The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and the Fight for Workers' Rights

Movements and Resistance

by Julie Gilbert, Orban Janos (Illustrator)

In November 1909, thousands of factory workers walked off the job to protest the terrible working conditions in New York City factories. Joining the picket lines was dangerous, with thugs and police officers harassing picketers, but the protests stirred action. Many factory owners finally agreed to some of the workers’ demands and improved conditions. But nothing changed for workers at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, and those workers would pay a high price for the company's dangerous conditions. In 1911, a devastating fire swept through the Triangle factory, killing 146 workers. In the months following the tragedy, the rights of workers finally gained real traction as the state government formed a safety commission and enacted new safety laws.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

36 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2020

About the author

Although Julie Gilbert’s masterpiece, The Adventures of Kitty Bob: Alien Warlord Cat, has sadly been out of print since Julie last stapled it together in the fourth grade, she continues to write.

Julie is the author of Cemetery Songs, a young adult novel about adoption, identity and the ghosts of the past. She has written several books for Capstone/Stone Arch Books, including the Dark Waters series and several titles in the Girls Survive series. Her novels consider themes of identity and belonging, along with a healthy dose of fantasy and magic. Her short fiction, which has appeared in numerous publications, explores topics ranging from airport security lines to adoption to antique wreaths made of hair. She is especially committed to diversity in her writing.

Julie is also a librarian. She loves working in libraries because she learns something new every day. Although she has also published extensively in the field of library science, her scholarship tends to have fewer plot twists and interesting characters than her novels and short stories.

Reviews

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in graphic novel form. Pretty good story that shows how all the protections that workers have gained in this country has been written in blood. My only complaint is that I wish the story had been told in chronological order rather than starting with the fire, going backwards in time, then telling us what happened in the aftermath.

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes, I am interested in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire and after reading a very good historical fiction title by Margaret Peterson Haddix, entitled, Uprising which was well written and researched I wanted a nonfiction title. I choose this children’s title not knowing it was a graphic nonfiction title. Needless to say I was disappointed as there was definitely not enough information for me. I did notice there were two types of text boxes, one is used for when a person is speaking and a rectangular one when a bit of information is conveyed. Graphic titles are not for me.

[Benjamin Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thd Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire is one of those events that I may have recognized if someone mentioned it, but wouldn't have been able to recall on my own.

While brief, this provided an interesting summary along with some of the impacts we take for granted that were spurred on by this and similar events.