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Thomas W. Talbot (April 27, 1849 – March 7, 1892) was an American
Talbot was working as a Machinist in the Atlantic Coastline Railway shops, at Florence, South Carolina under deplorable conditions and for very small wages when he conceived the idea of organizing the Machinists for the purpose of improving their conditions through cooperation and collective action.
After repeated efforts and many meetings held at the homes of various Machinists, a local organization was formed one night at the home of a Machinist named Green. This was in the early 1880s. Shortly after forming this organization Talbot was discharged by his employer for his Union activities. After leaving the Atlantic Coastline Railroad, Talbot moved around for a while until he landed a job at the Southern Railway in Atlanta Georgia. Upon leaving Florence, the lodges he had formed fell apart in the absence of his influence. Soon after going to work in Atlanta, Talbot began talking of organizing to his shop mates with the result that on May 5, 1888 Mike Riley, Henry Garrett and 16 other machinists along with Talbot got together in the "drop pit" and formed Lodge 1 of The National Association of Machinists later The International Association of Machinists and now The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
On May 5, 1948 The Machinists Union dedicated the Thomas W. Talbot Monument in Grant Park in Atlanta Georgia recognizing the work he had done in founding their Union.
Talbot was murdered in March 1892 by in Brothers Will and Charles Barrenger in the streets of Florence, South Carolina.
Talbot is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Florence, South Carolina.
Journal of United Machinists and Mechanical Engineers, 1889-02
(Georgia State University, Southern Labor Archive)
The Darlington News, March 10, 1892
(University of South Carolina Libraries Historical Newspapers of South Carolina)
machinist
A machinist is a tradesperson or trained professional who not only operates machine tools, but also has the knowledge of tooling and materials required to create set ups on machine tools such as milling machines, grinders, lathes, and drilling ...
, trade union
A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...
ist, founder and first president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace workers
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is an AFL–CIO/ CLC trade union representing approx. 646,933 workers as of 2006 in more than 200 industries with most of its membership in the United States and Canada.
Or ...
(IAM). Talbot served as the IAM's grand master machinist (president) from the IAM's founding on May 5, 1888 until his resignation in 1890.
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Early life
Talbot was born on a farm in Chesterfield County, South Carolina on April 27, 1849. Talbot married his wife Keitt Brooks Hauser on December 3, 1872.Founding of the Machinists Union
Talbot was working as a Machinist in the Atlantic Coastline Railway shops, at Florence, South Carolina under deplorable conditions and for very small wages when he conceived the idea of organizing the Machinists for the purpose of improving their conditions through cooperation and collective action.
After repeated efforts and many meetings held at the homes of various Machinists, a local organization was formed one night at the home of a Machinist named Green. This was in the early 1880s. Shortly after forming this organization Talbot was discharged by his employer for his Union activities. After leaving the Atlantic Coastline Railroad, Talbot moved around for a while until he landed a job at the Southern Railway in Atlanta Georgia. Upon leaving Florence, the lodges he had formed fell apart in the absence of his influence. Soon after going to work in Atlanta, Talbot began talking of organizing to his shop mates with the result that on May 5, 1888 Mike Riley, Henry Garrett and 16 other machinists along with Talbot got together in the "drop pit" and formed Lodge 1 of The National Association of Machinists later The International Association of Machinists and now The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
On May 5, 1948 The Machinists Union dedicated the Thomas W. Talbot Monument in Grant Park in Atlanta Georgia recognizing the work he had done in founding their Union.
Death
Talbot was murdered in March 1892 by in Brothers Will and Charles Barrenger in the streets of Florence, South Carolina.
Talbot is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Florence, South Carolina.
Quotes
"There is dignity in labor that carries with it respect, both the labor of the hands and of the head - providing for our bodily wants as well as toiling to develop some enterprise of world-wide reputation" - Tom Talbot February 1889, ''Journal of United Machinists and Mechanical Engineers.''External links
Journal of United Machinists and Mechanical Engineers, 1889-02
(Georgia State University, Southern Labor Archive)
The Darlington News, March 10, 1892
(University of South Carolina Libraries Historical Newspapers of South Carolina)
References