Tagged: labor

New Finding Aid | Karl Pretshold papers

Special Collections and University Archives is pleased to announce an updated finding aid published for the Karl Pretshold papers (Ax 834). The finding aid is available on Archives West.

This collection is about Karl Pretshold’s life and work as a journalist and public relations official. Pretshold worked in East St. Louis, Illinois as a journalist during the early 20th century. He wrote about workers unions and the labor movement. He traveled abroad during his career as a journalist and wrote about similar labor movements occurring in Britain. Following his career as a journalist Pretshold worked in New York City for the Department of Health in public relations. Pretshold was instrumental to a public campaign to test the newly developed polio vaccine. Pretshold died in New York in 1975, and the materials were donated to the University by his wife, Hannah following his death.

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Anniversary of Harry S. Stamper, Jr.’s Passing

StamperGuitar_smallMarch 9th, 2014 marked the two year anniversary of the passing of Oregon folksinger Harry S. Stamper, Jr.  His song “We Just Come To Work Here (We Don’t Come To Die)” became the unofficial anthem of the occupational health and safety movement, and it was designated a “classic labor song” by the Smithsonian Folkways record label. During his career, Stamper, who was from Coos Bay, performed at the Great Hudson River Revival, the Highlander Center, and the San Francisco memorial for legendary labor leader Harry Bridges. His work caught the attention of renowned folk musician Pete Seeger, influential folklorist Archie Green and a host of other journalists, documentary filmmakers, scholars and union activists.

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