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- [Archive of Internal Photography, Newsletters, and Correspondence of an Ohio Window Manufacturer]
[Archive of Internal Photography, Newsletters, and Correspondence of an Ohio Window Manufacturer]
[Archive of Internal Photography, Newsletters, and Correspondence of an Ohio Window Manufacturer]
A substantial archive of printed and photographic material documenting the products and internal employment conditions of the Malta Manufacturing Co. of Gahanna, Ohio, a wooden window manufacturer active in Central and Eastern Ohio with headquarters in Gahanna (suburban Columbus) and additional facilities in Malta and Zanesville.
Included are 41 different issues of the employee newsletter THE MALTA VUE from 1966-1971, more than 120 about contemporary photographs (mostly 8" x 10" black and white prints: product images, architectural views, factory interiors, workers, etc..), more than 30 film negatives, and several pieces of layout materials and internal correspondence, a few of which document failed union organizing efforts in 1966 and 1967.
Issues of the newsletter also provide details on the labor situation, noting a September 1966 vote to dissolve the existing Teamsters-backed union and an unsuccessful effort to reorganize one in November 1967. From a message in the September 1966 issues of the VUE by company president, Jim Boden:
“Please take a few minutes to read the following comments. It could be the best investment of your time you have ever made. September 22, 1966, is an extremely important day to all of us. That is the day the Teamsters and the Papermakers have our employees’ pocketbooks up for grabs. This will be a National Labor Relations Board conducted election by secret ballot ; and, needless to say, the results will have much to do with the future health and progress of our Company.
The ballot used in this election will provide you with three choices. One will be the Teamsters which carries with the notorious JIMMY HOFFA reputation. Another will be the Papermakers-Paperworkers which past experience has proven carries with it an endless parade of petty bickering, Union squabbles and unrest. The third, and most important to us, will be the block designated “NEITHER.” This of course, represents a vote against both Unions.
We have adopted the slogans “No Dues is Good News” and “A Year in the Clear.” These are not just meaningless statements nor are they intended to be comical. In reality they represents the cold hard facts of the price of belonging to the Union, and our request that you give us one year to prove that you need not finance a Union to be happy and secure in your job at Malta.”
Labor issues seem to wane from the forefront following the end of 1967 and the newsletter continues as a surprisingly intimate glimpse into employee and community relations with the firm weighing in on local elections, including education referendums, demonstrating a significant influence inside and outside its factory walls.
The photographs provide an extensive glimpse at the state of residential and commercial window production and design in the 1960’s as well as a broad representation of commercial photographers active in Ohio (and beyond) at the time with credit to at least 12 different names and studios to prints versos.
In all, a revealing archive of American window manufacturing, labor relations, etc... in the 1960's. More images here. More images and our working notes with a further breakdown of contents and list of named photographers avaiable upon request.
[Architecture and Building] : [Business] : [Labor] : [Photography]. [Archive of Internal Photography, Newsletters, and Correspondence of an Ohio Window Manufacturer]. Gahanna, Ohio: The Malta Manufacturing Co., (ca. 1955-1971). An approximately 4" stack of material consisting of about 120 photographs, 32 film negatives, 41 employee newsletters, and several pieces of correspondence. Contents with a mild sort of mothball odor, otherwise all well preserved and about very good or better.
A substantial archive of printed and photographic material documenting the products and internal employment conditions of the Malta Manufacturing Co. of Gahanna, Ohio, a wooden window manufacturer active in Central and Eastern Ohio with headquarters in Gahanna (suburban Columbus) and additional facilities in Malta and Zanesville.
Included are 41 different issues of the employee newsletter THE MALTA VUE from 1966-1971, more than 120 about contemporary photographs (mostly 8" x 10" black and white prints: product images, architectural views, factory interiors, workers, etc..), more than 30 film negatives, and several pieces of layout materials and internal correspondence, a few of which document failed union organizing efforts in 1966 and 1967.
Issues of the newsletter also provide details on the labor situation, noting a September 1966 vote to dissolve the existing Teamsters-backed union and an unsuccessful effort to reorganize one in November 1967. From a message in the September 1966 issues of the VUE by company president, Jim Boden:
“Please take a few minutes to read the following comments. It could be the best investment of your time you have ever made. September 22, 1966, is an extremely important day to all of us. That is the day the Teamsters and the Papermakers have our employees’ pocketbooks up for grabs. This will be a National Labor Relations Board conducted election by secret ballot ; and, needless to say, the results will have much to do with the future health and progress of our Company.
The ballot used in this election will provide you with three choices. One will be the Teamsters which carries with the notorious JIMMY HOFFA reputation. Another will be the Papermakers-Paperworkers which past experience has proven carries with it an endless parade of petty bickering, Union squabbles and unrest. The third, and most important to us, will be the block designated “NEITHER.” This of course, represents a vote against both Unions.
We have adopted the slogans “No Dues is Good News” and “A Year in the Clear.” These are not just meaningless statements nor are they intended to be comical. In reality they represents the cold hard facts of the price of belonging to the Union, and our request that you give us one year to prove that you need not finance a Union to be happy and secure in your job at Malta.”
Labor issues seem to wane from the forefront following the end of 1967 and the newsletter continues as a surprisingly intimate glimpse into employee and community relations with the firm weighing in on local elections, including education referendums, demonstrating a significant influence inside and outside its factory walls.
The photographs provide an extensive glimpse at the state of residential and commercial window production and design in the 1960’s as well as a broad representation of commercial photographers active in Ohio (and beyond) at the time with credit to at least 12 different names and studios to prints versos.
In all, a revealing archive of American window manufacturing, labor relations, etc... in the 1960's. More images here. More images and our working notes with a further breakdown of contents and list of named photographers avaiable upon request.
[Architecture and Building] : [Business] : [Labor] : [Photography]. [Archive of Internal Photography, Newsletters, and Correspondence of an Ohio Window Manufacturer]. Gahanna, Ohio: The Malta Manufacturing Co., (ca. 1955-1971). An approximately 4" stack of material consisting of about 120 photographs, 32 film negatives, 41 employee newsletters, and several pieces of correspondence. Contents with a mild sort of mothball odor, otherwise all well preserved and about very good or better.