U.S. From 1865: Primary Source Analysis

Allison Brown HIST 1221 Dr. Hampton 31 March, 2023 Primary Source Analysis: Gendered Immigrant Experiences in the Triangle Shirtwaist Company Analyzing primary sources is crucial for understanding American history, particularly when studying the experiences of women and immigrants. Primary sources such as letters, diaries, and photographs provide valuable firsthand accounts of these groups' experiences, giving us a glimpse into their daily lives, struggles, and triumphs. By examining primary sources, historians can gain a deeper understanding of the social, cultural, and economic conditions that shaped the lives of these groups and the ways in which they navigated American society. Additionally, analyzing primary sources can help challenge existing narratives and broaden our understanding of American history, making it a more inclusive and accurate representation of the diverse experiences of all Americans. When examining the working conditions and tragedy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, primary sources are incredibly important to understand the setting and conditions of these immigrant, women laborers from their own perspectives. The primary source document “Conditions at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory” by Pauline Newman et al. provides an eye-opening and insightful glimpse into the lives of immigrant workers and the appalling conditions they were forced to endure in early twentieth-century America. This document is significant in understanding the period of American history in which it takes place, as it reveals important themes, issues, and tensions of the era, including labor exploitation, gender inequality, and the immigrant experience. 1 The source is a report compiled by a group of women, including labor activist Pauline Newman, following a factory inspection in 1909. The purpose of the report was to document the conditions at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, a sweatshop in New York City that employed predominantly female immigrant workers. The report was produced with the intention of bringing attention to the unsafe and unsanitary working conditions faced by these workers, and advocating for improved labor laws and workplace standards. Pauline Newman in her passages writes of these changes and work for the improvement of labor laws, “The world 75 years ago was a world of men, women, and children. I went to work at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company … It was a world of greed; the human being didn’t mean anything … No overtime pay, not even supper money… was quite a wage in those days.” (90) The document raises several questions and concerns about the experiences of immigrant workers in the early twentieth century. It highlights the dire conditions faced by these workers, including overcrowding, lack of ventilation, and inadequate sanitation. The report also reveals how workers, mostly young women, were subjected to verbal abuse and exploitation by their employers, including being forced to work long hours for low pay and being denied basic rights and protections. These issues raise important questions about the treatment of immigrant workers and the role of labor laws in protecting workers' rights. Situated within its historical context, the document reflects the broader themes and tensions of the era, particularly the struggles of immigrant workers and the labor movement. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911, which killed 146 workers, many of them young women, became a catalyst for change and led to the passage of new labor laws and workplace safety standards. This document sheds light on the conditions that led to the tragedy and the efforts of labor activists to bring about change. Pauline Newman in her passage writes, “We wore cheap 2 clothes, lived in cheap tenements, ate cheap food. There was nothing to look forward to, nothing to expect the next day to be better…” (90) The debates surrounding the treatment of immigrant workers reveal important insights into American society in the early twentieth century. The prevailing attitudes towards immigrants were often hostile, and immigrant workers were seen as disposable and exploitable. The report highlights the gendered nature of labor exploitation, as young women were often subjected to verbal abuse and harassment by their employers. These debates and tensions surrounding labor exploitation and the immigrant experience demonstrate the broader social and political struggles of the era. The limitations of the source lie in the fact that it only represents the perspective of the women who conducted the inspection and compiled the report. Other perspectives, such as those of the employers or government officials, are absent from the document. This raises important questions about the validity of the report and the potential biases of the authors. However, the importance of this source lies in its ability to shed light on the experiences of immigrant workers and to advocate for their rights and protections. Specifically looking to one of the primary accounts, Kate Alterman's primary resource account of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire provides a detailed and emotional perspective on the tragedy. Alterman was a young woman working at the factory at the time of the fire, and her account offers insight into the conditions that led to the disaster and the aftermath that followed. One of the most striking aspects of Alterman's account is her description of the factory's layout and the difficulties that workers faced on a daily basis. She notes that the factory was divided into two rooms, with one room designated for the cutting and the other for the sewing of the shirtwaists. The rooms were cramped, with rows of machines placed close together and workers 3 packed tightly into small spaces. Alterman describes how workers would have to maneuver around each other to move from one area of the factory to another, often tripping over piles of fabric or bumping into machines.Alterman's account also highlights the dangerous conditions that workers faced. She notes that the factory was poorly ventilated, with windows that were difficult to open and close. This led to an accumulation of fabric scraps and other debris on the floor, which created a significant fire hazard. Alterman describes how workers were not allowed to smoke in the factory, but some would sneak cigarettes anyway, further increasing the risk of a fire. The most heartbreaking aspect of Alterman's account is her description of the fire itself and the panic that ensued. She describes how workers tried to escape through the main entrance, only to find that it was locked. She recounts how some workers were able to escape through a side door, but others were forced to jump from the windows of the factory. Alterman notes that many workers were trapped on the upper floors of the building, with no means of escape, “And then I stood in the center of the room, and I just turned my coat on the left side with the fur to my face, the lining on the outside, got hold of a bunch of dresses that was lying on the examining table not burned yet, covered my head and tried to run through the flames on the Green Street side. The whole door was a red curtain of fire, but a young lady came and she wouldn’t let me in. I kicked her with my foot and I don’t know what became of her. I ran out through the flames on to the roof.” (92) Overall, Alterman's primary resource account provides a powerful and emotional perspective on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Her description of the factory's layout and conditions highlights the dangerous and difficult working conditions that many workers faced at the time. Her account of the fire and its aftermath serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of neglecting worker safety and rights. Alterman's testimony is an important historical 4 document that helps us to understand the impact of the fire on the lives of those who experienced it firsthand, and to honor the memory of those who lost their lives in this tragedy. In conclusion, the primary source document “Conditions at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory” by Pauline Newman et al. provides a valuable and insightful account of the struggles faced by immigrant workers in early twentieth-century America. This document sheds light on important themes, issues, and tensions of the era, including labor exploitation, gender inequality, and the immigrant experience. By situating the document within its historical context, we can gain a deeper understanding of the struggles and victories of the labor movement and the broader social and political struggles of the era. While there are limitations to the source, its significance lies in its ability to advocate for the rights and protections of immigrant workers and to bring attention to the injustices they faced. 5