Lowell Mills Girls: Bank Run
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Images
View of Merrimack Street, Lowell, Mass 1856
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
The Lowell Mills Girls wages were paid on a by piece basis in most cases. In turn, many worked long grueling hours in order to earn more money, as it was common for the girls to be supporting family members at home. On average, women were earning about one dollar and ninety cents per week after boarding costs. Their 1834 bank run at Lowell Savings Bank indicates that they were well aware of their economic power. Despite lower wages and higher boarding costs than the men at the factories, they had power in their numbers. With 800 women participating in the first strike and many withdrawing all their deposits from the bank, this sent a clear message to the corporations.
Sources
Miles, Henry. Sabin Americana 1500-1926. Powers and Bagley [Etc.], 1845.
http://npshistory.com/publications/lowe/cri.pdf