Donated by the National Federation of Federal Employees, 2004.
Some records of the National Federation of Federal Employees are available to researchers in the form of preservation photocopies or user copies. Some files are restricted until 2019.
To quote in print, or otherwise reproduce in whole or in part in any publication, including on the Worldwide Web, any material from this collection, the researcher must obtain permission from (1) the owner of the physical property and (2) the holder of the copyright. Persons wishing to quote from this collection should consult the reference archivist to determine copyright holders for information in this collection. Reproduction of any item must contain the complete citation to the original. All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction.
[item], [folder title], [series title], National Federation of Federal Employees records, Southern Labor Archives, L2004-02. Special Collections Department, Georgia State University, Atlanta.
Processed by Angela Lefebvre, March 2006, and Mary McMahon Dawson, May 2006.
In 1917, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) was established at a convention in Washington, DC. Florence Ethridge presented the resolution to form NFFE as an affiliate of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). A week later AFL issued NFFE's charter.
NFFE is one of the oldest unions in the United States to represent federal civil service employees. Their first National President was H.M. McLarin. He was succeeded by Luther C. Steward, who served as president for 37 years.
For much of the 20th century, NFFE was the single biggest proponent of the civil service merit system. Many privileges federal employees enjoy today came as a direct result of NFFE pioneering the cause. Retirement benefits and the "equal pay for equal work" classification system are largely due to NFFE's efforts.
NFFE was originally chartered under the American Federation of Labor (AFL), but left it in December 1931. In 1999, NFFE affiliated with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, making them part of the AFL-CIO once again. Over the 20th century, NFFE has been working hard to defend workers rights in the federal sector upholding their slogan: "We Work for America Everyday."
The collections consists of the official records of the National
Federation of Federal Employees. Included in these records are: convention
proceedings, constitutions, bylaws, agreements, reports, charters, research
materials, artifacts, photographs, audiovisual materials and files from the
executive council. These materials pertain to the union's representation of
federal civil service employees and provide documentation of the day-to-day
activities of a national union. Also included is the official publication,
Organized into nine series: (I) National Conventions, (II) Administrative, (III) Constitutions, By-Laws and Agreements, (IV) Legal, (V) Financial records, (VI) Locals and State Federations, (VII) Lobbying efforts, (VIII) History and (IX) Restricted.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Georgia State University Library online catalog (GIL). Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
The first convention was held in 1917 in Washington, DC. Subsequent conventions were held biennially; from 1917 to 1935, they were held on odd years. After NFFE disaffiliated with the AFL, the conventions were held on even years. In 2004, the delegates voted to hold their national convention every four years. This series is divided into five subseries: A. Convention Proceedings, B. Resolutions, C. Programs, D. Office Files and E. Convention Credentials.
This subseries consists of typescripts and printed reports of minutes from the proceedings of the National Conventions. They are arranged in chronological order.
Folders 1-5 contain preservation photocopies of the original minutes of the Convention Proceedings from 1917. Original Convention Proceedings are restricted for preservation puposes. Please consult the labor archivist.
This subseries consists of typescripts and printed reports of resolutions from the National Conventions. The files are arranged in chronological order.
This subseries consists of programs from the National Conventions. Arranged in chronological order.
This subseries consists of general files from and relating to the National Conventions. Arranged in chronological order.
Four card file boxes house the forms entitled, "Credential to the Convention of the National Federation of Federal Employees". These documents certify local members, as well as their alternates, as convention delegates. They are arranged according to local number and date between 1976-1986.
This series contains general administrative records and the records of national elected officials. The series is divided into 5 subseries: A. Executive Council, B. Presidents' files, C. Secretary-Treasurer's papers, D.Subject files, and E. American Federation of Labor-National Federation of Federal Employees. Some material from Subseries B has been restricted. Please consult the labor archivist.
This subseries contains office files from the Executive Council. The subseries is further divided into 3 sub-subseries: 1. Meetings, 2. Correspondence, and 3. General information.
The sub-subseries contains minutes, agendas, and other material relating to Executive Council meetings. Arrangement is chronological.
This sub-subseries contains correspondence to and from the Executive Council, both internal and external. Arrangement is chronological.
This sub-subseries contains reports and general office files, relating to the National Federation of Federal Employees Executive Council. Arrangement is chronological.
This subseries contains the office files and correspondence of National Federation of Federal Employee Presidents. Arrangement is chronological.
This subseries contains the reports and correspondence of the National Secretary-Treasurers. Arrangement is chronological.
This subseries contains general office files from the National Federation of Federal Employees national office as well as historical research files. Arrangement is chronological. Nineteenth and early twentieth century documents in this subseries are photocopies.
These files contain correspondence and other documents pertaining to the American Federation of Labor and the National Federation of Federal Employees. Records are photocopies.
This series contains national constitutions and by-laws, as well as local constitutions and by-laws, and agreements between National Federation of Federal Employees and other organizations. The series is divided into 3 subseries: A. Constitutions and By-laws, B. Locals: Constitutions and By-laws, and C. Agreements.
This subseries contains constitutions and by-laws of National Federation of Federal Employees locals. Arrangement is by local number and is chronological.
This subseries contains agreements. Arrangement is chronological.
This series contains legal documents. The series is divided into three subseries: A. Restricted, B. Legal documents and Cases and C. Congressional Testimony and Statements.
These files are restricted until 2019. The original number of the box was 86. Please consult the labor archivist.
This subseries contains legal documents and cases for and against National Federation of Federal Employees and other government institutions or unions. Arrangement is chronological.
This series contains financial records, audits, dues books, and tax information for the National office and National Federation of Federal Employees locals. Arrangement is chronological.
This series contains information directly related to specific National Federation of Federal Employees Locals. This includes membership information, charters, correspondence, and office records. This series also contains information from state National Federation of Federal Employees Federations. The series is divided into 5 subseries: A. Locals, B. State Federations, C. Letters to Locals, D. Charters, and E. Membership Cards.
This subseries contains information directly related to specific locals. Meeting minutes, roll books, correspondence, and some financial records are included. Arrangement is by local number.
This subseries contains information directly related to specific state National Federation of Federal Employees branches. Constitutions and By-laws, Meeting minutes, roll books, correspondence, and some financial records are included. Arrangement is chronological.
This subseries contains bound letters to specific locals from the National Federation of Federal Employees offices. The volumes date from 1917-1959. These letters relate to National Federation of Federal Employees policies and procedures, dues information, and any specific issues with particular locals. Arrangement is chronological.
This subseries contains the original charters for National Federation of Federal Employees locals dating from 1920-1977. Arrangement is by local number.
This subseries contains 1 box of Membership Application Cards for Local 60 (Missoula, Montana), National Federation of Federal Employees constituients. These cards detail the department or agency in which the member was employed, as well as their position title. Arrangement is alphabetical.
This series focuses on the lobbying activities of National Federation of Federal Employees, both at the national and the locals level, as well as the union's drive for the Federal Employee Health Benefit Act, and National Federation of Federal Employees's contracts with the Armed Services. The series is divided into 2 subseries: A. Lobbying, and B. Federal Employee Health Benefit Act.
This subseries contains documents relating to lobbying activites of National Federation of Federal Employees and its locals. It also contains information relating to annual "Lobby Weeks" hosted by National Federation of Federal Employees, which encouraged its members to get involved in political actions that directly effected unions and union activity.
This subseries focuses on the Federal Employee Health Benefit Act and National Federation of Federal Employees's involvement with the formulation of the bill. The Federal Employee Health Benefits Act establishes a subsidized health insurance program for civilian employees and annuitants of the federal government. Correspondence relating to the bill, drafts of the bill itself, and general information are located in this subseries. Arrangement is chronological.
This series contains oral histories, artifacts, photographs, audiovisual materials, scrapbooks, and other historical documentation relating to National Federation of Federal Employees. The series is divided into 8 subseries. A. Oral Histories, B. Commemorations, C. Scrapbooks, D. Photographic Materials, E. Sound and Audiovisual Recordings, F. Artifacts, and G. Books. The motion pictures of subseries E and the original copies of two of the artifacts in subseries F have been restricted for preservation purposes. For access to these items, consult with the labor archivist.
The National Federation of Federal Employees initiated an oral history project in 2003 to gather the stories of key figures in the development of the organization. Collected through interviews, these accounts are autobiographical in nature. They cover the subject's personal background, work history, and participation in the union, as well as key events in the organization's history. Each interview has been transcribed. Arrangement is alphabetical.
This subseries contains programs, speeches, and memoribilia from National Federation of Federal Employees anniversary celebrations. Arrangement is chronological.
This subseries contains six scrapbooks chronicaling the history
of National Federation of Federal Employees. The scrapbooks contain newspaper
clippings from across the nation, photocopied newspaper articles, some
photographs, programs, and other National Federation of Federal Employees
related materials, such as Constitutions, Officers' Manuals, lists of locals
and posters. Other materials can include convention registration cards,
transfer cards, pamphlets and letters from the Executive Council. Some of the
topics covered in the bound scrapbooks found in the boxes of Artifact 1,
Artifact 2 and Artifact 3, include the history of the break with the American
Federation of Labor, a booklet of cartoons from the
The scrapbooks have been unbound for preservation purposes. Topics of scrapbooks found in Article boxes 4, 5 and 6 cover the period between 1950-1961 and include membership campaign drives targetting the Armed Services and professional departments of the government, legislative concerns regarding salary, insurance and health benefits, the management of overseas locals. Arrangement of this subseries is chronological.
This subseries contains original photographs, slides and negatives. Images are from "The Federal Employee", as well as conventions, Lobby Weeks, office events, and other functions. The subseries also contains head shots of National Federation of Federal Employees elected officials, group photographs, and committee photographs. Most photographs are not identified; however some of the envelopes in which the photographs reside have further description of the images then is noted on this list. Known individuals are indentified, in the brackets, on this list. Arrangement is chronological.
This subseries contains phonograph records, reel to reel
audiotapes and motion picture tapes of speeches and convention proceedings at
the national level. It also contains videotapes of National Federation of
Federal Employees activites, such as Lobby Week, conventions, television
appearances, and in-house training productions. Access is restricted for reel
to reel tapes and all of the motion picture reels. A user copy of the song,
A user copy of this song is available in the Labor Non-Print Collection. Sheet music available in artifact box 12.
A user copy of the song
A user copy of the song
This subseries contains National Federation of Federal Employees related artifacts such as flags and banners, buttons, and National Federation of Federal Employees inprinted items. Articles about the union, calendars, sheet music, jewelry, and related plaques are also included in this subseries. Arrangement is by artifact type.
This subseries contains books written by Herbert Hollander about the federal worker, and federal worker unions.
This restricted Series contains folders and documents that have been removed from the collection. They are restricted until 2019.
During processing, the official National Federation of Federal
Employees publication,
The journal, which is devoted to the interests of the employees who are part of the United States Civil Service, was first published in July 1916. In the early years, a directory of National Federation of Federal Employees members and biennial reports of the president (which usually appeared in the October issue) were also included. It is currently published on a quarterly basis.