“Tumult and Tragedy: Michigan’s 1913-14 Copper Strike,” a traveling exhibit created by the Michigan Tech Archives, will be on display from December 1 through January 5 at the Ontonagon County Historical Society Museum at 422 River Street in Ontonagon, Michigan. The museum will be open Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
A special open house will take place on Saturday, December 1. Bruce Johanson will provide a presentation about “Ontonagon County and the 1913 Strike” at 1:00 p.m. and the exhibit will be opened to visitors.
The exhibit explores a turbulent period in Michigan’s historic copper mining district. On July 23, 1913, members of the Western Federation of Miners took to the streets over grievances about pay and working conditions. The strike was marked by violence, including the deaths of more than 70 people, mainly children during a Christmas Eve party at Calumet’s Italian Hall. Local mining companies refused to recognize the union, however, and the strike finally ended in April 1914. The conflict, sorrow, and tragedy of this confrontation between organized labor and mining companies affected local residents from all walks of life, created headlines across the nation, and continues to resonate in Michigan’s Copper Country today.
The “Tumult and Tragedy” traveling exhibit consists of 12 panels and includes photographs, excerpts from newspapers, documents, and songs from the strike era. A free giveaway brochure contains links to related web content about the 1913-14 Michigan copper strike online here.
The exhibit will remain on display at the Ontonagon Museum through Saturday, January 5 and then tour to five other locations in Houghton and Baraga Counties. The exhibit was made possible through a $14,500 grant from the Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional funding was provided by Michigan Technological University, Cranking Graphics, and Dr. Robert and Ruth Nara.
For further information, contact the Michigan Tech Archives at copper@mtu.edu or 906-487-2505, or by contacting the Ontonagon County Historical Society at ochs@jamadots.com or 906-884-6165.
“Tumult and Tragedy: Michigan’s 1913-14 Copper Strike,” a traveling exhibit created by the Michigan Tech Archives, will premier at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 1, in the J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library at Michigan Technological University in Houghton. Members of the exhibit project team will discuss the research and design process for the exhibit. The event is free, open to the public and refreshments will be served.
The exhibit was made possible through a $14,500 grant from the Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional funding was provided by Michigan Technological University, Cranking Graphics, and Dr. Robert and Ruth Nara.
“Tumult and Tragedy” explores the story of a remarkable period in Michigan’s history. The conflict, sorrow, and tragedy of this confrontation between organized labor and mining companies affected local residents from all walks of life, created headlines across the nation, and continues to resonate in Michigan’s Copper Country today.
Tensions boiled over on July 23, 1913, when members of the Western Federation of Miners took to the streets over grievances about pay and working conditions. The strike was marked by violence, including the deaths of more than 70 people, mainly children, during a Christmas Eve party at Calumet’s Italian Hall. Local mining companies refused to recognize the union, however, and the strike ended in April 1914.
The “Tumult and Tragedy” traveling exhibit consists of 12 panels exploring the context, community, conflict, and consequence of the events, and includes photographs, excerpts from newspapers, documents, and songs from the strike era. A free brochure contains links to related web content about the 1913-14 Michigan copper strike.
The exhibit will remain on display at Michigan Tech through November 30 during the library’s regular hours of operation.
In December, the exhibit will begin a tour of six libraries and museums in Houghton, Ontonagon and Baraga Counties. Special events at each host site will include presentations relating to the 1913-1914 Michigan Copper Strike.
For further information, contact the Michigan Tech Archives at copper@mtu.edu or 906-487-2505.
Tour and Special Events
November 1 –November 20
J. Robert Van Pelt and Opie Library
Michigan Technological University, Houghton
Special event: Thursday, November 1, 6:30 p.m.
Grand Opening with Comments by the Exhibit Project Team
December 1 – January 5
Ontonagon County Historical Museum, Ontonagon
Special event: Saturday, December 1, 1:00 p.m.
Bruce Johanson, “Ontonagon County and the 1913 Strike”
January 7 – February 1
Calumet Public-School Library, Calumet High School, Calumet
Special event: Tuesday, January 15, 6:30 p.m.
Kim Hoagland, “Seeberville 1913: Everyday Life in Violent Times”
February 2 – 28
Carnegie Museum, Downtown Houghton
Special event: Saturday, February 9, 1:00 p.m.
Larry Lankton, “Mine Safety Issues in the 1913 Strike Era”
March 4 – March 27
L’Anse Area School Public Library, L’Anse High School, L’Anse
Special event: Sunday, March 17, 1:00 p.m.
Jane Nordberg, “Pulp and Propaganda: Newspapers in the Strike Era”
April 8 – May 1
Sarah Sargent Paine Historical Research Center
Jeffers High School Library, Painesdale
Special event: Wednesday, April 10, 7:00 p.m.
Erik Nordberg, “Company Houses Along the Picket Line”
May 2 – June 1
Calumet Visitors Center, Keweenaw National Historical Park, Calumet
Special event: Thursday, May 23, 7:00 p.m.
Gary Kaunonen, “Interpreting the 1913 Michigan Copper Strike”
Exhibit Project Team
Erik Nordberg, Project Manager
Gary Kaunonen, Project Historian
Mike Stockwell, Project Designer
Narrative Committee
John P. Beck
Deirdre Erbisch
Larry Lankton
Jon G. LaSalle
Susan R. Martin
Michael Smith
Carla Strome
Sam Sweitz
Jo Urion
For further information, contact the Michigan Tech Archives at copper@mtu.edu or 906-487-2505.
Italian Hall Tragedy Film at Calumet Theatre
[note: the following press release was issued by Keweenaw National Historical Park]
(Calumet, MI) Following numerous trips from New York City to Calumet, and spending several years in the editing room, filmmakers Louis Galdieri and Ken Ross are returning to Upper Michigan’s Copper Country to show their now-finished film, 1913 Massacre, in Calumet. Inspired by the famed Woody Guthrie song of the same name, Galdieri and Ross capture the thoughts and feelings of the last living witnesses to the disaster, as well as those of descendants and Calumet residents at-large.
The film’s local premier will be held at the historic Calumet Theatre on Friday, October 5 at 7:00pm, and on Saturday, October 6 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm. A question and answer period, and an opportunity for open discussion with the filmmakers will follow each showing. The screenings are free and open to the public, courtesy of the Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission.
The film follows singer / songwriter Arlo Guthrie to Calumet, a once-thriving copper mining community still haunted by the tragic events that inspired Woody Guthrie’s ballad, “1913 Massacre.” The film reconstructs Calumet’s past from individual memories, family legends and songs, and traces the legacy of the tragedy to the present day. “We’re really excited to be coming back to Calumet,” said filmmaker Ken Ross. “It’s a homecoming for the film, and we’re humbled by the opportunity to screen the film for the community it’s about.”
“As we worked on the film, it became clear that Woody’s song told one version of the story – probably the best known version. We found not just another version of the story; we discovered that there were multiple versions of the story, alive and well in Calumet,” said Galdieri. Ross added, “It was a labor of love. One big reward for us was just the chance to get to know Calumet, the people here, and the story of this area.”
The film is currently touring at film festivals around the country and has been featured in celebrations of Woody Guthrie’s 100th birthday. The filmmakers hope to bring the film to television audiences in the Great Lakes Region and across the country to mark the 100th anniversary of the Italian Hall disaster in 2013. For more information, and to watch a trailer for the film, visit www.1913massacre.com.
The tragedy was a landmark event for Calumet and the national labor movement. As such, and in the spirit of providing multiple perspectives to the American public, the National Park Service and the Keweenaw NHP Advisory Commission provided support for the film, but did not direct the content of the film. While lauding the work of the filmmakers and acknowledging the collaborative manner in which they worked, the NPS and the Commission do not endorse the filmmakers over others pursuing similar projects. They present this film to the community for its consideration, personal interpretation, and preservation of the Copper Country’s mining heritage. For more information contact Keweenaw NHP at 906-337-3168 or 483-3167, or contact the Calumet Theatre box office at 906-337-2610.
About the filmmakers: Ken Ross is an award-winning director and cinematographer. His projects range from documentaries and independent experimental films to commercials, music videos and TV shows. His work has appeared on ABC, HBO, Lifetime, Nickelodeon, and PBS.
Louis V. Galdieri has directed film and video shoots and hundreds of interviews around the world. He has written both short and long format films and collaborated and consulted on a variety of film projects, from story development to post-production, from documentary to feature.
Download the poster by clicking here: 1913massacre-poster
A public meeting at the Ontonagon Theatre in Ontonagon at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 15, will discuss activities to mark the centennial of the 1913 Michigan copper miners’ strike. The nearly year-long strike by members of the Western Federation of Miners is one of the most significant events in Copper Country history and also figures critically in national labor struggles of the era.
The meeting is intended to confirm specific events during the commemoration. Historical exhibits, speakers’ events, tie-in activities for K-12 students, tours of historic sites connected to the strike, a scholarly symposium on historical topics, a memorial ceremony at the Italian Hall site, and other activities will engage both local residents and out-of-town visitors in remembering and understanding this important era in local history.
The meeting is free and open to the general public. For more information contact the Michigan Tech Archives at 906-487-2505, e-mail at copper@mtu.edu, or visit 1913strike.wordpress.com.
The next in a series of public meetings will convene at the Houghton Township Community Room in Eagle River at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 16, to discuss activities to mark the centennial of the 1913 Michigan copper miners’ strike. The nearly year-long strike by members of the Western Federation of Miners is one of the most significant events in Copper Country history and also figures critically in national labor struggles of the era.
Two handouts prepared for the August 16, 2012 meeting:
1) List of Potential/Possible Activities: ActivitiesAugust2012
2) A Working Calendar (events are still in draft): Calendar Aug 2012
The meeting is intended to confirm specific events during the commemoration. Historical exhibits, speakers’ events, tie-in activities for K-12 students, tours of historic sites connected to the strike, a scholarly symposium on historical topics, a memorial ceremony at the Italian Hall site, and other activities will engage both local residents and out-of-town visitors in remembering and understanding this important era in local history.
An additional meeting is scheduled at the Ontonagon Theatre in Ontonagon at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 15. All meetings are free and open to the general public. For more information contact the Michigan Tech Archives at 906-487-2505, e-mail at copper@mtu.edu
Commitments from community organizations and volunteers are needed for activities to mark the centennial of the 1913 Michigan copper miners’ strike. A series of public meetings are scheduled over the next three months to finalize the schedule for next year’s commemorative events. The nearly year-long strike by members of the Western Federation of Miners in 1913-14 is one of the most significant events in Copper Country history and also figures critically in national labor struggles of the era.
The first public meeting will take place at the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, July 23, which is also the 99th anniversary of the start of the 1913 strike. Additional meetings are scheduled for at the Houghton Township Community Room in Eagle River at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 16 and at the Ontonagon Theatre in Ontonagon at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 15. Individuals are welcome to attend any or all of these meetings.
These meetings intend to confirm specific events during the commemoration. Historical exhibits, speakers’ events, tie-in activities for K-12 students, tours of historic sites connected to the strike, a scholarly symposium on historical topics, a memorial ceremony at the Italian Hall site, and other activities will engage both local residents and out-of-town visitors in remembering and understanding this important era in local history.
All meetings are free and open to the general public. For more information contact the Michigan Tech Archives at 906-487-2505 or e-mail copper@mtu.edu .
Some of the ideas suggested for the centennial year are indicated on documents you can download here.
The evolving calendar of events is linked from here.
Download a copy of the promotional poster for these meetings: RecruitPoster@8x14web
Striking miners gather outside the Calumet office of the Western Federaion of Miners in 1913. Photo courtesy Michigan Tech Archives, Image #MS003-007-001C-12 (click on image for additional details)
Community input and volunteers are sought for planning activities to mark the centennial of the 1913 Michigan copper miners’ strike. A public meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 28, 2012, at 1:00pm at the Calumet Visitor Center of Keweenaw National Historical Park, in the Historic Union Building at 98 Fifth Street in Calumet, Michigan. Refreshments will be served.
The nearly year-long strike by members of the Western Federation of Miners in 1913-14 is one of the most significant events in Copper Country history and also figures critically in national labor struggles of the era.
Current ideas for marking the centennial include historical exhibits, tours of historic sites connected to the strike’s events, publication of books and web content, a symposium on historical topics, tie-in activities for K-12 students, a memorial ceremony on the centennial of the Italian Hall tragedy, and many other public events across the region.
The January 28 meeting will provide an update on planning to date, discuss ideas for additional activities, and seek volunteers able to move specific events forward. For more information contact the Michigan Tech Archives at 906-487-2505, e-mail at copper@mtu.edu, or visit 1913strike.wordpress.com.
