Knights of Labor handbill
Creation: 1888Abstract
Organized in Philadelphia in 1869 as a general labor organization to protect and promote American laborers, the Knights of Labor began a strike against the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company in December 1887 after members were fired for refusing to switch cars to a non-union grain elevator in Philadelphia. The handbill, "An appeal to the wage-workers and businessmen of New York," appeals for donations to aid the striking Coal and Iron Company miners and appeals to the public to attend a sympathy and fundraising meeting on February 12, 1888.
Dates
- Creation: 1888
Creator
- Knights of Labor (Organization)
Extent
1 item(s)
Physical Description
1 sheet ; 28 cm.
Historical Note
Organized in Philadelphia in 1869 as a general labor organization to protect and promote American laborers, the Knights of Labor began a strike against the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company in December 1887 after members were fired for refusing to switch cars to a non-union grain elevator in Philadelphia. The strike was crushed before the end of the year, the strikers blacklisted, and all workers were required to renounce any connection with the Knights. On January 1, 1888, the Knights struck the subsidiary Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company mines but were again forced to admit defeat in mid-February.
Scope and Contents
The handbill, "An appeal to the wage-workers and businessmen of New York," appeals for donations to aid the striking Coal and Iron Company miners and appeals to the public to attend a sympathy and fundraising meeting on February 12, 1888. It denounces company president Austin Corbin (1827-1896) and calls the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company "the most cruel and inhuman corporation in the country." The back of the handbill has been used to write an ordinary friendly letter.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions on access; this collection is open for research.
Language of Materials
English
Finding Aid & Administrative Information
- Title:
- Knights of Labor handbill
- Description rules:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description:
- English
- Script of description:
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2022: Angela Schad
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository
