Indianapolis Typographical Union Number 1

In 1874, John Schley, president of the Indianapolis Typographical Union 1, purchased Section 25, Lots 1 and 2, along with Section 37, Lot 109 for use by its members and family of the union members. Forty-three people are interred in the three lots.

Workers in the printing trade were among the first in the United States to organize. Journeymen printers had been meeting since 1850; the third national convention made way for the National Typographical Union. The Indianapolis chapter became Union No. 1 after a random drawing when the organization was formed in 1852 in Cincinnati, OH. Other chapters included cities like Philadelphia, New York City, Memphis, and St. Louis. While conventions were held starting in 1852, the first time it was held in Indianapolis was not until 1927.

The organization changed its name in 1871 to the International Typographical Union (ITU) and conventions were held in Canada as early as 1873. In 1888, the ITU, seeking a more central location, moved its national headquarters from New York City to Indianapolis, where it published its national organ, the Typographical Journal, and the local paper, The Appeal. The ITU left Indianapolis in 1962 for Colorado Springs, CO. The ITU, including its Indianapolis branch, eventually became part of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) when the ITU dissolved in 1986.

Just two of the 43 people interred in the Union’s lots.

Charles E. Woods (15 Oct 1882 – 27 Nov 1949) born in Massachusetts, Wood worked for over 50 years as a printer. He lived in Illinois, Lafayette, IN, and eventually Indianapolis. The Union gave permission for his burial in 1949 in Section 37, Lot 109.

Walter B. Montgomery (1869 – 16 Jul 1890) worked for only four years as a compositor for the Indianapolis News before dying from phthisis (tuberculosis). He was only 21 years old.