The Labor and Working-Class History Association
A dedicated nexus for advancing scholarship, fostering dialogue, and promoting the rich history of labor movements across the Americas.
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About LAWCHA
Mission and Scope
The Labor and Working-Class History Association (LAWCHA) is a non-profit organization comprising academics, educators, students, and activists from the labor movement and related fields. Its core mission is to foster research into and the dissemination of materials concerning the history of labor movements throughout North and South America.[1]
Core Objectives
LAWCHA actively cultivates and maintains relationships with labor unions, worker organizations, and community activist groups. A significant objective is to enhance the accessibility of labor history for union members and the broader working population. Furthermore, the association champions the integration of workers' history into public elementary and secondary school curricula and advocates for the preservation of historically significant sites related to the labor movement.[1]
Key Details
Abbreviation: LAWCHA
Formation: 1998
Current President: James Gregory (University of Washington)
Website: lawcha.org
Historical Development
Genesis of the Association
LAWCHA was established in 1998, born from a perceived need among labor scholars for a professional organization specifically dedicated to labor history. At the time, existing academic organizations, while valuable, were seen as not sufficiently focused on the unique aspects of labor history, workers' experiences, and local worker organizations. These discussions frequently occurred on academic listservs, notably H-Labor, part of the H-Net network.[1]
Formal Establishment
The formal decision to create a new association emerged from a caucus of interested historians at the 1997 North American Labor History Conference in Detroit, Michigan. An organizing committee, co-chaired by Elizabeth Faue and Julie Greene, alongside a constitution and by-laws committee led by John Bukowczyk and Roger Horowitz, drafted the foundational documents. The constitution was ratified, and LAWCHA officially came into being at the 1998 North American Labor History Conference. Jacquelyn Dowd Hall of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was elected as the inaugural president, with Joe W. Trotter, Jr. of Carnegie Mellon University serving as the first vice-president.[1]
Growth and Engagement
Following its founding, LAWCHA experienced steady growth throughout 1999. The association began hosting its first public sessions as part of panels at the 1999 North American Labor History Conference and subsequently organized an extensive program of activities at various history conferences across the United States and Canada, solidifying its presence in the academic and activist communities.[1]
Organizational Structure
Membership and Governance
Membership in LAWCHA is broadly accessible, though as of late 2006, the majority of members were drawn from academic circles and labor union affiliations. While the membership technically governs the association through annual meetings held in conjunction with its conferences, practical authority is largely delegated to the elected board of directors and the executive committee.[1]
Officers and Executive Committee
The association is led by four elected officers: a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. These officers serve two-year terms, with the President and Vice-President limited to a single term. Typically, the Vice-President assumes the presidency, subsequently serving as immediate past president on the executive committee. The executive offices are situated at Duke University, with a history department graduate student serving as the executive secretary and sole staff member.[1]
Board of Directors
LAWCHA's Board of Directors comprises fifteen elected individuals, with one-third of the board positions up for re-election each year. The four officers, the executive secretary, and the immediate past-president also hold seats on the board. The executive committee, consisting of the officers and executive secretary, is responsible for the organization's governance between formal membership and board meetings.[1]
Scholarly Output
Newsletter and Bibliography
LAWCHA commenced publication of its membership newsletter in 2005, which is now issued annually under the editorship of Rosemary Fuerer. In addition to the newsletter, Fuerer curates a comprehensive labor history bibliography specifically designed for teaching purposes, accessible through the organization's resources.[2]
The Journal "Labor"
The association's flagship publication is the academic journal Labor: Studies in Working-Class History of the Americas, launched in 2005 and renamed Labor: Studies in Working-Class History in 2016. This journal emerged from a significant event in academic publishing: in February 2004, the editorial board and staff of the journal Labor History departed their publisher, Taylor and Francis, citing concerns over editorial independence. LAWCHA's then-president, James Green, facilitated negotiations that led to the establishment of Labor, which is co-published by LAWCHA and Duke University Press. The journal was recognized with the "Best New Journal" award from the Council of Editors of Learned Journals in 2005.[1]
Engagement and Events
Conferences and Panels
LAWCHA actively sponsors and co-sponsors a variety of conferences and academic panels across the United States and Canada. Notable events include collaborations with Wayne State University's North American Labor History Convention, the Southern Labor History Conference at Duke University, and participation in the Organization of American Historians (OAH) annual conferences. The association also organizes joint sessions with groups like Archie Green's Laborlore and the Southern Labor Studies Association, demonstrating its commitment to interdisciplinary engagement.[3]
Recognition and Prizes
Graduate and Dissertation Prizes
Each year, LAWCHA bestows a Graduate Research Essay Prize upon the most outstanding paper presented by a graduate student at the North American Labor History Conference. Since 2007, the association has also presented the Herbert Gutman Prize, recognizing exceptional dissertations in U.S. Labor and Working-Class History.[1]
Book Awards and Service Recognition
In collaboration with Cornell University, LAWCHA participates in awarding the Philip Taft Labor History Book Award, commencing in 2007. Additionally, the association occasionally grants a prize for "Distinguished Service to Labor and Working-Class History." Notable recipients of this honor include David Montgomery in 2007 and David Brody in 2008, acknowledging their profound contributions to the field.[1]
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References
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Disclaimer
Important Notice
This page has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended solely for informational and educational purposes. The content is derived from a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or current.
This is not professional academic or historical advice. The information provided herein is not a substitute for direct consultation with academic historians, labor scholars, or relevant organizational representatives. Always refer to official documentation and consult with qualified professionals for specific research or organizational needs. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of information presented on this website.
The creators of this page assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided.