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John Coefield

John Coefield (June 18, 1869 – February 8, 1940) was an American labor union leader. Born in Franklin, Pennsylvania, Coefield completed an apprenticeship as a plumber. He worked in various cities before settling in San Francisco, where he joined the Plumbers', Gas Fitters', and Steam Fitters' Association. In 1903, this union affiliated to the United Association of Journeymen Plumbers, Gas Fitters, Steam Fitters, and Steam Fitters' Helpers of the United States and Canada (UA). In 1907, Coefield became business agent of the San Francisco Building Trades Council, and vice president of the California Building Trades Council. He became a vice-president of the UA in 1911, and then in 1919 became its president, relocating to Chicago. From 1920, he was also a vice-president of the Metal Trades Department, and in 1929, he became a vice-president of the American Federation of Labor. Coefield was a supporter of the Republican Party and served as labor chair of the Republican National Committee on several occasions. He died suddenly in 1940, in New York City, after attending a dinner; when found, his body had been robbed.

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Article summary

John Coefield (June 18, 1869 – February 8, 1940) was an American labor union leader. Born in Franklin, Pennsylvania, Coefield completed an apprenticeship as a plumber. He worked in various cities before settling in San Francisco, where he joined the Plumbers', Gas Fitters', and Steam Fitters' Association. In 1903, this union affiliated to the United Association of Journeymen Plumbers, Gas Fitters, Steam Fitters, and Steam Fitters' Helpers of the United States and Canada (UA). In 1907, Coefield became business agent of the San Francisco Building Trades Council, and vice president of the California Building Trades Council. He became a vice-president of the UA in 1911, and then in 1919 became its president, relocating to Chicago. From 1920, he was also a vice-president of the Metal Trades Department, and in 1929, he became a vice-president of the American Federation of Labor. Coefield was a supporter of the Republican Party and served as labor chair of the Republican National Committee on several occasions. He died suddenly in 1940, in New York City, after attending a dinner; when found, his body had been robbed.

Key claims

  1. date of death: 1940 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. The record states that the date of death is "1940". What evidence would count against this claim?
  3. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  4. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

  1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1317184477

Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.