In the midst of the Depression, tensions were rising in the American Federation of Labor, and a new wave of industrial organizing was about to sweep the nation.

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While they never went on strike, nor bargained for a contract, American Federation of Teachers Local 192 in Philadelphia fought for civil rights inside and outside of the classroom.

Originally aired: July 24, 2023.

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In this interview episode, Sam and Gabe sit down with Brídín Clements Cotton and Natalie Robin to discuss their recent book, Theatre Work: reimagining the labor of theatrical production, which explores the history and current state of labor in the theatre industry.

https://www.productionlaborbook.com/

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When the "mother of American anarchism" tried to speak in Philadelphia in 1909, it triggered a protracted legal battle involving the police department, the mayor, and the federal government.

Originally aired: July 13, 2022.

Sources:

Emma Goldman’s writings:

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/category/author/emma-goldman

Emma Goldman broad history:

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/goldman-1869-1940/

https://jwa.org/womenofvalor/goldman

Newspaper accounts of the 1909 speech:

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-goldman-arrest/104483531/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-goldman-in-phi/104484303/

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An introductory course on the first few years of the Great Depression in Philadelphia.

Originally aired: November 29, 2021.

Notes:

General histories of Philadelphia in the Depression:

http://explorepahistory.com/storydetails.php?storyId=1-9-1B&chapter=3

https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/great-depression/

https://blog.phillyhistory.org/index.php/2016/10/philadelphia-politics-and-the-presidential-campaign-of-1932/

Daily Worker Accounts of the March on City Hall:

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84020097/1931-10-03/ed-1/seq-2/?date1=1931&index=46&date2=1931&searchType=basic&state=New+York&rows=50&proxtext=Daily+Worker&y=16&x=4&dateFilterType=yearRange#words=%5Bu%27DAILY%27%2C+u%27Daily%27%2C+u%27WORKER%27%2C+u%27Worker%27%2C+u%27WORKERS%27%5D

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84020097/1931-10-03/ed-1/seq-3/?date1=1931&index=47&date2=1931&searchType=basic&state=New+York&rows=50&proxtext=Daily+Worker&y=16&x=4&dateFilterType=yearRange#words=%5Bu%27DAILY%27%2C+u%27Daily%27%2C+u%27daily%27%2C+u%27WORKER%27%2C+u%27worker%27%2C+u%27Worker%27%2C+u%27workers%27%2C+u%27Workers%27%5D

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The Philadelphia Police Department faces off against starving Philadelphians in the 1932 Battle of Reyburn Plaza. With special guest and aspiring Jimmy Stewart impressionist Sean Connolly.

Originally aired: December 06, 2021.

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Mary Harris "Mother" Jones is one of the most famous agitators and organizers in American history. In 1903, she led an "Army of Labor" to march on President Roosevelt's summer home in a protest against child labor.

Originally aired: May 15, 2023.

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In this Sam-researched episode, we take a trip down the shore and into the past when the lifeguards of Ocean City, New Jersey went on strike for better pay.

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www.laborjawn.com