Wisconsin Labor History Society

Wisconsin Labor History Society
AbbreviationWLHS
Formation1980
President
Steven Cupery
Vice President
Laurie Wermter
Secretary
-
Treasurer
Robin Lundgren
Christopher F. Burkley, Paul Cigler Jr., Judith Gatlin, Jessica Gibson, Sergio Gonzalez, Jillian Marie Jacklin, Ginger Jefferson, Anita Johnson, Elizabeth Jozwiak, Harvey Kaye, David Newby, Joanne Ricca, Jon Shelton, Hugh Sloan, Luz Sosa
Key people
Kenneth Germanson, Judith Burnick
Main organ
Wisconsin Labor History Society Newsletter (quarterly)
Websitehttps://www.wisconsinlaborhistory.org/

The Wisconsin Labor History Society (WLHS), founded in 1980, is a non-profit association, based in Milwaukee, to research and inform academics, workers, and general public on the labor history in the US state of Wisconsin.[1] It commemorates the Bay View Tragedy of May 5, 1886, when state militia opened fire and killed eight of 1,500 workers marching during a national strike for an 8-hour work-day.[2]

Public sponsorship

WLHS sponsors the "Struggle for Justice" photo exhibit about farm workers' organizing in the 1960s in Wisconsin.[1]

WLHS participates in a network of labor history organizations in the US and Canada including Illinois Labor History Society and the Pacific Northwest Labor History Association and holds joint meetings with them.[2][3][4][5]

WLHS co-sponsors the Wisconsin Workers Memorial located in Zeidler Union Square Park in Milwaukee.[1]

Publications

  • Quarterly printed newsletter reports on events in labor history and WLHS activities[6]
  • Monthly online newsletter[7]
  • Books, curricula, videos and other materials on labor history

Conferences

WHLS sponsors an annual conference to highlight significant events in Wisconsin labor history.[1][2][8][9][10]

WLHS co-sponsors an annual Bay View Tragedy commemoration to honor workers killed in 1886 march during a national strike for an eight-hour work-day.[1]

Grants, awards

WLHS promotes labor studies in colleges and universities:

  • Daitsman Awards: special grants for labor history projects[1]
  • Zeidler Academic Award: annual award to graduate and undergraduate college students for original research into Wisconsin labor and working-class history[1][2]

WLHS promotes labor studies in high and middle schools,[11] including:* Labor History Essay Contest: Offers cash awards to Wisconsin high school students[1][2][12]

  • National History Day Contest: Sponsors awards for labor history projects by Wisconsin middle and high school students[1][2]

Archives

WLHS has a strong relationship with the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS), which regularly refers labor-related inquiries to WLHS and posts WHLS news and events.[citation needed] WHS also maintains a labor collection.[13]

The WLHS archive includes histories of local labor unions and councils, buttons and badges, photos, and meeting minutes.[2] As of 2018, WLHS acquired a project to map important Wisconsin labor sites.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "What We Do". Wisconsin Labor History Society. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "2019-20 Report of President Steve Cupery". Wisconsin Labor History Society. 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Labor History Organizations". New York Labor History Association. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  4. ^ "LHA Hosts Six-Part Labor History Program". Greater New Haven Labor History Association. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Other Labor History Organizations". Labor and Working-Class History Association. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Newsletter, Printed Quarterly Archives". Wisconsin Labor History Society. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Wisconsin Labor History Society News, Online". Wisconsin Labor History Society. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  8. ^ Stromquist, Shelton (1982). "Wisconsin Labor History Society Conference" (PDF). International Labor and Working Class History. 22. Cambridge University Press: 63–64. doi:10.1017/S0147547900007924. S2CID 143028357. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  9. ^ Holder, Dan (1987). "Wisconsin Labor History Society". International Labor and Working Class History. 32 (32). Cambridge University Press: 93–95. doi:10.1017/S0147547900004506. JSTOR 27671714. S2CID 145667105.
  10. ^ "Wisconsin Labor History Society Conference". Isthmus. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  11. ^ "WI Labor History Society - Student Services". Madison Metropolitan School District. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Labor History Essay Contest". Wisconsin State AFL-CIO. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  13. ^ "About Our Labor Collection". Wisconsin Historical Society. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2021.