Tom Myerscough Papers
Collection
Identifier: LP000622
Scope and Content
The papers of Mr. Myerscough consist primarily of a series of memoirs relating to the dispute of the dissident coal miners of the National Miners Union until
John L. Lewis and the United Mine Workers and with their conflict with the coal mine operators in Western Pennsylvania and Kentucky in the late twenties and early thirties. Included in the papers is "Bloody Hell in Kentucky," a manuscript by Mr. Myerscough which is a factionalized account of the violence in Harlan County, Kentucky between the miners and the coal companies.
Dates
- 1965 - 1982
Creator
- Myerscough, Tom (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.
History
Tom Myerscough was born in 1891 in Lancashire, England. He emigrated to the soft coal mines of Western Pennsylvania where he worked for more than thirty years as a miner, organizer and president of the National Miners Union. The National Miners Union, formed in 1928, was organized by a group of militant dissidents who had become disenchanted with leadership of John L. Lewis and
his United Mine Workers. The National Miners Union led a rank-and-file strike in 1931 for higher wages, better working conditions anti-Jim Crowism, and recognition of the National Miners Union. The strike was broken, but the militancy of the National Miners Union pervaded miner's union for a number of years.
Extent
.25 Linear Feet (1 MB)
Abstract
Tom Myerscough served as president of the National Miners Union, which was created out of factionalism within the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). The papers of Mr. Myerscough relate to the dissent of the National Miners Union from the UMWA.
Arrangement
Folders are listed by their location within the box. They are not necessarily arranged, so any given subject may be dispersed throughout the entire collection.
Acquisition
The papers of Tom Myerscough were placed in the Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs in October of 1973 by his stepson, Nathaniel Brooks and were opened for research in April of 1986.
Transfers
A tape interview with Tom Myerscough has been placed in
the Archives Audiovisual Collection. Two pamphlets about
John L. Lewis and three volumes of the United Mine WorkersProceedings are available in the Archives Library.
Processing History
Processed and finding aid written by Walter P. Reuther Library in April, 1986.
Creator
- Myerscough, Tom (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Tom Myerscough Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Walter P. Reuther Library.
- Date
- 1986-04
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
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