Ernest Ronn papers
Scope and Contents note
This collection documents Ernest "Ernie" Ronn's activity as a union organizer and labor leader for the United Steel Workers headquartered in Negaunee, Michigan. The collection includes photographs, personal memorabilia, books on labor history, manuscripts of his memoirs, and correspondence. The collection also includes an oral history interview conducted by Dr. Russell M. Magnaghi on December 15, 1998. A new accession to the original collection includes memorabilia, photographs, awards, plaques, and an original, handwritten, manuscript of Ronn's memoirs. The photographs largely document his activities as a labor leader, particularly meetings with national labor leaders and politicians. The collection materials cover the period between 1946 and 1999.
Dates
- 1946 - 1999
Creator
- Ronn, Ernest (Person)
Conditions Governing Access note
No restrictions. Open for research.
Conditions Governing Use note
Permission to publish material from the Ernest Ronn papers, MSS-029, must be obtained from the University Archivist. The University Archivist may be reached by phone at 906-227-1225, or e-mail, archives@nmu.edu. The University Archivist may also be reached in Room 126 of the Learning Resource Center, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI.
Biographical Note
Ernest "Ernie" Ronn was born on Anne Street in Negaunee, Michigan, in 1925. He started work as an underground miner after high school in 1943. Ronn entered service in the United States Army in 1944 and returned to mine work following his discharge in 1946. In 1970, Ronn was appointed sub-district director, District 33, of the United Steelworkers of America and remained in this position until his retirement in 1996. Ronn held numerous appointed political positions, including member of the United States Interior Department's Advisory Committee on Federal Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety (1971-1975) and served as the committee's chairman (1974-1975). In 1997, Ronn was inducted into the Upper Peninsula Labor Hall of Fame. For a complete history of Ronn's life and work, see his published memoir entitled "52 Steps Underground." Ronn died on December 18, 2004.
Extent
1.3 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement note
The materials of this collection are arranged into two series: I. Photographs and II. Correspondence and Manuscript Material.
Immediate Source of Acquisition Note
Gift of Ernest "Ernie" Ronn in 1997.
Separated Materials note
Historical photographs of iron mines and work sites were separated from the collection. Please see the Archives staff for help accessing these photographs.
- Awards. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Correspondence. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Iron Miners' Strike, Marquette County, Mich., 1946. Subject Source: Local sources
- Iron industry and trade. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Iron miners. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Iron mines and mining. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Labor leaders. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Labor movement. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Labor unions. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Manuscripts (document genre). Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Memoirs. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Memorabilia. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Negaunee (Mich.). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Oral histories (document genres). Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Photographs. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Ronn, Ernest
- Strikes and lockouts. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United Steelworkers of America. District 33
- Upper Peninsula (Mich.). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Ernest Ronn papers
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Central Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan University Archives Repository
Harden Learning Resources Center 126
1401 Presque Isle Ave
Marquette 49855 United States
906-227-1225
906-227-1333 (Fax)
archives@nmu.edu