Collection is open for research.
[Identification of item], George J. Titler Collection, 1939-1976, 87M59, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington
6 cubic ft.
George J. Titler is perhaps best known as the author of Hell in Harlan, an account of his union organizing days in Harlan County, Kentucky in the late 1930's. But Titler also served as Vice-President of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) from 1966-1972. It was during his term, and that of President Tony Boyle, that many UMWA miners began challenging the union management.
Initially, the insurgent miners focused on electing Joseph (Jock) Yablonski as the reform candidate for President in the December 9, 1969 election, but Boyle and Titler won the race. Yablonski challenged the legality of that victory; however, before the Labor Department began its investigation, Yablonski, his wife, and daughter were murdered--an act planned by various UMWA officials, including Boyle. Following Yablonski's death a more radical mood dominated and the Miners for Democracy movement emerged from the rank and file.
Materials in this collection deal primarily with the period of reform that surrounded Titler's term as Vice-President of the UMWA. They include correspondence, memoranda, typescripts of speeches, broadsides, memorabilia, and clippings.
In addition to the office records and personal papers, the George J. Titler Collection contains 129 photographs located in the Division's Audio-Visual Archives (PA87M59).
OFFICE FILES, 1969-1972
Scope and Contents note:
These are the personal files kept by Titler during his vice-presidency. The files have been left as found except that clarification has been provided in brackets where necessary and many of the newspaper clippings which were deteriorating rapidly have been replaced by photocopies. The correspondence, memoranda, typescripts of speeches, broadsides and clippings contained in these files are a rich source for describing the daily workings of the UMWA during this period. The topics covered in each file are also evidence of the union's tone and focus at the time. Included are correspondence, memoranda, typescripts of speeches, broadsides, and clippings.
Yablonski Campaign, 1969
Brown, Elmer
[Box: 1, Folder: 1]
Campaign Against Yablonski
[Box: 1, Folder: 2]
Campaign for Yablonski
[Box: 1, Folder: 3]
District 29, Local Unions 5997 and 7086
[Box: 1, Folder: 4]
District 50
[Box: 1, Folder: 5]
Election Irregularities Charged by Yablonski
[Box: 1, Folder: 6]
Hechler, Ken [Congressman, West Virginia]
[Box: 1, Folder: 7]
Law Suits by Yablonski
[Box: 1, Folder: 8]
News Clippings
[Box: 1, Folder: 9]
Platform
[Box: 1, Folder: 10]
Water Properties Owned by Yablonski
[Box: 1, Folder: 11]
UMWA Campaign/Election, December 9, 1969
Anonymous letter
[Box: 2, Folder: 1]
Autonomy
[Box: 2, Folder: 2]
Campaign by Budzanoski, Michael [President, District 5]
[Box: 2, Folder: 3]
Campaign by Childers, Alex
[Box: 2, Folder: 4]
Campaign by Titler
[Box: 2, Folder: 5]
Campaign by Yablonski
[Box: 2, Folder: 6]
Candidates--Boyle, Titler, and Owens
[Box: 2, Folder: 7]
Candidates--Kochis and Huffman
[Box: 2, Folder: 8]
Candidates--Wolford, Brown and Thornsberry
[Box: 2, Folder: 9]
Coal Miners' Wives [Committee]
[Box: 2, Folder: 10]
Congratulations
[Box: 2, Folder: 11]
District 23--Committee for Boyle Titler, and Owens
[Box: 2, Folder: 12]
District 29--Committee for Boyle Titler, and Owens
[Box: 2, Folder: 13]
District 30--Committee for Boyle Titler, and Owens
[Box: 2, Folder: 14]
District 50
[Box: 2, Folder: 15]
Hechler, Ken [Congressman, West Virginia]
[Box: 2, Folder: 16]
Invitation to Speak
[Box: 2, Folder: 17]
Miners' Committee for Boyle, Titler, and Owens
[Box: 2, Folder: 18]
News [Media]
[Box: 2, Folder: 19]
News Clippings
[Box: 2, Folder: 20]
Nominations
[Box: 2, Folder: 21]
Pensioners
[Box: 2, Folder: 22]
Voting Instructions
[Box: 2, Folder: 23]
Voting Results
[Box: 2, Folder: 24]
West Virginia (Charleston) Meeting, [May 4, 1969]
[Box: 2, Folder: 25]
West Virginia (Fairmont) Meeting, [April 27, 1969]
[Box: 2, Folder: 26]
West Virginia (Richwood) Meeting, [April 20, 1969]
[Box: 2, Folder: 27]
West Virginia (Welch) Meeting, June 13, 1969
[Box: 2, Folder: 28]
Post - UMWA Election, 1969
Examination by Labor Department
[Box: 3, Folder: 1]
General
[Box: 3, Folder: 2]
Scope and Contents note:
These materials cover topics from "challenges to election" to Miners for Democracy.
Post - UMWA Election. Senate Subcommittee [on Labor] Investigations of UMWA, 1969
Automobile Workers
[Box: 4, Folder: 1]
Autonomy
[Box: 4, Folder: 2]
District 5, Officials Indicated
[Box: 4, Folder: 3]
District 5, Officials Summoned
[Box: 4, Folder: 4]
District 28, Officials Indicated
[Box: 4, Folder: 5]
Election Investigation, UMWA
[Box: 4, Folder: 6]
[General]
[Box: 4, Folder: 7]
Pension Raise
[Box: 4, Folder: 8]
Political Contributions
[Box: 4, Folder: 9]
Record Keeping
[Box: 4, Folder: 10]
Support UMWA Letters to Nixon
[Box: 4, Folder: 11]
Welfare Fund
[Box: 4, Folder: 12]
Williams, Harrison [Senator, New Jersey]
[Box: 4, Folder: 13]
Yablonski
[Box: 4, Folder: 14]
UMWA Election, 1972
Boyle
[Box: 5, Folder: 1]
[General], 1970-1972
[Box: 5, Folder: 1]
[General]
[Box: 5, Folder: 1]
Miller [Arnold]
[Box: 5, Folder: 1]
Miller, Trbovich, Patrick
[Box: 5, Folder: 1]
[Nomination Meeting Schedules]
[Box: 5, Folder: 1]
Titler
[Box: 5, Folder: 1]
Trbovich
[Box: 5, Folder: 1]
[People]
Anderson, L.T
[Box: 6, Folder: 1]
Boiarsky, Mose
[Box: 6, Folder: 2]
Bolin, Coyet
[Box: 6, Folder: 3]
Hechler, Ken - Mine, Health and Safety
[Box: 6, Folder: 4]
Hechler, Ken - Miscellaneous
[Box: 6, Folder: 5]
Hechler, Ken - Rockefeller, John D., IV
[Box: 6, Folder: 6]
Hechler, Ken - Strip Mining
[Box: 6, Folder: 7]
Hechler, Ken - UMWA Election
[Box: 6, Folder: 8]
Hechler, Ken - UMWA, General
[Box: 6, Folder: 9]
Hechler, Ken - UMWA Officials
[Box: 6, Folder: 10]
Hechler, Ken - Welfare Fund
[Box: 6, Folder: 11]
Hechler, Ken - West Virginia Election
[Box: 6, Folder: 12]
Hechler, Ken - Yablonskis
[Box: 6, Folder: 13]
Kee, James [Congressman, West Virginia]
[Box: 6, Folder: 14]
Miller, Arnold
[Box: 6, Folder: 15]
Miller, Myrl
[Box: 6, Folder: 16]
Moore, Arch [Governor, West Virginia]
[Box: 6, Folder: 17]
Rockefeller, John D., IV, 1969-1970
[Box: 7, Folder: 1]
Rockefeller, John D., IV, 1971
[Box: 7, Folder: 2]
Rockefeller, John D., IV, 1972
[Box: 7, Folder: 3]
Rockefeller, John D., IV, n.d
[Box: 7, Folder: 4]
Silverstein, Harry, 1966-1971
[Box: 7, Folder: 5]
CALENDARS, DIARIES, AND NOTEBOOKS, 1939-1972
Date Book, 1939
[Box: 13, Folder: 1]
Trip Diary, June 29, 1952 - August 3, 1952
[Box: 13, Folder: 2]
Appointment Calendars, 1966-1972
[Box: 13, Folder: 3]
Miscellaneous handwritten notes
[Box: 13, Folder: 4]
Notebook of Wage Contract terms, ca. late 1960's
[Box: 13, Folder: 5]
Address Books, Lists of telephone numbers
[Box: 13, Folder: 6]
Sada Titler's Diary [George Titler's first wife]
[Box: 13, Folder: 7]
Sada Titler's Funeral Register, September 25, 1966
[Box: 13, Folder: 8]
BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL RECORDS
Black Lung Benefits
[Box: 15, Folder: 1]
Campaign Expenses, 1969
[Box: 15, Folder: 2]
Contributions
[Box: 15, Folder: 3]
Health Insurance
[Box: 15, Folder: 4]
Metropolitan Life Insurance
[Box: 15, Folder: 5]
Organizing Expenses, 1968-1971
[Box: 15, Folder: 6]
Social Security
[Box: 15, Folder: 7]
Union Dues and other club dues
[Box: 15, Folder: 8]
UMWA Health and Retirement Funds
[Box: 15, Folder: 9]
Vacation Benefits
[Box: 15, Folder: 10]