Gerald Moser, “Summary of the 37th Annual Convention of the American Federation of Teachers” (August 1954)

Link to Full Text: Gerald Moser, “Report on the Thirty-Seventh Annual Convention of the American Federation of Teachers.”

About this Artifact

Teachers’ union actions are the results of a struggle that has spanned decades at institutions across the United States. The 37th Annual Convention of the American Federation of Teachers took place from August 16 to 20, 1954. Attending the convention, on behalf of the Local #500 of the State College area, was Gerald Moser, who was tasked with summarizing its events.¹ Moser’s summary provides a detailed account of the social and professional environments that many teachers faced at the time by including details surrounding the dismissal of AFT Secretary Treasurer Kuenzli, results of the election for officer positions on the national board, future goals set by the delegation, and the discussion regarding the gradual desegregation of southern schools. Through his report, we are able to understand the major issues that were deliberated upon during the convention, identify the coalitional divides among the convention’s attendees, and gain a comprehensive interpretation of the various perspectives he held involving the major topics of the event.

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