Indiana Refrigeration Lines Strike scrapbook and correspondence

Collection

Identifier: MSS-183

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists largely of photocopies of company president Rodney Tetrault’s scrapbook, which included news clippings and photographs documenting violence during the attempt to unionize Indiana Refrigeration Lines drivers. The scrapbook itself was not salvageable, but items, including some correspondence and strike benefit payment stubs, were removed and are included in the collection. Photographs from the scrapbook are in PSC 281.

Dates

Creation: 1964-1971

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University Libraries, Muncie, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Archives and Special Collections.

Administrative History

Rodney Tetrault founded what would become Indiana Refrigeration Lines trucking company after World War II. At first his trucks hauled lumber from Kentucky to Muncie to supply Tetrault’s lumber yard. When John Hartmeyer, general manager of Marhoefer Packing Company, bought specially cooled truck trailers for shipping Marhoefer meats, he contracted with Tetrault to supply truck tractors to pull the trailers. Tetrault then bought refrigerated trailers as well and established Indiana Refrigeration Lines. Eventually the company had terminals in Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois, as well as in Indiana.

Indiana Refrigeration Lines employed its own drivers and also leased its refrigerated trailers to independent truckers. In 1964 company drivers sought to unionize as a Teamsters local. Tetrault opposed unionization. The strike and resulting Teamsters violence against Tetrault, Hartmeyer, and their businesses is documented in this collection. Indiana Refrigeration Lines eventually unionized under Teamsters Local 132.

Extent

0.2 Cubic Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in the following series:

Series 1: Indiana Refrigeration Line Strike scrapbook and correspondence, 1964-2005

Series 2: Indiana Refrigeration Line Strike photographs, 1964-1971

Custodial History

This collection was received by Archives and Special Collections as a donation.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing completed 2006/02 by J. E. Gastineau. EAD finding aid created 2012/10/12 by Julie Hausknecht. EAD finding aid revised 2013/10/29 by Rebecca Marangelli.