Call Number:

SCRC 827

Repository:

Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center

Extent:

21.5 linear feet (43 boxes + 18 reels of microfilm)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], American Federation of Musicians, Local 77 Records, SCRC 827, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Date:

1885-1982 (inclusive)

Creator:

Philadelphia Musical Society

Form:

Correspondence, Financial records, and Minutes (administrative records)

Abstract:

The Philadelphia Musical Society, Local 77 of the American Federation of Musicians (A.F.M.) is one of the oldest continuing union affiliates of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). Local 77 was one of the original 26 local unions that made up the A.F.M. when it was chartered by the AFL on November 6, 1896. However, attempts to create a musical union in Philadelphia actually pre-dated the creation of the A.F.L. in 1886. A series of meetings that began in the homes of a small group of string ensemble members in 1816 led to the founding of the Musical Fund Society in 1820. The Musical Fund Society remained the primary organization of Philadelphia musicians until it was disbanded during the Civil War. In 1871, as part of the wave of craft unions that were being created in urban centers around the country, the National Musical Association was founded in Philadelphia. Essentially, it was a loose-knit support system of professional musicians from various cities and not a well-organized national labor rights movement.

The Philadelphia Musical Society grew out of the Musical Association. From the time of its inception, it developed the structure of a modern labor union. An executive committee served as the primary means of communicating with the national organization. A trial board oversaw grievances between union members, and also served a policy-making role in terms of judging complaints against club owners and other employers. Finally, there was a general membership assembly, which was largely autonomous in handling the day-to-day matters of securing employment and fair pay scales for its members. This basic structure has remained intact throughout the union's existence.

Even in the early years of the local, the union was characterized by a multi-ethnic membership base. This developed out of a battle to prevent the contracting of the many non-union immigrant musicians who had come to the area during the late 1800s. Union pressure soon compelled many of them to pay the dues to join the local and to refuse jobs that paid below the union scale. The union's early history was also marked by strife with the Philadelphia chapter of the National League of Musicians, an independent union that resisted membership in the A.F.L. By 1904, the National League of Musicians was forced to disband.

The next major controversy involving members of Local 77 began to unfold on December 7, 1928. Police raided the Musicians' Club on 120 N 18th Street, a popular night spot, after being tipped off that the downstairs area of the club functioned as a speakeasy and gambling room for the members of Local 77. They were also told that several Philadelphia Musical Society officers were responsible for procuring and selling bootlegged liquor to Ole Oleson, the owner of the Musicians' Club. Police discovered dozens of area musicians at the bar and at the gaming tables, playing poker. The police officers then proceeded to Local 77 headquarters on 18th and Arch Street, where union elections were taking place. They discovered that several union members were, in fact, conducting bootlegging operations. In all, thirty-two members of Local 77 were arrested for violation of the Eighteenth Amendment. The tipster turned out to be a disgruntled union member who was unhappy with the early selection process of nominees on the ballot and got revenge by telling the police about the arrangement with the Musicians' Club.

Local 77 was also embroiled by the 1930s in a national feud between the A.F.M. and the American Guild of Musicians. Both were affiliates of the A.F.L. Nevertheless, the two unions were engaged in a heated power struggle. In this city, the Philadelphia Musical Association arose to challenge Local 77 and its sister local (274) in the Philadelphia Musical Society. By 1940, the A.F. of M. had taken a decided advantage in the battle. The two entities established an uneasy truce with one another, with the Guild being relegated to subordinate status. The Philadelphia Musical Society and the Musical Association remained separate, but periodically combined their efforts.

Despite the fact that the Philadelphia Musical Society has had a long time affiliation with the A.F.M., relations have sometimes been strained between the national and the local. This was particularly true during the time that James C. Petrillo was the President of the A.F.M., which began in 1939 and continued through 1958. The local sought relative autonomy while Petrillo attempted to exercise broad control of all of his affiliates. For example, Local 77 and the A.F.M. disagreed over the split of recording royalties that each would receive from musicians in Local 77. There was also argument over the procedure for eliminating "radical" elements from the ranks; from the post-World War I era until the decline of HUAC in the late 1950s, people engaged in the arts were among the groups that were most frequently suspected of having communist (or at least leftist) sympathies. The Lea Act of 1946 attempted to severely restrict the legal strike organization rights of unions because of the fear of their leaders encouraging radicalism. In recognition of the fervent anti-communist wave in the country, Petrillo issued a unilateral ban on all communists and potential communist sympathizers within the union. He assumed disbarment rights that could bypass the trial boards and executive committees of the locals. Local 77 angrily protested the usurpation of its authority, but eventually was forced to give in. Finally, after Petrillo's resignation in 1958, the rift between Local 77 and the A.F.M began to be repaired.

To this day, Local 77 has remained a viable force in the A.F.M. They organized a strike against the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1966 and secured a re-definition of "work time" to include travel to engagements. Ten years later, however, only 10% of the 5,000 Local 77 members had full time employment, a tremendous drop-off from the union's former placement rate. Today, the headquarters of Local 77 are located on the 1200 block of Locust Street. The future promises to bring challenges that will add to a long, colorful, and stormy history of professional music and the cultural arts in Philadelphia.

This collection contains the records of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 77 including Board of Governors, Executive Committee, and Trial Board meeting minutes, ledgers, correspondence, records belonging to affiliates of Philadelphia Musical Society and other related organizations among other materials.