James Green with UMass Boston Labor Resource Center staff in 2001. Left to right: Administrative Coordinator Jean Pishkin, CPCS Professor and LRC board member Terry McClarney, Labor Extension Coordinator Tess Ewing, Director Pat Reeve, Program Director James Green, Researcher Deb Osnowitz, and Researcher Mary Jo Connelly.
We’re sad to hear of the passing of James Green, labor historian and professor emeritus of history at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Professor Green was a long-time supporter of University Archives & Special Collections in the Joseph P. Healey Library at UMass Boston, as well as a regular collaborator. Read the Boston Globe’s obituary for James Green here.
In 2011, Professor Green donated his papers to University Archives & Special Collections. This collection details the scholarly career and activist history of Professor Green, dating from 1964 to 2010. Scholarly materials consist of research materials related to his published books, as well as essays, published articles, book reviews, public addresses, political speeches, papers presented at conferences, and correspondence with scholars and colleagues. There is also a significant portion of the collection devoted to his administrative duties as director of the Labor Resource Center and his duties within the College of Public and Community Service. In the spring of 2008, Professor Green joined the History Department at UMass Boston, where he created and directed the graduate program in Public History.
View the finding aid for the James Green papers here.
There are several photographs of Professor Green on our digital collections site, as well as a short interview Professor Green contributed as part of our UMass Boston Mass. Memories Road Show in 2014, in which he describes his work at UMass Boston and as part of union activities on campus.
James Green at the UMass Boston Mass. Memories Road Show: Video Interview from UMass Boston Archives on Vimeo.
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Thanks for posting this remembrance of Jim! Great video clip to remember Jim @UMass Boston.
I read of Dr. Green’s passing in the Globe. Last December, I shared a room at Beth Israel with him. I believe that as local history buffs and authors, the staff thought it would be a good match.
Unfortunately, I was unable to discuss our common interest in local industrial history. As a lifelong union member, I would have been able to exchange much about my years as a local labor union member. There are many really great stories still to be researched locally. New England is where much off our history began. Just look at what remains all around us for the hints of worthy tales awaiting research.to be retold.
Recently, I donated my life long collection of Salem History to Salem State University’s Archive.
I began to collect anything & everything Salem, while in high school. Much of what I gathered focused on Salem’s “Industrial Century,” heretofore an overlooked area of both study & collecting by both local historical groups & academics.
Now that it’s all but impossible to locate and gather what was once free for the asking, a century of our manufacturing & commercial activity has gone uncollected. It’s not too late to save today for tomorrow! It’s all around us, & usually free.
The Professor was in great spirits when he left. I hope he was able to enjoy his post-hospital time.
In only a few years, I have observed a sea-change occur regarding our local manufacturing history. My collection has been able to fill the need for some of the ephemera long ignored. This era has not been given the attention it deserves.
Our labor history has much to tell those that no longer labor in the jobs of our forebears, but their stories should not be forgotten.
May you now enjoy the fruits of your years in front of students. Your students are your legacy.