Over the years, I have stumbled across stencils from the Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America. I have included their standard stencil from the early twentieth century and an image of their official journal. The 1905 journal is available as a free ebook and packed full of wonderful advertisements!
Here is a brief history of the organization and some links of available collections containing various local records.
The Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America was organized at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1887, and incorporated in December, 1894, with its general offices located at Lafayette, Indiana. Local unions belonged to District Councils. By 1913 the Brotherhood was affiliated with the American Federation of Labor but resisted all advances and intrusions of the rival Congress of Industrial Organizations until the AFL and the CIO merged in 1955. There are a few Unions that can trace its roots to the BPDPA, including the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (a union representing about 100,000 painters, glaziers, wall coverers, flooring installers, convention and trade show decorators, glassworkers, sign and display workers, asbestos/hazmat technicians, and drywall finishers in the United States and Canada).
Here are a few collections containing records for the BPDPA.
Kent State – Local 438
Scope and Contents: BPDPA records covering the years 1898-1918 and 1930-1967, with the majority of material from late 1930s through the 1940s.
Ohio – Western Reserve Historical Society, Locals 128,129,219 and 867
Scope and Contents: The Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America had several Cleveland, Ohio, locals of this national labor union. Local 128 is composed of paperhangers and was founded in 1897. Local 129 represented fresco painters and included a large German membership. It was absorbed into Local 428 in 1985. In 1969 the name of the union was changed to the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades. The collection consists of union minutes, dues books and records, apprentice dues books, sick and death benefit records, financial records, correspondence and miscellaneous materials.
Link: http://ead.ohiolink.edu/xtf-ead/view?docId=ead/OCLWHi1493.xml
Georgia State University – Atlanta, Local 193
Scope and Contents: The records of the Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America, Local 193, 1905-1972 contain four minute books (1905-1911, 1927-1932, 1937-1940, and 1952-1957) that describe primarily routine internal union business, especially finances, meetings, and legal affairs. Also included is information on notable occurrences on the Atlanta labor scene such as the strike of Retail Clerks Union, Local 1063, against Kessler’s Department Store, 1937-1938. The correspondence, 1946-1965, describes membership and organizational matters as well as national labor affairs and there are also financial and membership records detailing the workings of the organization.
Link: http://digitalcollections.library.gsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/findingaids/id/1409
University of Texas – Arlington, Local 342
Scope and Contents: Correspondence, 1926-1965; minutes, 1925-1972 (1941-1972 are on microfilm); financial records, 1925-1966 (dues deduction ledgers, 1940-1956 are on microfilm); and agreements, 1945-1963. Includes minutes of the Lubbock Building & Construction Trades Council, 1952-1953.
Link: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utarl/00038/arl-00038.html
Brotherhood of Painter, Decorators and Paperhangers of America Stencil on Minneapolis Scottish Rite Drop
Minneapolis Scottish Rite Drop created by Twin City Scenic Co. with BPDPA stencil on back.
Fargo Scottish Rite Drop with BPDPA stencil on back, similar to Minneapolis Scottish Rite drop
BPDPA stencil on back of Fargo Scottish Rite drop, similar to Minneapolis Scottish Rite drop
Here is the official Journal from 1905, available as a free ebook
A page from the 1905 Official BPDPA Journal
Hi I’m searching for my Great Grandfather Karl Julius Johnson and his son Christian Oscar Emil Johnson. He was a sign painter in Canada and in Minneapolis Minnesota. He also had his own sign shop. This would have been in the 1904-1960’s period. I don’t know anything about either of them other than dates of birth and the date Christ died in a car accident. If you can help that would be great. I live in Canada. Thanks for your post it has given me some hope. Thanks again.
Charmaine