Fifty Years of Labor History Preservation and Progress: The Evolution of the Walter P. Reuther Library

abstract: The Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs is part of Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. An innovative and ground-breaking institution, the Reuther is the largest labor archive in North America. It is home to the official archives of Wayne State University (WSU), several major labor unions including the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), and Detroit-based organizations and leaders. Collections contain stories of social, political, and economic reform movements in the United States, supporting a diverse range of scholarship and creative projects. Philip P. Mason, who became university archivist in 1958, was largely responsible for its formation. In addition to caring for the collections, archival staff engage in dynamic programming; creative projects; and collaborations with WSU communities, within the labor movement, and in metro Detroit. In 1975, the archives moved into a dedicated building thanks to funds from the UAW. In celebration of the facility’s 50-year anniversary, this article looks back at how the archives came to be and describes some of the current activities that extend the legacy of this important institution.