Finding aid for the Republic Steel Corporation Records

History of Republic Steel Corporation

Republic Steel Corporation, (1930-1984) was formed on April 8, 1930, an amalgamation of several smaller steel and iron companies. Headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio, it all began as a dream of Cyrus Eaton (1883-1979), industrialist, philanthropist and John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) protege. Eaton wanted to create a Midwestern conglomerate to rival business and financial institutions of the eastern United States. He began buying stock in several rubber, utility and steel companies, creating an investment trust named Continental Shares, Inc. Through this trust he acquired a majority of the stock in Republic Iron and Steel Company that would form the basis of Republic Steel Corporation. Republic Iron and Steel Company, located in Youngstown, Ohio was created when thirty-eight independent companies merged in 1899. Between 1927 and 1929 Trumbull Steel Company, Trumbull Cliffs Furnace Company, Steel and Tubes, Inc. and Union Drawn Steel Company all became part of Republic Iron and Steel. Joining Republic Iron and Steel in 1930 to become Republic Steel Corporation were Central Alloy Corporation (which merged Central Steel Corporation and United Alloy Steel Corporation-United furnace Company, Berger Manufacturing Company, and Interstate Steel Company), Bourne-Fuller Company (formerly Upson Nut Company and others merged in) and Donner Steel Company. When it was created in 1930, the new Republic Steel Corporation became the third largest producer of steel in the United States. During the late 1920s when Eaton was acquiring stock for his plan, he was also looking for a leader for his new corporation. After several negotiations with Tom Girdler (1877-1965), president of Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation, Girdler agreed to come work for Eaton in late October 1929. After consolidating the companies to a manageable level, Girdler became chairman of the new Republic Steel Corporation on April 8, 1930. E.T. McCleary (1879-1930), of Republic Iron and Steel and formerly Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company, became president but died April 22, 1930, and Girdler assumed the duties of president as well.

The corporate structure of the new corporation took some time to develop. By 1935 it took the form of districts/divisions which evolved over the years with new acquisitions, but essentially remained the basic blueprint for the rest of its existence. The formation of these divisions was largely based on the companies that merged to form Republic and the regions where the actual plants were located. The basic steel operations were divided into Youngstown, Warren (which were merged into Mahoning Valley District), Cleveland, Chicago, Central Alloy (one of the merged companies), Buffalo, and Southern districts (Gadsden, Alabama). Other divisions were formed for the other operations, like the Manufacturing Group, Steel and Tubes Division (a merged company), Union Drawn Steel Division (a merged company), Bolt and Nut Division, Enduro Division and various mining divisions.

The 1930s were a critical decade for Republic due to the financial conditions brought on by the Great Depression. Cyrus Eaton, due to financial difficulties from the depression, lost much of his power through stock holdings and was not made a director of the Republic Steel Corporation he created. He became less and less involved as Tom Girdler became Republic's driving force.

There had not been time before the depression began to establish the banking relationships that Girdler and other leaders would have liked, making financing a challenge. Also, taking several companies and merging their operations and workforces together was no easy task. Regardless of these challenges, Republic had earned its first profit by 1935.

That same year Republic acquired the Corrigan McKinney Steel Company, located in Cleveland, Ohio near Lake Erie. With the acquisition of Corrigan McKinney came a large integrated steel plant in Cleveland, vast ore reserves from its other properties and a great location on the Great Lakes for shipping purposes. A lawsuit was filed by the United States Department of Justice to prevent the merger due to antitrust concerns, but eventually the merger took place. With the acquisition of Corrigan McKinney, the headquarters of Republic were moved from Youngstown, Ohio to Cleveland, Ohio in 1936.

Other important acquisitions during the 1930s were the Truscon Steel Company of Youngstown, Ohio in 1935 and Gulf States Steel in 1937. These acquisitions added iron ore and coal mines, steel plants, rolling mills and wire plants to Republic's facilities. In 1937 R.J. Wysor was elected president, leaving Tom Girdler to his chairman and chief executive officer duties.

An important event in labor relations for Republic and other steel companies occurred also in 1937, the "little steel" strikes. Republic, like many other steel companies, had an employee epresentation plan, but no contract with a labor union. In 1936 the Congress of Industrial Organizations' (CIO) Steel Workers' Organizing Committee (SWOC) began an organization drive and eventually signed a contract with the United States Steel Company. The other "little steel" companies refused to deal with SWOC, claiming that they complied with the wage and working conditions in U.S. Steel's contract but they did not feel SWOC represented a majority of their employees. According to Tom Girdler in his autobiography, the main issues of the dispute were closed shop (making union membership a requirement of employment) and check off (having union dues automatically deducted from pay).

For Republic, the strike began in May of 1937. Violence occurred at several plants, including Chicago, Illinois and Youngstown, Ohio. In Ohio the National Guard was called to quell the violence at several plants, prompting, by the end of June, a return to work and an unofficial end to the strike. Consequently, SWOC did not gain contracts with the "little steel" companies. However, government hearings and disputes with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) continued, and SWOC continued its organization efforts. By mid-1941 the "little steel" companies had agreed to a comparison of membership cards against payrolls by the NLRB resulting in the union having enough membership to gain collective bargaining rights. Negotiations began, and by 1942 the first contract between the United Steelworkers of America (formerly SWOC) and Republic Steel Corporation was signed on August 11, 1942. Cleveland was the site of the convention where SWOC was disbanded and replaced by the United Steelworkers of America on May 22, 1942. Republic's position was vastly different in the 1940s than it had been in the 1930s. From 1940 to 1944 Republic operated at almost full capacity because of the war demand for steel. Production and shipment rates were high, but government price controls during the war kept profits from growing as quickly. Regardless of price controls, Republic's profits were markedly improved from those in the 1930s. Republic during this time also undertook an expansion and modernization campaign involving new facilities for stainless steel production at Massillon, Ohio and pipe at Gadsden, Alabama. Other expansion and modernization was done through a government program creating Defense Plant Facilities or Plancor Projects. The government offered money for the installation of steel making facilities to assist with war time production. Republic leased land to the government, and the government would then build the facility and lease it back to Republic, with the option to buy at a later date. Republic took on twenty-eight such projects, resulting in new and improved facilities all over the country which Republic later purchased.

Many Republic employees entered the armed forces during WWII. By the end of 1944, 21,282 Republic employees had enlisted, and women were employed to fill some of the vacancies.

Labor relations were relatively calm during the 1940s. The main development was industry-wide bargaining in 1944. There were a couple of strikes resulting in better wages and benefits for steelworkers during the decade, not nearly as severe as the "little steel" strike of 1937.

There were some changes in management for Republic in the 1940s. Tom Girdler remained chairman and CEO but President R.J. Wysor resigned on May 9, 1945. Charles M. White (1891-1977), who had worked for the Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation with Girdler and had joined Republic shortly after its formation, was then elected president of Republic.

The 1950s would bring more capital improvements to Republic along with some critical management changes and new ventures. Cleveland, Chicago, Gadsden and Warren were the main beneficiaries of these improvements which over the decade amounted to close to $700 million, and Republic stock earnings were positive. Other ventures initiated at this time were maritime operations, a new research laboratory, and a plan to provide limestone and Technical Assistance agreements. These ventures allowed Republic to assist other steel companies in places like Europe with technical knowledge in exchange for royalties on sales. Iron ore holdings were expanded at this time as well.

The management changes were important in that Tom Girdler, the man who headed Republic from the start, stepped down as CEO in 1955 and then as chairman in 1956. C. M. White, already president, took on the added role of CEO in 1955 and in 1956 became chairman and CEO. Thomas F. Patton (b. 1903) was then elected president on August 21, 1956.

There were some important labor relations events in the 1950s affecting not only Republic, but the entire steel industry. In 1952, President Harry S. Truman seized steel plants in the name of the United States federal government to avert an impending strike that would have affected the United States' involvement in the Korean War. The Supreme Court ruled the seizure illegal in Youngstown Sheet and Tube v. Sawyer. In 1956 a change in collective bargaining occurred when U.S. Steel, Bethlehem Steel Corporation, and Republic joined together in bargaining with the United Steel Workers of America. This resulted in the first long term wage agreement in steel industry history that could not be reopened. This agreement was to last until July 1, 1959. The re-negotiation of this contract opened in May 1959, but no agreement was reached and a strike began July 15, 1959. It lasted 116 days, making it the longest steel industry strike ever to that point. Because of the shortage of steel from the strike, imported steel was coming to the United States in much greater amounts than ever before. Imports would remain an issue for the rest of Republic's existence.

The 1960s were for Republic much like the 1950s in terms of capital expenditures for improvements. More than $1.2 billion was spent on major additions and improvements. Among the projects were the installation of Basic Oxygen Furnaces (BOFs) beginning in 1962 for Cleveland, Warren and Gadsden. BOFs were a major technological improvement for steel making, replacing open hearth furnaces. Others were a new coal mine, bar mill improvements and the 84''mill improvement project at the Cleveland plant. By 1969 close to 90% of Republic's total steelmaking capacity had been improved and Republic was in an especially strong position in terms of being competitive. Sales were increasing but imports continued to hurt profits, although in 1968 producers of foreign steel did voluntarily agree to curb shipments for three years for fear of legislated quotas.

Besides imports, a somewhat new problem was developing for Republic in the 1960s: the cost of environmental controls. From 1951 to 1971 air and water pollution control equipment cost Republic $142 million. These costs reduced the funds available for other projects and affected profits.

Labor relations were better than previous decades with no strikes taking place. There was a dispute between the Kennedy Administration and the steel industry dealing with price increases, however. The steel industry, because of pressure from the Kennedy Administration did not raise its prices. This situation, according to T. F. Patton, made the steel industry, with rising labor costs and no price increases, unable to earn a fair profit on its investment.

Upper management underwent more changes in this decade as well. On December 20, 1960, C.M. White retired as chairman and CEO. T.F. Patton, current president, then also became CEO. On November 19, 1963 Patton became chairman as well. He served in the capacity of all three until May 1968 when Willis B. Boyer (ca. 1916-1974) was elected president.

The early 1970s were a difficult time for Republic with increasing costs, a General Motors strike, inflation issues, steel imports in record amounts, costly labor settlements, and a coal strike which affected operations. Throughout the rest of the decade Republic's performance fluctuated with economic and market factors. Some years, like 1972 through 1974 were good. The rest of the decade, financially speaking, saw marginal profits. The problems of the decade can be summed up by inflation, price controls, imports, and environmental control costs.

In 1974 a new labor agreement was signed allowing for arbitration in lieu of striking in case of collective bargaining failure. While concerns of strikes lessened, economic problems loomed large.

T.F. Patton retired as chairman and CEO September 15, 1971. W.B. Boyer, already president, was then made CEO as well. In 1973 Boyer became chairman and William J. DeLancey was made president and CEO and remained in this capacity until 1977. He became chairman and CEO in 1978, serving until 1981. E. Bradley Jones served as president for two years (1978-1979), and then as president and COO from 1980-1981. Jones became chairman and CEO in 1982, making William J. Williams president and COO.

The 1980s continued much the same as the 1970s. The economic outlook was still problematic. Losses from 1982 and 1983 amounted to $565 million and many analysts did not believe Republic would survive on its own.

The survival of Republic Steel was at stake. A proposal was devised to somehow combine Republic with Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation (a subsidiary of LTV Corporation). A deal was reached calling for LTV Corporation to acquire Republic Steel Corporation and merge it with Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation (J&L), creating the new LTV Steel Company. Both J&L and Republic were suffering due to steel imports but LTV Corporation believed the merger could save overhead costs by streamlining operations. The executives at LTV Corporation also thought that the steel industry would rebound from its problems due to the economy. The plan was announced September 28, 1983 but had to be approved by the United States Justice Department. The Justice Department ruled to deny the merger due to competition issues on February 15, 1984. After looking at divestiture options and discussing changes with the LTV Corporation, the Justice Department approved the merger on March 21, 1984. On June 29, 1984, the merger of Republic Steel and Jones and Laughlin Steel was completed, thus creating the LTV Steel Company, a subsidiary of LTV Corporation.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Republic Steel Corporation

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Cyrus Eaton

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for William Gwinn Mather

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Tom Girdler

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for James Corrigan, Jr.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Little Steel Strike of 1937

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the United Steelworkers of America

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for LTV Steel Corporation/Mittal Steel

Scope and Content

The Republic Steel Corporation Records, 1895-2001 and undated, contain administrative records, advertisements, agendas, agreements, analyses, applications, architectural drawings, article sheets, audits, biographies, birth certificates, booklets, brochures, budgets, certificates, charts, citations, compliance reviews, computer printouts, constitutions, contracts, correspondence, deeds, determinations on imports, diagrams, dockets, drawings, earnings records, employment applications, financial records, forms, formulas, genealogy charts, goals and timetables, graphs, grievance sheets, handbooks, hazardous waste manifests, histories, indices, inspections,inventories, job classifications, job descriptions, journals, ledgers, legal briefs, legal records, legislation, lines of progression, lists, magazine articles, manuals, manuscript proofs, maps, memoirs, memoranda, minutes, newsletters, newspaper clippings, notebooks, notes, notices, pamphlets and promotional materials, permits, petitions, photographs, plans, policies and procedures, presentations, press releases, proposals, proxy statements, publications, questionnaires, real estate records including abstracts of title, bills of sale, closing papers, conveyances, deeds, easements, indentures, leases, and rights of way, receipts, registers, remarks, reports, resolutions, rosters, rules and regulations, schedules, scrapbooks, scripts, separation notices, speech texts, statements, statistics, studies, subpoenas, summaries, surveys, tax records, telegrams, testimonies, time books, time lines, time sheets, trade adjustment assistance determinations, transcripts, typescript, wage scale changes, wage rate records and cases, and work papers.

This collection is of value to researchers studying the history of Republic Steel Corporation and the steel industry in the United States and in Cleveland, Ohio in particular. It is also important to those interested in labor history and the relationship between steel management and the United Steelworkers of America in the state of Ohio and elsewhere in the United States. Contract negotiations and grievance and arbitration procedures are highlighted. This collection is of value to those interested in wages and job descriptions within the steel industry and discrimination issues as well. Those interested in the different products and markets serviced by the steel industry in general and Republic Steel Corporation will want to focus on the advertising and sales sections of the collection. Legal, environmental and economic impacts of the steel industry on the United States and more specifically, the Cleveland, Ohio area can be researched through this collection as well as can the impact of such government policy on the steel industry. Researchers interested in the Republic Iron and Steel Company of Youngstown, Ohio, and Corrigan McKinney Steel Company in Cleveland, Ohio will find this collection useful. The collection contains biographical information Cyrus Eaton, Thomas Girdler, and other founders and executives who developed Republic Steel Corporation. Researchers studying the impact of the Little Steel Strike on organized labor and the steel industry will find this collection useful.

Republic Steel Corporation operated steel works in Brooklyn, New York; Buffalo, New York; Canton, Ohio; Counce, Tennessee; Detroit, Michigan; Elyria, Ohio; Gadsden, Alabama; and Port Henry, New York. The collection illustrates the relationship between management and labor at these locations. The Lake Erie transportation operations of Republic Steel Corporation are documented in the collection, including personnel issues. Scholars who are researching the impact of labor relations on benefit packages, incentive systems, and the health and safety of workers will find this collection valuable. Researchers seeking documentation on the wages of steelworkers at Republic Steel Corporation will find this collection useful. Researchers interested in the property acquisitions and land uses of Republic Steel Corporation will also find this collection useful.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Use

All researchers are prohibited from citing employee names in their published work. This prohibition is of particular concern to all accounting, industrial relations, personnel, and wage and payroll files and reports contained in this collection.

Restrictions on Access

Materials in Series VII: Personnel Division, Sub-Series A: Administrative Files, Container 243, folders 27 and 28, Container 244 (all folders) and Container 245, folders 1 through 9 are closed to research until 2064.

Materials in Series VII: Personnel Division, Sub-Series B: Cleveland, Ohio Steel and Tubes Division Individual Employee Files, Containers 271 through 297 are closed to research until 2053.

Materials in Series VII: Personnel Division, Sub-Series E: Lake Fleet Division, Containers 325 through 340 are closed to research until 2063.

All researchers are prohibited from citing employee names in their published work. This prohibition is of particular concern to all accounting, industrial relations, personnel, and wage and payroll files and reports contained in this collection.

All researchers will be asked to make an appointment with the WRHS Curator of Manuscripts to discuss these restrictions and sign a "Case Files Access Form" before using this collection.

The researcher should also consult MS 4950 LTV Steel Company Records.

All records created by Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation that were donated to the Western Reserve Historical Society were processed and transferred to the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania/Heinz History Center.

All records created by the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company that were donated to the Western Reserve Historical Society were processed and transferred to the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor/Ohio Historical Society.

All photographs have been retained with the collection.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4949 Republic Steel Corporation Records, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Gift of the LTV Corporation in 2003.

Processing Information

Processed by Lead Processor Margaret Burzynski-Bays and Hannah Kemp-Severence, Timothy Beatty, Martha Boska, Monica Scullen, Benjamin Blake, Alicia Miller, Joseph Wachtel, and Scott Longert in 2006.

The processing of this collection was made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and gifts from the Atlas Steel Products Company, Barbara Hoyt, Clara T. Rankin, Cleveland Cliffs Inc., Corning Chisholm, Elizabeth Ring Mather and William Gwinn Mather Fund, George M. & Pamela S. Humphrey Fund, Gordon Gund, Helen B. Charles M. White Charitable Fund of The Cleveland Foundation, Independent Steel Company, John A. Sargent, John B. Hollister, John J. Grabowski, Singer Steel, Society for Industrial Archeology, The Ayco Charitable Foundation-Donna and Peter Kelly Fund, The Cleveland Cliffs Foundation, The Louise H. and David S. Ingalls Foundation, The S. Livingston Mather Charitable Trust, The Sherwick Fund of The Cleveland Foundation, Thomas N. Tyrrell, United Steelworkers of America, and William E. Conway

Detailed Description of The Collection