For 90 years, it stood as new yorks deadliest workplace. Nycs triangle shirtwaist fire claimed 146, but their legacy. On march 25, 1911 a fire broke out in the triangle shirtwaist factory now an nyu dorm in the old garment district, killing 146 workers, mostly young women. Triangle factory owners acquitted of any wrongdoing. I take strong issue with assertions that john tierney made in his nov. Fire hoses spray the upper floors of the asch buildingheadquarters to the triangle shirtwaist companyduring the 1911 fire in new york city that shocked the u. Asse remembers triangle shirtwaist factory fire ehs today. A chronicle of a tragic fire that occurred at new york citys triangle shirtwaist factory in 1911.
The triangle shirtwaist factory fire in new york on march 25 1911 was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the city and resulted in the 4th highest loss of life from an industrial accident in u. In the aftermath of the tragic triangle shirtwaist factory fire that took 146 lives in new york city in 1911, the modern workplace safety movement began with the founding of the american society of safety engineers asse later that year. The tragedy of the triangle shirtwaist fire was a landmark. Triangle shirtwaist factory fire the 1911 triangle. The outrage intensified after a new york trial acquitted harris and blanck of manslaughter. The film chronicles the march 25, 1911 triangle shirtwaist factory fire in which 146 garment workers died and. Triangle shirtwaist factory fire, 1911 introduction. Triangle shirtwaist factory fire wikimili, the best. But it was the most murderous fire that new york had seen in many years. One of the most horrific tragedies in american manufacturing history occurred in the triangle shirtwaist factory in 1911 when a ferocious fire spread with lightning speed through a new york. While this was not the cause of the 1911 fire, it contributed to the tragedy. The 100th anniversary of the triangle shirtwaist factory fire, which killed 146 workers in a new york city garment factory, marks a century of reforms that make up the core of oshas mission.
On march 25, 1911, 146 workers perished when a fire broke out in a garment factory in new york city. Housed in the beautiful neorenaissance 10story asch building, the ironandsteel structure was said to be fireproof and attracted many other garment makers. Triangle history triangle shirtwaist factory fire memorial. Films set in 1911 films set in new york city films directed by mel stuart films scored by walter scharf nbc. The triangle shirtwaist factory fire the new york public. Uncovering the history of the triangle shirtwaist fire. The main reason for their acquittal was that the safety rules in place at the time of the fire were so lax that the triangle shirtwaist company actually fell well within the regulations. Mar 23, 2020 in one of the darkest moments of americas industrial history, the triangle shirtwaist company factory in new york city burns down, killing 146 workers, on this day in 1911. The triangle shirtwaist factory fire in the greenwich village neighborhood of manhattan, new york city, on march 25, 1911, was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the city, and one of the deadliest in u. The triangle shirtwaist factory fire history youtube. Triangle shirtwaist factory fire, 1911 gilder lehrman. Jan 18, 2017 triangle shirtwaist factory women strike, win better wages and hours, new york, 1909. The firelikely sparked by a discarded cigarettestarted on the eighth floor.
The fire killed 146 people, many of whom jumped to their deaths from the sixth and seventh floor workrooms. The brown building is a tenstory building that is part of the campus of new york university nyu, which owns it. This gives you a great summary of the event with great pictures. A memorial for 1015 victims of the triangle shirtwaist factory fire, march 25, 1911. A dropped match on the 8th floor of the triangle shirtwaist factory sparked a fire that killed over a. Mar 25, 2011 the triangle shirtwaist factory fire, which took place 100 years ago today, was a tragic incident in new york citys history but also a turning point in the early labor movement. The triangle shirtwaist factory fire in the greenwich village neighborhood of manhattan, new york city on march 25, 1911, was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of. You may recall the storyhow a blaze in a new york city sweatshop resulted in the fiery death of 146 people, mostly immigrant women in their teens and 20s. The tragic story of the triangle shirtwaist factory fire. Nycs triangle shirtwaist fire claimed 146, but their. It was the worst industrial disaster in the citys history, and the public outrage that resulted from the negligence that characterized the conditions in the factory led to the passage of a number of laws meant to improve industrial safety in new york.
What you may not know about the triangle shirtwaist factory. The factory thrived on the cheap labor of immigrants flocking to new york city from europe. Triangle shirtwaist factory fire 1911 the new york times. Dol home the triangle shirtwaist factory fire of 1911. Fire escape of asch building after the triangle fire, new york city, 1911. The triangle shirtwaist factory is best known for the unique fashion blouse they produced and the horrific fire that killed 146 workers, women who might have lived if the owners had been forced to ensure safety standards in the factory. The triangle shirtwaist tragedy forever cemented the notion that that the state has responsibility for the welfare of all its members. First, there was only one fire escape even though two more were needed.
It is located at 2329 washington place, between greene street and washington square east in the greenwich village neighborhood of manhattan, new york city, and is best known as the location of the march 25, 1911 triangle shirtwaist factory fire, which killed 146 people. A dropped match on the 8th floor of the triangle shirtwaist. It is remembered as one of the most infamous incidents in american industrial history, as the deaths were largely preventablemost of the victims died as a result of neglected safety features. Triangle shirtwaist fire answer key on march 25, 1911, a small fire broke out in a bin of rags at the triangle shirtwaist factory on new york citys lower east side.
Use this page to learn more about a tragic event that led to a general awakening that continues to drive oshas commitment to workers. Julia wolfe sets triangle shirtwaist fire to music the forward. Though the fire burned for only fifteen minutes, 146 lived were taken in that factory that was out of an estimate of 250 total workers. Triangle shirtwaist factory fire irish to the rescue. Shirtwaist fashion, the gibson girl and the triangle.
Licensed to youtube by adrev for a 3rd party on behalf of cue 5 alarm music cue. The factory investigating commission came out of a new york state legislature initiative to respond to public indignation over the deaths. Watch triangle fire american experience official site. On march 25, 1911, a fire broke out in the triangle shirtwaist factory in new york s greenwich village. One of the most infamous tragedies in american manufacturing history is the triangle shirtwaist factory fire of 1911. The triangle shirtwaist factory fire of 1911 was an industrial disaster that killed 146 garment workers in new york city. The only fire escape on the asch building would have taken three hours to empty the top three floors, where the employees of the triangle shirtwaist factory were trapped by the fire of march 25, 1911. On saturday, march 25, 1911, at the triangle shirtwaist factory in the heart of new york city, a lethal fire broke out on the factory floor, located at the top of the tenstory asch building near washington square east. The triangle waist company was a garment factory that made womens shirtwaist blousesthe style combined tight waists, some button placket and collar decoration, with full puffy sleeves. March 25, 1911 is the date of the infamous triangle shirtwaist factory fire, which took the lives of 146 workers, mostly young immigrant women, and galvanized a movement for social justice.
The fire killed more than 145 people and led to numerous health and safety laws. Triangle shirtwaist factory fire, fatal conflagration that occurred on the evening of march 25, 1911, in a new york city sweatshop, touching off a national movement in the united states for safer working conditions. The factory made vastly popular womens shirtwaists, a type of tailored blouse. The film chronicles the march 25, 1911 fire in the triangle shirt mfg. How the triangle shirtwaist factory fire transformed. Workers had been locked in the factory to discourage theft and prevent labor organization. The catastrophic fire of the triangle waist company on 1911, changed the course of history, paved the way for government to represent working people, and helped an emerging american middle class to live the american dream. Most of the victims were recent italian and jewish immigrant women and girls aged 14 to 23.
Shirtwaist designs from the modern priscilla, a needlework magazine, 1906. Manhattan triangle shirtwaist factory asch building 2329 washington pl, ny, ny 3. The fire caused the deaths of 146 garment workers 123 women and gir. The film is inspired by the triangle shirtwaist factory fire, which took place in 1911. It is remembered as one of the most infamous incidents.
The triangle shirtwaist factory fire occupational safety. By the time the fire had burned itself out, 146 people were dead. Triangle shirtwaist factory fire history of new york city. The triangle shirtwaist factory fire in the greenwich village neighborhood of manhattan, new york city, on march 25, 1911, was the deadliest industrial. Department of labor the triangle shirtwaist factory. There were two major flaws in the triangle shirtwaist factory building. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the new york city triangle factory fire images of america.
Now known as the new york university brown building of science. One of the bestknown factories making shirtwaists was the triangle shirtwaist factory in new york city. As the factory s tailors and seamstresses prepared to leave for the day on march 25, 1911, they suddenly found the building had caught fire. A beautiful spring afternoon in new york city turned tragic when a factory fire broke out on the top floors of a greenwich village building on march 25, 1911. The triangle fire stood as the worst workplace disaster in new york city history until september 11. The main reason for their acquittal was that the safety rules in place at the time of the fire were so lax that the triangle shirtwaist company actually fell. Wikimedia commons the fire spread rapidly, igniting the fabric all around the room. Near closing time on march 25, 1911, 146 people lost their continued. Licensed to youtube by adrev for a 3rd party on behalf of cue 5 alarm music. The triangle factory fire scandal is a 1979 american madefortelevision drama film directed.
It is noted for its memorial to those who died in the triangle shirtwaist factory fire. This day in history triangle shirtwaist fire kills 146. On march 25, 1911, the triangle shirtwaist factory fire in. Watch triangle fire american experience official site pbs. A greataunt of sheila nevins, president of hbo documentary films, died in the fire. Triangle shirtwaist fire kills 146 in new york city history. Trapping many of the textile workers inside, the fire claimed the lives of one in four employees. The triangle factory fire scandal march 25, 1911 complete 1979. By 1911, the triangle waist company was one of the largest blouse makers in new york city with approximately 500 employees.
Mar 25, 2016 a beautiful spring afternoon in new york city turned tragic when a factory fire broke out on the top floors of a greenwich village building on march 25, 1911. On march 25, 1911, a rag bin caught fire in the triangle shirtwaist factory in new york city, killing 146 workers, mostly young immigrant women and exposing the unsafe, exploitive working. In one of the darkest moments of americas industrial history, the triangle shirtwaist company factory in new york city burns down, killing 146 workers, on this day in 1911. The triangle shirtwaist factory fire was practically all over in half an hour. March 25, 1911 is the day that fire broke out at new yorks triangle shirtwaist factory, trapping and killing 146 workers inside. The triangle shirtwaist factory fire killed 146 garment workers, most of them young immigrant women, on march 25, 1911, in new york city. Triangle shirtwaist factory fire memorial unknown1911. Nothing like it has been seen in new york since the burning of the general slocum. The fire caused the deaths of 146 garment workers who. Triangle shirtwaist fire museum of the city of new york. On march 25, 1911, a fire broke out at the triangle shirtwaist company factory in new york city. The 1911 triangle shirtwaist fire killed 146 workers, mostly immigrant women and girls trapped by fire, a collapsed fire escape, and locked doors, in a greenwich village garment factory. It was confined to three floors the eighth, ninth, and tenth of the building. Today is the 109th anniversary of the triangle shirtwaist.
The triangle shirtwaist factory in new york city burns down, killing 146 workers. The ensuing investigation revealed the companys almost total disregard for its workers safety in pursuit of increased production and profits, and. March 25 is the 106th anniversary of the triangle shirtwaist factory fire in new york city that claimed 146 lives, mostly immigrant women and girls. Nov 14, 2016 the factory investigating commission came out of a new york state legislature initiative to respond to public indignation over the deaths. None, however, was as catastrophic as the fire that began at the triangle shirtwaist fire in new york city. In many cases these immigrants fled oppressive nations, carrying with them their tailoring skills which they passed. It was the deadliest workplace accident in new york citys history.
On march 25, 1911, a devastating fire started at the triangle shirtwaist factory in new york city. On saturday, march 25, 1911, a fire broke out in a rag bin on the eighth floor of the triangle shirtwaist factory. Triangle fire remembered on pbs and hbo the new york times. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In this capacity she served as a volunteer investigator to the triangle shirtwaist factory fire of 1911. The profitable business heralded as a model of efficiency operated in a modern fireproof building. Uncovering the history of the triangle shirtwaist fire history. She scoured new yorks garment district for the right sounds. Opinion triangle shirtwaist fire the new york times. The fire caused the deaths of 146 garment workers 123 women and girls and 23 men who died from the fire, smoke inhalation, or falling or jumping to their deaths. The factory in 1911, the triangle shirtwaist factory was the largest shirtwaist manufacturer in new york city, and possibly in the country. The fire caused the deaths of 146 garment workers who either died from the fire or jumped to their deaths.
With david dukes, tovah feldshuh, lauren friedman, janet margolin. In the early 1900s, many considered the triangle shirtwaist company one of the more modern new york workplaces, despite being overcrowded and lacking an evacuation plan in the event of a fire. Workers had been locked in the factory to discourage theft and prevent labor organization, and they were unable to escape when the fire began. Triangle factory fire 1 2 new york a documentary film, ep4 avi.
On that fateful day in 1911, when 146 people lost their lives in the triangle shirtwaist factory fire changing working conditions in new york forever, those who rushed to help and save the factory. In cramped, hot and unsanitary conditions, young garment workers toiled for up to 12 hours a day, every day, for little in return. Russo, isda president the triangle shirtwaist factory, owned by max blanck and isaac harris, was a true sweatshop. Artist joel goodman ascap album cue078 slasher flick. Julia wolfes new oratorio, fire in my mouth, is about the triangle shirtwaist factory fire. For a long time, the composer julia wolfe often walked past the site of the old triangle shirtwaist factory, the brown building by washington square park where 146 workers were killed in a 1911 fire. Via in one of the darkest moments of americas industrial history, the triangle shirtwaist company factory in new york city burns down, killing 146 workers, on this day in 1911. Building where the triangle shirtwaist fire occured on the eighth, ninth and tenth floors. Mar 18, 2020 triangle shirtwaist factory fire, fatal conflagration that occurred on the evening of march 25, 1911, in a new york city sweatshop, touching off a national movement in the united states for safer working conditions. The factory, on the upper floors of a supposedly fireproof building near washington square in manhattan, caught fire and 145 people perished. She scoured new york s garment district for the right sounds. Mar 24, 2017 march 25 is the 106th anniversary of the triangle shirtwaist factory fire in new york city that claimed 146 lives, mostly immigrant women and girls. On march 25, 1911, a fire at the triangle shirtwaist factory in lower manhattan a fire that lasted only half an hour forever changed governments role in protecting working men and women. The tragedy led to the development of a series of laws and regulations that better protected the safety of factory workers.
The result was often cutting corners and violating building codes in order to turn a profit. The new york city triangle factory fire images of america. On march 25, 1911, the triangle shirtwaist company factory in new york city burned, killing 145 workers. It marks a pivotal moment in 20th century history, at the nexus of concerns over labor exploitation, workplace safety, conditions of immigrant life, corruption in new york politics, and womens emergence into. I really like to use this video from ken burns new york documentary when i create a lesson on the triangle shirtwaist factory fire. They are interred in the workmans circle section of the cemetery. The triangle factory fire scandal tv movie 1979 imdb. The triangle factory fire, march 25, 1911 the rockwell. Triangle shirtwaist factory fire 1911 new york city.
37 1400 1184 566 485 692 972 1043 190 772 855 1185 1205 385 620 750 1338 453 594 173 197 253 844 1088 1466 917 1184 1417 1420 300 134 586 845 433 799 1256 913 1026 1457