Mary Harris
“Mother” Jones
Early Life
• My name is Mary Harris Jones.
• I was born August 1st, 1837.
• I was born on the north side of Cork,
Ireland.
• My parents were Richard Harris, a Roman
Catholic tenant farmer and Ellen Cotter.
• I had a brother named William Richard Harris.
Getting to America
• In 1841, my family and I immigrated to
Canada.
• I received a Catholic education in Toronto
before moving to The United States with my
family.
A New Life
• Once in The United States, I became a teacher
in a covenant in Monroe, Michigan.
• I grew tired of my job though,(After only
working for about 8 months) so I moved to
Chicago.
• Later I moved to Memphis.
• While in Memphis, I married George E. Jones
and opened a dress shop.
Tragedy
• Within a week, in 1867, during the Yellow
Fever epidemic in Memphis, Tennessee, I lost
my husband and our four children who were all
under the age of five.
• After the deaths of my family, I returned to
Chicago to start another dressmaking
business.
• Four years after returning to Chicago, I lost
my home, possessions, and shop in the Great
Chicago Fire.
Starting in The Unions
• After my losses, I joined the Knights of
Labor, a labor movement.
• Once the Knights were no more, I joined the
United Mine Workers, where I led strikes.
• I was an active union organizer and educator
in strikes.
Activism
• In Pennsylvania in 1901, those who were
employed in the silk mills went on strike. I
encouraged and helped to unify them.
• In 1912, in West Virginia, I spoke and
organized a shooting war between the United
Mine Workers members an the private army of
the mine owners in the Paint Creek-Cabin
Creek strike.
• I also helped organize coal miners in
Colorado, which later resulted in long-sought
reforms for the miners.
The Children’s Crusade
• In 1903, I organized the Children’s Crusade,
where children who were working in mills and
mines marched to the home of Theodore
Roosevelt.(The events here are described in
detail in the book Kids on Strike!)
• Though I was denied a meeting with the
president, I brought child labor to the
forefront of the public agenda.
Jail Time
• I was arrested on February 13, 1913 and
accused of conspiring to commit murder for my
organizing of a shooting war at the Paint
Creek-Cabin Creek strike. I was sentenced to
20 years, but was out after 85 days due to
pneumonia.
• I was arrested wile organizing coal miners in
Colorado and served some time.
• In 1924, I was in court once again facing
charges of libel, slander, and sedition.
Public Image
• I am known as an effective and charismatic
speaker.
• I told stories in my speeches that were
humorous, witty, and passionate.
• By the time that I was 60, I accepted the
role as “Mother” Jones. I was first called
“Mother Jones” in print in 1897.
• I became known as, “the most dangerous woman
in America.”
My Beliefs
• I strongly oppose women taking an active role
in politics, because I believe that the
neglect of motherhood is the main cause of
juvenile delinquency.
• I fought child labor my whole life.
• I strongly believe that, "working men
deserved a wage that would allow women to
stay home to care for their kids."
Later Years
• I remained an organizer for UMW into 1920s and
spoke on union affairs almost until my death.
• In 1925, I released a book The Autobiography of
Mother Jones.
• In my later years, I lived with my friends, Walter
and Lillie May Burgess, in Adelphi, Maryland. It
was here that I celebrated my self-proclaimed
100th birthday.
• I died at the age of 93 on November 30th, 1930.
• I am buried in the Union Miners Cemetery in Mount
Olive, Illinois, with “my boys.” (Miners killed in
strike-related violence.)
Pictures
Sources
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Harris_Jones
http://www.lkwdpl.org/wihohio/jone-mar.htm
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