Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), 1904-43

Component identifier:

Series 16

Content Summary:

The Industrial Workers of the World was formed at a convention in Chicago in 1905 and represented a challenge to the American Federation of Labor with its dominance by craft unions. The first IWW clubs in Australia were set up in 1907. For a few years the IWW was a powerful force among unskilled workers in both countries, especially in the mining, construction and timber industries. Opposed to political parties of all kinds, it advocated direct industrial action and the formation of One Big Union. It denounced the War as 'the Bosses' War' and as a result was banned by the Australian Government in 1916. It still had a large following, but many of its leaders were prosecuted and imprisoned in 1917-18 and several were deported.

The papers mostly consist of handwritten notes and transcripts of letters and minutes, compiled by O'Farrell when he was preparing his paper entitled 'The Industrial Workers of the World in the USA: revolutionary industrial unionism.' It was presented at ANU Research School of Social Sciences Department of History seminar, 13 September, 1956. At this time, it was O'Farrell's PhD thesis topic. At the end of 1956 he transferred to H.E. Holland and Ian Turner took over the IWW topic.

The original IWW records are held in the Mitchell Library in Sydney.

Files of letters and minutes have been re-organised in chronological order.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The Library purchased the original instalment of papers from O'Farrell in June 1980. O'Farrell donated subsequent consignments to the Library in August 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984 and in 2000. Other papers were purchased from O'Farrell in 1998 and 1999. Material acquired in May 1984 and in February 1998 pertaining to Dr Albert Dryer has been transferred to the papers of Albert Dryer (MS 6610).Further material was added to the O'Farrell Papers in 2006.

Subjects:

Academic
History

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