Kate Mullany
Encyclopedia
Kate Mullany was an early female labor leader who started the all-women Collar Laundry Union in Troy, New York
in February 1864. It was one of the first women's unions that lasted longer than the resolution of a specific issue.
, in 1864. Mullany went on to be its president and was elected second vice-president of the National Labor Union
.
Only 19 years at the time, Mullany led a successful 6-day strike in 1864 to increase wages and improve working conditions.
In 1869 she married John Fogarty and her obituary was listed under her married name (as a respectable Irish Catholic woman would insist be proper).. She died in 1906 and was buried in the Fogarty family plot in St. Peter's Cemetery, Troy, New York.
The Kate Mullany House
, at 350 8th Street in Troy, was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1998, and became a National Historic Site in 2008.
In 2000, Mullany was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. She has been honored by the New York State Senate, and her home is on the Women's Heritage Trail.
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
in February 1864. It was one of the first women's unions that lasted longer than the resolution of a specific issue.
Biography
Kate Mullany, an Irish immigrant who, with her co-workers Esther Keegan and Sarah McQuillan, organized approximately 300 women into the first sustained female union in the country, the Collar Laundry UnionCollar Laundry Union
The Collar Laundry Union was the first all-female labor union in the United States. It was started in Troy, New York by Kate Mullany in 1864....
, in 1864. Mullany went on to be its president and was elected second vice-president of the National Labor Union
National Labor Union
The National Labor Union was the first national labor federation in the United States. Founded in 1866 and dissolved in 1873, it paved the way for other organizations, such as the Knights of Labor and the AF of L . It was led by William H...
.
Only 19 years at the time, Mullany led a successful 6-day strike in 1864 to increase wages and improve working conditions.
In 1869 she married John Fogarty and her obituary was listed under her married name (as a respectable Irish Catholic woman would insist be proper).. She died in 1906 and was buried in the Fogarty family plot in St. Peter's Cemetery, Troy, New York.
The Kate Mullany House
Kate Mullany House
The Kate Mullany House was the home of Kate Mullany , an early female labor leader who started the all-women Collar Laundry Union in Troy, New York in February 1864. It was one of the first women's unions that lasted longer than the resolution of a specific issue.The house was declared a National...
, at 350 8th Street in Troy, was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1998, and became a National Historic Site in 2008.
In 2000, Mullany was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. She has been honored by the New York State Senate, and her home is on the Women's Heritage Trail.
See also
- Kate Mullany HouseKate Mullany HouseThe Kate Mullany House was the home of Kate Mullany , an early female labor leader who started the all-women Collar Laundry Union in Troy, New York in February 1864. It was one of the first women's unions that lasted longer than the resolution of a specific issue.The house was declared a National...
- Collar Laundry UnionCollar Laundry UnionThe Collar Laundry Union was the first all-female labor union in the United States. It was started in Troy, New York by Kate Mullany in 1864....
- Troy, New YorkTroy, New YorkTroy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
- National Women's Hall of FameNational Women's Hall of FameThe National Women's Hall of Fame is an American institution. It was created in 1969 by a group of people in Seneca Falls, New York, the location of the 1848 Women's Rights Convention...
External links
- The Kate Mullany story at the Public Employees Federation web site
- Connect Kids to Troy History
- America's Working Women: A Documentary History, 1600 to the Present By Rosalyn Baxandall, Linda Gordon, Susan Reverby Published 1995 W. W. Norton & Company 356 pages ISBN 0393312623 found at http://books.google.com/books?id=9qzWvhNZ5pMC&pg=PA98&lpg=PA98&dq=%22kate+mullany%22&source=web&ots=oPc59LLark&sig=xJZ27YgAyL-3FjcOr-Ln0DecjnI