Frank Keyes Foster (December 19, 1854 – June 27, 1909) was an early American labor leader.
Foster was born in Palmer, Massachusetts on December 19, 1854, the son of Charles Dwight and Jane Elizabeth (Burgess) Foster; married Lucretia Ella Ladd on May 22, 1880 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He grew up in Palmer and was educated in common schools and at Monson Academy. Between 1872 and 1876 he learned the printer's trade at the office of Churchman in Hartford, Connecticut. By 1878 he was working in Boston as a compositor and by 1882 as an editor. Foster took an active leadership role in the early formation of trade unions in the United States. He was a member and secretary of the Hartford Typographical Union; president of the Cambridge Typographical Union; a delegate to the Federation of Trades Convention; secretary of the Boston Central Trades and Labor Union; and secretary to the Knights of Labor. In 1883/84, he served as secretary of the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions.[1] Foster, along with Samuel Gompers, helped to found the American Federation of Labor (A. F of L.), was its first national secretary and president of the state chapter.
In his report to the federation's Chicago congress in 1884, Foster told the assembly, "A united demand for a shorter working day, backed by thorough organization, will prove vastly more effective than the enactment of a thousand laws depending for the enforcement upon the pleasure of aspiring politicians and sycophantic department officials," asking member unions to vote on "the feasibility of a universal strike for a working day of 8 (or 9) hours to take effect not later than May 1, 1886," ushering in the eight-hour labor-reform movement.
Foster helped to steer labor unions away from Socialist and Marxist philosophy and toward the Democratic Party. He was nominated for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts at the Democratic Party Convention in Worcester on September 30, 1886. Although he narrowly lost the election by some two thousand votes he led the ticket and had an impressive showing in Boston. He was founder and editor of the Haverhill (Mass.) Daily and Weekly Laborer, editor of the Labor Leader and editor and publisher of the monthly magazine The Liberator. He authored several books including a novel, The Evolution of a Trade Unionist (1901), and a book of poetry, The Karma of Labor, and other Verses (1903).
Foster also attained fame through a historic debate at Faneuil Hall in 1904 in which he engaged Charles W. Eliot, President of Harvard University, on the principles of trade unionism. He was a great lecturer and Labor Day orator who spoke in 23 states. He was also a member of the board of managers of the Franklin Fund, a trustee of the Boston Public Library, a member of the Committee of 100, Boston Chamber of Commerce, the New England Civic Federation, the Boston Economic Club and the Boston Chess Club.
Foster was taken ill in February 1907. The Federation provided financial assistance to his family during his illness until his death in June 1909. The funeral was held at his home at 61 Wrentham St., Ashmont, on 29 June 1909. The Rev. Arthur Little, Pastor of the Second Congregational Church at Dorchester, conducted the services. Interment was at Cedar Grove Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers included the Hon. John F. Fitzgerald, Mayor of Boston, Henry M. Whitney, E. A. Grozier, and Benjamin Joy.
References
Biographies on Frank K. Foster
Biographical Dictionary of American Labor, editor-in-chief, Gary M. Fink, Greenwood Press, 1984.
A portrait of Frank Keyes Foster is in the photographic collection at the George Meany Memorial Archives, 10000 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20903.
Selected publications by Frank K. Foster
Foster, Frank K., Has the non-unionist a right to work how, when, and where he pleases? Washington, D.C. The American federation of labor, 1904.
Foster, Frank K., "Trade Unionism: A Reply to the Criticism of Trades Union Methods", contained in the Address of Charles W. Eliot of Harvard in Faneuil Hall, Feb. 7, 1904. Boston, Mass., s.n., 1904.
Foster, Frank K., The Karma of Labor, and other Verses. Boston, Mass., s.n., 1903.
Foster, Frank K., The Evolution of a Trade Unionist. Boston, Mass. Allied Printing Trades Council, 1901.
Foster, Frank K., "Labor Day, its meaning and significance": Labor Day address delivered at Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 3, 1900. Boston, Mass. : s.n., 1900.
Foster, Frank K., "Labor Politics, Policies and Platforms." American Federationist 1, 1894: 5-6.
Foster, Frank K., Report for 1889 of the Legislative Committee of the State Conference of Central Labor Unions. s.l. : s.n., 1889.
Foster, Frank K., "Trade Unionism: Its Philosophy, Its Definition, Its Political Economy." Labor Leader, 29 Sept. 1888.
Foster, Frank K., Protection vs. wages. New York, Free Trade Club, 1883.
References
^American Federation of Labor: History, Encyclopedia, Reference Book. Washington DC: American Federation of Labor. 1919.
frank, keyes, foster, december, 1854, june, 1909, early, american, labor, leader, foster, born, palmer, massachusetts, december, 1854, charles, dwight, jane, elizabeth, burgess, foster, married, lucretia, ella, ladd, 1880, cambridge, massachusetts, grew, palme. Frank Keyes Foster December 19 1854 June 27 1909 was an early American labor leader Foster was born in Palmer Massachusetts on December 19 1854 the son of Charles Dwight and Jane Elizabeth Burgess Foster married Lucretia Ella Ladd on May 22 1880 in Cambridge Massachusetts He grew up in Palmer and was educated in common schools and at Monson Academy Between 1872 and 1876 he learned the printer s trade at the office of Churchman in Hartford Connecticut By 1878 he was working in Boston as a compositor and by 1882 as an editor Foster took an active leadership role in the early formation of trade unions in the United States He was a member and secretary of the Hartford Typographical Union president of the Cambridge Typographical Union a delegate to the Federation of Trades Convention secretary of the Boston Central Trades and Labor Union and secretary to the Knights of Labor In 1883 84 he served as secretary of the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions 1 Foster along with Samuel Gompers helped to found the American Federation of Labor A F of L was its first national secretary and president of the state chapter In his report to the federation s Chicago congress in 1884 Foster told the assembly A united demand for a shorter working day backed by thorough organization will prove vastly more effective than the enactment of a thousand laws depending for the enforcement upon the pleasure of aspiring politicians and sycophantic department officials asking member unions to vote on the feasibility of a universal strike for a working day of 8 or 9 hours to take effect not later than May 1 1886 ushering in the eight hour labor reform movement Foster helped to steer labor unions away from Socialist and Marxist philosophy and toward the Democratic Party He was nominated for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts at the Democratic Party Convention in Worcester on September 30 1886 Although he narrowly lost the election by some two thousand votes he led the ticket and had an impressive showing in Boston He was founder and editor of the Haverhill Mass Daily and Weekly Laborer editor of the Labor Leader and editor and publisher of the monthly magazine The Liberator He authored several books including a novel The Evolution of a Trade Unionist 1901 and a book of poetry The Karma of Labor and other Verses 1903 Foster also attained fame through a historic debate at Faneuil Hall in 1904 in which he engaged Charles W Eliot President of Harvard University on the principles of trade unionism He was a great lecturer and Labor Day orator who spoke in 23 states He was also a member of the board of managers of the Franklin Fund a trustee of the Boston Public Library a member of the Committee of 100 Boston Chamber of Commerce the New England Civic Federation the Boston Economic Club and the Boston Chess Club Foster was taken ill in February 1907 The Federation provided financial assistance to his family during his illness until his death in June 1909 The funeral was held at his home at 61 Wrentham St Ashmont on 29 June 1909 The Rev Arthur Little Pastor of the Second Congregational Church at Dorchester conducted the services Interment was at Cedar Grove Cemetery Honorary pallbearers included the Hon John F Fitzgerald Mayor of Boston Henry M Whitney E A Grozier and Benjamin Joy References EditBiographies on Frank K Foster Biographical Dictionary of American Labor editor in chief Gary M Fink Greenwood Press 1984 A portrait of Frank Keyes Foster is in the photographic collection at the George Meany Memorial Archives 10000 New Hampshire Avenue Silver Spring MD 20903 Selected publications by Frank K Foster Foster Frank K Has the non unionist a right to work how when and where he pleases Washington D C The American federation of labor 1904 Foster Frank K Trade Unionism A Reply to the Criticism of Trades Union Methods contained in the Address of Charles W Eliot of Harvard in Faneuil Hall Feb 7 1904 Boston Mass s n 1904 Foster Frank K The Karma of Labor and other Verses Boston Mass s n 1903 Foster Frank K The Evolution of a Trade Unionist Boston Mass Allied Printing Trades Council 1901 Foster Frank K Labor Day its meaning and significance Labor Day address delivered at Atlanta Ga Sept 3 1900 Boston Mass s n 1900 Foster Frank K Labor Politics Policies and Platforms American Federationist 1 1894 5 6 Foster Frank K Report for 1889 of the Legislative Committee of the State Conference of Central Labor Unions s l s n 1889 Foster Frank K Trade Unionism Its Philosophy Its Definition Its Political Economy Labor Leader 29 Sept 1888 Foster Frank K Protection vs wages New York Free Trade Club 1883 References Edit American Federation of Labor History Encyclopedia Reference Book Washington DC American Federation of Labor 1919 Trade union officesPreceded byWilliam H Foster Secretary of the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions1883 1884 Succeeded byGabriel EdmonstonPreceded byJohn A MoffitJames Wood American Federation of Labor delegate to the Trades Union Congress1906 With James Wilson Succeeded byJohn T DempseyWilliam E Klapetzky Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frank Keyes Foster amp oldid 1144122307, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
