duPont, Ethel Biderman (1895-1980) Papers, 1914-1980

Held by The Filson Historical Society

Creator:  duPont, Ethel Biderman, 1895-1980

 Title:  Papers, 1914-1980

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Curator of Special Collections.

Size of Collection:  7.33 cu. ft.

Location Number:  Mss. A D938a

Scope and Content Note

Papers primarily reflect her interest in the labor movement in KY Those that do not are personal correspondence, lecture notes as an economics teacher at the University of Louisville, house renovation plans, bills, literary efforts, and Louisville Art Center Association material.

Copies of du Pont’s columns and labor research, and correspondence associated with it comprise a large portion of the papers. Additional labor related material includes various newspaper clippings from Ky. and out of state newspapers, nationwide labor publications, and du Pont’s unpublished labor stories.

Biographical Note

Ethel Bidermann du Pont (1896-1980), a member of the famous du Pont family, was labor journalist and activist with a strong and interest in the labor movement in KY She was a president of the Kentucky Federation of Teachers, a professor of economics at the University of Louisville, and a labor columnist for the Louisville Times. In 1947, she was elected to the Louisville chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She helped organize the Greater Louisville Committee to Defend Civil Liberties, the Citizens Committee for Welfare Legislation in Kentucky, the Union for Democratic Action, and the National League of Women Voters.

Folder List
Box 1
fl. 1 Obituaries of du Pont, 1980 Oct. 18.
Letter to the editor about du Pont, 1980 Dec. 1.
fl. 2 Personal correspondence, 1918-1969.
fl. 3 Appointment calendars, 1942-1962.
fl. 4 Miscellaneous addresses, n.d.
Louisville public schools directory, 1964-1965.
Louisville Forum on Peace; sponsors and leaflet, 1951 May 6.
fl. 5 Newspaper clippings about Elizabeth J. Hauser and Judge Florence Allen, 1958-1960.
fl. 6 Miscellaneous, 1945-1962, and n.d.
fl. 7 Economics lecture notes, n.d.
fl. 8 Newspaper clippings about St. James Court, 1956, and n.d.
fl. 9 Blueprints of renovation work at St. James Court, 1947-1954.
fl. 10 Renovation material about 1418 St. James Court, 1942-1969, and n.d.

Box 2

fl. 11 Manuscript of The Old Man with Beautiful Eyes.
fl. 12 Manuscript of The Old Man with Beautiful Eyes.
fl. 13 Manuscript of The Old Man with Beautiful Eyes.
fl. 14 Literary works by du Pont, n.d.
fl. 15 English composition tests, 1914-1917.
fl. 16 Play by du Pont, Talk.
fl. 17 Writer’s aid books, and information, 1956-1960.
fl. 18 Little Red Auto Stories, by du Pont, 1923. Typed and printed copies.

Box 3

fl. 19 Art Center Association-University of Louisville correspondence, 1931 Aug. 24-1936 Nov. 16.
fl. 20 Art Center Association-U. of L. correspondence, 1937 Jan. 5-1940 May 27.
fl. 21 Art Center Association-U. of L. correspondence, 1941 May 21-Sept. 23.
fl. 22 Art Center Association-U. of L. correspondence, 1942 June 12-1967 Dec. 1.
fl. 23 Art Center Association-U. of L. Relations correspondence and notes, n.d.
fl. 24 Art Center Association-U. of L. Relations, n.d.; Art Center Association by-laws, 1950 Feb. 17.
fl. 25 Four codicils to the will of Maud Ainslie, 1955 Dec. 1-1956 Sept. 3.
fl. 26 Maud Ainslie Trust and Scholarship Fund: newspaper clippings and correspondence, 1946-1962.
fl. 27 Maud Ainslie Trust and Scholarship Fund correspondence, 1963 Jan. 7-Dec. 20.
fl. 28 Maud Ainslie Trust and Scholarship Fund correspondence, 1964 Jan. 8-1965 Apr. 26.
fl. 29 Maud Ainslie Trust and Scholarship Fund correspondence and notes, n.d.
fl. 30 Brief and Plan of Distribution of Ainslie money for scholarships and areas of disagreement, n.d.

Box 4
fl. 31 Kentucky Federation of Teachers correspondence, 1942 Sept. 1-1948 Mar. 22.
fl. 32 Kentucky Federation of Teachers correspondence, 1950 Jan. 3-1951 Dec. 3.
fl. 33 Kentucky Federation of Teachers correspondence, 1950 Jan. 2-1952 Dec. 23.
fl. 34 Kentucky Federation of Teachers- du Pont-Kuenzli dispute, correspondence, 1952 Apr. 14-1952 Nov. 22.
fl. 35 Kentucky Federation of Teachers correspondence, 1953 Jan. 4-1953 Feb. 26.
fl. 36 Kentucky Federation of Teachers correspondence, 1953 Mar. 1-Apr. 24.
fl. 37 Kentucky Federation of Teachers correspondence, 1953 May 1-30.
fl. 38 Kentucky Federation of Teachers correspondence, 1953 June 2-Nov. 16.
fl. 39 Kentucky Federation of Teachers correspondence, n.d.
fl. 40 Kentucky Federation of Teachers Annual Convention, 1953 Nov.

Box 5
fl. 41 Kentucky Federation of Teachers correspondence, 1954 Jan. 22-Dec. 21.
fl. 42 Kentucky Federation of Teachers correspondence, 1955 Jan. 12-Dec. 3.
fl. 43 Kentucky Federation of Teachers correspondence, 1956 Jan. 28-Dec. 31.
fl. 44 Kentucky Federation of Teachers constitution, n.d.; Resolutions, 1954-1955, and n.d.
fl. 45 Social Security; teachers and retirement, 1950-1954, and n.d.
fl. 46 Kentucky House and Senate bills, 1956-1958
Federal Congressional bill, 1954.
fl. 47 Kentucky Federation of Teachers financial material, 1953-1959.
fl. 48 Kentucky Federation of Teachers miscellaneous material, 1950-1960, and n.d.
The American Teacher, 1952.
The Edmonson News, 1954.
fl. 49 Kentucky Federation of Teachers, notes and note and address book, n.d.
fl. 50 Education related newspaper clippings, 1952-1959.
fl. 51 Education related newspaper clippings, n.d.

Box 6

fl. 52 The Louisville Teacher, 1948 May 22-1949 Sept.
fl. 53 The Kentucky Teacher, 1951 Nov.-Dec.
fl. 54 The Kentucky Teacher, 1952 Jan.-Dec.
fl. 55 The Kentucky Teacher, 1953-1957 Sept.
fl. 56 Assistant Labor Information Specialist, correspondence, 1942.
National War Labor Board, 1942.
fl. 57 Assistant Labor Information Specialist, correspondence, 1942.
National War Labor Board, 1942.
fl. 58 Kentucky Conference of Community Leaders, 1956 Nov. 15-1957 Oct. 29.

Box 7

fl. 59 Kentucky Federation of Labor correspondence, 1938 Mar 3-Sept. 26.
fl. 60 Kentucky Federation of Labor miscellaneous material, 1942 Sept.-1955 Jan. 10, and n.d.
fl. 61 Kentucky Federation of Labor: Minutes of the Advisory Council to the Dept. of Research and Education of the KFL, 1946 Sept. 12-1950 Jan. 30.
fl. 62 Kentucky Labor News, 1946 Apr. 18-1952 Oct. 2.
fl. 63 Kentucky Labor News, stories by du Pont, n.d.
fl. 64 Kentucky Labor News correspondence, 1948 Oct. 27-1949 Jan. 15.
fl. 65 42nd annual convention of the Kentucky State Federation of Labor, 1946 Sept. 8-12.
fl. 66 43rd annual convention of the Kentucky State Federation of Labor, 1947 Sept. 8-11.
fl. 67 47th annual convention of the Kentucky State Federation of Labor, notes and reports, 1951 Sept. 10-13.
fl. 68 Kentucky Federation of Labor. Dept. of Research and Education material: resolutions and campaign material, 1951 and n.d.
fl. 69 Special convention of the Kentucky State Federation of Labor, 1957 Apr. 5.
fl. 70 Official proceedings of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO convention, 1962 Oct. 24-26.
Constitution of the same, 1962 Oct. 24-26.
fl. 71 Edward H. Weyler for U.S. Senate material, n.d.

Box 8

fl. 72 Workers Education Council minutes, 1942 Dec. 6-1945 Mar. 23.
Receipts, 1941 Dec. 5-1943 Apr. 27.
Unpaid bills, 1943 Feb. 12, and n.d.
fl. 73 Workers Education Council correspondence, 1934 Sept. 12-1935 Oct. 19.
fl. 74 Workers Education Council correspondence, 1936 Jan. 13-1940 Feb. 11.
fl. 75 Workers Education Council correspondence, 1943 Mar. 4-Dec. 19.
fl. 76 Workers Education Council correspondence, 1944 Jan. 7-1945 Sept. 6.
fl. 77 Workers Education Council miscellaneous, n.d.

Box 9
fl. 78 NAACP labor material, 1946-1948.
fl. 79 Louisville Labor League for Political Education minutes, 1948 May 11-Dec. 28.
fl. 80 Louisville Labor League for Political Education minutes, 1949 Feb. 22-Dec. 13.
fl. 81 Louisville Labor League for Political Education minutes, 1950 Jan. 10-1952 Feb. 29 and n.d.
fl. 82 Louisville Labor League for Political Education committee reports, 1949-1950.
fl. 83 Louisville Labor League for Political Education. Public Relations Report, 1949 Dec. 13
fl. 84 Louisville Labor League for Political Education contract and committee reports, 1950-1953.
fl. 85 Louisville Labor League for Political Education correspondence, 1948-1951.
fl. 86 Louisville Labor League for Political Education miscellaneous material, 1948-1951 and n.d.

Box 10

fl. 87 Labor correspondence related to du Pont’s labor column “With Labor’s Ranks.”
1938 Mar. 30-1939 Dec. 6.
fl. 88 Labor correspondence related to du Pont’s column, 1941 May 28-1945 Aug. 17.
fl. 89 Labor correspondence related to du Pont’s column, 1946 Mar. 12-1954 May 26.
fl. 90 Labor correspondence related to du Pont’s column, n.d.
fl. 91 Memo to Barry Bingham and Mark Ethridge on discontinuance of her column,n.d.
fl. 92 Labor related notes, 1922-1923.
fl. 93 Labor column. Phrases and incidents for possible use, 1939 and n.d.
fl. 94 Labor column. Labor source material, 1941-1942.
fl. 95 Labor column story, notes. Quartermaster’s Depot in Jeffersonville, Ind., 1943 June.
fl. 96 Labor column notes; newspaper clippings. Kentucky Federation of Labor convention. 1950 Sept. 25-28.
fl. 97 “Weyler calls on teachers to join Union,” delivered at Ky. Federation of Teachers meeting, n.d.
fl. 98 Draft story of the growth of the Kentucky Federation of Labor, n.d.
fl. 99 Rough draft of a labor column, n.d.
fl. 100 Economic statement submitted by Joseph Mire to the Joint Committee on the Economic Report, 1948 or 9.
fl. 101 Joseph Mire labor material: speech, notes, and article, n.d.
fl. 102 Miscellaneous labor material pertaining to labor organizations or column, n.d.

Box 11
fl. 103 U.S. Dept. of Labor: Printed reports on strikes, 1940-1941.
Strike statistics, 1943 Feb. 7.
fl. 104 Strike correspondence, 1940-1945.
fl. 105 Peter Pan strike, 1939-1940.
fl. 106 Meat and grocer union strike material, 1939.
fl. 107 Kentucky Transport Co. labor strike material, 1940 and n.d.
fl. 108 Kentucky Color and Chemical Co. strike material, 1941.
fl. 109 Hotel labor/wages material, 1941 June 20.
fl. 110 Charter and by-laws of the Union of Louisville Railway Employee, 1937 May 11.
Street railway employees strike, 1946 Mar. 16-22.
fl. 111 Plainview Farms Dairy labor/union material, 1949 Apr.
fl. 112 Bond Brothers Wood Preserving Co. labor dispute, 1949 Sept., and n.d.
fl. 113 Anti-steel strike newspaper ad, 1949 Sept. 21.
fl. 114 Hillerich and Bradsby Co. strike material, 1947-1950, and n.d.

Box 12

fl. 115 Correspondence and addresses regarding du Pont’s labor literary efforts, 1938-1945.
fl. 116 Manuscript and typed labor stories, n.d.
fl. 117 “Organizing Kentucky Mountaineers,” n.d.
fl. 118 “An Old Lady Learns about War and Revolution,” n.d.
fl. 119 “Jobs and no Fooling,” n.d.
fl. 120 Shackelford Miller material, newspaper clippings and correspondence, 1939 Feb. 1-Mar. 10.
fl. 121 Appointment of du Pont as a member of the Industrial Committee of the Postwar Advisory Planning Commission, 1946 Oct. 17.
fl. 122 Labor’s Voice, 1948 May 15, and 1949 Apr. 5. The L & N Organizer, 1947 Dec. 12.
fl. 123 Legislative Research Commission. Social Security and a Kentucky Retirement Plan, 1951.
fl. 124 Kentucky Irish American, 1958 Oct. 4-11.
fl. 125 Human Relations Agencies Servicing Kentucky and a Selected Bibliography.
fl. 126 Proposed Constitution for the Louisville Congress of Labor, n.d.
fl. 127 Miscellaneous labor material and notes, n.d.

Box 13
fl. 128 U.S. Dept. of Labor. Publications, 1940-1942.
fl. 129 Land and Freedom. 1941 July-Aug.
fl. 130 House Resolution on “National Defense Migration,” 1942-1943. Congressional Record, 1943 Mar. 3.
fl. 131 Labor and defense booklets, 1941-1944, and n.d.
fl. 132 Miscellaneous labor publications, 1942-1957.
fl. 133 The Progressive, 1942 Feb. 14-Apr. 4.
fl. 134 Printed miscellaneous labor magazines, reports, and manuals, 1947-1958, and n.d.
fl. 135 The Mad Hatter, 1945 June 15.
fl. 136 Labor histories, 1947 Oct. and n.d.
fl. 137 The Public Employee, 1947 Sept.-1948 Oct.
fl. 138 Commentary with accompanying correspondence, 1948 Mar. and n.d.

Box 14

fl. 139 Labor related newspaper clippings from Ky. and other states, 1938 Nov. 21-1942 Oct. 14.
fl. 140 Labor related newspaper clippings from Ky. and other states, 1943 Jan. 1-1944 Apr. 21.
fl. 141 Labor related newspaper clippings from Ky. and other states, 1945 Jan.-Aug. 22.
fl. 142 Labor related newspaper clippings from Ky. and other states, 1946 Mar. 10-1947 Dec. 7.
fl. 143 Labor related newspaper clippings from Ky. and other states, 1948 Jan. 12-Dec. 7.
fl. 144 Labor related newspaper clippings from Ky. and other states, 1949 Jan. 30-Dec. 27.
fl. 145 Labor related newspaper clippings from Ky. and other states, 1950 Jan. 22-1955 Jan. 7.
fl. 146 Labor related newspaper clippings from Ky. and other states, n.d.

Box 15

fl. 147 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1938 Nov. 4-Dec. 30.
fl. 148 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1939 Jan. 6-Mar. 31.
fl. 149 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1939 Apr. 7-June 30.
fl. 150 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1939 July 7-Sept. 29.
fl. 151 “A Salute to Labor!” special to the Louisville Times, 1939 Sept. 1.
fl. 152 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1939 Oct. 6-Dec. 29.
fl. 153 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1940 Jan. 5-Mar. 29.

Box 16

fl. 154 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1940 Apr. 2-June 28.
fl. 155 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1940 July 2-Sept. 27.
fl. 156 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1940 Sept. 2.
fl. 157 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1940 Oct. 1-Dec. 27.
fl. 158 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1941 Jan. 7-Mar. 28.
fl. 159 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1941 Apr. 1-June 27.
fl. 160 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1941 July 1-Aug. 29.

Box 17

fl. 161 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1941 Oct. 3-Dec. 26.
fl. 162 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1942 Jan. 2-Mar. 31.
fl. 163 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1942 Apr. 3-June 30.
fl. 164 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1942 July 3-Sept. 29.
fl. 165 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1942 Oct. 2-Dec. 29.

Box 18

fl. 166 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1943 Jan. 1-Mar. 30.
fl. 167 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1943 Apr. 2-June 29.
fl. 168 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1943 July 2-Sept. 28.
fl. 169 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1943 Oct. 1-Dec. 31.
fl. 170 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1944 Jan. 7-Mar. 31.
fl. 171 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1944 Apr. 4-June 23.
fl. 172 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1944 July 18-Sept. 29.
fl. 173 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1944 Oct. 3-Dec. 29.

Box 19

fl. 174 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1945 Jan. 5-Mar. 30.
fl. 175 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1945 Apr. 4-June 29.
fl. 176 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1945 July 6-Sept. 28.
fl. 177 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1945 Nov. 7-Dec. 28.
fl. 178 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1946 Jan. 2-Mar. 29.
fl. 179 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1946 Apr. 3-June 28.
fl. 180 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1946 July 3-Sept. 27.
fl. 181 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1946 Oct. 2-Dec. 27.

Box 20

fl. 182 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1947 Jan. 3-Mar. 28.
fl. 183 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1947 Apr. 2-June 27.
fl. 184 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1947 July 2-Sept. 26.
fl. 185 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1947 Oct. 1-Dec. 31.
fl. 186 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1948 Jan. 2-Mar. 31.
fl. 187 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1948 Apr. 2-June 30.

Box 21

fl. 188 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1948 July 2-Sept. 29.
fl. 189 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1948 Oct. 1-Dec. 22.
fl. 190 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1949 Jan. 5-Mar. 30.
fl. 191 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1949 Apr. 1-June 29.
fl. 192 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1949 July 1-Sept. 30.
fl. 193 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1949 Oct. 5-Dec. 16.

Box 22

fl. 194 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1950 Jan. 13-Mar. 31.
fl. 195 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1950 Apr. 5-June 30.
fl. 196 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1950 July 5-Sept. 22.
fl. 197 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1950 Oct. 4-Dec. 29.
fl. 198 “With Labor’s Ranks,” 1951 Jan. 4-Jan. 26.
fl. 199 “With Labor’s Ranks,” n.d.