Henry T. Becker Papers

Henry T. Becker was born on 5 February 1917 in Hartford, Connecticut. He attended George Washington University, Duquesne University, Western Reserve University and the University of Connecticut.

Becker had a long and distinguished labor career beginning with Lodge 1746 of the International Association of Machinists while working for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford. In 1946, he was appointed steward, and from 1947-1949 conducted classes for stewards and local officers in Labor History while working as a full-time organizer.

In January 1950, Becker accepted the position of national representative in the union label department of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. For the next decade, he worked on and directed campaigns against non-union clothing firms. While on leave of absences from the ACWA, 1956-1958, Becker worked as the national representative and organizer for the American Federation of Teachers. During this time, he reorganized and made permanent the Connecticut Federation of Teachers.

In 1965 he became a delegate to the Greater Hartford Labor Council for Local 125 of the ACWA, and in 1973 was appointed a member of the Community Services Committee, eventually becoming the executive secretary of the committee. Becker's affiliation with the Connecticut State Labor Council began in 1958. In the late 1960s he helped formulate the bylaws for the Connecticut State Union Label and Service Trades Council, of which he was later elected secretary-treasurer. In 1974, Becker assisted in forming the Statewide Community Services Committee.

In addition to his work with labor unions, Becker has been involved with politics and community activities in Connecticut. As a long time member of the Manchester Democratic Town Committee, he was elected Democratic Chairman of District Two in 1960, a post he held until 1962. In 1966, he was elected to the General Assembly, representing District 20 in the town of Manchester. From 1957 to 1966, he was Chairman of the Pension Board of the Town of Manchester. In the 1970s and 1980s, he also served as a member of the Statewide Health Coordinating Advisory Committee of the School of Social Work, University of Connecticut, and the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Lion's Eye Research Foundation.

Henry Becker is a veteran of the U. S. Army Air Corps (1943-1945), a member of the American Legion, the Knights of Columbus, and the Manchester Lions Club. He is married to Marie Elizabeth De La Chevrotiere Becker, and the father of three children, Theresa, Elaine and Timothy.

Additional biographical information may be found in Series I of the Papers.