Labor and Social Justice Collections
Includes historical records and personal papers related to labor and social justice movements in America from the late 19th century to today, including a large collection of photographs, audio recordings, video, posters, and artifacts.
The best way to get an overview of the Labor and Social Justice Collections (LSJC) is to visit the online exhibit, For Liberty, Justice and Equality, Unions Making History in America. This exhibit explores the little known and understood intersectionality between organized labor and the resistance against oppression, exploitation and inequality by Black Americans, and all people of color, women, the LGBTQ+ community, religious minorities, and immigrants from around the world. The exhibit also illustrates the historical links between labor and the environmental movement and more traditional working class issues such as the struggle for the eight hour day and a living minimum wage.
To get more detailed and comprehensive descriptive information about all 124 LSJC collections search this selection of collection guides in the Archival Collections database. These materials are available for viewing in-person in the Hornbake Library’s Maryland Room.
To browse and search additional selected digitized texts and photos visit the Labor in America Collection.
To view additional selected digitized film, video and audio recordings visit our LSJC YouTube Playlist, and Digital Collections.
These digitized items represent a tiny fraction of 1% of all the material in the Labor and Social Justices Collections. If you are planning on more in-depth research, please fill out the Hornbake Library’s Make an Appointment form.