Mother
Jones
Labor Activist
(1830-1930)
Mary
Harris "Mother" Jones was
involved in many important labor actions
in West Virginia in the first part of
the 20th Century. She was an Irish immigrant
who lost her husband and four children
to the yellow fever epidemic of 1867
and then lost her house and seamstress
business in the great Chicago fire four
years later. She then became passionately
involved in organizing trade unions
across the country including the railroads,
textile mills, and coal mines as well
as efforts against child labor. Known
as a fiery orator she played a vital
and ongoing role in organizing efforts
of the United Mine Workers of America
in West Virginia, which in turn had
major impact on the development of the
American labor movement.
portrayed
by:
KAREN VURANCH
(304) 574-4840
karen@wventerprises.com
The
Characters
