NLRB Members, circa 1970

Howard Jenkins, Jr. was a labor law attorney who was the first African-American appointed to the U.S. National Labor Relations Board where he served from 1963-1983. He began his law career in Denver, Colorado and was Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law from 1946-1955. He also served as Special Assistant to the Solicitor of Labor, 1956-1959; Director of the Office of Regulations at the Bureau of Labor-Management Reports, 1959-1962; and Assistant Commissioner of Bureau, 1962-1963. Jenkins concentrated on eliminating racial discrimination in labor unions and establishing national labor policy that held discrimination on basis of sex or race was unfair labor practice. Instrumental in drafting and passing "Landrum-Griffin" Act of 1959, a labor reform document known as "Employees' Bill of Rights." The Howard Jenkins, Jr. papers contain correspondence, speeches, oral history transcripts, journals, journal articles, newspaper clippings, books, reports, notebooks, congressional hearings, certificates, diplomas, plaques, photographs, and memorabilia. The collection primarily relates to his service on the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and spans the years 1939-1999. The papers cover Jenkins' attempts during his years on the NLRB to use the mandates of the National Labor Relations Act to eliminate racial discrimination in labor unions. The collection also contains documents relating to Jenkins' essential role in drafting the Landrum-Griffin Act of 1959 and in ensuring compliance with the Act. Howard Jenkins, Jr. was a Republican who became known as a great supporter of labor unions. The collection reflects Howard Jenkins, Jr.'s role as a policymaker and leader in labor law.