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Payton D. Cooke Collection on United Syracuse

An inventory of her collection at the Syracuse University Archives


Finding aid created by: Hadiya Lee
Date: 2024

Biography

Payton D. Cooke (b. 1997) received a Master of Library and Information Science from Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies in 2024. During her time at Syracuse University, Cooke participated in the Library and Information Science Program Committee, the Library and Information Science Student Association (LISSA), and Syracuse Graduate Employees United (SGEU).

In the fall of 2021, SGEU launched a unionization campaign to collectively bargain for a contract that would include improved pay and benefits for graduate student employees at Syracuse University. SGEU successfully won the union election vote in April 2024. SGEU partnered with United Syracuse, a coalition of workers, unions, and organizations at Syracuse University working together to improve working and learning conditions. Organizations affiliated with United Syracuse include SEIU Local 200United, Adjuncts United (AU), and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). Cooke became involved with the SGEU campaign in 2023 and participated in unionization efforts across Syracuse University’s campus. In the academic year 2023-2024 she helped generate momentum for the library student worker’s campaign that would later merge with the hourly food service worker’s campaign.

Scope and Content Note

The Payton D. Cooke Collection on United Syracuse contains correspondence, flyers, posters, buttons, photographs, articles, a Graduate Student Organization meeting transcript, and additional documents related to United Syracuse and Syracuse Graduate Employees United's unionization campaign.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

Additional information about the Graduate Student Organization can be found in the Syracuse University Graduate Student Organization (GSO) Records; additional information about graduate student unionization efforts can be found in the Syracuse University Clipping Files.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Cooke, Payton D.
Syracuse Graduate Employees United.
Syracuse University -- Alumni and alumnae.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.
United Syracuse.

Subjects

Graduate students.
Labor unions -- Organizing.
Student activities.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Buttons (information artifacts)
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence.
Fliers (printed matter)
Photographs.
Posters.
Transcripts.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Payton D. Cooke Collection on United Syracuse,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Payton D. Cooke in 2024.

Processing Information

Materials were boxed and placed in acid-free folders; photographs were placed in Mylar sleeves.

Arrangement

Materials are arranged alphabetically. Original folder titles were maintained.

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