Clemens Forsen Papers

Collection

Identifier: LP000611

Staff Only

Important subjects covered in the collection are: Labor Education UAW Elections, Politics, and Activities, 1948-1962 Local, State, and National Politics, 1949-1964 Local #155 Credit Union Development and Activities, 1950-1964

Among the correspondents are: American Arbitration Association Sander M. Levin Archie Bailey James McNeely Al Barbour Mike Novak George A. Dondero John Ruban Alex Fuller Walter Ulrich Eugene Hoffman Wayne County Tool and Die Association Russel Leach

Series Description: Series I, Boxes 1-3 Union paper By-Laws, Constitutions; Minutes of Council meetings, Local #155 meetings; papers concerning union elections and politics; education and recreational material; correspondence.

Series II, Credit Union Papers Union agreement; collection slips; Board of Directors meetings, minutes and expense details; annual reports, general mailings; newsletters.

Series III, Political papers Election material; Democratic Party campaign material; clippings, general correspondence; bulletins and newsletters.

Dates

1947 - 1964

Creator

Forsen, Clemens (Person)

Language of Materials

Material entirely in English.

Access

Collection is open for research.

Use

Refer to the Walter P. Reuther Library Rules for Use of Archival Materials.

Extent

2.5 Linear Feet (5 MB)

Additional Description

Abstract

A member of United Auto Workers Local 155, Clemens Forsen served on Local 155’s Executive Board and helped charter the Local 155 Credit Union, serving as Vice-President of the Local 155 Credit Union Board of Directors. Mr. Forsen’s papers reflect his work as a labor activist and in various Michigan Democratic Party organizations.

History

Clemens Forsen was born in Minnesota, on January 16, 1905. Mr. Forsen was an active participant in Detroit area labor union activities. A member of UAW Local #155 since 1942, he became an officer of the Local #155 Executive Board in 1949. In July, 1955 he was elected a trustee of the Detroit-Wayne County Tool and Die Council. Mr. Forsen also served as a delegate to the Greater Detroit and Wayne County CIO Council CIO-PAC Biennial Convention, August 3-4, 1951, and was an alternate delegate to the 1964 UAW Convention.

Clemens Forsen was one of twenty-three signatories of the Local #155 Credit Union Charter, written in December, 1949. He served as collector and credit union representative for Deluxe Die Works Plant #2. Mr. Forsen was on the Credit Committee (and was appointed Chairman in 1953) and was elected Vice-President of the Local #155 Credit Union Board of Directors in 1958.

The collection also reflects Mr. Forsen's actions as a member of the Ferndale Democratic Organization, the Royal Oak Democrats, the Oakland County Democratic Party, and the Michigan Democratic Party. As a member of these organizations he served as a Challenger in local elections and also participated in Democratic Party State Conventions.

Arrangement

Arranged in 3 series – Series 1 (Boxes 1-3), Series 2 (Boxes 3-4) and Series 3 (Box 5). Folders are arranged according to series.

Acquisition

The papers of Clemens Forsen were placed in the Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs in August of 1973 by Mr. Forsen, and are open for researcher use.

Transfers

Numerous pamphlets and booklets concerned with labor and political education, and several UAW newspapers and journals have been placed in the Archives Library.