United Scenic Artists, Local 350 (Chicago, Ill.) records, 1927-1970

 

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

By Emily Sass, 2010; ed. by Peter T. Alter and Rachel Juris, 2011

 

 

Please address questions to:

Chicago History Museum, Research Center

1601 North Clark Street

Chicago, IL 60614-6038

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

 

 

© Copyright 2011, Chicago Historical Society

Processed with funding provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

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Title: United Scenic Artists, Local 350 (Chicago, Ill.) records [manuscript], 1927-1970

Main Entry: United Scenic Artists. Local 350 (Chicago, Ill.)

Inclusive dates: 1927-1970

Size:

4.25 linear ft. (11 boxes)

3 microfilm reels.

 

Restriction: Box 7 is closed until 2034. Folders 3, 5-6 from box 11 are closed until 2038 and have been removed to a restricted storage area.

Accession number: M1974.0015

Provenance Statement: Gift of the United Scenic Artists, Local 350 (M1974.0015).

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

Please cite this collection as: United Scenic Artists, Local 350 (Chicago, Ill.) records (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/folder number of specific item.

 

This descriptive inventory contains the following sections:

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.

 

Historical note:

The United Scenic Artists (USA) Local 350 was the Chicago branch of a labor union and professional association for theatrical (and later television) artists, designers, and craftspeople. During the 1920s and 1930s, Local 350 was part of the Brotherhood of the Painters, Decorators, and Paperhangers of America. In 1990, Local 350 became part of USA Local 829 based in New York (N.Y.). Local 350, although based in Chicago, had members throughout the Midwest.

 

Summary description of the collection:

Meeting minutes, financial records, attendance rosters, membership files, correspondence, and other records of the United Scenic Artists (USA) Local 350 in Chicago (Ill.). Most of the collection pertains to the finances of the union, especially membership dues.

 

List of online catalog headings about the collection:

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

 

Subjects:

United Scenic Artists. Local 350 (Chicago, Ill.)--Archives.

Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators, and Paperhangers of America.

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

Motion picture industry--Employees--Labor unions--Illinois--Chicago.

Motion picture industry--United States--20th century.

Scene painting--United States--20th century.

Set designers--United States--20th century.

Television broadcasting--Employees--Labor unions--Illinois--Chicago.

Television broadcasting--United States--20th century.

Theater--United States--20th century.

Theaters--Employees--Labor unions--Illinois--Chicago.

Theaters--Stage-setting and scenery.

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

 

Form/genre:

Account books.

Correspondence.

Daybooks.

Membership lists.

Microfilm.

Minutes.

 

Added entries:

Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators, and Paperhangers of America.

 

Arrangement of the collection:

The collection is arranged in five series:

Series 1. General files, 1928, 1970 (box 1)

Series 2. Meeting minutes, 1927-1960 (box 1)

Series 3. Financial records, 1927-1967 (box 2-10) Box 7 CLOSED until 2034

Series 4. Membership records 1956-1968 (box 10-11) Box 11, folders 3, 5-6 CLOSED until 2038

Series 5. Company files, 1928-1968 (box 11)

 

Detailed description of archival series in the collection:

Series 1. General files, 1928, 1970 (box 1)

Series 1 consists of ballots from USA Local 350 officer elections (1970). Also present is a letter regarding life insurance policies (1928).

 

Series 2. Meeting minutes, 1927-1960 (box 1)

Series 2 contains handwritten ledgers (1927-1941, 5 v.) and typed meeting minutes (1956-1960) of USA Local 350. Topics include meeting attendance, officer elections, assessment of fines, and artwork created by union members.

 

Series 3. Financial records, 1927-1967 (box 2-10)

RESTRICTION: Box 7 CLOSED until 2034

Series 3 includes assessment and dues payment ledgers, check stub notebooks, daybooks, and other financial records of USA Local 350. Also includes financial records pertaining to the Brotherhood of the Painters, Decorators, and Paperhangers of America, with which Local 350 was affiliated in the 1920s and 1930s.

 

Series 4. Membership records, 1956-1968 (box 10-11)

RESTRICTION: Box 11, folders 3, 5-6 CLOSED until 2038

Series 4 consists of attendance rosters (4 v.) from USA Local 350 regular and executive board meetings. Also present is correspondence with individuals interested in joining the union, applications, and rejection letters.

 

Series 5. Company files, 1928-1968 (box 11)

Series 5 contains correspondence and financial records related to companies with which members of Local 350 worked, including CBS, NBC, the Municipal Theater of St. Louis (Mo.) and the Starlight Opera Association of Kansas City (Mo.).

 

List of contents of the collection:

Box 1              General files, 1928, 1970

Meeting minutes, 1927-1960

Box 2-10         Financial records, 1927-1967

[RESTRICTION: Box 7 CLOSED until 2034]

Box 10-11       Membership records, 1956-1968

[RESTRICTION: Box 11 folders 3, 5-6 CLOSED until 2038]

Box 11            Company files, 1928-1968

3 microfilm reels