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Butte, Montana 1917 Mine Disaster & Strike Ephemera [144660]

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Mining Start Price:150.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 500.00 USD
Butte, Montana 1917 Mine Disaster & Strike Ephemera  [144660]
SOLD
700.00USD+ (175.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2022 Feb 26 @ 09:22UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
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Lot of 12 items (many are multi-page letters). This important group of material comes in the aftermath of the Speculator Mine fire that occurred on June 8, 1917, resulting in the death of 168 miners. This was the most deadly event in underground hard rock mining in United States history. Several days after the Speculator disaster, miners began to walk off the job at copper mines all over the city in protest of the poor working conditions. This led to the formation of the Metal Mine Workers' Union, an unaffiliated and independent union, who petitioned the Anaconda Copper Company and its subsidiaries for recognition of their union, demanding safer working conditions and wage increases. By the end of June, other trade unions, including the Electricians, Boilermakers, Blacksmiths, and Metal Trades Machinists of Butte, joined the miners in their strike. But the mining companies resisted the mining union organizers' efforts and chose to work with the other trade unions. Frank Little, an American labor leader and member of the Industrial Workers of the World, arrived in Butte to support the miners. Little, for his support of the miners, was killed by six masked men on August 1, 1917. The miners' union continued to strike through 1917, however, many miners returned to work before its official end. The Metal Mine Workers' Union officially called off the strike on December 18, 1917.

Group includes multi-page typed responses from Mrs. Jack Adams, two addressed to CF Kelley of the Anaconda Copper Company. Dated July 17th, 19th, 23rd, and 31st, 1917. (All done before Little was assassinated) Calls out the management at Anaconda Copper Company as well as the Anaconda Standard newspaper for their role in the disaster and/or feeding mis-information about the mine unions and conditions for workers. Also typed statement from Thomas Campbell, a key Union figure. Also a typed letter to Mr. Barker, federal investigator, from an unnamed person, covering the history of union efforts in Montana including the Speculator Disaster. Other correspondence includes: Aug. 30, 1917 letter from the Butte Metal Trades Council to Jeanette Rankin (Montana congresswoman and 1st woman to hold federal office); August 17th agreement between Butte Electrical Railway Co. and IBEW local Union 65; July 16th, 1917 agreement between Montana Power Co. and IBEW; August 1st, 1917 agreement between Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway and IBEW; and an undated letter to Rankin discussing a Butte miner who was blacklisted due to his political beliefs. An important group worthy of more historical research.

Date: 1917
Country (if not USA):
State: Montana
City: Butte
Provenance: Stuart Mackenzie Montana Ephemera Collection