William Burrus Oral History
Item
Identifier: LOH002207
Scope and Content
Collection consists of the interview recording. Over the nearly four-hour-long interview, Burrus ranges on a variety of topics covering his background, postal career, union leadership and significant achievements, changes in postal unions (including APWU) and the postal service over time, and his personal life and views.
The interview can be divided approximately as follows: childhood with parents and siblings in West Virginia, education, military service, entry into the postal service, working conditions and low wages, beginnings of union activity (tape 1); early union activities, shortcomings of early postal unions, details and logistics of postal operations, priorities as a union leader, changing managerial approaches, the 1970 wildcat strike, formation of the APWU, APWU invovlement in political activities, major objectives for the APWU in the present day (tape 2); transition from Moe Biller's presidential administration to his own, financial stewardship, the anthrax crisis, priorities as vice president under Biller such as wage increases and establishment of grievance arbitration process, pride in APWU's single contract and national enforcement, thoughts on APWU's future (tape 3); racial integration of APWU leadership, the general state of American union leadership, importance of APWU's direct elections, family and children, thoughts on his legacy (tape 4).
Dates
- 2003-01-27
Creator
- Davis, Carrolyn (Interviewer, Person)
Language of Materials
Material entirely in English.
Access
Collection is open for research.
Use
Refer to the Walter P. Reuther Library
RESTRICTIONS: Due to the personal nature of oral history, the Library prohibits use of the material in any way that infringes on individual right to privacy, or results in libelous statements or slander, in accordance with U.S. law.
Permission to publish or quote must be obtained from the interviewee or interviewee heirs or assigns.
Rules for Use of Archival Materials.
RESTRICTIONS: Due to the personal nature of oral history, the Library prohibits use of the material in any way that infringes on individual right to privacy, or results in libelous statements or slander, in accordance with U.S. law.
Permission to publish or quote must be obtained from the interviewee or interviewee heirs or assigns.
History
In 2003, Reuther archivist Carrolyn Davis interviewed labor leader William "Bill" Burrus. Burrus served as vice president (1980-2001) and president (2001-2010) of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), and he was the first African American to be directly elected by member vote to the presidency of a national labor union.
Extent
4 items : (4 Hi8 videotapes)
Abstract
In 2003, Reuther archivist Carrolyn Davis interviewed labor leader William "Bill" Burrus. Burrus served as vice president (1980-2001) and president (2001-2010) of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), and he was the first African American to be directly elected by member vote to the presidency of a national labor union. Collection consists of the interview recording. Over the nearly four-hour-long interview, Burrus ranges on a variety of topics covering his background, postal career, union leadership and significant achievements, changes in postal unions (including APWU) and the postal service over time, and his personal life and views.
Acquisition
Donated by Carrolyn Davis, Walter P. Reuther Library, circa 2003.
Processing History
Processed and finding aid written by Rebecca Bizonet on June 28, 2016.
Creator
- Davis, Carrolyn (Interviewer, Person)
- Burrus, William (Interviewee, Person)
- Title
- Guide to the William Burrus Oral History
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Rebecca Bizonet
- Date
- 2016-06-28
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
- Sponsor
- Description made possible by funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Repository Details
Part of the Walter P. Reuther Library Repository
Contact:
5401 Cass Avenue
Detroit MI 48202 USA
5401 Cass Avenue
Detroit MI 48202 USA