UNITED MINEWORKERS OF AMERICA SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH - TONY BOYLE, THOMAS KENNEDY AND JOHN L. LEWIS
A superb original S.P. showing the leadership of the United Mine Workers at the peak of its power, its top three leaders signing beneath their respective images. The ca. 1955 photo, 13 1/2" x 10 1/2", depicts (from left to right) WILLIAM A. ("TOUGH TONY") BOYLE (1904-1985), president of the union from 1963-72. In 1969 Boyle was challenged by Joseph Yablonski and won an election which Yablonski disputed, commencing lawsuits and involving the Dept. of Labor. On December 31, 1969, three killers shot Yablonski, his wife, Margaret, and his 25-year-old daughter, Charlotte dead, as they slept in the Yablonski home. It would be 1978 before Boyle was finally convicted for plotting the murders. Beside Boyle is THOMAS KENNEDY (1887-1963) who led the union from 1960-63 and was also elected lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania in 1934. The final signer is JOHN L. LEWIS (1880-1969), the forceful leader of the United Mine Workers from 1920-60 and organizer of the C.I.O. Lewis also established the United Steel Workers of America and helped organize millions of other industrial workers in the 1930s. Each has signed boldly under their respective image, Lewis adding a second, hurried signature at bottom. Also signed in pencil by the Washington photographer, set into a period wood frame.