I phoned Typographical Union No. 7 in Pittsburgh. This union is the oldest continually operating labor organization in Pittsburgh and, it turns out, my Great Great Grandfather Eugene Merz was a past president. One source claims he organized the Pittsburgh Leader and "other Pittsburgh newspapers" during his tenure.
Eugene got his start in his native Dayton, Ohio with the Dayton Herald. He later worked for the Cincinnati Commercial before heading off to Pittsburgh. Google Books had a lot to share on Eugene.
I told the woman who answered the phone that my great great grandfather was union president from 1907 to 1909 (Source: Univ. of Pittsburgh). I let her know my interest in photographs or other background.
"They keep everything," she said to my delight and proceeded to recite from his membership card telling me his birth year, death year, and 1882 initiation into the Typographical Union.
My Aunt tells me Eugene's granddaughter, my late Great Aunt Adele, threw out all the old family collection. She didn't keep everything, apparently.
Now, I'm awaiting a return call from the current Union president. I'll see what "they keep everything" means. I'm hoping for a photo.
Awesome!
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