My great-grandmother was one of the Russian and Eastern European Jewish women immigrants who made up the majority of the garment industry and became an essential part of the American labor movement.
As a first generation American-born daughter of immigrants, who worked their asses off working two jobs throughout my childhood in order to buy their first house (when I was 13), your Tillie’s story hits very close to home for me.
My mother was 14 (like your great grandmother) when she immigrated to NJ and worked her way from assembly lines to a directorship for a pharmaceutical packaging corporation, with sheer determination and a high school education under her belt.
My dad was 19 when he immigrated to NJ after graduating trade school in Hungary. He was a Jack of all trades—learning everything about anything he could, from working for industrial plants to becoming a professional landscaper and then retiring after 20 years as a hospital tech.
They each carried a strong work ethic which they passed down to their grandchildren, as well. So yes, happy Labor Day!
I’m the great granddaughter or Irish immigrants on one side and granddaughter of farmers on the other. My parents both grew up working class, teaching me to respect unions and to understand all parts of the food chain and the people who keep it going. My dad then chose a career in the US Army. I love this post (and the name Thalia).
Thank you for sharing that with me. I think we should all understand the food chain better. If we understood where the things we consume come from, we might have very different feelings about them. But that’s a whole other story.
Tillie is kvelling along with Momsie, Popsie, and all the relatives you never met but who must be so proud that you have kept their spirit alive. Thank you,Liz.
You, like me and my parents, are our ancestors’ wildest dreams. Russian and Lithuanian pogroms -> Immigrate to Canada ->immigrate to United States -> my father joins Army Aircorps as soon as he graduated high school-> college after honorable discharge->electrical engineer-> 3 kids all college graduates, good citizens, own their own homes. Maternal grandmother graduates U of W teachers college early 1920s-> my mother, UCLA graduate-> marries my father-> raises three kids-> has a career. Both live into their 90s. -> Remaining kids (youngest died from Covid,may his memory be a blessing ) Doing well.
Absolutely. Everyone should want the chance to make things better for their kids, their grandkids… And everyone else’s kids and grandkids. Sounds like your family must be so proud. ❤️
A typical American story-people coming to this country to better themselves AND our country.
I spent 40 years as an occupational health & safety professional. We have made great strides but we are not finished. The 1991 Hamlet Chicken Processing fire repeated the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of imprisoning workers behind locked exit doors in a burning building.
My Bubbie, too, was from Ukraine, could speak five languages, and was an early seamstress. I too could sing the ILGWU song! Yay! She raised two boys who both became engineers and from those engineers are physicians, lawyers, teachers, therapists, one professional pilot, an IT innovator. And on and on. She would be so proud.
I have 3 wardrobe boxes full of suits I bought in the 80's, 90's and 2000's. I diligently looked for the Union Label and ignored imports until I couldn't. ❤️❤️❤️
We had the pleasure and good fortune to know Tillie here in San Francisco, when she lived at St. Francis Square (a community created by the Union during redevelopment) and when she had joined the fight to save the SF Public Library's Main Branch from demolition (to build the building next door now housing the Main Branch). We all treasured her. She was a gem in our midst. I am the proud possessor of her red back-rest, which I keep on my rocking chair. I think of her often when I sit there -- or even look at it.
...not only to save the building -- to save the books from being dumped or otherwise disappeared from the collection. P.S. I still have her book: AS I STOOD IRONING.
As a first generation American-born daughter of immigrants, who worked their asses off working two jobs throughout my childhood in order to buy their first house (when I was 13), your Tillie’s story hits very close to home for me.
My mother was 14 (like your great grandmother) when she immigrated to NJ and worked her way from assembly lines to a directorship for a pharmaceutical packaging corporation, with sheer determination and a high school education under her belt.
My dad was 19 when he immigrated to NJ after graduating trade school in Hungary. He was a Jack of all trades—learning everything about anything he could, from working for industrial plants to becoming a professional landscaper and then retiring after 20 years as a hospital tech.
They each carried a strong work ethic which they passed down to their grandchildren, as well. So yes, happy Labor Day!
Thank you for sharing Tillie’s story.
And thank you for sharing your parents' story. They sound incredible. We all should be here to make things better for those who come after us.
Beautifully written, Liz!
❤️❤️❤️
I’m the great granddaughter or Irish immigrants on one side and granddaughter of farmers on the other. My parents both grew up working class, teaching me to respect unions and to understand all parts of the food chain and the people who keep it going. My dad then chose a career in the US Army. I love this post (and the name Thalia).
Thank you for sharing that with me. I think we should all understand the food chain better. If we understood where the things we consume come from, we might have very different feelings about them. But that’s a whole other story.
Thank you!
Tillie is kvelling along with Momsie, Popsie, and all the relatives you never met but who must be so proud that you have kept their spirit alive. Thank you,Liz.
It’s an intense feeling to think of making your ancestors proud ❤️🥹
Liz, this was great. I learned more then i knew about Nanny. The information that you just provided was wonderful. thank you, thank you.
Howard
Let me know if you need more!
You, like me and my parents, are our ancestors’ wildest dreams. Russian and Lithuanian pogroms -> Immigrate to Canada ->immigrate to United States -> my father joins Army Aircorps as soon as he graduated high school-> college after honorable discharge->electrical engineer-> 3 kids all college graduates, good citizens, own their own homes. Maternal grandmother graduates U of W teachers college early 1920s-> my mother, UCLA graduate-> marries my father-> raises three kids-> has a career. Both live into their 90s. -> Remaining kids (youngest died from Covid,may his memory be a blessing ) Doing well.
Our ancestors wildest hopes and dreams.
Absolutely. Everyone should want the chance to make things better for their kids, their grandkids… And everyone else’s kids and grandkids. Sounds like your family must be so proud. ❤️
A typical American story-people coming to this country to better themselves AND our country.
I spent 40 years as an occupational health & safety professional. We have made great strides but we are not finished. The 1991 Hamlet Chicken Processing fire repeated the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of imprisoning workers behind locked exit doors in a burning building.
My Bubbie, too, was from Ukraine, could speak five languages, and was an early seamstress. I too could sing the ILGWU song! Yay! She raised two boys who both became engineers and from those engineers are physicians, lawyers, teachers, therapists, one professional pilot, an IT innovator. And on and on. She would be so proud.
I have 3 wardrobe boxes full of suits I bought in the 80's, 90's and 2000's. I diligently looked for the Union Label and ignored imports until I couldn't. ❤️❤️❤️
Oh man - I love that so much! I still see them in vintage and thrift stores sometimes with my kids and I always get a kick.
We had the pleasure and good fortune to know Tillie here in San Francisco, when she lived at St. Francis Square (a community created by the Union during redevelopment) and when she had joined the fight to save the SF Public Library's Main Branch from demolition (to build the building next door now housing the Main Branch). We all treasured her. She was a gem in our midst. I am the proud possessor of her red back-rest, which I keep on my rocking chair. I think of her often when I sit there -- or even look at it.
...not only to save the building -- to save the books from being dumped or otherwise disappeared from the collection. P.S. I still have her book: AS I STOOD IRONING.
Aw — Tillie Olsen. I love that story. I guess there are a lot of good Tililies in the world!