Albert J. Maag

The University of South Dakota Archives and Special Collections has published an online finding aid for Albert J. Maag.

Albert J. Maag was born on December 1, 1891 in Malmø, Sweden before his family emigrated to Huron, South Dakota. He started his union life in May 1918 by becoming a charter member of the Railroad Local Union 247 Sheet Metal Workers International Association, as Secretary-Treasurer. He then became Vice-President of the South Dakota State Federation of Labor in 1924 under President E. Pfiefer, before becoming President in 1928. He retired in 1960 but was retained as a President Emeritus until he died January 7, 1965. Throughout his career, Maag served on the Defense Savings Committee for South Dakota in 1941, the Labor Speaker Bureau for the War Production Board in 1942, the War Manpower Commission, the South Dakota Advisory Council to the Service of the Blind, and attended the White House Conference on Aging. As a union representative, Albert Maag worked with groups such as the Yankton Carpenter’s Union and the Distillery Workers Union. Maag worked to revoke anti-labor laws in South Dakota, fought against Karl Mundt on labor issues, and oversaw the 1956 opening of the Sioux Falls Labor Temple. Readers who are interested in South Dakota unions, the Homestake Mine, and labor unions’ struggles during the Cold War should utilize this collection.

Spielman, Jean E. Stool Pigeon and the Open Shop Movement. American Publishing Company, 1923.