Women, Children, Labor and the Progressive Era Unit

Nancy Deaton

AHTC 2006 Summer Fellowship

Illinois State Archives, Springfield

High School US History

Additional Resources Included (Not part of unit, but related to Progressive Era)

· Kelly Sweatshop Letter—Letter written by Florence Kelly, the Illinois State Factory Inspector to Governor Altgeld in 1894. Letter discusses her inspections of sweatshops in cities where a small pox epidemic existed. In the letter Kelly offers to publish another report detailing the conditions and health problems faced by sweatshop workers. (ISA)

· Women’s Suffrage Letter—Letter written by Elizabeth Boynton Harbert to IL Governor Hamilton in 1893 about women’s suffrage. She analyzes the political benefits that would be given to certain political parties with the enfranchisement of women and urges Governor Hamilton to support women’s suffrage. Transcription included. (ISA)

· Woman’s Property Letter—Letter written by Harriet C. Speight to Governor Hamilton in 1893. In the letter Speight explains to the governor how her abusive husband has divorced her, taken her property and children and left her a pauper. She asks for assistance in gaining more rights to fight her husband’s cruel attack. Transcription included. (ISA)

· Child Labor Testimony—Affidavit given by the mother of a 13-year-old daughter who wanted to work in a factory, but was caught by Florence Kelly. Transcription included. (ISA)

· Accidents p2—Chart from Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics in report “Industrial Accidents” to State of IL in 1908. Chart details the number of men killed and injured in various industries and profiles the number of dependents that were affected. (ALPL)

· Age of Worker Table—Table provided by the Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics in “Women Working in Factories” report in 1906. Table details the age that women in various industries began working from under 12 to 30 years. (ALPL)

· Cities and Wages Table—Table provided by the Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics in “Manufactures of Illinois” report in 1904. Table details the number of workers and wages that were paid to men, women, and children in 11 different cities. (ALPL)

· Eight Hours—Brief descriptions of employers attitudes toward the eight hour workday movement in the Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics in “Eight Hour Movement” report in 1886. (ALPL)

· Family Conditions 1, 2, and 3—Detailed exposition on the condition of working families by the Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics in “Earnings, Expenses, and Conditions of Workingmen and their Families” report in 1884. Each section provides many informative details about a family, including their origin, salary, home, expenses, food, and profession. (ALPL)

· Women’s Earnings Table—Table provided by the Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics in “Women Working in Factories” report in 1906. Table details the earning of working women in Chicago in 24 industries and how their pay has changed over time. (ALPL)