Fictionalized Piece on Factory Fire

Enclosed are five journal entries from a diary written by a young woman who lived at the beginning of the 19th Century. The diary was found in a cubbyhole in the stairs of an old condemned building in New York City. It was later brought to the document section of the library for further study as much of the subject matter was of interest to students of historical research in New York City, especially as pertains to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911 and subsequent labor laws after that event. Because of the recent Labor Day Holiday, this seemed like an appropriate topic to address.

Upon reading the diary it was discovered that the young woman who wrote the it was a Lucia Angelina Olivieri, who had immigrated over from Sicily with her family when she was but six years old. According to early diary entries, she was the oldest of five children, and though intelligent beyond her years, was forced to quit her schooling so that she could help her mother bring home wages after the death of her father from tuberculosis. The following five entries demonstrate some of the experiences she went through as she obtained a position at the Triangle Factory, lived through the infamous fire, and then lived through the aftermath and went on to become an activist and public speaker for more stringent labor laws in the garment industry.

Event: The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire - Before the Fire

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arch. April 5, 1911 I do not think I will ever be warm or happy or whole ever again. But I am glad I marched in the funeral procession today. It rained all day, which seemed fitting considering the condition of the deceased, left unidentified and unmourned for so long. The march felt like it took forever, though it was only the afternoon. I may well end up with pneumonia after this, however. It cannot be right that the owners of business feel that human life is so cheap. There were representatives there from 60 sympathizing unions. Peering through the rain into the cemetery I saw that they had a Jewish rabbi, as well as a Catholic priest, and an Episcopalian reverend to read over the bodies of the six young women. It truly was as if the entire city were behind us in our grief. While standing there I felt a sense of unspeakable loss. These were probably women I had worked with, talked to, made friends with, but now I would never know. They were buried in unmarked graves, the victims of a fire that did not have to happen. I also felt cold fury and unforgiving hatred for Mr. Blanck and Mr. Harris, the company owners. Mama would not be happy to hear that. She would not be happy to hear that I have joined the ILGWU, e

Category: Misc - F