Bill Posters and Billers Union

Bill Posters and Billers Union (Chicago, Ill.) records, 1921-1987, bulk 1940-1977

Descriptive Inventory for the Manuscript Collection at Chicago History Museum, Research Center

By Jane McCarthy, 2013.

Please address questions to:

Chicago History Museum, Research Center

1601 North Clark Street

Chicago, IL 60614-6038

Web-site: http://www.chicagohistory.org/research

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Title: Bill Posters and Billers Union (Chicago, Ill.) records, 1921-1987, bulk 1940-1977

Main creator: Bill Posters and Billers Union (Chicago, Ill.)

Inclusive dates: 1921-1987, bulk 1940-1977

Size: 5 linear feet (8 boxes)

Collection ID#: CHM-AM-64678

Restriction: Box 8 is closed to researchers.

Provenance statement: Donor unknown. (accession number X.3503.2010.1).

Terms governing use: Copyright may be retained by the creators of items, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.

Please cite this collection as: Bill Posters and Billers Union records (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/folder number of a specific item.

This descriptive inventory contains the following sections:

Biographical/historical note,

Summary description of the collection,

List of online catalog headings about the collection,

Arrangement of the collection,

Detailed description of archival series in the collection,

List of contents of the collection.

Biographical/historical note:

Bill posters posted advertisements and notices on buildings and were employed mainly at posting companies and theaters. Starting in the 1890s, the union sought higher wages and improved working conditions for its members through collective bargaining. It was eventually affiliated with the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

Summary description of the collection:

Correspondence with local and national leaders (primarily 1940s), by-laws (1940s), grievance proceedings, regular and special meeting minutes (1958-1968), attendance ledgers (1972-1987), financial reports, membership lists, advertising rates, contracts, national convention proceedings, and other related materials of the Bill Posters and Billers Union (Chicago, Ill.).

Collection written in English.

List of online catalog headings about the collection:

The following index headings for this collection were entered in the online catalog.

Subjects:

Bill Posters and Billers Union (Chicago, Ill.)--Archives.

International Alliance of Bill Posters, Billers and Distributors of the United States and Canada.

AFL-CIO.

Bill-posting--Illinois--Chicago--20th century.

Advertising--Illinois--Chicago--20th century.

Labor unions--Bill-posting--Illinois--Chicago.

Labor unions--Illinois--Chicago--20th century.

Chicago (Ill.)--Economic conditions--20th century.

Chicago (Ill.)--Social conditions--20th century.

Form/genre:

Certificates.

Collective labor agreements.

Contracts.

Correspondence.

Membership lists.

Minutes.

Photographic prints.

Posters.

Added entries:

International Alliance of Bill Posters, Billers and Distributors of the United States and Canada.

United States--Illinois--Cook County--Chicago.

Arrangement of the collection:

The collection is arranged in series:

Series 1. Office files, 1930-1976 (box 1-2)

Series 2. Meeting files, 1948-1987 (box 3-4)

Series 3. Company files, 1921-1981 (box 5-6)

Series 4. Miscellaneous materials, 1922-1948 (box 7-8)

RESTRICTION: Box 8 CLOSED

Detailed description of archival series in the collection:

Series 1. Office files, 1930-1976 (box 1-2)

Series 1 contains correspondence, constitutions and by-laws, grievance proceedings, financial statements, arbitration statements, membership lists, certificates, and other materials documenting the daily business and activities of the union.

Series 2. Meeting files, 1948-1987 (box 3-4)

Series 2 includes meeting announcements, minutes, attendance records, memos, financial records, and other materials relating to general and special meetings, as well as brochures and minutes from the general convention of this union.

Series 3. Company files, 1921-1981 (box 5-6)

Series 3 contains correspondence, agreements, and contracts with companies, including Chicago Car Advertising, Criterion Advertising, Illinois Outdoor Advertising, Foster and Kleiser, and General Outdoor Advertising.

Series 4. Miscellaneous materials, 1922-1948 (box 7-8)

RESTRICTION: Box 8 CLOSED

Series 4 consists of photographs, certificates, posters, newspapers, and other material related to the union and organized labor.

List of contents of the collection:

Box 1-2 Office files, 1930-1976

Box 3-4 Meeting files, 1948-1987

Box 5-6 Company files, 1921-1981

Box 7-8 Miscellaneous materials, 1922-1948

RESTRICTION: Box 8 CLOSED