Female Worker’s Badge, 1906
My great grandfather worked in this same factory- the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Factory. It was hard, repetitive, and unsafe work. Local legend has it that some immigrants first English words upon coming to the area were “which way E-J?” I’m told the factory employed a large amount of people, and occasionally provided housing to its workers, so there was always a good amount of people lining up willing to do the work. Men seemed to get more dangerous work while women’s work was more grueling. My grandfather eventually died from working at E-J, his job was stiring giant vats of lye with leather hides in it. He was given one surgical mask per week for “protection”. By the second day on the job it was soaked in dirt and blood.
This woman was probably some kind of industrial seamstress. If I had to guess I’d assume she sewed together the leather for the shoes. Looking at her face is an experience, and I did not hesitate in acquiring this piece of working class history.
