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Summary
- Abstract:
- The Fred Pfeiffer Papers document Pfeiffer's work with labor unions and activist organizations in the Albany, N.Y., area from the mid-1970s to 2007.
- Extent:
- 4.9 cubic ft.
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Fred Pfeiffer Papers 1937-2007 (APAP-139). M. E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Pfeiffer Papers).
Background
- Scope and Content:
The Fred Pfeiffer Papers contain records resulting from his work with various unions and activist organizations in the Albany, NY area, as well as a collection of union-related materials such as contracts, newsletters, and publications that have historical significance. While all of the series include material directly related to Pfeiffer's work, Series 1 and 2 consist of the most substantial amount of Pfeiffer-related papers. In particular, please see the CSEA and SEIU folders in Series 1 and in the Labor Committee for Safe Energy folder in Series 2. Series 2 contains information on nuclear energy activism and organized labor's engagement with energy issues, mostly during the 1980s. Series 3 relates to labor organizing in Latin America and internationally during the 1980s and 1990s. Series 3 also includes anti-NAFTA, anti-GATT, and anti-WTO materials. Series 4 is a diverse set of published documents and artifacts (mostly buttons and pins) related to labor organizations, conventions, government reports, protests and marches.
- Biographical / Historical:
Fred Pfeiffer has been involved in organized labor in the Albany, New York Capital District since the 1970s. He was a machinist at GE in Schenectady. He has worked with the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), International Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers (IUE), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, Solidarity Committee of the Capital District, Labor Committee for Safe Energy, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the Campaign for a Livable Minimum Wage, and other national and local organizations. As a bargaining advisor, he helped to organize hospital workers, Capital District Off-Track Betting (OTB) workers, Albany Public Library employees, janitors in Albany, and others. He has also worked on behalf of various causes, notably NL Industries and the impact of nuclear power during the 1980s, and Latin American labor organizing and refugee programs, especially El Salvador, during the 1980s and early 1990s. Pfeiffer served as coordinator at the Capital District Worker Center for the Building Skills Project in the 2000s. Pfeiffer remains a lively local activist, most recently demonstrating with the Occupy Movement.
- Acquisition information:
- Fred Pfeiffer donated the papers to the M.E. Grenander Special Collections and Archives department in 2002 and 2015.
- Processing information:
Processed in 2013 by Ben Himmelfarb and in 2020 by Jason Hecker.
- Arrangement:
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1 - Union and Community Organizing, 1973-2007, Undated
- Series 2 - Energy and Labor, 1962-1996, Undated
- Series 3 - International Labor Organizing, 1980-1994, Undated
- Series 4 - Subject Files, 1937-1996, Undated
- Physical location:
- The materials are located onsite in the department.
Subjects
- Subjects:
- Social Activists and Public Advocates
Labor
Conservation and the Environment
Labor Unions--Organizing--New York(State)
Labor Unions--Organizing--Latin America
Nuclear Energy--New York (State)--Public Opinion
Clippings
Minutes
Files by subject
Newsletters
Artifacts
Official reports - Names:
- Civil Service Employees Association (N.Y.)
AFL-CIO
Service Employees International Union
AFSCME
Solidarity Committee of the Capital District
Pfeiffer, Fred - Places:
- New York (State)--Social conditions
Contents
Access
Using These Materials
- ACCESS:
- The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Access to this record group is unrestricted.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Fred Pfeiffer Papers 1937-2007 (APAP-139). M. E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Pfeiffer Papers).