Collection

This collection includes: rules; minutes and papers of executive council and other bodies; financial records; subject files; periodical and other publications; research records; press cuttings; legal records; branch records.

336 boxes

The National Union of Seamen was founded in 1893 as the National Sailors and Firemen's Union, the successor to the National Amalgamated Sailors and Firemen's Union of Great Britain and Ireland, founded in 1887 on the initiative of J.H. Wilson. In 1922 a cooks and stewards' section was formed and the Hull Seamen's Union, the oldest and strongest of the local societies, was absorbed. The title of National Union of Seamen was adopted in 1926. In 1990 the union amalgamated with the National Union of Railwaymen to form the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers. Reference: Arthur Marsh and Victoria Ryan, 'The Seamen - a history of the National Union of Seamen' (Oxford, 1989).

When the National Union of Seamen vacated its old headquarters at Maritime House, two large basements of records had been left behind and a selection had to be made of which records to save. Large numbers of files of negotiations with specific companies were not saved, with the exception of a few companies, saved as samples. A voluminous amount of case files was also rejected.

Ten year closure rule on all papers; thirty year closure rule on some files giving personal details or belonging to high ranking officials. Printed material, including the proceedings of general meetings, is open for research.

Open

Photocopies of photographs of Edmund Cathery, general secretary 1894-1926, and family

English