The Creation of Labor Assemblies

The Indianapolis News article, titled “The Trade Union Meeting” on April 17, 1873, signifies a growing collaboration between different trade unions, which were organizations of like-minded individuals who worked for the improvement of working conditions and benefits. The assembly included trades such different woodworkers’ unions, the carpenters’ union, the typographers’ union, and the machinists’ and blacksmiths’ union, just to name a few. This assembly elected John Shley as chairman and E. H. Kimberly as secretary. The assembly recorded the official name of the assembly to be “The Trades Assembly of the State of Indiana.” The assembly met in Indianapolis to be in the place where the government of the state would make laws. Not only was Indianapolis the place where labor laws would be changed, but also the city was the center of so many different trades’ organizations. Because of this, Indianapolis became an important place for labor reformists and trades’ organizations to be.

This stop gives an example of a “Union Hall” that the April 17, 1873, Indianapolis News discusses. This type of building was a meeting place that the Trade Assembly of the State of Indiana would have used to launch labor reforms around the state. This Union Hall in New Albany, Indiana is from around the same period and held a similar purpose. The Union Hall at this location may be small and easily missed, but it held an important role as a place for unions to meet and collaborate.