American Federation of Actors

The American Federation of Actors (AFA) was an early actors union in the United States.

The union had a complex history. It originated as the White Rats' Union, which was founded and chartered by the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in 1900. In 1910, it absorbed the Actors' International Union, and changed its name to the White Rats Actors' Union of America.[1] The union undertook a strike in 1917, but it was unsuccessful, and nearly led to the collapse of the union.[2] Instead, in 1919, it merged into the Associated Actors and Artistes of America (4As), but remained an autonomous organization, as the American Artistes' Federation.[1]

By 1930, the union was inactive. It left the 4As, but then rejoined in 1934 as the AFA.[1] The union was supported by Sophie Tucker who was elected as the union's president in 1938. In 1939, the AFA was disbanded by the AFL for financial mismanagement. The AFL subsequently issued a charter to the succeeding American Guild of Variety Artists, with some AFA members joining the Actors' Equity Association.[3]

References
  1. Reynolds, Lloyd G.; Killingsworth, Charles C. (1944). Trade Union Publications: The Official Journals, Convention Proceedings, and Constitutions of International Unions and Federations, 1850–1941. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press.
  2. Handbook of American Trade Unions (PDF). Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Labor. 1926. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  3. "The Theatre: Sophie Spanked". Time. July 24, 1939. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
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