ThoughtGallery.org > ‘The 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire That Changed America’ Webinar

‘The 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire That Changed America’ Webinar

18 minutes. In only 18 minutes, a small fire that broke out on the 8th floor of a blouse-making factory in New York’s Greenwich Village quickly turned into an inferno, eventually taking the lives of 146 workers — the majority young immigrant women. Unsafe working conditions, lax fire safety regulations, greedy owners — this is the story of the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire that shocked the nation and forever changed workers’ rights in America.

Join New York Adventure Club as we uncover the full story behind the March 25, 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire — a tragic garment sweatshop fire near Manhattan’s Washington Square Park that put a spotlight on the poor working conditions in factories throughout the country, and sparked the need for stronger labor unions and fire safety regulations in America.

Led by museum curator Debbie Wells, a descendant of one of the fire’s youngest victims, our deep dive into this tragedy that embodies the early American — and New York — immigrant experience will include:

  • An overview of workers’ rights in the early 20th-century, and the struggle faced by immigrant workers working factory jobs
  • The story behind Debbie’s discovery of her ancestral connection with fire victim Annie Nicholas, an 18-year-old Russian-Jewish immigrant who worked at the Triangle Waistshirt Factory as a button-maker
  • Stories and first-hand accounts of the fateful day, from the fire that broke out near the end of the workday, to the fire trucks that were ill-equipped to extinguish the flames, to a heroic elevator operator
  • The aftermath of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, including excerpts from the owners’ criminal trial and why this particular event singlehandedly created the foundation for workers’ rights and fire safety regulations in America
  • Details around a brand-new memorial planned to commemorate the “Triangle Fire”

Afterward, we’ll have a Q&A with Debbie — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!

See you there, virtually! $10.

*Once registered, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar*

**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you’re using the latest version of your internet browser — Chrome and Firefox are the most compatible. Exact technical requirements and a webinar user guide will be shared in the automated confirmation email upon registration.

***A full replay will be available after the experience for all registered guests

About Debbie

Debbie Wells is a museum curator, photographer, graphic artist, and Past President of the Art League of Long Island. Wells is a graduate of Parsons School of Design with a BFA in Communications Design and MA in Media Studies. She is the co-founder of Artful Circle, which provides educational programming and curatorial services. For more information, visit www.artfulcircle.com or Instagram @artfulcircle.











When: Tue., Apr. 14, 2020 at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

18 minutes. In only 18 minutes, a small fire that broke out on the 8th floor of a blouse-making factory in New York’s Greenwich Village quickly turned into an inferno, eventually taking the lives of 146 workers — the majority young immigrant women. Unsafe working conditions, lax fire safety regulations, greedy owners — this is the story of the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire that shocked the nation and forever changed workers’ rights in America.

Join New York Adventure Club as we uncover the full story behind the March 25, 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire — a tragic garment sweatshop fire near Manhattan’s Washington Square Park that put a spotlight on the poor working conditions in factories throughout the country, and sparked the need for stronger labor unions and fire safety regulations in America.

Led by museum curator Debbie Wells, a descendant of one of the fire’s youngest victims, our deep dive into this tragedy that embodies the early American — and New York — immigrant experience will include:

  • An overview of workers’ rights in the early 20th-century, and the struggle faced by immigrant workers working factory jobs
  • The story behind Debbie’s discovery of her ancestral connection with fire victim Annie Nicholas, an 18-year-old Russian-Jewish immigrant who worked at the Triangle Waistshirt Factory as a button-maker
  • Stories and first-hand accounts of the fateful day, from the fire that broke out near the end of the workday, to the fire trucks that were ill-equipped to extinguish the flames, to a heroic elevator operator
  • The aftermath of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, including excerpts from the owners’ criminal trial and why this particular event singlehandedly created the foundation for workers’ rights and fire safety regulations in America
  • Details around a brand-new memorial planned to commemorate the “Triangle Fire”

Afterward, we’ll have a Q&A with Debbie — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!

See you there, virtually! $10.

*Once registered, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar*

**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you’re using the latest version of your internet browser — Chrome and Firefox are the most compatible. Exact technical requirements and a webinar user guide will be shared in the automated confirmation email upon registration.

***A full replay will be available after the experience for all registered guests

About Debbie

Debbie Wells is a museum curator, photographer, graphic artist, and Past President of the Art League of Long Island. Wells is a graduate of Parsons School of Design with a BFA in Communications Design and MA in Media Studies. She is the co-founder of Artful Circle, which provides educational programming and curatorial services. For more information, visit www.artfulcircle.com or Instagram @artfulcircle.

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