To celebrate #ArchivesBlackEducation we wanted to highlight the work of organizer, educator, and international labor advocate Maida Springer Kemp of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union. Kemp started working as a finisher with Local 22 of the Dressmakers’ Union in NYC and moved up in the union becoming executive board member, chairman of the education committee and shop representative. In 1942, Kemp was appointed as education director of Local 132, the Plastic Button and Novelty Workers’ Union focusing on educating new membership of mostly refugee, recently released prisoners, women and minority union members. Kemp became the first black woman to represent American labor abroad when the AFL sent her to England in 1945 and the first black business agent of Local 22 in 1947. Through her international work, she developed training programs for girls, designed leadership workshops for trade unionists, studied workers’ education in Sweden and Denmark, and secured funds for labor centers including the Solidarity House in Nairobi. Kemp received many awards and honors during her lifetime and was a member of numerous organizations including the NAACP, National Organization of Women (NOW), the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), the National Council of Negro Women, and the Urban League. Kemp speaking during a Dress Strike, 1958. Kemp studying production methods at the Cooperative Wholesale Society’s clothing factory in Bristol, England, undated. Kemp meeting with Japanese Trade Unionists, undated. Kemp meeting at the African American Labor Center highlighting their work with trade unions in thirty-five African countries. Manager William Ross of the Philadelphia Dress Joint Board hands Kemp a check for $10,000 to help finance a training school for garment workers. [#6199005p #5780P #5780102P #5780PN45 #ILGWU #UniteHere Photographs #KheelCenter, #ILR, #Cornell #ArchivesHashtagParty] #blackhistorymonth https://www.instagram.com/p/CK6l9RQJwIx/?igshid=1j202lw6wj1ab
