William Sylvis and the Idea of a National labor Movement

• William Sylvis’ leadership

• Iron Molder Apprenticeship issues

• Political Activity and National Unity

• The National Labor Union

William Sylvis and the Apprentice Problem Iron Moulders’ Conventions 1864 & 1865

• Iron Moulders International Union

• Growth of National Unions

• Creation of National Labor Union (NLU)

• Apprenticeship Problem

William Sylvis

Labor Leader, Richardson, Cornell ILR July 1955

• 1828-1869

• Apprenticed at 18

• Journeyman Molder

• 1857 Joined Philadelphia Iron Molders’ Union

•1860 helped create Iron Molders’ International Union

• 1866 co-founder National Labor Union (NLU)

Rolling Mills and Forge

George Meany Memorial Archives, Schnapper, Box 1, Folder 8, Smithsonian

• 1860s Work Site

• Civil War Need for Iron Products

Sylvis’ Innovations & Goals

Iron Molders’ International Union• Issuance of membership cards• Impose high dues• Centralized Administration

National Labor Union• Promotion of Political Action• Fight for Eight Hour Day Nationally• Consumer and Producer Cooperatives• Currency, Land, and Immigration Reform

Molly Maguires 1870s

• Created in Ireland in 1840s as Secret Society who dressed in women’s clothing when conducting raids against enemies, thus known as “Molly Maguires”

• 1870s in Anthracite Coal Field in eastern US• Violence associated with organization• James McParlan, Pinkerton Company Detective,

infiltrated the organization• McParlan’s trial testimony sent ten “Mollys” to

the gallows, which destroyed the organization

Illustrations from the book: James McParlan The Molly Maguires and the Detectives (1877)

James McParlan The Molly Maguires and the Detectives (1877)

Gun Battle Between Molly Maguires and Coal Company GuardsSeptember 2, 1875

James McParlan The Molly Maguires and the Detectives (1877)

The killing of mine superintendent John P. Jones, September 3, 1875.

James McParlan The Molly Maguires and the Detectives (1877)

James McParlan, suspected of being a spy, is racing for his life ahead of two MollyMaguires, 1876.

James McParlan The Molly Maguires and the Detectives (1877)

Trial of Molly Maguires in Pottsville, PA, August 1876 with James McParlan in the witnessBox.