Henry Foner

Henry Foner
Born Henry Foner
(1919-03-23) March 23, 1919
Nationality American
Ethnicity Jewish
Occupation labor union leader, social activist, songwriter
Years active 1940 onwards
Relatives brothers Jack D. Foner, Philip S. Foner, Moe Foner; nephew Eric Foner)
Awards Legion of Merit, Military Valor Cross

Henry Foner (born March 23, 1919)[1] is a social activist and former president of the Joint Board of Fur, Leather and Machine Workers Union (FLM).[2][3]

Background

Foner was born and raised in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. His parents were Polish Jews who had four sons, all of whom became active in leftist politics. Two brothers (Philip and Jack) were professional historians. The other two brothers (Moe and Henry) were union activists.

Career

Like his older brothers, Foner first became a teacher for stenography and typewriting but was blocked by the Rapp-Coudert Committee from formal appointment due to involvement in the American Student Union and Young Communist League.[4][5] "Both Philip and Jack were fired from teaching posts in the City University of New York in 1941 during a purge by the New York State Legislature’s Rapp-Coudert Committee, which also cost Moe his administrative post at City College and Henry his job as a substitute teacher in New York high schools."[6]

From 1942 to 1946, he served in the U.S. Army and was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Italian Military Valor Cross.[4]

From 1946 to 1948, he taught as a substitute teacher.[2]

In 1948, he became director for welfare and education at the Joint Board of Fur, Leather and Machine Workers Union (FLM). In 1961, he became FLM president and served until 1988.[2][7][8]

As labor union leader and social activist, he worked on issues from promoting civil rights to protesting the Vietnam War.[2] He served as vice-chairman of the Liberal Party of New York. In 1973, he went to Spain to observe a Carabanchel Ten trial.[4]

Foner has stated that, during his decades in the FLM, he worked to keep the union free of corruption, and to insulate the union from criticism that it was Communist-led. For the latter goal, Foner helped to arrange a merger of the FLM with the meat cutters' union in the late 1950s.[4]

He also "helped to organize union representation at the Labor Assembly for Peace in Chicago."[4]

Retirement

In 1988, Foner retired. For many years, he taught labor history and wrote a column for the journal Jewish Currents magazine.[2]

He served as president of the Paul Robeson Foundation, on the editorial board of Jewish Currents magazine, and editor of Work History News (newsletter of the New York Labor History Association.[9][10]

In 2000, he co-founded Labor Arts.[9]

Personal

Foner is one of four prominent, New York-based brothers:

Foner is a songwriter. He co-wrote (with Norman Franklin) the musical, "Thursdays 'Til Nine" presented in 1947 by the Department Store Employees Union.[9] He has performed for the Catskills Institute on many occasions.[11][12]

He is a long-time friend of Pete Seeger.[8] "Seeger was a member of the New York Labor History Association. In 2009, he played his five-string banjo and other instruments at the 90th birthday celebration of his friend and comrade, Henry Foner."[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Henry Foner Turns 90!". Jewish Currents. 3 March 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Guide to the Henry Foner Papers and Photographs TAM.254". NYU Tamiment Library. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  3. ↑ Leab, Daniel J.; Mason, Philip P., eds. (1992). Labor History Archives in the United States: A Guide for Researching and Teaching. Wayne State University Press. p. 71. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Henry Foner - ILGWU Heritage Project". Cornell University - ILR School - Kheel Center. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  5. ↑ "Arthur Savage: Rapp-Coudert Committee Collection TAM.543". NYU Tamiment Library. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "December 14: Philip and Jack Foner". Jewish Currents. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "papers from African Activist Archive" (PDF). Michigan State University. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  8. 1 2 Weingarten, Ross E. (28 January 2014). "Pete Seeger had profound impact on labor movement". Portside. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 "Team". Labor Arts. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  10. ↑ "The Jewish Labor Committee and the Challenges Facing Labor: An Interview with Avi Lyon". Jewish Currents. 1 March 2005. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "5th Annual History of the Catskills Conference". Catskills Institute. 1999.
  12. ↑ "13th Annual History of the Catskills Conference". Catskills Institute. 2007.
  13. ↑ "So Long, It's Been Good to Know You" (PDF). Work History News. Spring 2014.

External sources

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