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LOWELL MILL GIRLS GET ORGANIZED
In vain do I try to soar in fancy and imagination above
the dull reality around me but beyond the roof of the factory I cannot rise.
the dull reality around me but beyond the roof of the factory I cannot rise.
— Anonymous Lowell Mill worker, 1826
Lowell, Massachusetts was named after the wealthy Lowell
family. They owned numerous textile mills, which attracted
the unmarried daughters of New England farmers. These
young girls worked in the mills and lived in supervised
dormitories. On average, a Lowell Mill Girl worked for three
years before leaving to marry. Living and working together
often forged a camaraderie that would later find an
unexpected outlet.
family. They owned numerous textile mills, which attracted
the unmarried daughters of New England farmers. These
young girls worked in the mills and lived in supervised
dormitories. On average, a Lowell Mill Girl worked for three
years before leaving to marry. Living and working together
often forged a camaraderie that would later find an
unexpected outlet.
What had the potential to become a relatively agreeable
system for all involved was predictably exploited for mill owners' gain. The young workers toiled
under poor conditions for long hours only to return to dormitories that offered strict dress codes,
lousy meals, and were ruled by matrons with an iron fist.
In response, the Lowell mill workers — some as young as eleven — did something revolutionary:
the tight-knit group of girls and women organized a union. They marched and demonstrated
against a 15 percent cut in their wages and for better conditions… including the institution of a ten-
under poor conditions for long hours only to return to dormitories that offered strict dress codes,
lousy meals, and were ruled by matrons with an iron fist.
In response, the Lowell mill workers — some as young as eleven — did something revolutionary:
the tight-knit group of girls and women organized a union. They marched and demonstrated
against a 15 percent cut in their wages and for better conditions… including the institution of a ten-
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