Ellis, Frank Alexander, 1888 - 1976. Oral History Interview, November 1974

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: SMHC Collection 1258

Staff Only

Abstract

This collection consists of an audiocassette, a reel-to-reel tape, a CD duplicate of the audiocassette, and a transcript of an oral history interview conducted between lone Louk and Frank Ellis of Austin, Minnesota. The cassette, reel-to-reel tape, and audio CDs are of the same recording. Ellis was a labor organizer and a worker at the Hormel. In 1933, Elhs helped to found the Independent Union of All Workers, and after the union joined the Committee for Industrial Organization, he served in Local P-9, of the United Packinghouse Workers of America. In the interview, Ellis talked about his work as an organizer. In particular, he discussed his work in organizing the packinghouse workers and his part in the 1933 Hormel strike.

Dates

1974-11

Biographical / Historical

Frank Alexander Ellis was bom on 10 September 1888, in St. Joseph, Missouri. He attended the Floyd School in St. Joseph.

Ellis was involved in the organized labor movement during nearly all of his adult life. He worked for the Hormel Company of Austin, Minnesota, in the Hog Casing Department from November 1928 until July 1933. In 1933, Ellis helped organize the Independent Union of All Workers and conducted one of the nation's first successful sit-down strikes. He terminated his employment in 1933 in order to found and become the first president of Local P-9, United Packinghouse Workers of America. He became the vice-president of the United Packinghouse Workers in May 1937, a position he held until his retirement in 1952. Frank EUis died in December of 1976.

Extent

2.00 folders

Language of Materials

English

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title: Ellis, Frank Alexander, 1888 - 1976. Oral History Interview, November 1974
Status: Completed
Author: Karin Thiem
Date: 1975-01
Description rules: Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description: English
Script of description: Latin
Language of description note: English