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John Brophy Collection
John Brophy was born in 1883 in Lancashire, England to a family of miners
who emigrated to the United States when he was ten years old. They immediately found work
in the central Pennsylvania coal mines. Before he turned twelve, young Brophy began
working in the mines; by the age of fourteen, he had joined the United Mine Workers of
America. As a checkweighman, local officer, and finally as president of District #2 of the
UMWA, he served the miners of Pennsylvania.
During the twenties, John Brophy became the leader of the opposition movement in the UMW,
challenging John L. Lewis for the presidency in 1962. Lewis won the election, promptly
expelling Brophy from the mines and the union.
As director of the CIO in the 1930's, Brophy was involved in the organization of several
major industries, including steel and auto workers. He served the CIO and its successor,
the AFL-CIO, in a variety of capacities until his death in 1963.
The John Brophy Collection includes a few nomentos of Brophy's tenure with the CIO. It
also contains the eulogy from his funeral, an 8 X 10 photograph of Brophy, a letter from
President Kennedy, and various newsclippings about Brophy's work.
(0.5 Linear Feet)
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