Otto N. Toomey papers

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: ACCN 1707

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Otto N. Toomey papers (1935) consist of a scrapbook of news clippings, with annotations by Toomey, and a broadside concerning The State of Utah v. O. N. Toomey. The news clippings were taken from Utah newspapers--including the Salt Lake Tribune, the Deseret News, the Midvale Ute Sentinel, the Labor Broadcast, and the Salt Lake Telegram--and provide information on Toomey's arrest and subsequent trial before Judge James W. McKinney. The broadside, headed "ORGANIZE OR SUBMIT!" announces a meeting to protest government actions in regards to Toomey's case. The documents also describe the suicide of a Salt Lake City plumber, Wittan W. Ellerbeck, outside the City and County Building, on the last day of the February trial. Toomey notes that Ellerbeck's suicide, apparently committed in reaction to Toomey's case, affected him "worse than the adverse verdict some three hours later."

Dates

1935

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical Note

Otto N. Toomey of Sandy, Utah, was arrested and jailed for non-support in February 1935. An unemployed carpenter, Toomey had refused work found for him by the Salt Lake County emergency relief administration. He was defended against the charges by the Salt Lake Building Trades Council, a labor organization, who contended Toomey refused work due to union rules that stated it was "unfair competition for a carpenter to work as a common laborer." The council asserted that Toomey did not refuse work, but instead was fired. Toomey was convicted, despite witnesses (including his wife) who testified that he "was an industrious workman" and a "good provider," then given an eighteen-month sentence. It is unclear whether that sentence was served or suspended.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet

Additional Description

Abstract

The Otto N. Toomey papers (1935) consist of a scrapbook of news clippings and a broadside entitled The State of Utah v. O. N. Toomey. The case involved a union carpenter, Otto N. Toomey, who was prosecuted for non-support of his family because he refused to accept work as a laborer as ordered by the Salt Lake County emergency relief administration.