Also includes selected information on sweatshop conditions and investigations and reforms following the fire. The triangle factory was known for working towards factory safety. My curiosity led me to a spare and forceful book, the triangle fire. 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. Later, it also caused important changes in the law. 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. 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 triangle fire was the most detailed book about the actual fire itself. Triangle shirtwaist factory fire march 25, 1911 march 25, 2011 the triangle shirtwaist factory fire killed 146 garment workers, most of them young immigrant women, on march 25, 1911, in new york city. He described the triangle shirtwaist fire on march 25, 1911. The triangle shirtwaist fire the fire that changed.
Argersinger tells the true story behind the spark of change of the exploitation of factory workers within america. Leon stein description of the 1911 triangle shirtwaist company fire in new york city which killed 146 people. Katharine webers 2007 novel triangle tells the story of esther gottesfield, the last living survivor of one of the worst tragedies in new york citys history. 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. 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. Elizabeth dutcher, budgets of the triangle fire victims, september 1912. The tragedy brought national attention to the unsafe. 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. The fire that changed america book summary and study guide. The triangle shirtwaist fire the fire that changed america. 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. 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. The triangle shirtwaist factory fire in 1911, a deadly fire swept through the triangle shirtwaist factory, killing about 150 workers. Sholem aschs 1946 novel east river isbn 9781432619992 tells the story of the triangle shirtwaist factory fire through the eyes of irish girl who was working at the factory at a time of the fire.
It was the worst workplace disaster in new york city history. The second part of the book is a series of accounts of the fire both from employees, bystanders, journalists, and responders, and the third part of the book is the fallout from the fire the lawsuit against the triangle owners and a significant increase in worker protection laws. He described the triangle shirtwaist fire on march 25, 1911, in new yorks greenwich village that killed 146 people. Shepherds full eye witness account is missing, and it is powerful and should be included in any book on this important subject. 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. Apr 07, 2018 a throwaway cigarette landed on a pile of cloth. Originally designed to provide a resource to assist students in the writing of class papers. The triangle shirtwaist factory fire by elaine landau. Triangle shirtwaist factory fire 55 books goodreads. Dallas uranium and oil triangle of fire jfk assassination. For a nonfiction book that is not fictionalized, triangle. Triangle is a poignantly detailed account of the 1911 catastrophe that horrified the nation and altered the course of twentiethcentury politics and labor relations. Uncovering the history of the triangle shirtwaist fire history.
On march 25, 1911, a fire broke out at the triangle shirtwaist factory in new york city. Written by a labor organizer named leon stein and published in 1962, the book was both. As a historic reference work it is great, but as an audio book its so filled with facts, figures, columns of names that it is difficult to keep track. Please use the link provided below to generate a unique link valid for 24hrs. List of 22 triangle shirtwaist factory fire books paperback swap. With the advent of the industrial revolution, and the key historical events that followed, there were many cultural. It was the deadliest workplace accident in new york citys history. On march 25, 1911, a fire, which broke out on the top floors of the 10story asch building in lower manhattan, new york, killed 146 of the 500 employees of the triangle shirtwaist company in one of the worst industrial disasters in the nations history. More than just a factual account of events, triangle chronicles the preceding labor strife and. But i felt they were lacking in detail about the triangle fire. Triangle is a poignantly detailed account of the 1911 disaster that horrified the country and changed the course of twentiethcentury politics and labor relations.
Does anyone know which floor of the daltex building is being referred to in the following p. Looking for triangle shirtwaist factory fire books. Tori marino middle fire 8th floor no exits some commited suicide entrances and exits were difficult to use eva harris owners didnt react background history clean up triangle shirtwaist factory was located in new york. It chronicles the tragedy and aftermath of the worst industrial fire in u. On march 25, 1911, a fire broke out at the triangle shirtwaist company factory. 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. These factory workers, mostly young female immigrants from europe working long hours for low wages, died because of inadequate safety. Watch triangle fire american experience official site. They also covered the shirtwaist workers strike in depth. That book is better organized and puts the fire into the context of the times, including overall living conditions of immigrants, the political dominance of tammany hall, the democratic machine, and reform efforts in the new york legislature. With such fires on a smaller scale still causing deaths in the crowded cities of the u. The fire caused the deaths of 146 garment workers 123 women and girls and 23 men who died from the fire.
Sep 20, 2006 webers fascinating, fictional account of the triangle fire is an intriguing approach to the story of a tragic event. But this tragedy motivated citizens and politicians to take a stand for workers rights, creating a far. An engineer reading the book would have liked to see a sketch of the factory floor, exits, pictures of the fire escape. Fiction and nonfiction about the 1911 triangle shirtwaist factory fire that claimed the lives of 146 garment workers. The ensuing investigation revealed the companys almost total disregard for its workers safety in pursuit of increased production and profits, and. O n march 25, 1911, a fire, which broke out on the top floors of the 10story asch building in lower manhattan, new york, killed 146 of the 500 employees of the triangle shirtwaist company in one of the worst industrial disasters in the nations history. The new york times, many now tell of fire traps, march 1911. Browse a list of books tagged triangle shirtwaist factory fire by our club members to find the best triangle.
It was a profitable business in a modern fireproof building heralded as a model of efficiency. Due to locked doors, unsafe fire escapes, and hazardous working conditions, this tragic fire caused the deaths of 146 people. A dropped match on the 8th floor of the triangle shirtwaist factory sparked a fire. 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.
Webers fascinating, fictional account of the triangle fire is an intriguing approach to the story of a tragic event. The doors were locked to ensure workers stay inside. The blaze, at the happy land social club in the bronx, killed 87 people, the most deadly fire in the city since 1911. At the end of the book drehle compiles the most accurate to date list of victims of the fire that changed america. It appears the book triangle of fire is the goto book for information on the daltex building. The fire that changed america is an account of the 1911 fire in the triangle shirtwaist factory in which 146 young female workers died. Picture shows police or fire officials placing triangle shirtwaist company fire victims in coffins. 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. They also covered the shirtwaist i liked this version of the triangle fire story the best. The first 36 pages sum up the 1909 shirtwaist strike, the fire, and the trial afterward. 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. Immediately download the triangle shirtwaist factory fire summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching triangle shirtwaist factory fire.
Shepherds eyewitness account, and leon steins book, triangle. He begins by talking about the growth of the labor movement in the garment industry in new york city, emphasizing the strike of. It ingeniously supplements the many true reports and that enriches our understanding of what happened on that fateful day in 1911. His curiosity now piqued, he began to learn details about the fire that altered the history of the labor movement in america. The fire that changed america is the product of that research. Jim braden may have visited dallas uranium and oil rather than looking for a pay phone, as he was u. Nov 24, 2012 it appears the book triangle of fire is the goto book for information on the daltex building. He begins by talking about the growth of the labor movement in the garment industry in new york city, emphasizing the strike of 1909, noting how the police and politicians took the side of the business. In the central chapters of the book, his vigorous prose projects the reader right into the heart of the fire. Uncovering the history of the triangle shirtwaist fire.
The triangle factory fire scandal tv movie 1979 imdb. This is the best book to read on the subject of the triangle fire, but if you want the real big picture you need to read william g. 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. Sep 01, 2003 the triangle shirtwaist factory fire in 1911, a deadly fire swept through the triangle shirtwaist factory, killing about 150 workers. The triangle fire is a classic among labor history books. Joseph tomilson will read and sign copies of triangle of fire from p.
A novel twist on the triangle shirtwaist factory fire j. 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. 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. Exactly 79 years to the day after the triangle shirtwaist factory fire, another tragic fire occurred in new york city. The fire that changed america is an engaging account of the events before, during and after the tragic march 25, 2911 fire in the triangle waist factory in new york city. With david dukes, tovah feldshuh, lauren friedman, janet margolin. The fire killed more than 145 people and led to numerous health and safety laws. Watch triangle fire american experience official site pbs. Jennifer rosenberg is a historian, history factchecker, and freelance writer who writes about 20thcentury history topics. Report of the red cross, emergency relief after the washington place fire. Written by a labor organizer named leon stein and published in 1962, the book was both harrowing and somewhat frustrating. The fire that changed america paperback august 16, 2004. Yet the triangle shirtwaist factory in new york city became the deadliest workplace in american histor. The triangle shirtwaist fire horror in manhattan extra.
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