minewar.org documenting the 1930's Illinois Mine War
Articles
Intersecting Discourses: The FSA Photography of Arthur Rothstein In Herrin, Illinois
“the Farm Security file would never have been created if we hadn’t the freedom to photograph anything, anywhere in the United States – anything that we came across that seemed interesting, and vital.” – Arthur Rothstein The Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information (FSA/OWI) is renowned for creating a landmark photographic record of American life from 1935 to […]
“We’ll blow that damn thing off of the foundation.”
Here’s a short excerpt from an oral history interview with Joe Ozanic, conducted in 1974 by Bobbie Herdon as part of the COAL MINING AND UNION ACTIVITIES PROJECT, University of Illinois Springfield. Ozanic was a coal miner and a leader of the Progressive Miners of America during the Illinois Mine War. Ozanic was also […]
“Single Stones Will Form An Arch” Illinois’ Last Union Coal Mine
Illinois has a long proud history of labor activism in its coal fields. Union miners have been active since 1861 when the first national miners union, the American Miners’ Association (AMA) was founded in Belleville, IL. Since then mine workers have organized under many banners, be that the AMA, the Reorganized United Mine Workers of […]
“It Is All Over”
This week marks the 80th anniversary of the 2nd annual convention of the Illinois Women’s Auxiliary of the Progressive Miners of America (IWA). Why commemorate the 2nd annual convention? Because it marked a decisive moment in the formation of the union and the role of women within that movement. Founded in November, 1932 the IWA’s […]
“What Is A Red?”
Here’s a new document from the archives of the Historical Society of Montgomery County, IL. “Labor’s Answer”, a socialist publication from the tiny community of Taylor Springs, IL, was published June 30, 1934 by the Social Problems Club of Montgomery County. It includes reports on the mine war, the Women’s Auxiliary and a definition of […]
Has The Past Escaped? The Case For Reparations For Descendants Of The Illinois Mine War
In Douglas A. Blackmon’s book, Slavery By Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II, he argues that today’s U.S. corporations should be held culpable for past practices of peonage and slavery following the Civil War. Predictably, representatives of U.S. Steel and other companies implicated in past […]
“Lewisism”
Here’s an image from the February 24, 1933 edition of The Progressive Miner. By this time wanton violence was all to common practice to disrupt the coal strike and thwart efforts of the Progressive Miners to expand the movement. And as the cartoon shows the Progressive Miners believed they knew who was responsible. […]
In Memoriam ~ Gerry Allard
Today marks the 47th anniversary of the passing of Gerry Allard, a founder of the Progressive Miners of America, and life-long advocate for coal miners. The following biography is taken from The Gerry Allard Memorial Program. The event was held in Collinsville, Illinois, October 3, 1965: Gerry Allard, was born in Pas de Calais, Oignes, […]
“Aided and Abetted by the Operators”
Following months of violence and his failure to negotiate any kind of settlement between the UMWA and the Progressive Miners, Governor Horner appointed a legislative committee to investigate and issue a report on the conflict. The committee’s membership included IL State Senators W.E.C. Clifford, Champaign; Louis L. Williams, Clinton; C.L. Ewing, Douglas; IL State Representatives […]
Without Mercy, Let Alone Justice
After enjoining Governor Horner to protect their civil liberties a couple of weeks earlier, men and women lawfully demonstrating in support of the Progressive Miners of America were assaulted and severely beaten by Franklin County sheriff’s deputies and Lewis-Walker gun-thugs in the town of West Frankfort, IL on February 5, 1933. A contingent of injured […]
Commemorating The Great March
On January 26, 1933, 10,000 members of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Progressive Miners of America assembled in Springfield, IL to march on the state capitol. Outraged by the wanton disregard for civil liberties, the violent abuse suffered at the hands of thugs and local law enforcement and the lack of basic economic relief for […]
Christmas Eve, 1932 ~ Tragedy in Moweaqua
Beyond the battles of labor, government and industry, coal mining has always been an extremely hazardous enterprise. And in 1932 the Christmas holiday marked a dark day for Illinois mining. On the morning of Christmas Eve, an underground methane gas explosion took the lives of 54 miners. “Families of miners, sober faced and dry eyed, […]
New Photos Discovered
Will Stone at the Christian County Coal Mine Museum recently received a donation of snapshots which document life in Kincaid, IL during the mine war. The photographer is unknown. In this photo members of the Illinois State Militia pose while enforcing martial law in Kincaid. More pictures coming soon…
Let No Traitor Breathe O’er My Grave
October 12 marks the anniversary of the Battle of Virden, when in 1898 striking Illinois miners stood their ground and turned back the coal barons. Eight union miners lost their lives that day. The difficulties didn’t end there though since even burying the slain men became controversial. In The Union Miners Cemetery, John Keiser writes: […]
New Union Launched
Today marks the 79th anniversary of the founding of the Progressive Miners of America. Outraged by John L. Lewis’ autocratic actions and and humiliated by sheriff’s deputies and vigilantes in the Mulkeytown March, thousands of Illinois miners abandoned the United Mine Workers to form a new union. The founding convention was held September 1 – […]
The Jargon of Authenticity
Reviewing the terrific online photos hosted by the West Virginia and Regional Historical Collection, I noticed a change in the signage over the entrance of the Union Miners Cemetery in Mt. Olive Illinois. As you can see from the photos the word “REAL” was changed to “GOOD” some time after 1976. No doubt the original […]
In A County Named Christian
Here’s a forlorn account of the funeral of mine war martyr, Emma Cumerlato, published in The Progressive Miner. Although the PMA was typically held responsible for mine war violence, this story affirms the remarkable resilience and restraint of these mourning workers: Once again in the shadows of a Peabody mine tipple, a gigantic funeral procession […]
Sit-Down In Wilsonville ~ Part II
One might wonder, why don’t workers use sit-down strikes today? As I pointed out in an earlier post, sit-down strikes were an extremely effective way for workers to gain leverage at the point of production and win concessions. Yet today strikes are quite rare and sit-downs are nearly non-existent in the U.S. The reason for […]
Happy Birthday, Les!
Earlier this month, the venerable Les Orear celebrated his 100th birthday. Many may know Les as a founder of the Illinois Labor History Society. Les led that organization for decades and continues today as its President Emeritus. I count myself fortunate to have been able to collaborate with Les over the years. Together we created […]
Sit-Down In Wilsonville
The 74th anniversary of the 1937 Wilsonville Sit-Down Strike is quickly approaching and merits attention. While many labor actions are spurred by the struggle for better wages or working conditions, this strike was set in motion for a different reason. In his memoirs Jack Battuello recalls: “Whenever they mechanized a mine with one type of […]
Bird’s Eye View
This image is part of an aerial survey of Illinois conducted in 1938. Peabody Mine Number 7, just south of US 104 in Kincaid, IL is pictured. In the lower middle of the image the shadow cast by the mine tipple is visible. Here’s the link to the full image. To see the full collection […]
“Gimme That Rifle.”
Here’s an excerpt from the audio memoirs of Jack Battuello on mine war violence. Press play to listen: [audio:http://minewaro.startlogic.com/Word_Press/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/blog_gimme_that_rifle.mp3|titles=”Gimme That Rifle.”] “I was in Taylorville on half a dozen occasions. And on those occasions we picketed. And I recall that the first time, the first time that I went to Taylorville and become among the […]
“Dare You Fail Us Now?”
The current protests in Madison, Wisconsin echo another mass demonstration in Springfield, Illinois held almost eighty years ago. On January 26, 1933, 10,000 members of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Progressive Miners of America assembled at the Illinois state capitol to protest the wanton violence in the coal fields and to demand the restoration of […]
Family History
Recently I had the good fortune to connect with Dominic “Bert” Bertinetti, Jr. His family’s connection to the Illinois Mine War is truly remarkable. Bert’s grandmother is Emma Cumerlato, a mine war martyr who was shot on her porch in Kincaid, IL on January 3, 1933. No one was ever punished for the murder. Her […]