Ben Stahl

Accession 756
Papers, 1935-1991, 1 Linear Foot

BACKGROUND

Ben Stahl was a longtime trade union official, as well as an activist for civil rights, and an advocate for education and job training programs. He was employed for 40 years as a representative of national CIO and AFL-CIO. In the 1960’s he directed the Philadelphia teachers and school cafeteria workers' organizing campaigns, which resulted in collective bargaining rights for the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and the School Cafeteria Workers. From 1969 until he retired in 1982 he was Mid Atlantic Regional Director of AFL-CIO’s Human Resources Development Institute. He was also an appointed member for two years in the 1980’s on Mayor W. Wilson Goode’s Commission on Human Relations.

Throughout his life, Mr. Stahl served on various boards and committees as a social justice advocate including Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) and the A. Philip Randolph Institute. He authored numerous articles on labor, civil rights, and employment subjects, and contributed a monthly column to the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin entitled "My Voice" in the early 1980’s. Ben Stahl was also the recipient of several awards and certificates such as the James H. Jones, Sr. labor award.

He is a graduate of Central High School in Philadelphia (1932) and attended Gratz College before graduating from Temple University in 1936.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The collection consists of 1 linear foot and covers the period from 1935 to 1991.

The collection has five series. The Correspondence series contains three sub series. The Personal series contains six folders including biographical information, articles and speeches, and awards and certificates. The Publications series has various articles, letters to the editor, "My Voice" newspaper column, and organizational newsletters. The Scholarship series contains information on the James H. Jones and Graphic Communication International Union scholarship committees. Also included is a Miscellaneous series with two folders.

ORGANIZATION

Correspondence
Personal
Publications
Scholarship
Miscellaneous

SERIES DESCRIPTION

Series I. Correspondence. This series contains three sub series including Commission on Human Relations 1986-1988, United Farm Workers 1985, and Philadelphia Federation of Teachers 1966-1991.

Series II. Personal. This series is divided into six folders containing biographical information, awards & certificates, articles & speeches and three drafts of a manuscript on the history of Philadelphia's AFL-CIO human rights committees.

Series III. Publications.. This includes HRDI newsletters 1971-1976, letters to the editor, clippings of "My Voice" newspaper column, and various other articles.

Series IV. Scholarship. Includes information and notes about two scholarship committees on which he served.

Series V. Miscellaneous. Various papers concerning HRDI retirement and other personal correspondences.

INVENTORY

SERIES I CORRESPONDENCE
BOX 1
FOLDER FOLDER CONTENTS YEAR

1 Commission on Human Relations 1986-1988
2 Philadelphia Federation of Teachers 1966-1991
3 United Farm Workers 1985

SERIES II PERSONAL
BOX 1
FOLDER FOLDER CONTENTS YEAR

4 Articles and Speeches ND
5 Awards and Certificates ND
6 Biographical Information 1989-1991
7 Biographical Information ND
8 Manuscript ND
9 Swearing in Ceremony 1986

SERIES III PUBLICATIONS
BOX 1
FOLDER FOLDER CONTENTS YEAR

10 Americans for Democratic Action 1988-1991
11 Evelyn Dickey Article 1988-1990
12 Gratz College 1935
13 HRDI Newsletter 1971-1976
14 HRDI Newsletter 1971-1976
15 Jewish Exponent 1987-1989
16 Letters to the Editor/Various ND
17 My Voice 1981-1982

SERIES IV SCHOLARSHIP
BOX 1
FOLDER FOLDER CONTENTS YEAR

18 Graphic Communications Int'l Union 1986-1989
19 James H. Jones 1986-1988

SERIES IV MISCELLANEOUS
BOX 1
FOLDER FOLDER CONTENTS YEAR

20 ADA/Greater Phila. First Corporation ND
21 HRDI ND

For photographs see Miscellaneous Photograph Collection, PC-49, Box 14 Folder 2