William C. Birthright

William Clark Birthright (May 27, 1887 – April 18, 1970 ) was an American labor union leader.

Born in Helena, Arkansas, Birthright moved with his family to Nashville at an early age, before becoming a barber. In 1907, he joined the Journeymen Barbers' International Union of America, and was almost immediately elected as vice-president of his local. From 1915 to 1924, he was secretary of the Nashville Trades and Labor Council.

In 1930, Birthright was elected as secretary-treasurer of the union, and in 1937, he also became its president. Under his leadership, the union changed its name to the "Journeymen Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmetologists International Union of America", and its membership increased from 30,000 to over 70,000.

Birthright served as an American Federation of Labor (AFL) delegate to the British Trades Union Congress in 1937, In 1965, he was also persuaded to resign as a vice-president of what had become the AFL-CIO, as part of a clear-out of the older members of the federation's executive.