We Kept Our Towns Going: The Gossard Girls of Michigan's Upper Peninsula

The Gossard Girls were women who worked in factories in Ishpeming and Gwinn from the early twentieth century to the 1970s, sewing corsets and bras. Their income sustained their families and the local economy, and they showed their political and economic strength with a successful four-month strike in the 1940s. This book highlights the daily challenges and joys of these mostly first- and second-generation immigrant women, as well as the way they navigated shifting ideas of what single and married women could and should do as workers and citizens.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 196 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2022
Publisher: Michigan State University Press

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty, harsh winters, and the mines and forests that once provided labor to industrial factories across the country. However, it is important to recognize that women also played a significant role in the region's industrial workforce. In her book, "The Gossard Girls: Women Who Sewed Corsets and Bras in Ishpeming and Gwinn," Phyllis Michael Wong explores the stories of these women who worked in factories in Ishpeming and Gwinn from the early twentieth century to the 1970s.

As the mines in the Upper Peninsula became increasingly exhausted and the timber resources dwindled, the income of the Gossard Girls played a crucial role in sustaining both their families and the local economy. During this period, the workers demonstrated their political and economic strength, including a successful four-month strike in the 1940s that marked the culmination of an eight-year struggle to unionize.

Drawing on dozens of interviews with surviving workers and their families, Wong provides a vivid and intimate account of the daily challenges and joys experienced by these mostly first- and second-generation immigrant women. The book sheds light on the evolving ideas about what single and married women could and should do as workers and citizens, particularly in the context of piecework in a clothing factory.

Through her meticulous research and storytelling, Wong offers a rare ground-level view of the sewing room floor, capturing the intricacies of cutting cloth, distributing materials, and navigating the complexities of factory life. The Gossard Girls' stories are a testament to the resilience and determination of women who faced numerous obstacles while contributing to the economic growth and development of their communities.

"The Gossard Girls" is a valuable addition to the literature on women's labor history and provides a fresh perspective on the role of women in the industrial workforce. It serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and celebrating the contributions of all workers, regardless of their gender or ethnicity, to the progress and prosperity of our society.

Weight: 326g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781611864205