#OTD20 | October 11, 1936

Mother Jones Memorial Dedicated: Honoring a Labor Icon

October 11, 1936: With the dedication of a granite memorial, the Union Miners Cemetery in Mt. Olive, Illinois becomes the final resting place of labor activist Mother Jones.

Mother Jones, a fierce advocate for miners and workers, had expressed her wish to be buried alongside miners who had sacrificed their lives in labor struggles.

"When the last call comes for me to take my final rest, will the miners see that I get a resting place in the same clay that shelters the miners who gave up their lives in the hills of Virden, Illinois on the morning of October 12, 1897."

The dedication of her memorial honors her final wishes and also commemorated the dedication and sacrifice of countless miners and workers who fought for their rights.

Mother Jones' enduring legacy remains a beacon of hope and inspiration, reminding us of the power of advocacy, unity, and the pursuit of justice.

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Additional Resources

Access more information from Media Rich Learning and curated off-site sources.

AFL-CIO

Read a short biography of Mother Jones at the website of the AFL-CIO.

Mother Jones Museum

Explore exhibits, photo galleries, and stories at the website of the Mother Jones Museum.

JSTOR

Read "The Union Miners Cemetery at Mt. Olive, Illinois: A Spirit-Thread of Labor History" from the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society.

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