Inventory of the Boyd Ellsworth Payton Papers, 1929-1977 and undated
Abstract
Labor leader from Willingboro (Burlington Co.), N.J.
Papers concerning the career of Boyd Ellsworth Payton, International Vice President of the Textile Workers Union of America. The papers concern three major aspects of Payton's career: the Harriet-Henderson Cotton Mills strike (1958-1961); his incarceration and writing of the book, Scapegoat; and finally his experiences after being released from prison. Included are genealogical materials, correspondence, legal papers, addresses and writings, miscellaneous items, radio scripts, pictures, and a draft of Scapegoat, entitled Prejudice + Politics = Prison. Other papers include items on the poll tax in the South, as well as pamphlets relating to labor unions and the South, the poll tax, and strikes. Clippings deal principally with the American Federation of Labor (AFL), AFL publicity, South Carolina Federation of Labor Convention, United Textile Workers of America convention, communists, and the Bessemer City strike. A 1929 scrapbook houses clippings pertaining to the southern textile strike in that year, and a 1946 scrapbook contains information on the Danville (Va.) Citizens' Committee, a group organized to fight inflation and high prices in Danville. Formerly part of the Labor Archives Collection. Original box numbers have been retained.
Descriptive Summary
- Repository
- David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
- Creator
- Payton, Boyd E.
- Title
- Boyd Ellsworth Payton Papers, 1929-1977 and undated
- Language of Material
- English
- Extent
- 1,831 Items
- Location
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Collection Overview
Papers date from 1929 to 1977 and concern the career of Boyd Ellsworth Payton, International Vice President of the Textile Workers Union of America. The papers concern three major aspects of Payton's career: the Harriet-Henderson Cotton Mills strike (1958-1961); his incarceration in prison and writing of the book, Scapegoat; and finally his experiences after being released from jail. Included are genealogical materials, correspondence, legal papers, addresses and writings, miscellaneous items, radio scripts, pictures, and a draft of Scapegoat, entitled Prejudice + Politics = Prison. Other papers include items on the poll tax in the South, as well as pamphlets relating to labor unions and the South, the poll tax, and strikes. Clippings deal principally with the American Federation of Labor (AFL), AFL publicity, South Carolina Federation of Labor Convention, United Textile Workers of America convention, communists, and the Bessemer City strike. A 1929 scrapbook houses clippings pertaining to the southern textile strike in that year, and a 1946 scrapbook contains information on the Danville (Va.) Citizens' Committee, a group organized to fight inflation and high prices in Danville. One box of material was formerly part of the Labor Archives Collection. Original box number has been retained.
Administrative Information
Collections are on the move for the renovation of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.
Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
Contents of the Collection
Correspondence Series, 1950-1975
Printed Material Series, 1950-1976
Miscellaneous Series
Additional Papers
Unprocessed and undescribed. Formerly part of the Labor Archives Collections. See catalog record for Boyd Ellsworth Payton Papers for location.
Subject Headings
- Payton, Boyd E., 1908-1984.
- American Federation of Labor.
- Danville Citizens' Committee (Danville, Va.)
- South Carolina State Federation of Labor.
- United Textile Workers of America.
- Textile Workers Union of America.
- Henderson Cotton Mills (Henderson, N.C.)
- Consumer cooperatives--Virginia--Danville.
- Poll tax--Southern States.
- Strikes and lockouts--Textile industry--North Carolina.
- Textile Workers' Strike, Gastonia, N.C., 1929.
- Labor unions and communism--United States.
- Labor unions--Southern States.
- Textile workers--Labor unions.
- Textile Workers' Strike, Henderson, N.C., 1958-1961.
- Textile industry--North Carolina.
Related Material
A substantial collection of Boyd E. Payton's papers are also held by the University of North Carolina, Charlotte Special Collections. See the online finding aid for more details.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Boyd Ellsworth Payton Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
Provenance
The Boyd Ellsworth Payton Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library in 1977.
Processing Information
Partially processed by Rubenstein Library staff
Encoded by Ted Holt and Paula Jeannet Mangiafico, August 2008
All accessions are described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
