Tom Myerscough Papers

Collection

Identifier: LP000622

Staff Only

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)

Additional Description

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.