minewar.org documenting the 1930's Illinois Mine War
“We were not ladies. We were women.”
Illinois Women's Auxiliary of the Progressive Miners of America on the march - 1932 or 1933.
The Women’s Auxiliary of the Progressive Miners of America provided crucial support for the union during conflicts and strikes. Beyond its support function, it provided the impetus and backbone for much of the early militancy and commitment to organizing which characterized the early years of the union.
Irene Allard was a founding member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Progressive Miners of America. She was also married to Gerry Allard, the first editor of the PMA’s newspaper, The Progressive Miner. In a 1974 interview conducted by Barbara Herndon and Nick Cherniavsky, Irene discussed the formation of the Women’s Auxiliary.
Prior to the mine war, Irene was a member of the the Ladies Auxiliary of the United Mine Workers:
“We went to a meeting in Clinton, Indiana. A miners meeting…And on the stage was these women with their white uniforms. And they were the ladies auxiliary of Clinton Indiana or wherever. And Hazel (Ansboury) and I were so impressed with this thing that on the way home we decided we’re going to organize a ladies auxiliary in West Frankfort. And we did. I don’t remember how many women we had to start with but they were enthusiastic and we called ourselves ladies auxiliary because that’s what the Indiana women called themselves.”
“We had our group and we wore white uniforms – well all they were was house dresses, you know – Hoover aprons we used to call them – they tied in the back. And we had a little starch cap that we wore – ‘Ladies Auxiliary’ on it.”
“And when the Progressive Miners was organized we retained the women but they changed the name to ‘Women’s Auxiliary’ because we were not ladies we were women.”
“Well I’m proud of it, that I had a part to play in that because uh, they were glorious. That’s the only word I know for them. And I think without the women the men would not have gone as far as they did.”
