This region has a vibrant and active labor legacy, however it has not been fully documented online, as some articles and books on labor history in this region can be difficult to locate, unless you already know who and what to search for on various sites.
On this page I provide links and resources which uncover the rich contribution of labor,
I would like to thank Jim Kelly (and the Labor Studies Department at San Jose City College), for inspiration and generosity in sharing his knowledge and resources.
Please see my "Industry & Architecture" and "Water & Agriculture" Pages for more information on historic, local industries. (This page is under construction.)
Architecture, Public Works, and Monuments:
- In 1935 the Daughters of the American Revolution transcribe the U.S. Census as a WPA project. This link is for the Santa Clara County portion of that project.
- The San Jose Main Post Office, another WPA Project listed in this PAC San Jose online collection of heritage San Jose buildings.
- Living New Deal, a U.C. Berkeley Dept. of Geography blog, has a listing of WPA projects in San Jose with informative text, but not all projects listed have related images.
Ethnic Groups in Labor:
- Caste and Outcast - Biography on the first South-Asian man of letters and former farm worker, Dhan Gopal Mukerji (1890-1936)
- Cannery Workers and Their Unions - Predominantly Asian and later European Immigrant workers. A West Coast history report from the Waterfront Workers History Project. Filipino labor leader's oral histories are also available here, as well as publications.
- Contributions of Immigrants in Santa Clara County, a scholarly paper from the IRIS.
- Sai Yin Chew and the Bayside Cannery in Alviso, CA.
Famous Names in Local Labor History:
- Jack London's Bay Area Roots - A San Jose Mercury News article which includes references to Jack London's advocacy of socialism during lectures to students involved with producing "The Normal," a publication of San Jose State Normal School's English Studies students. (Early San Jose State University, a teacher's college, was referred to as, "The Normal.") The article also covers London's trips to San Jose.
Farm Workers and Agribusiness:
- Factories in the Field - A book on the plight of Dust Bowl families, migratory farm workers, and the growth of Agribusiness in California.
- The Brocero History Archive - Web site covering the history of the Federal Brocero program, which brought millions of guest Mexican workers to the United States, from 1942 to 1964.
General Regional Labor History:
- Bayside Cannery in Alviso, CA
- Port of San Jose in Alviso, CA
ILWU and Longshoremen:
- ILWU Oral Histories online include those of Harry Bridges and others. Publications are also available for other maritime trades.
- Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies - Harry Bridges and the Great Maritime Strike of 1934.
- Maritime Workers - A West Coast history report from the Waterfront Workers History Project.
---Catherine Alexander Bright, SiliconValleyLibrarian.org