Phoebe, another highly informative article for sure! Oakland University History Professor Daniel Clark, PhD, specialization in American Labor History, has an oral history project where he speaks and records the experiences of Detroit auto workers who lived in the era of the formation of the UAW.
My main area of expertise is U.S. Labor History. My first book, Like Night and Day: Unionization in a Southern Mill Town (University of North Carolina Press, 1997), explored what unionization meant to workers and managers at cotton mills in a North Carolina community during the 1940s and 1950s. My second book, Disruption in Detroit: Autoworkers and the Elusive Postwar Boom (University of Illinois Press, 2018), argues that for ordinary autoworkers the period from 1945-60 was marked by job instability and economic insecurity, not a steady rise into the middle class. My most recent book, Listening to Workers: Oral Histories of Metro-Detroit Autoworkers in the 1950s (University of Illinois Press, 2024) is a collection of life history narratives constructed from my interviews with retired autoworkers. The goal was to provide a sense of autoworkers as full-fledged human beings, for whom jobs in the auto industry were one aspect of their complicated lives. Both of the books published by the University of Illinois Press are part of the Working Class in American History series.
I will absolutely add Professor Daniel Clark to my roster of sources. This is so helpful. I often talk with Wayne State and the University of Delaware. It’s wonderful to get recommendations on new voices. Thank you.
Just a note to say what a great human interest story. The stories of these men who made a better life for themselves and families was heart warming to say the least. These men all became successful at their jobs and made their families proud of them. Thanks for sharing this with your many readers.
Great in-depth telling article Phoebe. Love reading about the people in past eras that made our historic engines of the Motor City run, helping sustain them for today’s generation. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow, what amazing stories of courage.
Few interviews leave me speechless. These did.
Phoebe, another highly informative article for sure! Oakland University History Professor Daniel Clark, PhD, specialization in American Labor History, has an oral history project where he speaks and records the experiences of Detroit auto workers who lived in the era of the formation of the UAW.
You may want to contact him to further discuss: DJClark@Oakland.edu
Kenneth Hreha
Oakland University alumnus, B.A. 2002
cum laude with Honors in History
Dan's Biography:
My main area of expertise is U.S. Labor History. My first book, Like Night and Day: Unionization in a Southern Mill Town (University of North Carolina Press, 1997), explored what unionization meant to workers and managers at cotton mills in a North Carolina community during the 1940s and 1950s. My second book, Disruption in Detroit: Autoworkers and the Elusive Postwar Boom (University of Illinois Press, 2018), argues that for ordinary autoworkers the period from 1945-60 was marked by job instability and economic insecurity, not a steady rise into the middle class. My most recent book, Listening to Workers: Oral Histories of Metro-Detroit Autoworkers in the 1950s (University of Illinois Press, 2024) is a collection of life history narratives constructed from my interviews with retired autoworkers. The goal was to provide a sense of autoworkers as full-fledged human beings, for whom jobs in the auto industry were one aspect of their complicated lives. Both of the books published by the University of Illinois Press are part of the Working Class in American History series.
https://oakland.edu/history/faculty-staff/daniel-clark/
I will absolutely add Professor Daniel Clark to my roster of sources. This is so helpful. I often talk with Wayne State and the University of Delaware. It’s wonderful to get recommendations on new voices. Thank you.
Phoebe,
Just a note to say what a great human interest story. The stories of these men who made a better life for themselves and families was heart warming to say the least. These men all became successful at their jobs and made their families proud of them. Thanks for sharing this with your many readers.
Detroit is founded on heart, strength and determination.
I’m honored to talk to these families that make our city great.
Great in-depth telling article Phoebe. Love reading about the people in past eras that made our historic engines of the Motor City run, helping sustain them for today’s generation. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love having the opportunity to talk to people about family memories that mark such an important part of American history.