Illustrated with black-and-white photographs. Award-winning author Jerry Stanley tells a true story of the Industrial Revolution and the role women played in the early history of America's labot unions. Annie Clemenc was the wife of a miner in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. When the miners struck in 1913, Annie led them in daily protest demonstrations, only to suffer beatings and imprisonment. But her determination inspired the miners to continue to strike against great odds. Gripping and informative, this is a story that illustrates the experience of the industrial laborers who built modern America.
| ||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
In 1913, miners in Calumet, Michigan, fought to a bitter stand-off with the powerful C & H Mining Company. An inspiration for many strikers was the wife of a Croatian miner, Annie Clemec. At 6-foot-2 inches, "Big Annie" led marches seven days a week over the months of the strike, carrying a "massive American flag on a 10-foot staff." Protesting the brutal working conditions, low pay, and the fact that "on average, one worker a week died in the mines, and two were crippled for life every day" at Calumet, Annie's dedication won the hearts and attention of many citizens and newspapers, who in turn backed the striking miners. A book for intense teens who might want to change the world.
From School Library Journal
Grade 6 Up?Stanley documents the events of a historic labor strike against the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in 1913. While Big Annie Clemenc was certainly one of the more remarkable figures involved in the dispute, the book is not her story per se, for the strike is really the focus. Little is known about the Croatian miner's wife beyond the fact that she mobilized supporters and led a parade of labor sympathizers every morning for a year and occasionally engaged in acts of civil disobedience. She was known for her loud voice, her valiant dedication to her cause, and her strong attachment to her country and its flag. The strike is significant for the rights it established for workers and the violent bullying tactics of the Boston-based copper company. The documentary evidence and numerous archival photographs of places, people, and events support the readable presentation. Strangely, even though Annie was said to be a favorite of the press, there is really only one good photo of her. A fascinating look at U. S. labor history and conditions and a glimpse at one of its long-ignored heroines.?Ruth K. MacDonald, Bay Path College, Longmeadow, MA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Big Annie of Calumet,
By Susanne Sanders (Danville, Kentucky) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Big Annie of Calumet: A True Story of the Industrial Revolution (Hardcover)
I chose to read Big Annie of Calumet because it features a strong female protagonist, who dedicated a year of her life to working to improve the lives of her family and friends during the Industrial Revolution. She is not only a positive role model for young adults, but also her story is inspiring and interesting for all ages of readers. It is another reminder of those who gave so much so that we can live as comfortably as we do, which is the theme of the book. In 1913 Annie Clemenc, the wife of a Croatian miner, led copper mine strikers in Upper Michigan in daily protest demonstrations against unsafe working conditions, long hours and low pay. Her determination, courage and strength were aimed at the powerful Calumet and Hecla Mining Company. Annie was born in 1888, the oldest of five children, to George and Mary Klobuchar, who were immigrants from Croatia. Her father worked in the C & H Mines for thirty years and Mary worked as a cook and maid for a wealthy family. Annie graduated from a C & H school and became a church worker, who helped crippled miners. She also helped the family by doing laundry for other families. Even though they worked hard, there was no guarantee that there would be enough money for food and clothing. When she was eighteen, she married Joseph Clemenc, a Croatian miner. If Annie was lucky, she could earn fifty cents a day scrubbing floors and washing other people's clothing. She had grown up in poverty, living in a shack and wearing secondhand dresses. She would either continue to live in poverty or she would march against the people who kept her in poverty. "In the summer of 1913, she decided to march." The story is set against the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution and the author devoted the first chapter and much of this book to describing the struggle by the working class during that period in U.S. history. He explained that the number of immigrants to this country was the largest movement of people in history. He also explained that a small group of men gained control of the natural resources. Focusing on profit, these men seemed to forget the workers on whose backs they amassed great fortunes. He shows the reader how men, women and children worked ten to twelve hour days, sometimes seven days and week and earning less that ten dollars a week. Women and children averaged five dollars a week and they worked in unsafe conditions. The author tells how Big Annie marched daily against the giant C & H Mining Co. and provoked them to take several actions against the miners. The striking miners were opposed by the state militia, business owners in the town, which was run by the mining company, and by strikebreakers. They faced shootings and beatings and even the courts and gained international attention in the news media. You'll have to read this wonderful book to find out what happened, but it's a wonderful read and well worth your time! A great book for all aged readers! I give it five stars!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Copper Country Classic,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Big Annie of Calumet: A True Story of the Industrial Revolution (Hardcover)
Big Annie proved to be a very important figure in a troubled time in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The Copper strike of 1913 was
exemplified in the town of Calumet, Michigan by strong feelings of immigrant miners and the mine owners. A good historic perspective worth reviewing.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
