Documenting the Scranton Lace Company

Women in the Workplace

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Women in the Workplace

Collection Items

  • Three women (Theresa Cognetti, Ann Miller, and Mildred White) posed smiling as they worked to fold abundant amounts of lace surrounding them. There is lace in baskets waiting to be folded as well. The women are dressed up for their labor, which may suggest the lack of intensity in the work itself.

  • Rows of female Scranton Lace Company employees wearing black dresses, white sashes, and carrying large, starred umbrellas took to the streets of Scranton to support the sale of Liberty Bonds on April 6th, 1918. The image was taken on Wyoming Avenue, in front of Lackawanna Cold Storage Company and the Scranton Supply & Machinery Co. The shot was presumably captured moments after male workers from the Scranton Lace Company marched by, as seen in “Scranton Lace Company Parade”. An estimated 12,000 community members marched, including the local American Red Cross chapter, the Spanish American War Veterans’ drum corps, Scranton’s Home Guard, the Berwick Band, Scranton Public Works and Public Safety employees, and local middle and high school students. A significant portion of the parade participants were women from groups such as the Women’s Liberty Loan Committee, the ladies’ band of the Salvation Army, Daughters of the American Revolution, Scranton’s Girl Scouts troop, the women’s committee of the Council of National Defense, food conservation and war garden committees, and the Polish Samaritans. About forty women of color were in attendance, according to The Tribune’s (previously The Scranton Republican) account of the march, titled “Some of the Most Striking Features in Saturday’s Big Loyalty Day Parade and Demonstration”. The report claims that 50,000 people showed up to view the spectacle.
    Prior to the start of WWI, the women’s suffrage movement was reenergized by the National American Woman Suffrage Association’s 1913 march in Washington D.C., organized by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns and led by Inez Milholland. Thousands of women faced intimidation and public humiliation at the hands of men and the police officers who enabled them, yet continued to march after U.S. Army troops arrived and cleared the streets. Coverage of the suffragists’ “man-handling” generated publicity, and newspapers covered the march just as much, if not more, than President Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration that occurred the day after. During the war, the contributions women made for a country that couldn’t be bothered to give them a voice highlighted, rather than stalled, the movement. Women filled the roles of men in the workforce while their husbands, brothers, and sons were in the trenches, showing that they are just as capable as any man. Despite the glaring inequalities women in the United States faced, they still showed up in support of the war effort, as seen by the thousands of women representing female-led committees and local groups in Scranton’s Liberty Bond campaign parade. The message sent to President Woodrow Wilson was clear: women’s work outside the home and in the public sphere were too important to dismiss, especially during wartime. In 1920, the 19th Amendment was passed, concluding a fight that began 72 years earlier in Seneca Falls at the First Women's Rights Convention.
    Closer to home, the Scranton Lace Company shifted its focus during the war from producing dainty lace creations to supplying mosquito netting and shelter tent material, 1,000,000 and 500,000 yards of each, respectively. The company employed hundreds of women since its opening in 1890 in addition to men and, unfortunately but unsurprisingly, children. Female workers played a significant role in the manufacture of both artisanal homegoods and wartime supplies. The presence of Scranton’s women in the lace factory and in campaigns for Liberty Bonds proved that they would not be relegated to homemaking: if anyone deserved enfranchisement, it was them. Later, during the second World War, the Scranton Lace Company would resume production of netting and assorted textile supplies, partnering with Victory Parachutes Inc. to expand their range of goods to include parachutes. Women would continue to make up a large part of Scranton Lace Company’s workforce until its closure in 2002.
    Today, in a nation that has revoked the long-standing rights of women and will continue to do so without pushback, it is crucial to consider the loyalty the female population has shown to a country that considers them inferior to men. Women have and always will deserve equal rights, whether or not they display such patriotism as the female workers who were so critical to the war effort. It has never been more important to recognize the contributions made by women throughout the history of the United States, especially when those contributions are at risk of being erased forever.

    Citations

    National Park Service. (2018, October 15). Women’s suffrage and WWI. https://www.nps.gov/articles/womens-suffrage-wwi.htm

    Scranton lace is sent all over the world. (1919, March 5). The Tribune, 12.

    Some of the most striking features in Saturday’s big Loyalty Day parade and demonstration. (1918, April 8). The Tribune, 4-5.

  • Four women appear to be sewing lace together with machinery. They are smiling at the camera and appear to be happy while doing their job. The women are named in the picture from left to right. Their names are Josephine DeRigge, Murial Bunce, Pearl Williams, and Catherine Hogan.

  • Three women smile while inspecting the lace and materials in font of them to make sure that the lace was made correctly. According to the picture the women are Charlote Mack, Janet Tapp, and Isabel Macksutis.

  • This image of women working at the Scranton Lace Factory captures the labor of women during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The photograph, featuring Josephine DeRigge, Murial Bunce, Pearl Williams, and Catherine Hogan, shows them engaged in the process of lace production. Surrounded by spools of thread and lace patterns, their work highlights the tasks they performed and their critical role in industrial labor.

    The Scranton Lace Factory, established in 1890, was a key player in the American textile industry, known for its lace, curtains, and fabric goods. While the factory’s machinery symbolized industrial progress, it was the women who worked there who ensured its success. These women contributed to tasks such as threading, weaving, and inspecting lace for imperfections. This work required precision, patience, and steady hands; skills that women were valued for in the textile industry. Despite their importance, their wages were typically lower than those of their male counterparts, even though they performed equally demanding tasks.

    The factory was a major economic success in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and employed many women, often with limited other options for work. For most, employment at Scranton Lace was driven by economic necessity. As one of the few ways to earn a living wage, factory work was crucial for supporting families, particularly during economic hardships such as the Great Depression. In households where the male breadwinner’s income was insufficient or absent due to illness, injury, or other factors, women stepped in to ensure their families’ survival.

    The decision to work at Scranton Lace was also influenced by a sense of responsibility. Many women used their wages to help support their households. Young women often worked to contribute to their parents’ households, save for their futures, or pay for siblings’ education. The factory provided not just financial stability but also a sense of purpose in ensuring their families’ survival.

    While economic necessity was a primary motivator, working at Scranton Lace also offered women a degree of independence. It gave them an opportunity to take pride in their work and contribute to something larger than themselves. For some, the factory setting became a space for personal growth. It allowed women to socialize, form bonds with other workers, and build friendships. The camaraderie in the workplace was crucial as these women supported each other through long hours and demanding tasks.

    The labor environment at Scranton Lace was not without challenges. The factory was noisy, and the repetitive nature of the work made it physically demanding. Women spent long hours standing or sitting, performing intricate tasks that required constant focus. Despite these challenges, the women of Scranton Lace persisted, showing resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

    The rise of the labor movement in the early 20th century shaped the experiences of women workers at Scranton Lace. During this period, women became more active in advocating for better working conditions and fair wages. While unionization efforts were often unsuccessful, they marked an important step toward greater equity in the workplace. Women at Scranton Lace, like their peers across the nation, participated in these movements, fighting for better conditions and fair pay. This activism reflected broader societal shifts, as women began to demand a greater role in both the workplace and public life.

    The legacy of the women who worked at Scranton Lace extends beyond the factory. Their labor contributed to the factory’s success and had a lasting impact on their families and communities. By working in the factory, these women challenged traditional gender roles and reshaped societal expectations of women’s work. Their contributions helped pave the way for future generations of women to seek greater opportunities and equality in the workplace.

    Efforts to preserve the history of Scranton Lace, including photographic exhibitions and community initiatives, aim to honor the legacy of these women. Their stories are an essential part of the broader history of American industrial labor and women’s contributions to the workforce. The women of Scranton Lace remain emblematic of the resilience and strength of working-class Americans during the Industrial Revolution.

    In conclusion, the story of the Scranton Lace Factory is as much about the women who worked there as it is about the lace itself. Their contributions, sacrifices, and perseverance reflect a broader narrative of women’s labor history in the United States. These women not only helped shape the fabric of American industry but also played an important role in the cultural and social fabric of their communities. As we reflect on their legacy, we are reminded of the vital role women have played in shaping industries, communities, and the economic systems that define our nation.

  • Here, a woman is pictured crafting lace by weaving fabric through a large net. There is another woman working closely behind her on the same net. These women were laborers at the Scranton Lace Factory.

  • Pictured here are six women surrounded by stacks upon stacks of folded lace. Some of the women are working to add to these stacks. This image highlights the physical labor necessary for women at the Laceworks.

  • Pictured from left to right are Delores Hopkins and Francis Bell. These women are working on a heat-sealing table, which helps to preserve the structural integrity of the delicate lace.

  • Two women, Dolores Hopkins and Francis Bell, pull floral lace over a heat sealing machine.

  • Above is pictured four women working in The Scranton Lace Company. All four are working to making lace with a sewing machine in front of them, pictured from left to right are: Eleanor Rudd, Dorothy Mangan, Eleanor Williams, and Mildred Hobbs. “Picot and Overlock” is a description of the techniques and stitches that each woman is using to produce the lace. The first two women on the left are Eleanor Rudd and Dorothy Mangan who are working on the picot stitch and the next two women are Eleanor Williams and Mildred Hobbs working on the overlock stitch. Both the picot and the overlock stitch are stiches that are used at the edge of pieces, the picot stitch was more decorative with loops, and it was often seen on collars and clothing to upscale fashion. The overlock stitch simply encloses the edges keeping them secure to prevent any fraying. The overlock stitch requires its own sewing machine, as shown in the picture, two of the women have machines that look different than the others. The Overlocker sewing machine allows you to sew at a faster pace and get as close to the edge of the fabric to reduce waste and extra seam.
    This piece highlights some of the many women who worked at The Scranton Lace Company, women began working in factories in the early 1800’s following the opportunities the industrial revolution brought for them. Working for women historically has always been very limited and simply having a job came with opportunities for financial independence and growth for women. The fact that women were working at this factory was incredible, majority of the workers were men, but women also had a place in the factory as well.
    The Scranton Lace Company has been around since the late 1890’s so this company had women working throughout its history. They typically had easier jobs that did not require much labor, such as the women in this picture. Their work did not require intense labor, and they were even able to sit down while they sew; their attire even suggests so, as they are each wearing dresses. These women were still responsible for much of the product made, as seen in the picture, there are three to four barrels for them to put their finished lace pieces, two out of the roughly four barrels are overflowing. Other tasks that women were responsible for were inspecting and folding the lace. Much of the fashion from The Scranton Lace Company was brought by women, again apparent by their clothing. Although the job of these women was not too demanding, their work was very intricate and detailed. They were responsible for the crafting of the lace and adding decorative details found in the lace pieces that made them so beautiful. The historical context of lace originates from centuries ago, lace was a symbol in the 1800-1900’s, it symbolized wealth and status and was also driven by fashion. The women in this picture did not only contribute to this growing fashion, but also the history and increasing demand of lace.
    Lace was a very popular fabric during this time, it was used for a range of different things from clothing to accessories to houseware to decorations. Lace was a very popular detail found in clothing and dresses, specifically wedding dresses, and always added a sophisticated look. Lace was used for houseware, it could be found in table runners, curtains, and tablecloths. Lace was also a perfect decoration and accessory to add to anything, it could add detail to trims of cloths and collars. All in all, the demand for lace was on an upscale growth and the production of it also evolved, before the 1800’s lace was only handmade and it was not until 1809 that lace machinery was made, this increased production immensely. Because of this, profit and production from The Scranton Lace Company also grew, they produced high-quality lace purchased from around the world, they were able to produce intricate pieces with unique designs appealing the eyes of any. The work The Scranton Lace Company did and the women in the pictures did, stretched out to a range of different items and the demand was them was unbelievable.

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