Lost and Found: the History of The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

Summary

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of March 25, 1911, shocked New York and became a pivotal moment in American labor history. The fire, caused by negligence, claimed 146 lives, primarily young immigrant women, and highlighted the brutal working conditions in factories. Despite being considered a 'modern' factory for its time, the Triangle Shirtwaist Company failed to provide proper safety measures. The fire spurred public outrage, leading to labor reforms and the creation of workplace safety regulations. Recent discoveries, including lost trial records, have brought forgotten names and details back to light, ensuring the victims’ stories are remembered.

Takeaways

• 😀 On March 25th, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in New York City became the deadliest industrial accident in the city's history, leaving 146 workers dead.
• 😀 The fire, which started on the eighth floor of the Ash Building, highlighted the dangerous working conditions faced by garment workers, mostly young immigrant women.
• 😀 The owners of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, Max Blanck and Isaac Harris, were known for pushing costs low to meet consumer demand for cheap fashion, which led to exploitation of workers.
• 😀 The fire was particularly devastating for workers on the 9th floor, where locked doors and insufficient safety measures trapped them inside.
• 😀 Despite some modern safety features, like fire alarms and drills, regulations for workplace safety were not enforced, and the fire escape collapsed, causing further deaths.
• 😀 The aftermath of the fire led to a public outcry that spurred the labor movement and resulted in the creation of new regulations on workplace safety and fire prevention.
• 😀 The trial of Blanck and Harris ended in their acquittal of manslaughter charges due to lack of evidence that they knew the doors were locked, though they were later found guilty in a civil suit.
• 😀 The fire and its victims were largely forgotten, with the names of many workers not identified until much later, when efforts were made to reconstruct a list of the dead.
• 😀 In the 2011 centenary of the fire, an amateur genealogist helped identify all 146 victims, and their names were read aloud for the first time in a public ceremony.
• 😀 The lost and rediscovered trial transcripts, along with missing records, shed light on the true history of the fire and provided new details about how the tragedy unfolded.
• 😀 Historian David von Drehle’s research revealed that the fire may have been caused by an unextinguished cigarette in a scrap bin, and connected a long-forgotten family history to the event.
• 😀 The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire became a turning point in American labor history, helping to inspire the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Q & A

What happened on March 25th, 1911 in New York City?

On March 25th, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire occurred, one of the deadliest industrial accidents in New York City's history, where 146 workers, mostly young women, tragically died.

How did the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire impact the American labor movement?

The fire became a turning point in the American labor movement, leading to greater awareness of unsafe working conditions and sparking new labor laws and regulations, including the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

What role did consumer demand play in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire?

Consumer demand for affordable, fashionable clothing pushed retailers to reduce costs, which in turn pressured manufacturers like the Triangle Shirtwaist Company to exploit workers, contributing to the dangerous working conditions that led to the fire.

Why were the exits blocked during the fire?

The exits on the ninth floor of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory were blocked or locked, a measure likely intended to prevent workers from leaving early or to stop theft, but it contributed to the deaths during the fire.

How did the fire spread so quickly?

The fire started on the eighth floor and quickly spread, aided by highly flammable fabrics and materials, engulfing the building in just 15 minutes.

What safety measures were in place at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory?

Although the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory had some safety measures like fire alarms, sprinkler systems, and fire drills, they were not mandatory or adequately maintained. Additionally, the fire escapes were insufficient and poorly maintained.

What happened to the workers who were trapped on the ninth floor?

Workers on the ninth floor were unable to escape due to blocked exits and a collapsed fire escape. Many of them jumped from the building to their deaths, and others perished from the fire.

How was the legal outcome of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire trial?

Blanck and Harris, the owners of the factory, were acquitted of manslaughter after a trial, despite compelling testimony. They were later found guilty in a civil suit, but only paid a small amount per victim.

What was the public reaction to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire?

The fire sparked outrage across the country, with many people, especially women, demanding better working conditions and labor rights. The event also led to a large memorial procession in Brooklyn.

How did the identities of the victims of the fire become known over time?

For many years, the identities of the victims were lost or forgotten. However, in 2011, a genealogist named Michael Hirsch was able to uncover the names of many victims, and the names were read aloud during the Centennial commemoration of the fire.