Ford Service Department Men Confront UAW Organizers during the Battle of the Overpass, May 26, 1937
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Ford Motor Company refused to recognize the United Auto Workers (UAW) labor union. On May 26, 1937, men from Ford's Service Department (left) attacked labor organizers (right) Robert Kanter, Walter Reuther, Richard Frankensteen, and J.J. Kennedy on a pedestrian overpass at Ford's Rouge Plant. This "Battle of the Overpass" came to symbolize the struggle to unionize Ford. The UAW ultimately succeeded in 1941.
Ford Motor Company refused to recognize the United Auto Workers (UAW) labor union. On May 26, 1937, men from Ford's Service Department (left) attacked labor organizers (right) Robert Kanter, Walter Reuther, Richard Frankensteen, and J.J. Kennedy on a pedestrian overpass at Ford's Rouge Plant. This "Battle of the Overpass" came to symbolize the struggle to unionize Ford. The UAW ultimately succeeded in 1941.
Artifact
Photographic print
Subject Date
26 May 1937
Creators
Creator Notes
Originally photographed by James E. (Scotty) Kilpatrick for the Detroit News
Keywords
United States, Michigan, Dearborn
Frankensteen, Richard T., 1907-1977
Ford Motor Company. Rouge River Plant
International Union, United Automobile Workers of America (CIO)
Collection Title
On Exhibit
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Object ID
84.1.1660.P.833.68529.21
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.
Material
Paper (Fiber product)
Technique
Gelatin silver process
Color
Black-and-white (Colors)
Dimensions
Height: 7 in
Width: 9 in
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