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Welcome to the Walter P. Reuther Digital Archive

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.


EXPLORE

TIMELINE

circa 1975

Walter Reuther Library Opens

The Walter P. Reuther Library opens. A dedicated archival facility at Wayne State University, the building houses the UAW archives.

1975
09 May 1970

Walter and May Reuther Pass Away

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.

circa 1970

Earth Day

Walter Reuther donates the first seed funding for what would later that year be the Earth Day holiday.

1970
Jul 1969

Charleston nurses strike

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.

1969
23 Nov 1968

No-raid pact

UAW and Teamsters come to a no-raid agreement with the AFL-CIO and their Alliance for Labor Action.

circa 1968

Alliance for Labor Action

UAW disaffiliates from the AFL-CIO, and soon establishes the Alliance for Labor Action with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

1968
May 1966

Olga Madar

Olga Madar becomes the first woman elected to the UAW's International Executive Board, at the union's 20th Constitutional Convention.

1966
07 Nov 1965

United Action for Clear Water

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.

Jul 1965

Medicare

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.

15 Mar 1965

Selma

UAW leaders march with civil rights demonstrators in Selma, Alabama.

Feb 1965

Citizens' Crusade Against Poverty

The Citizens' Crusade Against Poverty, a non-partisan coalition dedicated to eliminating poverty in the US, is co-organized by Reuther and the UAW.

18 Jan 1965

Douglas Aircraft National Agreement

The UAW signs its first national agreement in the aerospace industry, a contract with Douglas Aircraft.

1965
28 Aug 1963

March on Washington

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.

23 Jun 1963

Walk to Freedom

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.

1963
May 1962

Nelson Jack Edwards

Nelson Jack Edwards becomes the first Black member elected to the UAW's International Executive Board, at the union's 18th Constitutional Convention.

May 1962

UAW Archives

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.

1962
27 Apr 1961

MLK speaks to the UAW

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."

1961
circa Dec 1955

AFL-CIO Merger

The AFL-CIO is created when the two labor federations merge. George Meany is named President, and Walter Vice-president.

circa Oct 1955

UAW Women's Department Established

The UAW creates the Women's Department, formerly an office within the Fair Practices and Anti-discrimination Department.

1955
05 Apr 1954

Kohler Strike Starts

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.

1954
04 Dec 1952

Walter Reuther Elected CIO President

Walter Reuther is elected President of the CIO.

1952
14 Jul 1951

Solidarity House Opens

Walter Reuther cuts the ribbon on the UAW's new headquarters in Detroit, Solidarity House, where the union resides to this day.

1951
01 Aug 1950

Fair Play in Bowling

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.

02 May 1950

Treaty of Detroit

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.

1950
29 Sep 1949

Ford Pension Plan

The UAW and Ford Motor agree to a new pension plan totally finanaced by the automaker, an industry first.

24 May 1949

Victor Reuther Shot

Walter's brother, Victor, is shot in the face while in his home. The UAW's Education Director, Victor loses his right eye.

1949
20 Apr 1948

Walter Reuther Shot

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.

Feb 1948

WDET Dedicated

The UAW officially dedicates its own FM radio station, WDET, in Detroit.

Feb 1948

UAW Social Security Department

The UAW forms its Social Secity Department to address health and security issues of its members.

1948
circa 1947

Elisabeth Reuther Born

Walter and May's youngest daughter, Elisabeth, is born.

1947
22 Oct 1946

UAW Fair Practices and Anti-Discrimination Department Established

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.

Sep 1946

Consumers' Cooperatives

Walter Reuther announces the UAW will partner with local activists around the nation to form consumers’ cooperatives.

23 Mar 1946

Walter Reuther Elected International President

In a closely contested election, Walter Reuther is elected International President at the UAW's Tenth Constitutional Convention. He holds the position until 1970.

1946
Nov 1945

1945-1946 GM Strike

As head of the GM Department, Walter Reuther conducts a 113-day strike against the automaker..

1945
Jan 1944

UAW bookstore

The UAW opens the first labor bookstore, in Detroit.

1944
Nov 1942

UAW in Washington

The UAW opens a new office in Washington, D.C.

02 Aug 1942

Walter Reuther, Vice-President

Walter Reuther is elected International Vice-President at the UAW's seventh Constitutional Convention.

31 Mar 1942

WWII Production Debate

Walter Reuther and GM CEO Charles Wilson debate Walter Reuther's plan for automotive factories conversion into military production.

circa 1942

Linda Reuther Born

Walter and May's oldest daughter, Linda, is born.

1942
08 Dec 1941

Wartime no-strike pledge

The UAW's Executive Board pledges to not call any strikes during WWII.

16 Nov 1941

UAW organizes white collar workers

Chrysler officer workers in Marysville, MI, vote in favor of the UAW in an NLRB election, the first UAW white-color worker victory.

21 Jun 1941

First Ford CBA

Ford signs its first agreement with the UAW, a landmark contract for autoworkers that includes regular raises, a dues check-off provision, and seniority.

01 Apr 1941 – 21 May 1941

UAW organizes Ford Motor

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.

1941
circa Dec 1940

500 Planes a Day

The UAW publishes Walter Reuther's "500 Planes a Day" plan to convert civilian automobile manufacturing to build military aircraft.

12 Dec 1940

First auto union shop agreement

Hudson Motor Company signs a union shop agreement with the UAW, the first major automobile manufacturer to do so.

19 Jul 1940

UAW breaks through in aircraft indistry

At Vultee Aircraft Corporation, the UAW acheives its first successful NLRB election in the aircraft industry.

1940
circa Mar 1939

Walter Reuther, Regional Director

Walter Reuther is elected Region 1A co-directed at the UAW's third constitutional convention.

1939
26 May 1937

Battle of the Overpass

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.

1937
circa Dec 1936

Flint Sit-down Strike

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.

circa Dec 1936

Kelsey-Hayes Strike

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.

10 Jul 1936

UAW Joins CIO

The UAW formally joins the Congress of Industrial Organizations.

27 Apr 1936

Walter Reuther Elected to UAW Leadership

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.

13 Mar 1936

Walter and May Reuther Married

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.

circa 1936

UAW Local 174

Walter Reuther, 29, is elected the first President of UAW Amalgamated Local 174.

1936
08 Nov 1935

Creation of the CIO

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.

26 Aug 1935

Creation of the UAW

The American Federation of Labor charters the United Automobile Workers of America. AFL President William Green appoints Francis Dillon as its first President.

1935
circa Jan 1933

Walter Reuther travels the world

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.

1933
circa 1930

Walter Reuther Attends College

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.

1930
21 Feb 1927

Walter Reuther moves to Detroit

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.

1927
circa 1910

May Wolf Born

May Wolf is born in Cincinnati, Ohio.

1910
01 Sep 1907

Walter Reuther Born

Walter Philip Reuther is born in Wheeling, West Virginia.

1907