Explore Black History

April 2, 1949

This 16mm silent, black and white film features parts of the Harlem Trade Union Council (HTUC) convention held on April 2, 1949, at the YWCA in Harlem. The footage includes shots of various unidentified speakers on stage as well as the audience. The second to last speaker appears to be Ferdinand Smith, chairman of the HTUC. The National Negro Labor Council consisted of delegates from ten black labor councils throughout the nation, the New York City unit being the Harlem Trade Union Council, which in July 1951 changed its name to the Greater New York Negro Labor Council (Daily Worker, June 3, 1950, May 18, June 4, 1951). In all its manifestations, the FBI labeled it "A Communist Party front organization" (FBI Main 100-12304-255).

A 16mm, black-and-white, silent film showing part of a Harlem Trade Union Council (HTUC) convention held on April 2, 1949. The footage includes shots of the speakers on stage as well as the audience. The second to last speaker appears to be Ferdinand Smith, chairman of the HTUC. There are a variety of camera angles that capture the stage from the audience floor, close-ups of audience members, and different shots of the speakers on stage.
The film opens with a shot of the stage, where a woman is addressing the audience. A large sign reading "Welcome delegates to HTUC convention \ Build a fighting mass organization of negro workers" hangs above the speaker. The camera angle/view then shifts from the front of the stage to a position just behind the left side of the speakers, showing the audience seated in about 12 horizontal rows extending from the stage to the back of the room. The audience consists of men and women in business attire. The camera alternates with close-up shots of the audience and the speakers. Some of the audience members stand to address the speakers, and then the camera returns to a shot of the stage with a man reading from papers in his hand. A woman seated at a table on the stage listens.
Another speaker comes to the microphone as the audience stands and claps. The camera returns to a view of the stage, and the woman previously seated at the table in the earlier scene introduces the next speaker. After the speaker finishes, the film continues with a view from the back of the room showing the audience watching a film on a screen. The audience claps, and the woman on stage returns to the microphone. The final two scenes show two speakers, one of which appears to be Ferdinand C. Smith.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Pearl Bowser Collection

Time-based Media - Moving Images

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Pearl Bowser

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2012.79.1.53.1a

silent films
home movies
black-and-white films (visual works)
16mm (photographic film size)

No Known Copyright Restrictions
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

acetate film

Physical extent (film): 300 ft
Duration: 5 min.

Object Name • Film footage of a Harlem Trade Union Council convention

nmaahc_2012.79.1.53.1a

NMAAHC

FILM FOOTAGE OF A HARLEM TRADE UNION COUNCIL CONVENTION

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1940s

Smith, Ferdinand Christopher • Bowser, Pearl • Harlem Trade Union Council

New York City • Harlem • New York County • United States • North and Central America

Labor unions • Professional organizations • U.S. History, 1945-1953 • Associations and institutions

Locale • Harlem • City • New York City • County • New York County • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America

silent films • black-and-white films (visual works) • 16mm (photographic film size) • Home movies

Limited Use