Harry Van Arsdale Jr. (November 23, 1905 – February 16, 1986) was a labor and community leader in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. His father was a union electrician. Van Arsdale was descended from 17th-century Dutch immigrants to

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

and a descendant of John Van Arsdale, a Colonial army veteran of the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...

, who climbed up a greased flagpole to retrieve a

Union Jack The Union Jack or Union Flag is the ''de facto'' national flag of the United Kingdom. The Union Jack was also used as the official flag of several British colonies and dominions before they adopted their own national flags. It is sometimes a ...

flag which still flew during the evacuation of the British from New York. Van Arsdale was also related to noted historian

James Riker James Riker (New York City, May 11, 1822 – 1889) was a New York historian and genealogist. His father, James Riker (Snr) was a merchant and landowner descended from early Dutch settlers. Riker left school at the age of sixteen to work in his f ...

. Van Arsdale organized the Taxi Drivers Organizing Committee, which later became the New York City Taxi Drivers Union, Local 3036. He was elected as Local 3036's first President and was reelected in 1974.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Arsdale, Harry Jr. 1905 births 1986 deaths American people of Dutch descent Activists from New York City American trade unionists