Terre Haute in Vigo County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Philip Murray
Photographed By Courtesy:: Marilyn S. Wolf, August 12, 2012
1. Philip Murray Marker
President
United Steelworkers of America
1936 - 1952
Congress of Industrial Organization
1940 - 1952
Philip Murray went into the coal mines as a boy of 16. By 1916 he had risen through the ranks of the United Mine Workers to become President of District 5, in southwestern Pennsylvania, an important ally of UMW President John L. Lewis, and an International Vice President of the union.
In 1936 Murray was a key figure in the development of the organizing strategy of the Committee for Industrial Organization. Under his leadership the Closed Shop of the giant North American Steel industry was opened and by 1942, when SWOC was constituted as the United Steel Workers of America, more than 600,000 were in its ranks. Later to exceed a million members.
Murray succeeded Lewis as the second President of the renamed Congress of Industrial Organization (CIO). A confidant to Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, he served in several Presidential Committee Appointments. Known as an architect of Industrial Unionism and Advocate of Industrial Democracy, Murray is honored by name in a variety of Union Halls, Schools, labor institutes and lecture series across the Nation.
Erected
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Labor Unions. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #33 Harry S. Truman series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.
Location. 39° 28.315′ N, 87° 24.314′ W. Marker is in Terre Haute, Indiana, in Vigo County. Marker can be reached from North 8th Street south of Spruce Street. Located in back-yard of Eugene Debs home (museum). Can be reached by a back access drive from Sycamore Street - west of North 9th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: (back yard of) 451 North 8th Street, Terre Haute IN 47801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Patrick E. Gorman (here, next to this marker); Mother Jones (here, next to this marker); Michael J. Quill (here, next to this marker); Sidney Hillman (here, next to this marker); Samuel Gompers (here, next to this marker); Charles Luna (here, next to this marker); William D. "Big Bill" Haywood (here, next to this marker); Walter Philip Reuther (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Terre Haute.
Also see . . . Philip Murray. Wikipedia biography (Submitted on December 27, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Al Wolf, July 6, 2008
2. Eugene Debs Home (Museum)
Photographed By Courtesy:: Marilyn S. Wolf, August 12, 2012
3. Philip Murray Marker - - (First from Right)
Photographed By TIME magazine, 1952
4. Philip Murray
TIME Magazine cover: Aug. 4, 1952
Credits. This page was last revised on November 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 19, 2012, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. This page has been viewed 673 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 19, 2012, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. 4. submitted on December 27, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.
