Abstract Ernest Smith was a teacher in the Detroit Public School System who was involved in the black civil rights movement. He helped found the Michigan Freedom Now Party, an all-black party, for whom he ran as candidate for U.S. senator. His papers reflect his interest in black political action, resistance to compulsory unionization, right-to-work organizations, and civil rights issues.

Abstract Howard Hill was a school teacher at Weaver High School in Hartford Connecticut school system for 32 years. He was past president of the Connecticut State Federation of Teachers, and a charter member of the West Hartford Regents. He was a member of Memorial Baptist Church, Hartford. Mr. Hill was elected vice president of the CSFT in 1956 and president in 1958-1961. He continued to be active with the Hartford teachers union and participated in its strike. Hill died in 1995 at the age of 88. The...

Abstract A nephew of William F. Quesse, SEIU's founder and first International President, William McFetridge began his career with SEIU in 1923 as a member of Chicago's Flat Janitors Local 1. In 1927 he assumed the position of SEIU Third Vice President and then ascended to the position of SEIU 1st Vice President in 1930, a position he maintained until April of 1940, when he became President of the International. The records comprising this collection chronicle McFetridge's last years as President of...