ILRLR 2070: Migrants and Immigrants- Moving to Work in the 19th-20th Century: Kheel Center at ILR

Cornell's main archival collections are the Kheel Center here at ILR and the Cornell University Rare and Manuscript Collections, housed in the Kroch Library. 

Close, Kathryn. The Joads of New York. New York: The Consumers League of New York, 1945. 26pp.
#5307 Consumers' League of New York City. Records, 1896-1962, Box 50, Folder 10
The Consumers League of New York was a progressive organization that lobbied for protective labor organization. Long concerned with the plight of immigrant and migrant labor, in 1944 it conducted a study of working and living conditions in 552 farm labor camps in New York State. The pamphlet summarizes its findings and highlights deplorable conditions and low wages of seasonal migrant farm workers, mostly blacks from other American states.

The records of the Consumer League of New York include many reports on conditions in labor camps for migrant workers in a variety of locations in the state. 

Abelson, Paul. Memorandum of a Plan for the Organization of a Committee on Industrial Relations Under the Auspices of the Kehillah [n.d] 2pp.
#5192 Paul Abelson Papers, Box 56 Folder 9
Paul Abelson was a prominent lawyer and arbitrator in New York City who devoted the early part of his career to Jewish welfare work, including immigrant education. He served as the director of the Bureau of Industry of Kehillah, a Jewish community in New York City. The memo details the rationale and needs for a special committee within Kehillah, which would help Jewish workers and employers reduce industrial strife in New York City.

#5210 Industrial Workers of the World Collected Documents, 1905-1971.
Includes a variety of pamphlets articulating the IWW's official position on industrial organization, strikes, and the AFL among other topics.  Pamphlets generally include pronouncements on the IWW's goal of enlisting all workers, of any nationality and ethnicity, in their ranks.

#4087 Whyte, William Foote Papers
ILR professor William Whyte wrote a path-breaking book on the Italian community in Boston (Street Corner Society). This collection includes research notes on a variety of topics, including community and church organizations, family values, and crime.  Most of the studied Italians were second or third generation immigrants.

Needle Workers Union of Puerto Rico, Local 300, ILGWU, 1934-37, 1939.  In: International Ladies Garment Workers Union. #5780/014 Charles S. Zimmerman papers. Box 30, Folder 10
The ILGWU attempted to organize workers in Puerto Rico in the 1930s. This material includes correspondence between Teresa Anglero and Rose Pesotta, regarding organizing activities, local matters, and the Code for Needlework Industry. They belonged to the Needle Workers Union of Puerto Rico, Local 300.

Rosie the Riveter revisited: Women and the World War II Work Experience. Oral history interviews. In 45 volumes, with index.
Kheel Center Rare Books HD6073.A452 U67
Thoroughly indexed collection, with topics ranging from cultural/ethnic background to work experience in factories, unions, strikes, and perception of work experience before, during, and after the war.