John L. Lewis' Union Badge
date: label: associated date
content: 1936
name: label: referenced
content: United Mine Workers of America
label: associated person
content: Lewis, John L.
label: maker
content: United Mine Workers of America
notes: label: Description
content: John L. Lewis, one of America's foremost labor leaders, wore this badge at the 1936 United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) convention. It is a metal gold-colored pin with "President" printed in blue. A red, white, and blue ribbon attaches badge to pin. The badge features a gold-colored relief of the U.S. Capitol Building with an eagle perched on a shield. “UMW ORG 1890” is printed in blue at the bottom.
label: Description
content: Born in an Iowa coal-mining camp, Lewis went to work in the mines as a teenager. He rose quickly as a labor leader, becoming president of the UMWA in 1920, and later helped found the Congress of Industrial Organizations. Lewis led a successful struggle to organize industrial workers, improving wages, safety, and benefits.
place: label: associated place
content: United States: District of Columbia
topic: label: general subject association
content: Labor Unions
setName: label: See more items in
content: Political History: Political History, Reform Movements Collection
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content: Government, Politics, and Reform
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content: Work
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content: Industry & Manufacturing
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content: National Treasures exhibit
label: Exhibition
content: American Enterprise
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
publisher: label: Related Publication
content: Kendrick, Kathleen M. and Peter C. Liebhold. Smithsonian Treasures of American History
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1989.0693.3777
label: catalog number
content: 1989.0693.3777
label: accession number
content: 1989.0693
objectType: label: Object Name
content: badge
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: fabric (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 9.5 cm x 5 cm; 3 3/4 in x 1 15/16 in