Labor Archives of Washington, UW Special Collections

08/20/2026

For American Artist Appreciation Month, we’re shining a spotlight on the Tomás Ybarra-Frausto photograph collection.
A former UW professor of Romance Languages and Literature, Ybarra-Frausto dedicated his career to documenting Chicano culture and history across the Pacific Northwest—from theater and dance to student movements and farmworker associations.
These powerful images transport us to 1972, capturing a performance by Teatro del Piojo at the U.S. Penitentiary on McNeil Island in Steilacoom, WA. A striking reminder that art thrives even in the most unexpected places. 🎭
📸: UW Special Collections (SOC3349, SOC3366, SOC3353, SOC3350 - edited)
University of Washington Libraries Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies MLK Labor Washington State Labor Council Pierce County Central Labor Council Thurston Lewis Mason Central Labor Council - TLM CLC Labor Heritage Foundation
Southwest Washington Central Labor Council Spokane Regional Labor Council NorthWest Washington Central Labor Council Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Central Labor Council

08/17/2026

Happy American Artist Appreciation Month! 🎨

To celebrate this we’re highlighting labor-focused printmaker Richard V. Correll—and giving you a sneak peek at new materials donated to us earlier this year.

Correll grew up in OR/CA, moved to Seattle during the Great Depression, worked for the Federal Art Project, and co-founded the Washington Artists' Union. He later lived in NYC and SF, and was a longtime member of the Graphic Arts Workshop—a progressive activist collective that shared studio space and championed social justice through art. He passed away in 1990.

Special thanks to .cushing for the most recent donation!
🖼️ Swipe through for:
(2) Untitled sketch
(3) “Let ‘Em Eat Demagogy”
(4) “Stockade For 5"

Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries University of Washington Libraries Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies MLK Labor Washington State Labor Council Pierce County Central Labor Council Thurston Lewis Mason Central Labor Council - TLM CLC
Labor Heritage Foundation Southwest Washington Central Labor Council Spokane Regional Labor Council NorthWest Washington Central Labor Council Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Central Labor Council

08/06/2026

Today!
Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies presents 'Rights on the Line' research on migrant fishers in Washington state
Our research team is proud to present findings from our new project "Rights on the Line: Policy and Regulatory Gaps Affecting Migrant Fishers in Washington State Ports" on Thursday, August 6th from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. in the Petersen Room of the Allen Library (4000 15th Ave NE Seattle, WA 98195, room 485) on the University of Washington Seattle campus.
After a short presentation on our research findings, we will have a panel featuring workers' rights and safety advocates including Senator Rebecca Saldaña. We will have light refreshments and an opportunity to engage with researchers and panelists.
RSVPS are requested, but not required. RSVP through the link in our bio or visit: tinyurl.com/mpu4vfav. Cosponsored by Labor Archives of Washington, UW Special Collections

07/23/2026

Happy and Happy Disability Pride Month! ✊♿️

This month, we want to shine the spotlight on YOU.

At the Labor Archives, we recognize there is a major gap in our collections when it comes to the stories of workers with disabilities and the crucial intersection of the labor movement and disability rights. These narratives are vital to our history, and they are currently underrepresented.

We need your help to change that!

📢 Share your story with us! Whether you are a worker, an activist, or an ally, we want to hear from you.

📄 Preserve your records! Help us take steps to ensure that future generations have access to the history of disability pride in the workplace.

Let’s fill this gap together.

University of Washington Libraries Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies MLK Labor Washington State Labor Council Pierce County Central Labor Council Thurston Lewis Mason Central Labor Council - TLM CLC Labor Heritage Foundation Southwest Washington Central Labor Council Spokane Regional Labor Council NorthWest Washington Central Labor Council Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Central Labor Council

07/15/2026

Did you know that July is Disability Awareness Month? ♿

This , we're shining a light on the accessibility tools and features available in our digital collections. 🌐

✅ All our online exhibit websites are fully ADA accessible.
✅ All our oral histories are transcribed and indexed for easy searching and reading. 📝

💬 Do you have suggestions for how our digital content could be made even more accessible? We'd love to hear your ideas—drop them in the comments below!
📢
Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries, University of Washington Libraries, MLK Labor, Washington State Labor Council, Pierce County Central Labor Council, Thurston Lewis Mason Central Labor Council - TLM CLC Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies

07/01/2026

🖤 : 91 Years Ago This Sunday
✊🏾✊🏿✊🏼✊🏽✊🏻

On July 5, 1934 — “Bloody Thursday” — two workers, Howard Sperry and Nick Bordoise, were killed and many more wounded when police fired into a crowd in San Francisco. Sperry was a striking longshoreman and Bordoise was a cook volunteering in the strike kitchen.

This newsletter was published on June 12, 1934 — five weeks into the West Coast Waterfront Strike. Just weeks before the violence that sparked the San Francisco General Strike — which helped inspire a wave of 1930s labor rebellions.

🚢 Longshore workers led the way and were joined by other maritime workers from San Diego to Seattle refused to work until their demands were met. The longshore demands included union recognition, a coastwide contract, better wages, and safer conditions.

Their fight for dignity reshaped the labor movement.

—

📜 From the Albert H. Farmer papers, Pacific Northwest Collection, UW Libraries Special Collections.

🔗 Visit the Labor Archives of Washington to explore materials documenting West Coast labor history.

👇 Tag a labor history enthusiast who needs to see this!


—

📸 Image: Albert H. Farmer papers, 3461-001, Pacific Northwest Collection, UW Libraries Special Collections

—

Special Collections UW Libraries ILWU Local 142 Hawaii ILWU Local 23 MLK Labor Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO Pierce County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO Thuston-Lewis-Mason WA Labor ILWU ILWU Local 19 Young Workers Committee ILWU Local 10 Young Workers Harry Bridges

LongshoreWorkers SanFrancisco LaborHistory BloodyThursday LaborArchives Strikes UnionStrong WorkingClassHistory OnThisDay ArchivesOfResistance LaborStrike WestCoastLabor 1934Strike SolidarityForever

07/01/2026

🖤 : 91 Years Ago This Sunday
✊🏾✊🏿✊🏼✊🏽✊🏻

On July 5, 1934 — "Bloody Thursday" — two workers, Howard Sperry and Nick Bordoise, were killed and many more wounded when police fired into a crowd in San Francisco. Sperry was a striking longshoreman and Bordoise was a cook volunteering in the strike kitchen.

This newsletter was published on June 12, 1934 — five weeks into the West Coast Waterfront Strike. Just weeks before the violence that sparked the San Francisco General Strike — which helped inspire a wave of 1930s labor rebellions.

🚢 Longshore workers led the way and were joined by other maritime workers from San Diego to Seattle refused to work until their demands were met. The longshore demands included union recognition, a coastwide contract, better wages, and safer conditions.

Their fight for dignity reshaped the labor movement.

---

📜 From the Albert H. Farmer papers, Pacific Northwest Collection, UW Libraries Special Collections.

🔗 Visit the to explore materials documenting West Coast labor history.

👇 Tag a labor history enthusiast who needs to see this!


---

📸 Image: Albert H. Farmer papers, 3461-001, Pacific Northwest Collection, UW Libraries Special Collections

---

06/25/2026

For the final of Pride Month, we want to highlight YOU! There is a major gap in collections related to LGBTQ+ workers at the Labor Archives. Help us address this gap by sharing your story and taking steps to preserve your records!
Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries University of Washington Libraries
University of Washington Libraries MLK Labor Washington State Labor Council Thurston Lewis Mason Central Labor Council - TLM CLC NorthWest Washington Central Labor Council Southwest Washington Central Labor Council Pride at Work Spokane Regional Labor Council Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Central Labor Council Pierce County Central Labor Council

06/11/2026

📣 – We're thrilled to announce a THIRD segment on the Labor Archives of Washington, UW Special Collections featured on the Labor Heritage Foundation's Labor Heritage Power Hour!
In this episode, Harold Phillips interviews Conor Casey, head of the Labor Archives of Washington, UW Special Collections (LAW), about the intersectional history of the Pablo O'Higgins mural "The Struggle Against Racial Discrimination." This fascinating story ties together the labor movement, civil rights movement, and Chicano student movements — spanning from Utah to Mexico to the Pacific Northwest.
The conversation also covers the founding and operation of the Labor Archives of Washington: a unique, community-founded and community-funded archive located in the heart of the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
📜 A quick history: In 2008, the ILWU Coast Longshore Division, Washington State Labor Council, MLK Labor, Pierce County Central Labor Council, Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies, and University of Washington Libraries came together to create LAW — with a mission to collect, preserve, and share the stories of working people, their unions, and the broader labor movement in the Pacific Northwest.
🎧 Listen or stream live:
https://bit.ly/3P0fK8w
📻 On air: WPFW 89.3 FM in Washington, D.C.
🗓 Thursday, June 11th at 1:00 PM Eastern / 10:00 AM Pacific
🎧 Podcast (after airing):
https://yourrightsatwork.podbean.com/
📚 Explore the archives:
https://www.laborarchives.org
💚 Support the Labor Archives of Washington:
📖 tinyurl.com/LAW-WA-FUND

In 30 minutes on the Labor Heritage Power Hour:

= Sean Astin at the Convention
- A Labor mural in
- Building worker power in the south

And more!

Listen live at https://bit.ly/3P0fK8w or WPFW 89.3 FM in

SAG-AFTRA