author
Paul F. (Paul Frederick) Brissenden
1885–1974
A careful historian of labor and industry, he explored the forces shaping workers’ lives in the early 20th century and became especially known for his influential study of the Industrial Workers of the World. His books combine close research with a clear interest in how economic systems affect ordinary people.
1 Audiobook
The I. W. W.: A Study of American Syndicalism
by Paul F. (Paul Frederick) Brissenden
About the author
Born on September 21, 1885, Paul Frederick Brissenden was an American labor historian whose work focused on labor movements, industrial relations, and the changing conditions of modern industry. He is best remembered for writing about labor issues in the first half of the 20th century, especially the tensions between workers, employers, and unions.
Among his best-known books are The Launching of the Industrial Workers of the World and The I.W.W.: A Study of American Syndicalism, works that helped document one of the most controversial labor movements in American history. He also wrote on labor turnover and related economic questions, showing a strong interest in the statistical and institutional side of working life.
Archival records for his papers indicate that his professional interests reached beyond the mainland United States to labor relations in Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand. Brissenden died on November 29, 1974, leaving behind a body of work still valued by readers interested in labor history, social conflict, and the economics of work.