American History
During the nineteenth century, American industry grew to unprecedented size. Along with this growth came numerous changes in how Americans lived and worked. Many people left their homes and families to find work in the new nation’s growing port cities and mill towns. The challenge was to create industrial spaces that adhered to the ideals of the nation. Temporary women workers were a key part of this. Mill Girls as they were and are still called, represented a fascinating moment in American industrial history.
In this essay of 500 words you are going to pretend to be a reporter of the 1830s whose editor has asked you to go to Lowell Massachusetts to visit the fabric mills there and report on them. You will write one of two “articles” under one of these two headlines:
“Lowell Mills are Something New and Unique to America.”
or
“Lowell Mills Recreate the Factory Horrors of Old England.”
In writing, consider questions of work routines, pay, living conditions, architecture, and anything else that helps you make up your mind and write your “article.” Were Mill Girls happy? Were they well paid? Was this a new way to approach industry or was this just so much more grueling factory labor?
Your sources are the above listed Lowell Mill historical documents and images. They consist of letters from Mill Girls, schedules, observations, and other material.
Your article must make use in some way of EACH of those source (except the factory images) which you may cite with a simple citation such as “Malenda Edwards Letter.”
You must also make specific reference to
Alexander Hamilton, “Report on Manufactures,” 1791
which laid out a vision of American industry.
Be creative and think carefully about your assessment given the available evidence. Use the sources to support your view and make your case.
American History/34_lowell offering cover
American History/Hamilton 1791
American History/Letters from Mary Paul
Mary Paul was one of thousands of Lowell mill “girls.” She grew up in northern Vermont, one of
four children born to Bela and Marry Briggs Paul. She began her working life as a domestic in
Bridgewater, Vermont, but in 1845 decided to try her luck in Lowell. She worked in the mills
from 1845 through 1848, joining her father in Claremont, New Hampshire soon afterward
(where he had relocated to). Two years later she returned to Vermont for a short spell, and
then joined former Lowell companions at an agricultural utopian community in Redbank, New
Jersey for a year. Following her brief tenure at the collective, she once again returned to New
Hampshire. In 1857, she married Issac Guild who took a job at a marble works in Lynn,
Massachusetts. Twenty-five of her letters, covering the years 1845 through 1862 have survived.
Here are a few of them. https://www.albany.edu/history/history316/MaryPaulLetters.html
Lowell Nov 20th 1845
Dear Father
An opportunity now presents itself which I improve in writing to you. I started for this place at
the time I talked of which was Thursday. I left Whitneys at nine o’clock stopped at Windsor at
12 and staid till 3 and started again. Did not stop again for any length of time till we arrived at
Lowell. Went to a boarding house and staid until Monday night. On Saturday after I got here
Luthera Griffith went round with me to find a place but we were unsuccessful. On Monday we
started again and were more successful, We found a place in a spinning room and the next
morning I went to work. I like very well have 50 cts first payment increasing every payment as I
get along in work have a first rate overseer and a very good boarding place. I work on the
Lawrence Corporation. Mill is No 2 spinning room. l was very sorry that you did not come to see
me start. I wanted to see you and Henry but I suppose that you were otherways engaged. I
hoped to see Julius but did not much expect to for I sposed he was engaged in other matters.
He got six dollars for me which I was very glad of. It cost me $3.25 to come. Stage fare was
$3.00 and lodging at Windsor, 25 cts. Had to pay only 25 cts for board for 9 days after I got here
before I went into the mill. Had 2.5O left with which I got a bonnet and some other small
articles. Tell Harriet Burbank to send me paper. Tell her I shall send her one as soon as possible.
You must write as soon as you receive this. Tell Henry I should like to hear from him. If you hear
anything from William write for I want to know what he is doing. I shall write to Uncle Millers
folks the first opportunity. Aunt Nancy presented me with a new alpacca dress before I came
away from there which I was very glad of. I think of staying here a year certain, if not more. I
wish that you and Henry would come down here. I think that you might do well. I guess that
Henry could get into the mill and I think that Julius might get in too. Tell all friends that I should
like to hear from them.
excuse bad writing and mistakes
This from your own daughter
Mary
P.S. Be sure and direct to No. 15 Lawrence Corporation.
————————————————————————————-
Lowell Dec 21st 1845
Dear Father
I received your letter on Thursday the 14th with much pleasure. I am well which is one comfort.
My life and health are spared while others are cut off. Last Thursday one girl fell down and
broke her neck which caused instant death. She was going in or coming out of the mill and
slipped down it being very icy. The same day a man was killed by the [railroad] cars. Another
had nearly all of his ribs broken. Another was nearly killed by falling down and having a bale of
cotton fall on him. Last Tuesday we were paid. In all I had six dollars and sixty cents paid $4.68
for board. With the rest I got me a pair of rubbers and a pair of 50.cts shoes. Next payment I am
to have a dollar a week beside my board. We have not had much snow the deepest being not
more than 4 inches. It has been very warm for winter. Perhaps you would like something about
our regulations about going in and coming out of the mill. At 5 o’clock in the morning the bell
rings for the folks to get up and get breakfast. At half past six it rings for the girls to get up and
at seven they are called into the mill. At half past 12 we have dinner are called back again at
one and stay till half past seven.,, I get along very well with my work. I can doff as fast as any
girl in our room. I think I shall have frames before long. The usual time allowed for learning is six
months but I think I shall have frames before I have been in three as I get along so fast. I think
that the factory is the best place for me and if any girl wants employment I advise them to
come to Lowell. Tell Harriet that though she does not hear from me she is not forgotten. I have
little time to devote to writing that I cannot write all I want to. There are half a dozen letters
which I ought to write to day but I have not time. Tell Harriet I send my love to her and all of the
girls. Give my love to Mrs. Clement. Tell Henry this will answer for him and you too for this
time.
This from
Mary S Paul
————————————————————————–
Dear Father
Doubtless you have been looking for a letter from me all the week past. I would have written
but wished to find whether I should be able to stand it-to do the work that I am now doing. I
was unable to get my old place in the cloth room on the Suffolk or on any other corporation. I
next tried the dressrooms on the Lawrence Cor[poration], but did not succefeld in getting a
place. I almost concluded to give up and go back to Claremont, but thought I would try once
more. So I went to my old overseer on the Tremont Cor. I had no idea that he would want one,
but he did, and I went to work last Tuesday warping–the same work I used to do.
It is very hard indeed and sometimes I think I shall not be able to endure it. I never worked so
hard in my life but perhaps I shall get used to it. I shall try hard to do so for there is no other
work that I can do unless I spin and that I shall not undertake on any account. I presume you
have heard before this that the wages are to be reduced on the 20th of this month. It
is true and there seems to be a good deal of excitement on the subject but I can not tell what
will be the consequence. The companies pretend they are losing immense sums every day and
therefore they are obliged to lessen the wages, but this seems perfectly absurd to me for they
are constantly making repairs and it seems to me that this would not be if there were really any
danger of their being obliged to stop the mills.
It is very difficult for any one to get into the mill on any corporation. All seem to be very full of
help. I expect to be paid about two dollars a week but it will be dearly earned .24 1 cannot tell
how it is but never since I have worked in the mill have I been so very tired as I have for the last
week but it may be owing to the long rest I have had for the last six months. I have not told you
that I do not board on the Lawrence. The reason of this is because I wish to be nearer the mill
and I do not wish to pay the extra $.i2.-:t/;z per week (I should not be obliged to do it if I
boarded at 15) and I know that they are not able to give it me. Beside this I am so near I can go
and see them as often as I wish. So considering all things I think I have done the best I could. I
do not like here very well and am very sure I never shall as well as at Mother Guilds. I can now
realize how very kind the whole family have ever been to me. It seems like going home when I
go there which is every day. But now I see I have not told you yet where I do board. It is at No. 5
Tremont Corporation. Please enlighten all who wish for information. There is one thing which I
forgot to bring with me and which I want very much. That is my rubbers. They hang in the back
room at uncle Jerrys.26 If Olive comes down here I presume you can send them by her, but if
you should not have the opportunity to send them do not trouble yourself about them. There is
another thing I wish to mention-about my fare down here. If you paid it all the way as I
understand you did there is something wrong about it. When we stopped at Concord to take
the cars, I went to the ticket office to get a ticket which I knew I should be obliged to have.
When I called for it I told the man that my fare to Lowell was paid all the way and I wanted a
ticket to Lowell. He told me if this was the case the Stagedriver would get the ticket for me and
I supposed of course he would. But he did not, and when the ticket master called for my ticket
in the cars, I was obliged to give him a dollar. Sometimes I have thought that the fare might not
have been paid beside farther than Concord. If this is the case all is right. But if it is not, then I
have paid a dollar too much and gained the character of trying to cheat the company out of my
fare, for the man thought I was lying to him. I suppose I want to know how it is and wish it
could be settled for I do not like that any one should think me capable of such a thing, even
though that person be an utter stranger. But enough of this. The Whigs of Lowell had a great
time on the night of the 3rd. They had an immense procession of men on foot
bearing torches and bannersgot up for the occasion. The houses were illuminated (Whigs
houses) and by the way I should think the whole of Lowell were Whigs. I went out to see the
illuminations and they did truly look splendid. The Merrimack house was illuminated from attic
to cellar. Every pane of glass in the house had a half candle to it and there were many others
lighted in the same way. One entire block on the Merrimack Cor[poration] with the exception
of one tenement which doubtless was occupied by a free soiler who would not illuminate on
any account whatever.
(Monday Eve) I have been to work today and think I shall manage to get along with the work. I
am not so tired as I was last week. I have not yet found out what wages I shall get but presume
they will be about $2.00 per week exclusive of board. I think of nothing further to write
excepting I wish you to prevail on Henry to write to me, also tell Olive to write and Eveline when
she comes.
Give my love to uncle Jerry and aunt Betsey and tell little Lois that “Cousin Carra” thanks her
very much for the apple she sent her. Her health is about the same that it was when she was at
Claremont. No one has much hope of her ever being any better.
Write soon. Yours affectionately
Mary S Paul
American History/Lowell Mill Images.pptx
These are engravings of some of the larger mills operating in the city of Lowell, Massachusetts during the first half of the nineteenth century. These images were themselves commercial objects, made to be sold either in books, periodicals, or sometimes even framed and put up on a wall.
What are you seeing highlighted here by the artists?
What is not shown that might be part of the story?
Who do you think is the audience for these engravings?
What do these engravings tell a viewer about the United States and its industry?
Lowell Company Mills, Lowell, Massachusetts, circa 1850
Lowell Company Mills, Lowell, Massachusetts, circa 1850
Merrimack
Corporation
Mills
Lowell, Mass
circa 1850
Middlesex
Mills
Lowell, Mass
circa 1850
Boott Cotton
Mills
Lowell, Mass
circa 1850
American History/Lowell Mill Schedule 1853
American History/Lowell-mills-time-table 1851
American History/Orestes Brownson, Laboring Classes and Factor Girls, Lowell Offering, 1840 (1)
American History/Orestes Brownson, Laboring Classes and Factor Girls, Lowell Offering, 1840