Guide to the Evelyn O. Darin Papers, 1954-1960 AIS.1988.19
- Repository
- ULS Archives & Special Collections
- Title
- Evelyn O. Darin Papers
- Creator
- Darin, Evelyn O.
- Collection Number
- AIS.1988.19
- Extent
- 1.25 Linear Feet (1 box)
- Date
- 1954-1960
- Abstract
- Evelyn O. Darin was a member of UE Local 601 and IUE Local 601 in East Pittsburgh. In 1955, Westinghouse Electric Company fired Ms. Darin because of alleged communist affiliations. This collection documents Ms. Darin's travails and partial vindication.
- Language
- English .
- Publisher
- ULS Archives & Special Collections
- Address
- University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
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Biography
Evelyn Oswaldina Darin was born May 8, 1910. She was one of three sisters who worked at Westinghouse's East Pittsburgh Works. Her sisters, Margaret (Darin) Stasik and Ella (Darin) Piazza, were union activists with the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE). At the end of December 1954, Evelyn Darin, as member of IUE Local 601, received a subpoena from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Government Operations (McCarthy Committee) to appear on January 3, 1955 to answer charges regarding Communist affiliation. Evelyn's physician provided a note to the Committee indicating that she was too ill to travel to the hearing in Washington, D.C. She also received a telegram from the Westinghouse Company on January 3 informing her that she was terminated after 27 years of service. This was one of several terminations at Westinghouse under similar circumstances. When Darin applied for unemployment compensation she was asked by the hearing officer if she was a member of the Communist Party. Evelyn invoked the Fifth Amendment and was deemed ineligible for compensation. The ruling was appealed and in 1960, the unemployment compensation case was finally decided in her favor. Ms. Darin died on September 7, 1977.
Scope and Content Notes
This collection contains correspondence, legal papers, leaflets, and clippings documenting the travails of Evelyn Darin after she was accused of communist affiliations and subpoenaed to appear before the McCarthy Committee in 1954-1955. A copy of the subpoena, an affidavit of non-Communist affiliation, and the text of her termination letter from Westinghouse, where she had been a production worker for 27 years, reflect the beginnings of her difficulties. Legal papers and other documents show how Darin's attempt to collect unemployment compensation were initially thwarted, because she invoked the Fifth Amendment's right to remain silent, when questioned regarding communist membership by the unemployment compensation officer. Leaflets, clippings and correspondence from friends, including UE District 6 officer Charles Newell, shed additional light on her case and that of others targeted as communists in Pittsburgh. The printed appeal brief on behalf of Darin and two other dismissed Westinghouse workers disputes the authority of the Unemployment Commission to deny payments to Darin for exercising constitutionally protected rights. This argument ultimately prevailed, and correspondence between Darin and her attorney in 1960 reflects the fact that Darin, though losing her job permanently at Westinghouse, was finally awarded unemployment compensation.
This collection provides an example of the process by which in 1950s Pittsburgh, as elsewhere, politically-colored public denunciation could lead to loss of livelihood. The collection also connects with broad political activities of the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers (UE) in East Pittsburgh and the well documented struggles between right and left factions for control of the electrical workers' locals.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Ms. Darin's sister, Ella Piazza 1977.
Preferred Citation
Evelyn O. Darin Papers, 1954-1960, AIS.1988.19, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh
Previous Citation
Evelyn O. Darin Papers, 1954-1960, AIS.1988.19, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
The Papers of Evelyn O. Darin, 1954-1960, UE 88:19, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Archives Service Center staff in 1977.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Michael O'Malley on January 10, 2003. Information about the collection title and the controlled access terms was extracted from the MARC record in the University of Pittsburgh catalog Voyager ID number: 1482693
Copyright
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Subjects
- United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America. Local 601 (East Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Government Operations. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
- Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company. East Pittsburgh Works -- Officials and employees
- Westinghouse Electric Corporation
- Darin, Evelyn O.
- Personal papers
- Women
- Labor
- Women electric industry workers -- Pennsylvania -- East Pittsburgh
- Employees -- Dismissal of -- Pennsylvania -- East Pittsburgh
- Electric industry workers -- Dismissal of -- Pennsylvania -- East Pittsburgh