Harvard. Problems of Labor. Assignment of Reports and Final Exam. Ripley, 1903-1904

The course “Problems of Labor” at Harvard taught by William Zebina Ripley would have been better described as “Problems of Organized Labor”. The course number “9” was split between the first semester dedicated to the labor market institution of trade unions and the second semester dedicated to corporations and combinations of firms into trusts.

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Course Enrollment
First Semester, 1903-04

Economics 9a ¹hf. Professor Ripley. — Problems of Labor.

Total 97: 8 Graduates, 33 Seniors, 34 Juniors, 14 Sophomores, 8 Others.

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College, 1903-1904, p. 66.

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ECONOMICS 9
ASSIGNMENT OF REPORTS

GROUP A

Students will report upon the comparative conditions respecting Trade Union organization, functions, and efficiency in corresponding industries in the United States and Great Britain. The particular, industry assigned to each man is indicated by a number on the enrolment slip, which refers to the Trade Union number on the appended list of National Labor Organizations.

GROUP B

Students will report upon the comparative efficiency of Trade Union organization in two distinct lines of industry in the United States. Numbers against the names on the enrolment slip refer to the numbered Trade Union list, appended hereto.

GROUP C

Students will report upon the nature of Trade Union organization in two distinct lines of industry in Great Britain. Names on the enrolment slip as numbered refer to the industries concerned in the appended list of Trade Unions.

→ The letters preceding the assignment number against the student’s name refer to the group in which the report is to be made. Thus, for example: “8A” on the enrolment slip indicates that the student is to report upon the Cotton Spinners’ Unions in the United States and Great Britain; “1 & 8B,” that a comparison of the Spinners’ and of the Boot and Shoe Workers’ Organizations in the United States is expected: while “1 & 8C” calls for the same comparison for the two industries in Great Britain.

NATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES

A star indicates that the Trade Union journal is in the Library. [Loeb Fund.]

*The Knights of Labor
*The American Federation of Labor

1. Boot and Shoe Workers’ Union.
2. The United Hatters of North America.
3. The United Garment Workers of America.
4. *The Journeymen Tailors’ Union of America.
5. Custom Clothing Makers’ Union of America.
6. International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union.
7. The Shirt, Waist and Laundry Workers’ International Union.
8. National Spinners’ Association of America.
9. The Elastic Goring Weavers’ Amalgamated Association of the United States of America.
10. International Union of Textile Workers.
11. Trunk and Bag Workers’ International Union of America.
12. *International Typographical Union of North America.
13. German-American Typographia.
14. International Printing Pressmen and Assistants’ Union of North America.
15. International Brotherhood of Bookbinders.
16. Lithographers’ International Protective and Beneficial Association.
17. International Steel and Copperplate Printers’ Union of the United States of America.
18. Bricklayers and Masons’ International Union of America.
19. *United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.
20. Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners.
21. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
22. *Granite Cutters’ National Union of the United States of America.
23. Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators, and Paper Hangers of America.
24. Operative Plasterers’ International Association.
25. United Association of Journeymen Plumbers, Gas Fitters, Steam Fitters, and Steam Fitters’ Helpers.
26. National Association of Steam and Hot-Water Fitters and Helpers.
27. Journeymen Stone Cutters’ Association of North America.
28. Mosaic and Encaustic Tile Layers and Helpers’ International Union.
29. Glass Bottle Blowers’ Association.
30. American Flint Glassworkers’ Union.
31. *Amalgamated Glassworkers’ International Association.
32. National Brotherhood of Operative Potters.
33. *United Mine Workers of America.
34. Northern Mineral Mine Workers’ Progressive Union.
35. Amalgamated Woodworkers’ International Union.
36. United Order of Box Makers and Sawyers.
37. *Piano and Organ Workers’ International Union.
38. International Wood Carvers’ Association.
39. Coopers’ International Union.
40. Carriage and Wagon Workers’ International Union.
41. National Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers.
42. *International Association of Machinists.
43. Amalgamated Society of Engineers.
44. *Brotherhood of Boiler Makers and Iron Ship Builders.
45. International Association of Allied Metal Mechanics.
46. Metal Polishers, Buffers, Platers, and Brass Workers’ International Union.
47. Amalgamated Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association.
48. *Iron Molders’ Union.
49. Pattern Makers’ League.
50. Core Makers’ International Union.
51. Grand Union of the International Brotherhood of Blacksmiths.
52. Chain Makers’ National Union.
53. Stove Mounters and Steel Range Workers’ International Union.
54. Tin Plate Workers’ International Protective Association.
55. American Wire Weavers’ Protective Association.
56. Metal Trades’ Federation of North America.
57. *International Seamen’s Union.
58. National Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association.
59. International Longshoremen’s Association.
60. Amalgamated Association of Street Railway Employees.
61. Switchmen’s Union.
62. Journeymen Bakers’ and Confectioners’ International Union.
63. Journeymen Barbers’ International Union.
64. National Union of the United Brewery Workmen.
65. *National Brickmaker’s Alliance.
66. International Broom Makers’ Union.
67. *Cigar Makers’ International Union.
68. Retail Clerks’ International Protective Association.
69. Team Drivers’ International Union.
70. International Union of Steam Engineers.
71. National Brotherhood of Coal Hoisting Engineers.
72. Watch Case Engravers’ International Association.
73. International Brotherhood of Stationary Firemen.
74. International Union of Journeymen Horseshoers.
75. Hotel and Restaurant Employees’ International Alliance and Bartenders’ International League.
76. International Jewelry Workers.
77. The United Brotherhood of Leather Workers on Horse Goods.
78. National Association of Letter Carriers.
79. *Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen.
80. American Federation of Musicians.
81. International Brotherhood of Oil and Gas Well Workers.
82. United Brotherhood of Paper Makers.
83. National Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.
84. National Stogie Makers’ League.
85. *Tobacco Workers’ International League.
86. Upholsterers’ International Union.
87. *Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
88. *Order of Railway Conductors of America.
89. *Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen.
90. Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.
91. *Order of Railroad Telegraphers.
92. Brotherhood of Railway Truckmen.
93. Switchmen’s Union of North America.

The constitutions of most of the Trades Unions for the United States will be found in Vol. XVII, Reports, U. S. Industrial Commission. Similar data for Great Britain is in the Appendix to “Foreign Reports, Vols. 1-2,”Royal Commission on Labour, pp. 15-324. [Volume I, United States; Volume II, Colonies and Indian Empire] [Both reserved in Gore Hall.] Additional evidence as to labor conditions in each industry will be found in Vols. VII, VIII, XII, XIV, and XVII, U. S. Industrial Commission (consult Digest and Index in each volume); and in the Reports of the British Royal Commission. The student should also consult Charles Booth’s Life and Labor of the People;

[(Original) Volume I, East London; (Original) Volume II, London; (Original) Appendix to Volume II; Note: the previous three original volumes were re-printed as four volumes that then were followed by Volume V, Population Classified by Trades; Volume VI, Population Classified by Trades (cont.); Volume VII, Population Classified by Trades; Volume VIII, Population Classified by Trades (cont.); Volume IX, Comparisons, Survey and Conclusions];

Webbs, Industrial Democracy; and other books reserved in Gore Hall.

Data respecting the various unions among railroad employees in the United States will be found in a separate section on Railway Labor, in Vol. XVII, U. S. Industrial Commission: as also in Vols. IV and IX. (See Digests and Indexes.)

In cases where the American Trade Union journal is not in the library, the student will be expected to procure at least one copy from the Secretary of the Union. [See list of post office addresses posted with the enrolment slip.] These are to be filed with the report.

→ Exact references by title, volume and page must be given in foot notes for all facts cited. This condition is absolutely imperative. Failure to comply with it will vitiate the entire report.

 

Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003. Box 1, Folder “Economics, 1903-1904”.

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ECONOMICS 9a
Mid-Year Examination. 1903-04

1. What is the most successful instance of Collective Bargaining in England? What is the status of the same industry in the United States, and why?
2. What is the difference between an Employers’ Liability Act and a Workman’s Compensation Act? On what grounds may the latter be advocated?
3. What is the English Device of the Common Rule? What are some of its economic effects?
4. State two important peculiarities of American trades unions as contrasted with Great Britain.
5. Outline the main features of the industrial arbitration legislation of Australasian colonies.
6. What is the economic defence for restriction of the number of apprentices in a trade? Is it valid?
7. What were the three most important strikes in the United States since 1850, and why?
8. Criticise the recent recommendations of the Massachusetts Commission on Relation of Employer and Employed.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University, Examination Papers 1873-1915. Box 7, Bound volume: Examination Papers, 1904-05; Papers Set for Final Examinations in History, Government, Economics, … in Harvard College, p. 32.

Image Source: MIT Museum website. William Zebina Ripley. Image colorized by Economics in the Rear-View Mirror.