International Brotherhood of Teamsters Labor History Research Center
An overview of the International Brotherhood of Teamster's Labor History Research Center's mission, vision, collections and resources for academics, labor professionals and the general public.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Labor History Research Center maintains and provides access to the archives of the one of the largest and most occupationally diverse labor unions in North America, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT).
The Teamsters archives include IBT publications, convention proceedings, documentary materials from the various IBT departments, trade divisions and area conferences, photographs, films, and video/audio tape reels and cassettes. The IBT’s extensive microfilm collection, ca. 1904-1994, is being converted to digital files and is being made available to researchers in stages. The microfilm collection holds the historic administrative record of the union.
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A general labor publications collection is available to supplement the Teamsters materials. This includes a comprehensive collection of books on general labor history, American labor biography and labor and industrial relations spanning the years 1856 to the present.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters was founded in 1903. It has 1.4 million working members and 500,000 retirees in the U.S. and Canada. The Teamsters Union originally represented horse team drivers and stable hands. Over time, the union branched out and now represents a wide variety of occupations. The IBT celebrated its centennial in 2003. The union entered into an archival services agreement with The George Washington University in 2007 and an archivist was hired in 2008.
Officially launched in October 2010, the Center is located on the 7th floor of the Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library, The George Washington University, 2130 H Street NW, Washington DC, 20052. A permanent exhibit celebrating IBT history in terms of identity, community and solidarity is open to members, retirees and the general public, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday tours and visits can be also arranged.
The IBT Labor History Research Center maintains an active blog listing events, collections processed and ready for public use, collection materials received, and other important milestones.
For research consultations contact:
Thomas Connors
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Labor Archivist
connors@library.gwu.edu
(202) 994-1216
