Leon J. Davis
Encyclopedia
Leon J. Davis, Polish-born U.S.
labor leader, November 26, 1906, Obecz, Russian Empire
- September 14, 1992, New Hyde Park, New York
.
At the age of 15 he settled with his Russian-speaking family in Hartford, Connecticut
where he attended public schools and learned English. In 1927 his family moved to New York City
. After two years at Columbia University
's pharmacy school, he left to become a drug store clerk.
In 1932 he founded Local 1199 of the Drug, Hospital, and Health Care Employees Union. In fifty years as the head of the union, he built it into a powerful national and progressive force. Martin Luther King referred to Davis's organization as "my favorite union".
Two books about the union, "Upheaval in the Quiet Zone" and "Not for Bread Alone" examine the deep, almost patriarchal connection between Davis and Local 1199.
A Manhattan
city block on West 43rd Street was named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
labor leader, November 26, 1906, Obecz, Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
- September 14, 1992, New Hyde Park, New York
New Hyde Park, New York
New Hyde Park is a village in Nassau County, New York, United States, on Long Island.The population of the Village of New Hyde Park was 9,712 at the 2010 census...
.
At the age of 15 he settled with his Russian-speaking family in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
where he attended public schools and learned English. In 1927 his family moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. After two years at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
's pharmacy school, he left to become a drug store clerk.
In 1932 he founded Local 1199 of the Drug, Hospital, and Health Care Employees Union. In fifty years as the head of the union, he built it into a powerful national and progressive force. Martin Luther King referred to Davis's organization as "my favorite union".
Two books about the union, "Upheaval in the Quiet Zone" and "Not for Bread Alone" examine the deep, almost patriarchal connection between Davis and Local 1199.
A Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
city block on West 43rd Street was named in his honor.