Sign and Display Trades Union (SDTU), earlier the National Union of Sign, Glass and Ticket Writers and Kindred Trades

This collection contains: returns to and correspondence with the Registrar of Friendly Societies, 1919-1964; rules booklets, 1933-1953; national executive committee signed minutes, 1917-1972; annual general meeting and annual delegate conference (from 1950) papers, 1936-1962; annual reports, 1929-1971; financial statements, 1938-1950, 1963-1967; subject and correspondence files, 1938-1972; agreements, 1939-1970; 'Newsletter' and analogous circulars to members, 1939-1972; other circulars,1970-1972; correspondence on the possibility of commissioning a published history of the union, 1972; other organisations' publications, 1952-1970; papers of A C Torode, general secretary, 1958-c1962.

The Sign and Display Trades Union was founded as the National Union of Sign, Glass and Ticket Writers and Kindred Trades in 1918, changing its name in 1945. It catered for any worker engaged as a sign, glass, poster or ticket writer, or in any branch of subsidiary and allied trades. In 1949 the Northern Glass Workers' Employees' Association and the National Society of Decorative Glass Workers of the United Kingdom transferred their engagements to the Sign and Display Trades Union. In 1972 the union transferred its engagements to the National Society of Operative Printers, Graphical and Media Personnel.

Reference: Hugh M. Pollock, 'Development and structure of a small trade union...the Sign and Display Trades Union 1918-72', University of Warwick MA dissertation, 1974.

This collection is available to researchers by appointment at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick. See https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/using/

Link to full catalogue: https://mrc-catalogue.warwick.ac.uk/records/SDT

The records of the Sign and Display Trades Union were deposited on indefinite loan by Mr A.C. Torode, former General Secretary of the union. They were collected on the 30th August 1975 from Mr Torode's house. Earlier that month on the 8th supplemental material had been collected from the offices of the National Society of Operative Printers, Graphical and Media Personnel, to which the Sign and Display Trades Union had transferred its engagements in 1972. This included annual reports, newsletters and some correspondence, all on indefintie loan.