minewar.org documenting the 1930's Illinois Mine War
Agnes Burns Wieck
“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 […]
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 […]
“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 […]
Coal Field “Hell Raiser”
The Progressive Miners of America distinguished itself in a number of ways. Perhaps the most important was the role that women played in organizing and leadership. As a community-based union, the PMA viewed its struggle as that of the community and not limited to the male members of the organization. As pointed out in an […]