martin is elected President, Walter Reuther elected to the International Executive Board.
Walter and May are married in a civil ceremony. Later that day, they drove to Mount Clemens, Michigan for a union rally Walter spoke at.
Walter Reuther, 29, is elected the first President of UAW Amalgamated Local 174.
The Congress of Industrialized Organizations is established, originally named the Committee for Industrialized Organizations. United Mineworkers of America President John L. Lewis is the inaugural president.
The American Federation of Labor charters the United Automobile Workers of America. AFL President William Green appoints Francis Dillon as its first President.
Walter and Victor leave Detroit to take jobs training new autoworkers at the Gorky Auto Works in the Soviet Union. They live abroad until 1935. They bookmark their time in Russia, biking through Western Europe beforehand, and concluding their travels by visiting East Asia.
Walter and Victor Reuther attend classes together at Detroit City College (now Wayne State University). They form and lead the active Social Problems Club student group.
Walter Reuther moves to Detroit, Michigan to find work in the automotive industry. He soon takes a job at the Briggs Automotive Company, but shifts to Ford Motor for the next five years.
May Wolf is born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Walter Philip Reuther is born in Wheeling, West Virginia.