Teamsters Archival Collections

The Teamsters archives include International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) publications, convention proceedings, documentary materials from the various IBT departments, trade divisions and area conferences, photographs, films, and video/audio tape reels and cassettes.

Digital Collections | Organizational Records | Conference Records | Membership Records | Local Union Records | Personal Papers | Serial Publications | Full List of Collections

Digital Collections

• Over 270,000 pages (covering years 1905-1952) of Administrative files of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America Records, as well as many local Teamsters chapters.
• The Teamster magazine (1940-1969 digitized), known officially as The International Teamster, The Official Magazine of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Stablemen and Helpers of America, and other names.
• 102 digitized films, with contents including advertisements, promotional films, conferences, rallies, and safety training.
• Hundreds of audio recordings (with full transcriptions). The Labor History Research Center regularly adds digitizations of recordings on an ongoing basis.

Manuscript Collections

Organizational Records

• Office of the General President Records, 1883-2011 ​
• IBT General President papers of Roy Lee Williams, 1974-1983
• Office of the General Executive Board Records, 1958-1986
• Communications Department Records, 1958-2011
• Office of the General-Secretary Treasurer Records, 1957-2009
• Training and Development Department Records, 1907-2010
• Office of the Research Department Records, 1907-2003
• Library Local Union Vertical File Records, 1933-1993 
• Economics and Contracts Department Records, 1955-2012

Conference and Convention Records

• Central Conference Records, 1954-2001
• Graphic Communications Conference: GCIU Public Information Department – William Moody Files
• Joint Western Area Committee of the Western Conference of Teamsters Freight Division Records
• United Brewery Workers Records, 1888-2004
• Trade Divisions and Conferences Records, 1942-2003
• International Convention records, 1906-2011

Membership Records

• International Brotherhood of Teamsters Member Groups Records, 1991-2011 Four member organizations within the International Brotherhood of Teamsters support and advocate for their constituents on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. These are the Teamsters National Black Caucus, the International Teamster Woman’s Caucus/Women’s Conference, the National Teamsters Hispanic Caucus and the Teamsters GLBT Caucus. The purpose of these groups is to educate themselves and other Teamsters, to communicate with the IBT leadership and to ensure representation at all levels of the organization.

Local Union Records 

• Local 814 records, 1943-1995
• Local 99 records, 1947-2002
• Local 82 records, 1937-2003
• Local 1064 records, 1937-1997
• Local 688 records, 1916-1993
• Local 568 records, 1947-2011
• Larue Moore Local 696 records, 1964-1976
• Local 237 records, 1968-2012
• Local 995 records, 1969-2003
• Local 456 records, 1946-1960
• Local 190 records, 1950-1980
• Local 116 records, 1941-2007
• Local 158 records, 1948-1959
• IBT Member Dues Ledgers and Local Minute Books collection, 1891-1982
• Local 544 records, 1930-2013
• Local 682 records (includes local 366), 1950-1960
• IBT Local 848 - Harold Gimby's records, 1957-1996
• William A. Moore Collection - Local 696 records, 1970-1997
• Local 961 Harry Bath records, 1957-2012
• IBT Locals and Joint Councils records, 1911-2010
• Local 279-Decatur records, 1960-1978
• Local 294 records, 1906-1983
• International Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Local #160 (Capitol Division) records, 1873-1989

Personal Papers

• Thomas Flynn Papers, 1936-1972  The Thomas E. Flynn Papers cover the professional life of Thomas Flynn and his role in labor and unions from 1936 until his death in 1972. This collection contains correspondence, both personal and business related to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, memos, reports, and speeches. The collection also consists of press material such as wires, journals, magazines, and newspapers that were compiled to document union activity. There are also oral history interviews that were conducted by a Flynn biographer on audio cassette. 
• James R. Hoffa Documentation Collection  The James R. Hoffa Documentation collection contains material relating to the life and work of James R. Hoffa.  Included are newspaper clippings, magazine articles, trial transcripts, publicity materials, and copies of congressional hearings.

Serial Publications

• Teamsters magazine  (1907-1910) (1912-1940) (1941-1992) 
• The American Federationist (1906-1976)
• Labor History (1960-2006) (additional digital years may be available)

Full List of Collections

• IBT0001              Labor Publications
• IBT0003              United Brewery Workers
• IBT0004              Thomas E Flynn Papers
• IBT0005              IBT Communications Department Records
• IBT0006              IBT Graphic Communications Conference Records
• IBT0007              IBT Central Conference of Teamsters Records
• IBT0008              IBT Office of the General Executive Board Records
• IBT0010              IBT Research Department Records
• IBT0011              IBT Training and Development Department Records
• IBT0012              IBT Education Department records
• IBT0013              IBT Trade Divisions and Conferences records
• IBT0015              IBT Member Groups Records
• IBT0017              IBT Office of the General President records
• IBT0018              IBT Office of the General-Secretary/Treasurer
• IBT0019              International Convention Records
• IBT0020              IBT Audio/Video records
• IBT0021              IBT Economics and Contracts dept
• IBT0022              IBT Leo Deaner Collection
• IBT0023              IBT Eastern Conference of Teamsters Records
• IBT0024              IBT Southern Conference Records
• IBT0025              IBT Western Conference records
• IBT0026              IBT Canadian Conference Records
• IBT0027              Roy Lee Williams papers
• IBT0028              IBT Michigan Conference Records
• IBT0029              IBT Local 814 records
• IBT0030              IBT Public Relations Department Records
• IBT0031              IBT Newspapers and Journals collection
• IBT0032              IBT Human Services Department
• IBT0033              IBT Arden D'Amico collection
• IBT0034              Local 99 records
• IBT0035              IBT Safety and Health Department records
• IBT0036              Local 82 records
• IBT0037              Local 1064
• IBT0038              Local 688
• IBT0039              Local 568
• IBT0040              Larue Moore Local 696
• IBT0041              Local 237
• IBT0042              Local 995
• IBT0043              Local 456
• IBT0044              Local 190
• IBT0045              IBT Brotherhood of Maintenance Of Way Employes (sic) Division records
• IBT0046              IBT Local 116 records
• IBT0047              IBT Congressional Testimony Collection
• IBT0048              Local 158 records
• IBT0049              IBT Member Dues Ledgers and Local Minute Books collection
• IBT0051              Local 544 records
• IBT0052              Local 682 records (includes local 366)
• IBT0053              IBT Central Region Freight Joint Area Committee Transcript Records
• IBT0054              IBT Library Local Union Vertical File Records
• IBT0057              IBT Buttons and Memorabilia Collection
• IBT0059              IBT Administrative Files
• IBT0060              International Brotherhood of Teamsters Benefits Department Records
• IBT0061              Teamster Magazine Story and Photo Files
• IBT0062              IBT Local 848 - Harold Gimby's Files
• IBT0063              William A. Moore Collection - Papers, Local 696
• IBT0064              California Teamsters Public Affairs Council Collection
• IBT0065              IBT Organizing Department Records
• IBT0069              IBT Rail conference records
• IBT0070              DRIVE records
• IBT0071              Willis "Tiny" Brown Papers
• IBT0072              Dexter L. Lewis Papers
• IBT0073              IBT Package Division Records
• IBT0075              Local 961 Harry Bath Files
• IBT0076              IBT Locals and Joint Councils - General
• IBT0077              IBT Political and Legislative Action Department
• IBT0078              Laird Evans Collection
• IBT0079              Annie Whelen Jensen scrapbook
• IBT0081              IBT Local 279, Decatur records
• IBT0082              IBT Affiliate Records Department - Local Union Rosters
• IBT0083              Teamsters Local 294 Records
• IBT0084              IBT Audiovisual Collection
• IBT0085              Norman Kloke Papers
• IBT0086              Teamsters for a Democratic Union materials
• IBT0087              IBT Charters Collections
• IBT0088              IBT Magazine Advertisement
• IBT0089              International Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Local #160 (Capitol Division) records