52 Ancestors - Week 5 Influencer Week 6 Earning a Living

 I had to skip posting last week but conveniently this week's featured person fits both themes. Arthur Kampfert was born May 22, 1899, the oldest child of Paul and Anna (Blaesing). We learn in the 1950 census that he only completed 7th grade.

Arthur spent his entire working life working in jobs related to the Chicago Stockyards. He started as a butcher in 1914 before moving on to positions in the union. In 1937 he became Chicago director of the CIO Packinghouse Workers Organizing Committee, national director in 1939 and international director in 1943. The June 9, 1948 Chicago Daily Tribune summarizes this on the heals of him announcing he would be a candidate for the union's presidency. It was thought the current president would not seek reelection as he had refused to sign a non-communist affidavit. Something changed and Ralph Helstein ran and won reelection according to the June 30, 1948 Chicago Daily Tribune. 

The 1918 WWI draft record showed him working as a butcher at Wilson & Co. at 42nd & Ashland. In 1920 and 1930 he was listed as working as a butcher. However Rick Halpern in his book RACE, ETHNICITY, AND UNION IN THE CHICAGO STOCKYARDS, 1917–1922 says that Arthur gave an account of leading a work stoppage in the spring of 1916 at the Sulzberger & Sons pork trimming department. So early on he had shown his labor fight leanings.

A small article in the September 20, 1938 Chicago Daily Tribune mentions that the hall at 4758 South Marshfield used by the CIO unions was bombed. A night watchman fired 3 shots at a man who escaped. Investigating the motive, the police sergeant stated he would question Arthur Kampfert. Fortunately the family that lived in the back of the building were not hurt.

March 5, 1941 the Chicago Daily Tribune reported that Strike pay loss was $400,000 a week at Harvester Co. Police were present to escort workers who wanted to cross pickets. Arthur was named as one of the four unionists present to "persuade" workers to join the union or pay up their dues.

In September of 1945 Kingan & Co. of Indianapolis fired 3 men for not being at work the prior Saturday. The union demanded reinstatement with 1 week layoff for the absenteeism. By 9:30 that Tuesday work stopped in various departments and that afternoon the plant superintendent ordered the plant clear of employees.  Arthur Kampfert as special representative for the union was brought in to assist in negotiations. As reported in the Indianapolis Recorder on September 15, 1945.

Arthur also wrote his own account of the union activity. The unpublished manuscript is held at the University of Wisconsin.

He passed away November 3, 1951. I hope to someday revisit and expand on this post. Perhaps including a review of his manuscript.

I have PDFs of the newspaper articles mentioned above. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any comments or questions! melanie0971 at gmail dot com.