What was the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire?

#OnThisDay in 1911 The Triangle Shirtwaist factory burst into flames—killing 129 women and 17 men.

The tragedy galvanized women across class divisions to fight for better working conditions. What is a shirtwaist?

The shirtwaist was a staple of turn-of-the-century women’s wardrobes. Worn with dark skirts, shirtwaists were popular with women of all classes. Production began in tenement sweatshops, but moved into electrified factory lofts in the early 20th century.

Nearly 10,000 African Americans marched in silence down Fifth Avenue on July 28,1917

Organized by @NAACP, it was the largest demonstration of African Americans in NYC’s history.

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🎥Universal Animated Weekly/Dawson City Collection, Bill Morrison/Dawson City Collection The protest followed brutal riots in East St. Louis, Illinois on July 1,1917. A white mob set fire to the city’s black neighborhoods, and lynched, shot, or burned alive as many as 200 African Americans. Thousands more were displaced and left the city.

"The right of citizens...to vote shall not be denied...on account of sex." Today is the 100th anniversary of Congress approving the #19thAmendment. Follow along as we join @amhistorymuseum to share stories for #19thAt100. #WomenAtTheCenter #WomensHistoryIsAmericanHistory NYC suffragists adopted tactics from the labor movement—protests, marches, & parades—to bring media attention & sway public opinion. They won women the state vote in 1917. The NYC campaign galvanized the national movement. More: bit.ly/2JRBnVP #19thAt100