David Brody
Encyclopedia
David Brody is a professor emeritus
of history at the University of California-Davis.
to Barnet and Ida (Gulker) Brody, who were immigrants to the United States. Working his way through Harvard University
, he received his bachelor's degree
in 1952, a master's degree
in 1953 and Ph.D.
in 1958.
He married Susan Schapiro in 1955. The couple have two daughters and a son.
As Brody explains, he did not intend to become a labor historian
:
and American history. Along with David Montgomery and Herbert Gutman
, he is credited with founding the field of "new labor history
" in North America, which examined working-class culture
rather than simply workers' organizations as a source of history.
Brody's most coherent statement of the "new labor history
" can be found in his article titled "The Old Labor History and the New: In Search of an American Working Class" (Labor History, 20[1979] : 111–26).
Brody rose to prominence following the 1969 publication of his pioneering history of early steelworker unions, The Steelworkers in America: The Nonunion Era, a book based on his doctoral dissertation. He has written numerous articles and book-length treatments of the ethical, organizational and social construction of work and employment.
In recent years, Brody has focused on the origins and transformation of American labor law, labor law reform and weaknesses in the structure and interpretation of the National Labor Relations Act
.
Professor Brody is affiliated with the Institute of Industrial Relations (IIR) at the University of California, Berkeley
.
. He served as president of the Pacific Coast branch of the American Historical Association from 1991 to 1992. He is also a member of the Organization of American Historians
, and served on the group's executive board from 1976 to 1979.
Brody was a senior fellow for the National Endowment for the Humanities
in 1978. He won a Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
fellowship in 1983, and was appointed as a senior professor in the Fulbright Program
in 1975. In 2008 he won the Sol Stetin Award for Labor History from the Sidney Hillman
Foundation and a Distinguished Service to Labor and Working-Class History Award from the Labor and Working-Class History Association
.
Brody is a member of Local 3 (San Francisco Chapter) of the National Writers Union
, Local 1981, United Auto Workers
, AFL-CIO
.
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of history at the University of California-Davis.
Life and education
Brody was born in Elizabeth, New JerseyElizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
to Barnet and Ida (Gulker) Brody, who were immigrants to the United States. Working his way through Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, he received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1952, a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in 1953 and Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1958.
He married Susan Schapiro in 1955. The couple have two daughters and a son.
As Brody explains, he did not intend to become a labor historian
Labor history (discipline)
Labor history is a broad field of study concerned with the development of the labor movement and the working class. The central concerns of labor historians include the development of labor unions, strikes, lockouts and protest movements, industrial relations, and the progress of working class and...
:
Research focus
Brody's research focuses on the American labor movementLabor unions in the United States
Labor unions in the United States are legally recognized as representatives of workers in many industries. The most prominent unions are among public sector employees such as teachers and police...
and American history. Along with David Montgomery and Herbert Gutman
Herbert Gutman
Herbert Gutman was an American professor of history at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, where he wrote on slavery and labor history.-Early life and education:...
, he is credited with founding the field of "new labor history
New labor history
New labor history is a branch of labor history which focuses on the experiences of workers, women, and minorities in the study of history. It is heavily influenced by social history....
" in North America, which examined working-class culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
rather than simply workers' organizations as a source of history.
Brody's most coherent statement of the "new labor history
New labor history
New labor history is a branch of labor history which focuses on the experiences of workers, women, and minorities in the study of history. It is heavily influenced by social history....
" can be found in his article titled "The Old Labor History and the New: In Search of an American Working Class" (Labor History, 20
Brody rose to prominence following the 1969 publication of his pioneering history of early steelworker unions, The Steelworkers in America: The Nonunion Era, a book based on his doctoral dissertation. He has written numerous articles and book-length treatments of the ethical, organizational and social construction of work and employment.
In recent years, Brody has focused on the origins and transformation of American labor law, labor law reform and weaknesses in the structure and interpretation of the National Labor Relations Act
National Labor Relations Act
The National Labor Relations Act or Wagner Act , is a 1935 United States federal law that limits the means with which employers may react to workers in the private sector who create labor unions , engage in collective bargaining, and take part in strikes and other forms of concerted activity in...
.
Professor Brody is affiliated with the Institute of Industrial Relations (IIR) at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
Memberships and awards
Brody is a member of the Society of American Historians and the American Historical AssociationAmerican Historical Association
The American Historical Association is the oldest and largest society of historians and professors of history in the United States. Founded in 1884, the association promotes historical studies, the teaching of history, and the preservation of and access to historical materials...
. He served as president of the Pacific Coast branch of the American Historical Association from 1991 to 1992. He is also a member of the Organization of American Historians
Organization of American Historians
The Organization of American Historians , formerly known as the Mississippi Valley Historical Association, is the largest professional society dedicated to the teaching and study of American history. OAH's members in the U.S...
, and served on the group's executive board from 1976 to 1979.
Brody was a senior fellow for the National Endowment for the Humanities
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
in 1978. He won a Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation was founded in 1925 by Mr. and Mrs. Simon Guggenheim in memory of their son, who died April 26, 1922...
fellowship in 1983, and was appointed as a senior professor in the Fulbright Program
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
in 1975. In 2008 he won the Sol Stetin Award for Labor History from the Sidney Hillman
Sidney Hillman
Sidney Hillman was an American labor leader. Head of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, he was a key figure in the founding of the Congress of Industrial Organizations and in marshaling labor's support for Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the Democratic Party.-Early years:Sidney Hillman was...
Foundation and a Distinguished Service to Labor and Working-Class History Award from the Labor and Working-Class History Association
Labor and Working-Class History Association
Labor and Working-Class History Association is a non-profit association of academics, educators, students, and labor movement and other activists that promotes research into and publication of materials on the history of the labor movement in North and South America...
.
Brody is a member of Local 3 (San Francisco Chapter) of the National Writers Union
National Writers Union
National Writers Union , founded on November 19, 1981, is the trade union in the United States for freelance and contract writers: journalists, book and short fiction authors, business and technical writers, web content providers, and poets...
, Local 1981, United Auto Workers
United Auto Workers
The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the United Auto Workers , is a labor union which represents workers in the United States and Puerto Rico, and formerly in Canada. Founded as part of the Congress of Industrial...
, AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
.
Sole author
- The American Labor Movement. Reprint ed. Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 1985. ISBN 978-0-8191-4667-0
- The Butcher Workmen: A Study of Unionization. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1964. ISBN 978-0-674-08925-9
- Essays on the Age of Enterprise: 1870-1900. Ft. Worth: Dryden Press, 1974. ISBN 978-0-03-084406-5
- In Labor's Cause: Main Themes on the History of the American Worker. New York: Oxford University Press USA, 1993. ISBN 978-0-19-506791-0
- Labor Embattled: History, Power, Rights. Urbana, Ill.: University of Illinois Press, 2005. Cloth ISBN 978-0-252-03004-8; Paperback ISBN 978-0-252-07246-8
- Labor in Crisis: The Steel Strike of 1919. Urbana, Ill.: University of Illinois Press, 1987. ISBN 978-0-252-01373-7
- Steelworkers in America: The Nonunion Era. Illini Book edition. Urbana, Ill.: University of Illinois Press, 1998. ISBN 978-0-252-06713-6
- Workers in Industrial America: Essays on the Twentieth-Century Struggle. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press USA, 1993. ISBN 978-0-19-504504-8
Co-written works
- Henretta, James A.; Brody, David; and Dumenil, Lynn. America: A Concise History. Volume 2: Since 1865. 5th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2005. ISBN 978-0-312-41641-6
- Henretta, James A.; Brody, David; Dumenil, Lynn; and Ware, Susan. America's History. Volume I: To 1877. 5th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2003. ISBN 978-0-312-40934-0
Important articles
- "Labor History, Industrial Relations, and the Crisis of American Labor." Industrial and Labor Relations Review. 43(1989): 8.http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/ilrreview/
- "The Old Labor History and the New: In Search of an American Working Class." Labor History. 20(1979): 111–26.http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/0023656X.asp