Even though they may be difficult to obtain, it is useful to mention a few primary sources.
1. Monsignor George Chouchenes' letter to Maurice Duplessis. Le Devoir 18 October, 1974., p 1 quoted in an article by Pierre O'Neill.
In this letter, the prelate of Rimouski intervenes in the name of the strikers. This letter, recently discovered, was briefly mentioned in Quebec newspapers.
2. Monsignor Joseph Charbonneau's letter to his niece Jacqueline Stain. March 14 1950. This letter, written by Charbonneau to his niece, was recently discovered and widely reported in Quebec papers in October 1975. (Le Devoir October 15, p. 1, col 5, art 1.) It discounts the theory that Charbonneau resigned because of his health.
II On the Unions
Many works have been written on - the Asbestos strike. Here are some of the major titles.
3. Irving Abella ed. On Strike: Six Key Labour Struggles in Canada 1919-1940 (Toronto, James Lewis & Samuel, 1974). Fraser Ibester's chapter, "Asbestos, 1949" offers a good description of the events surrounding the Asbestos strike and because it is contained in a volume which describes other labour conflicts, offers a chance for comparison.
4. Alfred Charpentier. "La GrΦve de l'amiante: version nouvelle" Relations industrielles, vol. 19, No 2, avril 1964, pp. 217-238. The past president of the C.C.C.L. discusses in this article the part Jean Marchand and Le Devoir played in the dispute.
5. Jacques Cousineau. "Charbonneau et le chef: lΘgendes et rΘalitΘs." Le Devoir, 6 avril 1974 p. 4
In this article, the author makes it a point to critize the historical value of the play. He cannot support McDonough's thesis on the reason for Msgr Charbonneau's departure.
6. Jacques Cousineau. "La grΦve de l'amiante, le ΘvΩques et le dΘpart de Mgr. Charbonneau". Le Devoir, 1974, p. 5
This article gives a priest's testimony on the part the clergy played in this conflict. In this way, the author wishes to reconstruct the historical veracity of the incident which he feels has been distorted in McDonough's play.
7. Jacques Cousineau. Reflexions en marge de "La GrΦve de l'Amiante". Contribution critique a une recherche. Montreal, Cahiers de l'Institut Social populaire, 1958, 80 p.
This pamphlet presents a serious critique of the work written under the direction of Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
8. Franτoise C⌠tΘ. "II y a 25 ans, Asbestos". Perspectives, 11 May 1974.
In this article, the author traces the historical events of the conflict. Union leaders' and asbestos industry representatives' testimony have been gathered to make up this well-illustrated article.
9. HΘlΦne David. "La GrΦve et le bon Dieu. La GrΦve de l'amiante au QuΘbec". Sociologues et sociΘtΘs. vol. 1, No 2, novembre 1969, pp. 249-276.
10. Lionel Grouix. Mes mΘmoires. Montreal, Fides, 1974, tome 4. vol. 7.
Groulx, a noted historian, devotes a whole chapter to Charbonneau's resignation. He, too, does not accept McDonough's interpretation.
11. Claude Jutras. Mon Oncle Antoine, 1971, 35 mm, 110 minutes. National Film Board, available with English subtitles.
This film is an interesting portrayal of life in an asbestos town; in this case, Black Lake.
12. Thomas McDonough. Charbonneau et Le Chef. play, adapted from the original English into French by Pierre Morency and Paul Hebert, published by Lemeac, 1974. English version, Toronto; McClelland and Stewart, 1968, 127 p.
Throughout Quebec this play was presented nearly 300 times. It describes the main elements of the conflict and especially the part Msgr Charbonneau played, even though it does not give exact historical facts. According to Jean Sarrazin (see article below) this play served as a focus and as an outlet for an audience who remembered the frustrations of the Duplessis period, and, consequently, had for Quebecers an emotional significance beyond the events of the play. In fact, many people have begun to assume that the play is entirely based on fact, which alarms critics like Father Cousineau - (see below)
13. Jean Sarrazin. "Communiqiner", Force, no 25, Dec. 1973. pp. 2-4.
In this issue dealing with communication, Sarrazin touches on the reasons for Monsignor Charbonneau's resignation and on the play Charbonneau et le Chef and supports McDonough's theory. A violent exchange between between Sarrazin and Father Cousineaun resulted from this article, in Le Devoir of July 26, p. 4 col. 5, art. 2, and July 27, p. 4 col. 5, art. 1, and August 1st 1974.
14. Pierre-Elliott Trudeau. La GrΦve l'amiante: une Θtape de la rΘvolution industrielle au QuΘbec. MontrΘal, Ed. de CitΘ Libre, 1954, 430 p.
The Asbestos Strike. Translated by James Boake. Toronto, James Lewis and Samuel 1974. (translation of the above).
This is the basic work on the strike. It comprises essays by journalists, sociologists, historians, and union leaders analysing in depth, various aspects of the strike.
III The Duplessis regime
Some of these authors present the government position with regard to the Asbestos strike. Others describe the Duplessis regime.
1. Antonio Barrette. Memoirs, Montreal, Beauchemin, 1966 Memoire, Editions Beauchemin. MontrΘal, 1966, 448 p.
2. Pierre Laporte. The True Face of Duplessis, Montreal, Harvest House, 1960. Le vrai visage de Duplessis, Editions de l'homme. Montreal, 1960, 140 p.
3. J. Cameron Nish. Quebec in the Duplessis Era: 1935-1959: Dictatorship or Democracy, ed Copp Clark. Toronto, 1970, 164 p.
4. Herbert F. Quinn. The Union nationale: a study in Quebec nationalism, ed University of Toronto Press. Canadian University paperbooks, 38.
5. Leslie Roberts. The Chief: a political biography of Maurice Duplessis, Toronto, Clake Irwin and Company, 1963. Le Chef. Une biographie de Maurice Duplessis. Editions du Jour Montreal, 1963.
6. Robert Rummily. Maurice Duplessis et son temps. ed Fides 2 vols. Montreal, 1973.
7. Susan Mann Trofimenkoff. Action Francaise: Naturalism in the Twenties. Toronto, Univ. of Toronto Press, 1975. This book, while it does not directly treat Duplessis and his regime, explains the historical anteredents of nationalism in Quebec.
