Mother Jones and the Development of Unions in Illinois
Mary Harris "Mother" Jones (1837-1930) was one of America’s most compelling orators. She worked as a union organizer, speaking honest truths to ordinary people and traveling incessantly around the United States and into Mexico and Canada. This presentation discusses her life and her career. Her many connections to Illinois are explored, including surviving the 1871 Chicago fire, participating in coal miners’ strikes, and speaking across the state. She is buried in the miners’ cemetery in Mount Olive. By viewing her life in the context of labor and women’s history, Simon Cordery illustrates how one woman overcame incredible tragedy to create a career for herself.
Simon Cordery holds a PhD in History from the University of Texas at Austin and is currently an Associate Professor of History at Monmouth College. He has received several awards and fellowships for his research projects and has been the Historical Advisor to the National Railroad Hall of Fame Project in Galesburg, Illinois since 2002. Simon recently published a biography of Mother Jones, Mother Jones: Raising Cain and Consciousness.
