(Click Here) The “father” of Labor Day and of May Day – championed the need for a national federation.
Kate Mullany National Historic Site
Home of the American Labor Studies Center
Labor Spotlight
American Labor and U.S. History Textbooks: How Labor’s Story is Distorted in High School History Textbooks
“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.
Unionist
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.
Class Time Limited?
Resources for teachers who have a limited amount of time to incorporate labor history into their classrooms.
- A Short History of American Labor
- The Lesson Plan
- The Films
- Friedrichs v California Teachers Association: The Story Behind the Supreme Court Case on "Fair Share" by Paul F. Cole
- The Bread & Roses Strike
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
- The 9/11 Attacks: A Teachers Toolkit
A standards-based curriculum for teachers for grades 5-12 by the 9/11 Tribute Center at the World Trade Center.
A History of Union Banners
