Calumet Regional Archives

Inventory

7.50 Linear Feet
June 1984
Revised February 2000

Introduction

Mr. Samuel C. Evett, former director of USWA District 31, donated the Samuel Evett Papers to the Calumet Regional Archives on March 21, 1983.

Property rights in the collection are held by the Calumet Regional Archives; literary rights are dedicated to the public. At the request of the donor, the oral history interview transcripts will remain closed until 1990. In addition, the election series records will remain closed until January 1, 2000. There are no additional restrictions on access to the collection.

Linear feet of shelf space: 7.50 linear feet.
Number of containers: 15 boxes.
Calumet Regional Archives Collection 137
Processed by: Stephen McShane
Date: June, 1984

Scope and Content

These records document the history of the United Steelworkers of America in Northwest Indiana from 1936 to 1974. Mr. Samuel C. Evett, Assistant to the Director of District 31 for nearly forty years, compiled the collection. Correspondence (1936-1944) furnishes information on the organizing efforts of the Steel Workers Organizing Committee during the labor struggles of the 1930s. The series details rules for administration of SWOC lodges, including dues collection and financial management. In addition, notices of meetings, progress of negotiations, and updates on national labor legislation are described in the series. Correspondents include John L. Lewis, Philip Murray, and David McDonald, as well as District 31 Directors Nicholas Fontecchio and Joseph Germano. Among the highlights of the correspondence are references to the 1937 "Memorial Day Massacre" during the Republic Steel strike in South Chicago and John L. Lewis' support for Wendall Wilkie against Franklin Roosevelt in 1940.

Photographs, (1942-1973) offer a visual record of the activities of the USWA in the Calumet Region during the period of strong unionism after World War II. While the series contains some photographs of strikes in Gary (1952), most of the photographs portray labor leaders at conventions, meetings, and banquets. Several images capture Mr. Evett with famous personalities such as Philip Murray, Senators Birch Bayh and Paul Douglas, and former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. Also, the photographs include Joseph Germano and Orval Kincaid, along with presidents of various locals in the Region.

Although the records relating to the disputed District 31 director elections (1973-1974) have been closed until January 1, 2000, researchers should note that a series of newsclippings and campaign leaflets reveal issues and the intensity of the campaign. Legal briefs and depositions provide data on the views and actions of labor officials supporting both candidates.

Supplementary information on the history of the USWA on the local and national level is located in a series of printed material, including wage agreements and proceedings of constitutional conventions since 1942. Finally, a series of newsletters, programs, and printed material from the Munster Lion's Club yield information on the action and concerns of a local service club.

The Samuel Evett Papers offer useful documentation of local steelworkers union activities from the formative New Deal era, through the boom years of World War II and the post-war period, and into the beginnings of rank-and-file disillusionment in the 1970's. Researchers should note that historical information on Samuel Evett is located in Box 1, File Folder 1. Other labor history collections in the Calumet Regional Archives include United Steelworkers of America Collection (CRA 013), the U.S. Steel Photograph Collection (CRA 042), the Hammond Teachers Federation Records (CRA 072), the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers, Local 210, Records (CRA 081), the Orval Kincaid Papers (CRA 092), the USWA Local 1010 Records (CRA 115), the John Oglesby Papers (CRA 119), the USWA Local 1011 Records (CRA 121), the William Kranz Papers (CRA 122), the Peter Calacci Papers (CRA 138), the John Howard Collection (CRA 141), the USWA Local 1066 Records (CRA 144), the Gary Newspaper Guild Records (CRA 148), the USWA Local 3008 Records (CRA 159), and the John Mayerik Papers (CRA 168).

Historical Sketch

Born on May 4, 1914, in Carterville, Illinois, Samuel Clinton Evett eventually developed one of the longest service records in organized labor. Following his father's example, in 1933 Evett began work as a coal miner in Southern Illinois' Williamson County in the Chicago, Wilmington, and Franklin Coal Company. After several years in the mines and service in the United Mine Workers Sub-District 9, District 12, UMW President John L. Lewis transferred Evett to the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC) in 1936. He was assigned to the Chicago-Calumet District to establish SWOC lodges and later United Steelworkers of America locals. As the assistant to the District 31 director for thirty-seven years, Evett served on mediating committees, handled grievances, and aided in the administration of the USWA in Northwest Indiana. In 1973, he assumed the directorship of District 31 upon the retirement of long-time director Joseph Germano. In the official election for district director, however, Evett's victory was disputed by rival candidate Edward Sadlowski of the South Works Local 65 in South Chicago. After investigation by the USWA and the U.S. Department of Labor, the district held a second election in 1974. Although both sides waged intense campaigns, Evett failed to secure a second victory and lost the directorship. He retired in 1977 after forty years of service with the SWOC and USWA.

During his career, Evett served as a member of several government panels, including the Chicago Regional Wage Stabilization Board in World War II and the Korean War. In 1976, he acted as consultant to the U.S. Special Trade Representative, Orderly Marketing Agreement negotiations, Specialty Steel for Japan, Sweden, and the European Common Market. In addition, he had been an active member of the Munster, Indiana community and became well-known throughout the Calumet Region, both for his career in organized labor and his devotion to community service.

In late 1983, Evett left Northwest Indiana and returned to his native Southern Illinois. He had participated in the formation of the United Steelworkers of America and witnessed the growth and struggle of the twentieth century labor movement. The impact of Samuel Evett's contributions to local workingmen and women remains a significant aspect of the labor history in the Calumet Region.

Subject Tracings

• East Chicago
• Evett, Samuel
• Fontechio, Nicholas
• Gary
• Germano, Joseph
• Industry
• Inland Steel Company
• Kincaid, Orval
• Labor
• Lewis, John L.
• Memorial Day Massacre
• Munster
• Munster Lions Club
• Murray, Philip
• Pullman-Standard Company
• Republic Steel Corporation
• Sadlowski, Edward
• Steel
• Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC)
• Strikes
• United States Steel Corporation
• United Steelworkers of America