Daniel J. Keefe was born in Willow Springs, Illinois, a town in Southwest Cook County, on September 27, 1852. He began working in a shingle mill when he was eight years old. When his mother, Catherine McNair, died in 1862 he left school with only a fourth grade education. He began driving for his father, John, who was a teamster in Chicago, when he was 12. However, he was left to strike out on his own when his father died in 1866.
In the very early 1870's he began working on tugboats on the Great Lakes. Due to his magnetic personality, gift of Irish charm and untapped energy, he was able to form a local union of longshoremen in Chicago in 1877. The present International Longshoremen's Association traces its history to this local union in an unbroken line of succession.
In spite of barriers Keefe conducted successful organization campaigns and subsequently became the leader of the longshoremen.
On December 1, 1908 out-going President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Daniel Keefe to the position of Commissioner-General of Immigration. This allowed him to remain in an area that was considered critical to the labor movement. He was re-appointed to the position by President Taft shortly after his taking office in January 1909.
After the establishment of the U.S. Shipping Board,he was appointed president by President Harding. In 1921 he returned to maritime affairs as a labor disputes mediator for the U.S Shipping Board Merchant Fleet Corporation and served in that Capacity until 1925
Dan married Helen Elizabeth Conner, aka Nellie, on September 4, 1878. The couple had ten children, unfortunately only three lived to adulthood. After Nellie passed away from cancer in 1903, Dan married Emma L. Walker who passed away in 1925.
In the very early 1870's he began working on tugboats on the Great Lakes. Due to his magnetic personality, gift of Irish charm and untapped energy, he was able to form a local union of longshoremen in Chicago in 1877. The present International Longshoremen's Association traces its history to this local union in an unbroken line of succession.
In spite of barriers Keefe conducted successful organization campaigns and subsequently became the leader of the longshoremen.
On December 1, 1908 out-going President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Daniel Keefe to the position of Commissioner-General of Immigration. This allowed him to remain in an area that was considered critical to the labor movement. He was re-appointed to the position by President Taft shortly after his taking office in January 1909.
After the establishment of the U.S. Shipping Board,he was appointed president by President Harding. In 1921 he returned to maritime affairs as a labor disputes mediator for the U.S Shipping Board Merchant Fleet Corporation and served in that Capacity until 1925
Dan married Helen Elizabeth Conner, aka Nellie, on September 4, 1878. The couple had ten children, unfortunately only three lived to adulthood. After Nellie passed away from cancer in 1903, Dan married Emma L. Walker who passed away in 1925.
Daniel J. Keefe was born in Willow Springs, Illinois, a town in Southwest Cook County, on September 27, 1852. He began working in a shingle mill when he was eight years old. When his mother, Catherine McNair, died in 1862 he left school with only a fourth grade education. He began driving for his father, John, who was a teamster in Chicago, when he was 12. However, he was left to strike out on his own when his father died in 1866.
In the very early 1870's he began working on tugboats on the Great Lakes. Due to his magnetic personality, gift of Irish charm and untapped energy, he was able to form a local union of longshoremen in Chicago in 1877. The present International Longshoremen's Association traces its history to this local union in an unbroken line of succession.
In spite of barriers Keefe conducted successful organization campaigns and subsequently became the leader of the longshoremen.
On December 1, 1908 out-going President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Daniel Keefe to the position of Commissioner-General of Immigration. This allowed him to remain in an area that was considered critical to the labor movement. He was re-appointed to the position by President Taft shortly after his taking office in January 1909.
After the establishment of the U.S. Shipping Board,he was appointed president by President Harding. In 1921 he returned to maritime affairs as a labor disputes mediator for the U.S Shipping Board Merchant Fleet Corporation and served in that Capacity until 1925
Dan married Helen Elizabeth Conner, aka Nellie, on September 4, 1878. The couple had ten children, unfortunately only three lived to adulthood. After Nellie passed away from cancer in 1903, Dan married Emma L. Walker who passed away in 1925.
In the very early 1870's he began working on tugboats on the Great Lakes. Due to his magnetic personality, gift of Irish charm and untapped energy, he was able to form a local union of longshoremen in Chicago in 1877. The present International Longshoremen's Association traces its history to this local union in an unbroken line of succession.
In spite of barriers Keefe conducted successful organization campaigns and subsequently became the leader of the longshoremen.
On December 1, 1908 out-going President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Daniel Keefe to the position of Commissioner-General of Immigration. This allowed him to remain in an area that was considered critical to the labor movement. He was re-appointed to the position by President Taft shortly after his taking office in January 1909.
After the establishment of the U.S. Shipping Board,he was appointed president by President Harding. In 1921 he returned to maritime affairs as a labor disputes mediator for the U.S Shipping Board Merchant Fleet Corporation and served in that Capacity until 1925
Dan married Helen Elizabeth Conner, aka Nellie, on September 4, 1878. The couple had ten children, unfortunately only three lived to adulthood. After Nellie passed away from cancer in 1903, Dan married Emma L. Walker who passed away in 1925.
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1852 - 1929
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