Master Painters' Association records

Collection — Box: SC

Identifier: S4494

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection consists of price lists for the work of professional painters for 1910, 1911, 1917. Title of each three page list is Minimum Prices for Painting, Tinting, Finishing, etc.

The 1910 lists include: ceilings, new woodwork outside, old painted wordwork outside and inside, floor painting, brick or stone-new-solid measurement, old brick or stone painted, sanding, metal roofing, wall painting new-inside smooth plastered walls, graining, hardwood finishing, oil finish, close-grain woods, painting shingles, kalsomining or tinting, radiators and pipes, basic prices: work done by the day, brushes and tools furnished, from 65 cents per hour up. Prices of labor east of Point of Rocks, painters 65 cents per hour, paperhangers 75 cents per hour, decorators 85 cents per hour. Prices of labor west of Point of Rocks, painters 55 cents per hour, paperhangers 65 cents per hour, decorators 75 cents per hour.

The name on the back of these lists is J. F. Gordon, Decorating Brs, came to Duluth in 1900 from Delaware.

Dates

1910-1917

Creator

Master Painters' Association (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Open for use in the Kathryn A. Martin Library, Archives and Special Collections.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection may be protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials. Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law.

Biographical / Historical

The Master Painters Association or the Painters and Decorators Local 106 was in place before the turn of the century. In 1890, Frank Bresland was vice president of the Duluth local. In 1907, the Duluth Painters Local 106 had suffered under the open-shop campaign against the building trades and the similar open-shop campaign launched by the Citizens’ Alliance in 1920. Principal players in the union in the 1920 Minnesota elections were John E. Jensen, Joel Lichten, and Elling Munkeby. Members met at the Builders' Exchange building.

The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades AFL-CIO, like many modern labor unions, was founded in the 19th century to set standards for uniform compensation in the trades and provide a community for workers to share ideas and solve problems. The Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators of America was organized formally in 1887. Within a year, the union boasted a membership of over 7,000 tradesmen and more than 100 local unions. These trade unionists soon realized the power that they had together, rather than staying separate and facing their problems alone. Backed by a growing centralized union, these dedicated organizers won victories over oppressive working conditions that were once thought unchangeable when the union won a half-holiday on Saturday for most of its members. By 1918, the Painters' union successfully established the eight-hour day and a five-day workweek.

Extent

3.00 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Collection consists of price lists for the work of professional painters for 1910, 1911, 1917. Title of each three page list is Minimum Prices for Painting, Tinting, Finishing, etc.

Physical Location

This collection is located at the University of Minnesota Duluth Archives. For more information about this collection or to make an appointment, contact us at libarchives@d.umn.edu or 218-726-8526.

General

This collection is part of the Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections, which are housed in the University of Minnesota Duluth Archives at the Kathryn A. Martin Library, and are on permanent loan from the St. Louis County Historical Society.

Subjects

Associations, institutions, etc. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators of America Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Buildings Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Business Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Central labor councils Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Duluth (Minn.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Duluth (Minn.)--History Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Employees Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Labor unions Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Labor--History Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Neighborhoods Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Organizations Subject Source: Local sources
Prices Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Wages Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
West Duluth (Duluth, Minn.) Subject Source: Local sources
Work Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings