A&M 2482Joseph Ozanic, Labor Leader, Papers A&M 2482Staff of the West Virginia & Regional History CenterWest Virginia and Regional History Center

1549 University Ave. P.O. Box 6069 Morgantown, WV 26506-6069Business Number: 304-293-3536wvrhcref@westvirginia.libanswers.comURL:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-06-18 13:41:08 -0400.Description is written in: English, Latin script.Describing Archives: A Content Standard West Virginia and Regional History Center Joseph Ozanic, Labor Leader, Papers Ozanic, Joseph A&M 2482 Archival Resource Key Previous Archival Resource Key Previous Archival Resource Key Previous Archival Resource Key /repositories/2/resources/4197 5.1 Linear Feet Summary: 5 ft. 1 in. (7 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 records carton, 15 in. each); (1 framed item, 1 in.) 1932-1974 Joe Ozanic went to work in the coal mines of Mt. Olive, joining in 1909, UMW Local 728. After serving briefly in the army during World War I, Ozanic returned to work in the mines at Mt. Olive. In 1932, Ozanic joined the Progressive Mine Workers of America, a rival organization to the United Mine Workers, serving both as president of PMWA District 1 and as national president. During the 1940s, Ozanic was an organizer for the American Federation of Labor. These papers reflect Ozanic's involvement with the Progressive Mine Workers and the American Federation of Labor. Material from his career as a union leader includes correspondence, financial records, speeches, certificates, newspaper clippings, photographs, broadsides, scripts for plays, union convention proceedings, contracts, bylaws, constitutions, and miscellaneous publications. Subjects include the National Labor Relations Board, American labor unions during World War II, the Union Miners' Cemetery at Mt. Olive, Illinois, AFL organizing drives, miners' marches in Illinois, Mother Jones, and John L. Lewis. Among the correspondents are Joe Pecik, John Fancher, and Vivian Pleska. Ozanic's personal papers include family correspondence, receipts, certificates, memorabilia, and photographs. The correspondence includes postcards from Ozanic to his wife and son from various places in the United States and Ozanic's certificate of competency as a coal miner, issued by the Illinois Miners Examining Board in 1917. West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / URL: West Virginia & Regional History Center English Conditions Governing Access

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 Preferred Citation

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Joseph Ozanic, Labor Leader, Papers , A&M 2482, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

 Separated Materials

One photo separated to A&M 4168, Panoramic Photos Collection:

Progressive Miners of America; 1932/09

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 Mount Olive (Ill.) Broadsides. Cemeteries -- Union Miners' Cemetery Coal miners Coal mining - Labor organization. Union names. Unions - Progressive Mine Workers of America. Unions. SEE ALSO Labor organization. World War, 1939-1945 World War, 1914-1918 American Federation of Labor Illinois Miners Examining Board United States. National Labor Relations Board Progressive Mine Workers of America. District 1 Progressive Mine Workers of America United Mine Workers of America. Local 728 (Mt. Olive, Ill.) United Mine Workers of America Fancher, John. Jones, Mary. Lewis, John L. (John Llewellyn), 1880-1969 Ozanic, Joseph Pleska, Vivian. Pecik, Joe.