Kate Mullany National Historic Site
Home of the American Labor Studies Center
“Imagine opening a high school U.S. history textbook and finding no mention of —or at most a passing sentence about—Valley Forge, the Missouri Compromise, or the League of Nations…”
The Economic Policy Institute is a nonprofit Washington D.C. think tank created in 1986 to broaden the discussion about economic policy to include the interests of low- and middle-income workers.
Click here to learn about Labor History DBQ (8th Grade).
Click this link to see New York City Labor History Map.
Labor-religion coalitions have become increasingly common throughout the United States. While some may be surprised by this development, most people of faith immediately recognize the natural connection between religious creeds and the mission of organized labor. Both religion and labor…
Reprint of Timothy G. Borden’s annotated list of some of the leading works of the literature of American working-class studies.
Click here to see the list…
The use of quotations can be an effective way to engage students in analyzing different points of view. For example, teachers can provide students with the first two quotations below and ask them to explain the point each person is making and state which, in their opinion, they most agree with and provide evidence for their answer…
This brief history of more than 100 years of the modem trade union movement in the United States can only touch the high spots of activity and identify the principal trends of a “century of achievement.” In such a condensation of history, episodes of importance and of great human drama must necessarily be discussed far too briefly, or in some cases relegated to a mere mention…
Education For Democracy: “Education For Democracy,” is a recent position paper developed by the Albert Shanker Institute that addresses the following: How do we instill in a new generation an understanding of an an appreciation for their stunning political historic?…
Documenting Labor Inside and Out uses the Archives of Public Affairs and Policy, located at the University at Albany New York, to document the lives of working people with material on worker’s culture and social welfare organizations. The digital exhibit, created by Cynthia K. Sauer and Brian Keough, makes many primary resources available while adding instructional elements such as: Who Uses Labor Records? and Labor Culture.
Lowell Mill Girls – New Hampshire has a rich labor history. From the beginning, workers have fought for fair wages, good working conditions, and respect on the job. Unfortunately, most students have insufficient opportunity to learn about this history. This curriculum is one example of how New Hampshire’s labor history can be brought to the high school classroom.
General Information from the ILO on Child Labor
Cyber School Bus 3Plus-U – An instructional program developed by the ILO to teach about child labor.
Photographs of Lewis Hine: Documentation of Child Labor – This “Teaching with Documents Lesson Plan” was developed by the staff at the National Archives & Records Administration. The well developed lesson plan contains a correlation to the National History Standards and the National Standards for Civics and Government. Once at the NARA web site you’ll find many other interesting lessons. (Hine’s Photos @ “The History Place”)
Free The Children – Children Helping Children –
Free the Children is an international network of children helping children at a local, national and international level through representation, leadership and action. It was founded by Craig Kielburger in 1995, when he was 12 years old.
Child Labor Coalition – The Child Labor Coalition (CLC) exists to serve as a national network for the exchange of information about child labor; provide a forum and a unified voice on protecting working minors and ending child labor exploitation…
Child Labor in America –
This unit asks students to critically examine, respond to and report on photographs as historical evidence. Students will discover the work of reformer/photographer Lewis Hine, whose photographs give the issue of child labor a dramatic personal relevance and illustrate the impact of photojournalism in the course of American history.
Youth, Unions and YOU: A Secondary Teachers Guide to Labor Studies in B.C. Schools
“Imagine opening a high school U.S. history textbook and finding no mention of —or at most a passing sentence about—Valley Forge, the Missouri Compromise, or the League of Nations…”
This excellent photo-packed 62 page history of unions is for 9 -12 year-old students. Search online to purchase.
The Power in our Hands: A curriculum on the History of Work and Workers in the United States is the single best resource for middle and high school teachers who want to integrate labor history into their classrooms. It is organized into five units and 16 lessons and includes 46 handouts includes a bibliography for each unit. Click HERE to order for $23.00.
Union Communications Services , sponsored by the Worker Institute at Cornell ILR, produces materials, media, context and commentary that worker-leaders can put to use immediately.
Resources for teachers who have a limited amount of time to incorporate labor history into their classrooms.
Traces the history of the labor movement from its beginnings to the late 20th century.
A lesson guide for teachers to accompany "A Short History of American Labor"
A description and order information for two excellent labor history films to supplement "A Short History of American Labor" - If You Don't Come in on Sunday, Don't Come in on Monday and The Inheritance
Home of the American Labor Studies Center
A standards-based curriculum for teachers for grades 5-12 by the 9/11 Tribute Center at the World Trade Center.