Africa and the Middle East, 1950-1970

This series, divided into two subseries, contains correspondence, reports, minutes, legislative bills and hearings, speeches, clippings, proceedings, pamphlets and other printed material, graphics, and photographs. The series spans 1950-1970 while the bulk of the material dates 1953-1970.

The records document efforts of U.S., African, and Middle Eastern labor leaders to build a free trade union movement in the region during the Post-World War II and Cold War years. They are particularly valuable in illuminating relations among trade union and government officials. Subjects include: international educational and cultural conferences regarding Africa; visits to the U.S. by leaders of the African free trade union movement; refugee and hunger relief policy towards Africa; the influence of colonial domination regarding the development of free trade unionism and the establishment of a free trade movement with self-rule governments; efforts to prevent the spread of communism and socialism in Africa; the development and efforts of pan-African organizations and other international labor organizations; the proceedings and efforts of all-African congresses to promote free trade unionism; free trade unionism in Middle Eastern countries; relations between Israel and its neighboring countries; the creation of the Israeli state; U.S. government policy towards the national security of Israel; and general political relations between the U.S. and countries in Africa and the Middle East.

Major correspondents include: Irving Brown {Dir. AfricanAmerican Labor Center), Harry Goldberg, Ernest Lee, Henry Kirsch, Jay Lovestone, George Meany, Michael Ross, William Schnitzler, Maida Springer {Maida Kemp, Maida Springer-Kemp), Alhaji Adebola {President, United Labour Congress of Nigeria), Joseph Rene Amouhou {Secretary General of CASL-FO), J. Avrech {American Representative of Histadrut), Aharon Becker {General Secretary, Histadrut), Omer Becu {General Secretary ICFTU), Francisco Manuel Bento {Sec. Gen. of the Ligue Generale Des Travailleurs de L'Angola), Mr. Bentum {Secretary General, Ghana Trades Union Congress, 1965) Cynthia A. Courtney and John A. Davis {American Society of African Culture), M.E. Jallow {Secretary General, Gambia Workers' Union), Pedro Barreiro Lulendo {Secretary General of Ligue Generale Des Travailleurs de L'Angola), Tom Mboya {General Secretary of the Kenya Federation of Labor, Minister of Labour - 1961-1962, Minister for Economic Planning & Development - 1966-1970, Kenya), Y. Meshel {Histadrut), Gariel Mmusi {Secretary General Botswana Trade Unions), Arthur A. Ochwada {General Secretary, Trade Union Congress of Kenya), J.K. Tettagah (General Secretary, Ghana Trade Union Congress, 1957- 1961), Ahmed Tlili {President, Africa Trade Union Conference), and Arnold Zack {University College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia).