Pioneer Aid and Support Association
PA and transition
to ILHS
PA was formed on December 15, 1887. It was comprised of
members of the Central Labor Union, the Defense Committee, and the Amnesty
Association. CLU arranged for the post-death care of Spies, Parsons, and
Fischer. NYT later described PA as a compromise from fights between
the CLU and the Anarchist Defense Committee. To care for widows and orphans.
CLU was viewed as being very focused on foreigners – the
foreign-born and foreign-oriented workers and was sympathetic to the
anarchists, and had close connections to the Int. Working Peoples Association.
Supported 8-hour as a strategy, but more to the anarchistic side. Was formed in
the spring of 1884, under the leadership of the Progressive Cigar Makers Union
No. 15. Formed to have a more revolutionary leaning than the Trades Assembly –
removed itself from. Claimed a membership of 12,000 in 1885. CLU was first
there in May 1886 – they retained Salomon and Zeigler to represent. (their
first act?)
1887 article said that CLU might buy a big tract at
Waldheim. Subcom. Of DC and AA?
Defense Committee was organized in My 22, 1886. Ernest
Schmidt was the leader, and George Schilling was active. and they began to
raise money – collected $40,000. It had an air of respectability that won it
some acceptance even among critics (Pierce.)
Defense Committee was very proactive. It wanted to make sure
that dime museums would not profit from the tragedy – and obtained all the
relics, including the clothes the men were executed in and other articles.
Defense Committee actually bought the cemetery lots first and then title was
transferred to PA after about a year. (or was it specific men?)
Amnesty Association was probably formed in October of 1887,
Schilling and DC began the movement for clemency, and the AA was formed to
raise funds, arrange meetings, circulate petitions, and try to swing public
opinion in favor of a reprieve. Lucy worked to collect signatures and funds.
Darrow was active.
PA formed in December 15, 1887. Their minutes start in 88.
“Organization founded to assist the families of the executed and imprisoned
men.” Expanded to care for the grave site. It was also called “The Pioneer Aid
and Relief Association” and the Chicago Pioneer Benefit and Aid Society.”
(Alarm) And maybe Pioneer Benevolent
Association- ticket to even in ILHS archives.
Article in Dec 88 indicates that PA is largely composed of
women.
PA Monument Committee: Louis Vonierok?, William Urbam, Dr.
Ernest Schmidt, Herr Kaune, M. Schnerdinger, and Thomas Grief.
PA money invested in bonds from the beginning (Schaak)
1890 and 91 had a big rift. Two big articles with
Lucy/Martin stuff, and also short article in Jan 1891 covers an uneventful
meeting of PA and DC – low turnout.
On October 28, 1947, the Daily Worker in New York published a letter to the editor from K. Briesemeister, president of Pioneer Aid and Support Association in Chicago. Briesemeister wrote that the organization was getting smaller every year, and that the few members remaining are getting old and worry that their further activities will be of short duration. They are asking for contributions for a perpetual care fund of $10,000 to preserve and perpetuate the Haymarket Martyrs Monument as a landmark in the history of the American labor movement.
ILHS history
Suhrbuhr writes that ILHS came into existence pretty
directly due to the Police Monument. In 68 (?) after WU bombing, Bill Garvey, editor of Midwest
Steel Labor, inspired the creation of HWSMC. Told a casual gathering at the
Blackstone Hotel that a Chicago union had given money to the PM restoration
fund. The group decided to hold a demonstration at Haymarket Square on May Day
to help educate the public about the workers’ side of the story in 1886. This
group decided to form an ad hoc committee and call themselves the “Haymarket
Workers Memorial Committee.” Bring awareness to the public.
March 1969 Statement of Purpose for HSWMC addressing the
myths, legends and misconceptions about the tragic events of May 4, 1886.
Eloquently – lessons of Haymarket, historical context, legitimacy of social
protest, Honor the memory of the struggle for the 8-hour day; ongoing struggle
for truth and justice.
The successful demonstration was held on Sunday, May 4, 1969
at the site of the Haymarket incident, on Randolph Street between DesPlaines
and Halsted. The publicity flyer, done up in the style of the original
broadside, offered that “Good Speakers will be there to explain the meaning of
the Haymarket Events in light of the Social Struggles of Today.” Studs Terkel
was Master of Ceremonies. It was so successful that people agreed to organize a
group to keep the memory alive.
June 1969 correspondence between Irving Abrams and HSWMC /Bill
Garvey on letterheads(sole remaining member of PA (double check this in 1969)
about cooperation and support.
The charter meeting of ILHS was held on August 5, 1969 at
Joe Jacobs office, He was a labor lawyer and the nephew of Les Orear. Charter and Bylaws were adopted, and Les
Orear was elected president and Bill Adelman vice-president. Irving Abrams,
attended the first meeting and was a charter member. Garvey opened the meeting
by stating that the purpose was to consider the possibility of stimulating
among trade unionists, historians, and others an interest in forming a society
in Illinois to preserve the state’s labor historical records presently being
lost and destroyed for lack of interest and to promote the facts of the state’s
rich and colorful labor history.
Founding members were James Hirsh, Stanley
Johnson, Morris Davidson, John Schumpp, Ken Appelhans, Joe Grafen, Irving
Abrams, Joseph Griganti, Ernest DeMais, Leslie Orear, Robert Kelly, Frank
McCallister, Sam Sloan, Joe Norrick, Roger Kapfhammer, Anthony Zanetello,
Arthur Weinberg, William Byrne, Nancy Byrne, Staughton Lynd, William Garvey,
Norman Roth, Bob Christianson, Clarence Greene, Joseph Jacobs.
Reuben Soderstrom, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO was the
first honorary membership given out. The organization’s first acquisition was
given by Joe Jacobs, his personal collection of mementos from the “Chicago Labor College Collection.” The small
treasury of dues ($5 per year) was deposited with Amalgamated Bank, a bank with
strong union ties that had been founded by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of
America. Still there.
Arrangements were made with the Illinois State Historical
Library in Springfield to act as a perpetual repository of local union and
personal records. /labor records retention project. September 69 District 12
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workman passed a resolution applauding the
formation of ILHS and urged all other labor unions in Illinois to support and
join the society.
In January of 1970, a proposal was made and unanimously
passed that the Haymarket Square Workers Memorial Committee be merged with the
ILHS. $400 was carried over to ILHS as part of this. In March ILHS was
incorporated as a not-for-profit organization. In April, Irving Abrams made a
motion which carried that the Pioneer Aid and Support Association be
perpetuated to maintain the upkeep of the Haymarket Monument in Waldheim
Cemetery.
Interesting that also at this meeting was a reference to the
Haymarket Square plaque not being accepted if the word “anarchist(s)” was not
deleted from the plaque. In November, Abrams was given honorary life
membership.
In March of 1971, a motion was made and passed that
transferred title of the Waldheim monument to the ILHS. Member Al Widel was
appointed to obtain an estimate of the total cost for restoration of the
monument which was noted as requiring considerable improvement at that time.
This was reported in Federation News.
Daily News reported that they refurbished the police
monument! Les letter refutes.
Significant Commemorations:
1937 – 50th. Detailed in Abrams memoir.
Check on date of Centennial event vs. Landmark event – when
was the sidewalk replaced?
