A vivid recounting of the 1911 blaze that until the world trade center attack was the worst workplace disaster in new york history. Looking at the book triangle, how did the tragedy of the. After recounting the story of the horror, the narrative concludes with the profound impact of the triangle fire on fire safety and labor laws and on american politics in general. The effects of the triangle factory fire 814 words 4 pages. My curiosity led me to a spare and forceful book, the triangle fire. Save up to 80% by choosing the etextbook option for isbn. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. By this time i was sufficiently americanized to be fascinated by. This book is a very personal and gripping account of the fire on march 25, 1911, at the triangle shirtwaist company located on the 8th, 9th, and 10th floors of the. Exactly 79 years to the day after the triangle shirtwaist factory fire, another tragic fire occurred in new york city. The fire started at the end of the work day and as mostly immigrant garment workers tried to escape, their way was blocked by a locked door. One hundred years ago, on march 25, 1911, a fire raced through the triangle shirtwaist factory in new york city.
A brief history with documents bedford series in history and culture edition unstated edition by jo ann argersinger author. The blaze, at the happy land social club in the bronx, killed. One hundred years ago today, the triangle shirtwaist fire killed 175 people who were either trapped or leapt to their death to escape the flames. Does the electronic version of the book completely replace the paper version. The triangle owners did collect a large sum of money from the fire. Fiction and nonfiction about the 1911 triangle shirtwaist factory fire that claimed the lives of 146 garment workers. Leon stein description of the 1911 triangle shirtwaist company fire in new york city which killed 146 people. He described the triangle shirtwaist fire on march 25, 1911, in new yorks greenwich village that killed 146 people. With the advent of the industrial revolution, and the key historical events that followed, there were many cultural. Triangle shirt factory fire disasters of the century. The tragedy brought national attention to the unsafe working conditions, long hours, and low pay that had prompted a national garment workers strike a. On march 25, 1911, the triangle shirtwaist factory in new york city burst into flames. It destroyed the lives of 146 workers, the majority of them young immigrant women. The triangle factory fire other title triangle fire summary contains a collection of resources held by the cornell university library on the triangle fire of 1911, including primary texts, some photographs, and oral histories.
Uncovering the history of the triangle shirtwaist fire history. The first 36 pages sum up the 1909 shirtwaist strike, the fire. The effects of the triangle factory fire after the fire after the fire, the owners, max blanck and isaac harris, were instantly frowned upon for the death of the 146 people who lost their lives in the triangle factory fire. Argersinger tells the true story behind the spark of change of the exploitation of factory workers within america. The tragic story of the triangle shirtwaist factory fire of. Mar 27, 2019 triangle was the most hostile of the owners to the union, explains richard greenwald, historian and dean of the college of arts and sciences at fairfield university and author of a 2011 book. Using primary sources, the author demonstrates how, from the ashes of the triangle fire in 1911, rose new legislation and laws that protected workers and eventually led to better working conditions in america. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
The silverlining of this tragedy is that while 146 americans had to pay the ultimate price that march day in 1911, because of their sacrifice a new age began that protected the american public and the working class. Apr 07, 2018 a throwaway cigarette landed on a pile of cloth. March 25, 2011, marks the centennial of the triangle shirtwaist factory fire, in which 146 garment workers lost their lives. The triangle fire sparked workplace reform in america during this period. Jim braden may have visited dallas uranium and oil rather than looking for a pay phone, as he was u. Best of all, if after reading an e book, you buy a paper version of the triangle fire.
Triangle of fire can be found at copperfields in napa and calistoga, the bookmine in napa and readers books on the sonoma square or through amazon or kindle. May 25, 2011 one hundred years ago today, the triangle shirtwaist fire killed 175 people who were either trapped or leapt to their death to escape the flames. The strongest parts of the book are those about esther while the most original parts of the book are about george and rebecca. The doors were locked to ensure workers stay inside. The triangle fire by leon stein and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Does anyone know which floor of the daltex building is being referred to in the following p. One hundred fortysix men, women and children were killed in a fire that occurred in a sweat shop on the lower east side of manhattan. More than just a factual account of events, triangle chronicles the preceding labor strife and. This centennial edition includes a new foreword, and a list of all the read more. The 1911 fire became the touchstone for organized labor. A dropped match on the 8th floor of the triangle shirtwaist factory sparked a fire. The fire that changed america is the product of that research.
Song from our musical, triangle 146 about the triangle factory fire. As the grandson of a onetime triangle seamstress, i salute the reissue of a book that anyone who cares about labor, past or present, should read. Watch triangle fire american experience official site pbs. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Uncovering the history of the triangle shirtwaist fire. With such fires on a smaller scale still causing deaths in the crowded cities of the u. Readers who are hoping for an exciting read about the circumstances leading up to the fire, a blowbyblow account of. On march 25, 1911, 146 employees of the triangle shirtwaist company in new york city were killed in the span of a few minutes because no provision had been made for their safety in the event of.
This harrowing yet compulsively readable book is both a chronicle of the triangle shirtwaist fire and a vibrant portrait of an entire age. Mar 24, 2011 one hundred years ago, on march 25, 1911, a fire raced through the triangle shirtwaist factory in new york city. The fire that changed america is an account of the 1911 fire in the triangle shirtwaist factory in which 146 young female workers died. Please use the link provided below to generate a unique link valid for 24hrs. On march 25 of that year, a fire broke out at the triangle waist. A brief history with documents bedford series in history and culture.
The triangle shirtwaist fire the fire that changed america. A brief history with documents bedford series in history and culture argersinger, jo ann on. Within 18 minutes, 146 people were dead as a result. Aug 14, 2017 triangle shirt factory fire disasters of the century. The triangle shirtwaist fire horror in manhattan extra. I liked this version of the triangle fire story the best. The date of the fire is march 25, 1911 and the story takes place surrounding the time of the fire.
Michael kazin stein recreates the tragic events of the fire in all their dramatic intensity. Yet the triangle shirtwaist factory in new york city became the deadliest workplace in american histor. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. The triangle fire is a classic among labor history books. It was the deadliest workplace accident in new york citys history. But this tragedy motivated citizens and politicians to take a stand for workers rights, creating a far. There are secrets to be found out and secrets to be kept. The triangle shirtwaist factory fire history youtube. Read the book on paper it is quite a powerful experience. Buy a cheap copy of the triangle fire book by leon stein. This new edition reflects and reinforces the continuing popular interest in the triangle fire of 1911.
Triangle is a poignantly detailed account of the 1911 disaster that horrified the country and changed the course of twentiethcentury politics and labor relations on march 25, 1911, as workers were getting ready to leave for the day, a fire broke out in the triangle shirtwaist factory in new yorks greenwich village. Mar 18, 2020 triangle shirtwaist factory fire, fatal conflagration that occurred on the evening of march 25, 1911, in a new york city sweatshop, touching off a national movement in the united states for safer working conditions. The triangle factory was known for working towards factory safety. Written by a labor organizer named leon stein and published in 1962. The triangle shirtwaist factory fire in the greenwich village neighborhood of manhattan, new york city, on march 25, 1911, was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the city, and one of the deadliest in u. The book begins in the prologue with a quick introduction for those who know nothing of the triangle fire, but then quickly moves from the fire to an earlier time to set the stage for the following tragedy. I was deeply engrossed in my book when i became aware of fire engines racing past the building. Leon stein on march 25, 1911, 146 employees of the triangle shirtwaist company in new york city were killed in the span of a few minutes because no provision had been made for their safety in the event of. Cornell university ilr school the triangle factory fire. Pictures of the aftermath are here, books on the tragedy are below. On march 25, 1911, as staff have been on the brink of depart for the day, a fireplace broke out within the triangle shirtwaist manufacturing unit in new yorks greenwich village. The other two spent a lot of time on the conditions that most immigrants worked in not just the garment workers. Make no mistake, this book has as its centerpiece the infamous triangle fire, but thats not what its actually about. One fascinating theme in the book is the connections between the triangle fire, 911, and music another triangle.
Some say it was a discarded cigarette butt that started the fire. Explore free books, like the victory garden, and more browse now. Triangle is an immensely shifting account of the hardships of new york metropolis life within the early a part of the 20 th century, and the way this occasion reworked politics and gave rise to city liberalism. In 1911, a fire at the triangle waist company in new york city claimed the lives of 146 workers, mainly young immigrant women, who either leaped to their deaths or were trapped in the blaze by locked doors and inadequate fire escapes. This book is a very personal and gripping account of the fire on march 25, 1911, at the triangle shirtwaist company located on the 8th, 9th, and 10th floors of the asch building in new york adjacent to washington square park, where 146 young immigrant women were either burned to death or leapt from the ledges of the building. Dallas uranium and oil triangle of fire jfk assassination. Triangle tells the story of the devastating 1911 fire at the triangle shirtwaist factory in new york. On march 25, 1911, 146 employees of the triangle shirtwaist company in new york city were killed in the span of a few minutes because no provision had been made for their safety in the event of fire.
Get an answer for looking at the book triangle, how did the tragedy of the triangle fire ironically advance the role of women in american society. On march 25, 1911, a fire broke out at the triangle shirtwaist factory in new york city. At the end of the book drehle compiles the most accurate to date list of victims of the fire that changed america. Jun 16, 2003 the triangle factory fire other title triangle fire summary contains a collection of resources held by the cornell university library on the triangle fire of 1911, including primary texts, some photographs, and oral histories. A work of history relevant for all those who continue the fight for workers rights and safety, this edition of leon steins classic account of the fire features a substantial new foreword by the labor journalist michael hirsch, as well as a new appendix listing all of. Jun 18, 2017 people and horses draped in black walk in procession in memory of the victims of the triangle shirtwaist company fire, new york city justice. His curiosity now piqued, he began to learn details about the fire that altered the history of the labor movement in america. Triangle is a poignantly detailed account of the 1911 catastrophe that horrified the nation and altered the course of twentiethcentury politics and labor relations.
The triangle fire was the most detailed book about the actual fire itself. With suspenseful intimacy, this book recounts a great tragedy that occurred nearly one hundred years ago yet lingers in the national memorythe deaths of 146. On march 25, 1911, 146 employees of the triangle shirtwaist compa. Others that it was the engines running the sewing machines. Later, it also caused important changes in the law. My father had a great aunt who was scheduled to start work there on monday, march 27, 1911, just two days after the fire that killed 146 garment workers most of them young jewish and italian immigrants. They also covered the shirtwaist i liked this version of the triangle fire story the best. This site includes original sources on the fire held at the ilr schools kheel center, an archive of historical material on labor and industrial relations. Michael jacksons maid reveals sordid neverland secrets 60 minutes australia. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading triangle. The triangle fire a brief history with documents 2nd edition by jo ann argersinger and publisher bedfordst.
This brief, deeply felt history of the terrible triangle shirtwaist factory fire in the greenwich village, new york, of 1911, is more than a reminder of the abuses to labor in the past. In 1911, a fire at the triangle waist company in new york city claimed the lives of 146 workers, mainly young immigrant women, who either leaped to their deaths or were trapped in the blaze by. Nov 24, 2012 it appears the book triangle of fire is the goto book for information on the daltex building. Due to locked doors, unsafe fire escapes, and hazardous working conditions, this tragic fire caused the deaths of 146 people. The triangle shirtwaist factory fire killed 146 garment workers, most of them young immigrant women, on march 25, 1911, in new york city. In loving memory and dedication to the 146 souls who died in the triangle factory fire. Although this was an assigned book for a grad school class emergency preparedness, response and recovery, the triangle fire has long been a part of my familys history. A new introduction by the journalist william greider makes clear that accounts of dangerous.
It chronicles the tragedy and aftermath of the worst industrial fire in u. This fire helped spur unions to grow and protect workers. Leon steins gripping narrative of the triangle tragedy is one of the classics of american history. How the deadly triangle shirtwaist factory fire shocked a. Written by a labor organizer named leon stein and published in 1962, the book was both. Ive rated it the same as triangle and flesh and blood so cheap, although maybe i should have given it 3 12 stars if that was available. The cornell edition of leon steins 1962 account features 16 illustrations, some never before published. The fire that changed america is a moving and riveting account of the triangle fire of march 25, 1911, the deadliest workplace disaster in new york city for 90 years. None of the books were greatin my opinion, not enough to merit 4 stars. The story is about the triangle factory fire which was, prior to 911, the worst tragedy that ever befell new york. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. The fire killed more than 145 people and led to numerous health and safety laws. By adding new sources that elevate the voices of immigrant women workers as they.