This website commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Portland laundry workers’ strike of 1919. Since its inception in 2009, Yale Union has been compiling an archive of articles, images, and documents related to the history of its historic building and its role in the laundry strike. This website makes public this decade-long project to commemorate the strike centennial. For more information, continue reading here…

Timeline

Laundry Strike Timeline

1903

Feb 19

Oregon passes law limiting working hours to 10 per day for women

The Oregon Bureau of Labor is created in 1903, establishing…more

1905

Jun 27

Industrial Workers of the World union founded

The Industrial Workers of the World is founded in Chicago,…more

Oct 17

“Test the Ten Hour Law: Its Application to Laundress is Argued in Court”

The decision of Curt Muller, proprietor of Grand Laundry in…more

1908

Jan 01

An ad from 1920 showing a Thor electric washing machine for home use

Invention of the Electric Washing Machine

The first electric washing machine, "The Mighty Thor," was built…more

Jan 22

“Hours of Labor for Women”– Muller v. Oregon goes to the Supreme Court

"Curt Muller vs. State of Oregon," a case waiting the…more

Feb 12

“The Working Hours of Women”– Muller v. Oregon goes to the Supreme Court

Feb 24

“Zone is Being Extended: New Buildings All Over the East Side”

Feb 24

Muller v. Oregon upholds Oregon law restricting working hours for women workers

The U.S. Supreme court rules that Curt Muller was in…more

Mar 16

“No Abatement in City’s Growth: Building Operations Keep Up to a Remarkable Degree”

Jul 31

Aug 02

Aug 15

Yale Laundry built by founder Charles F. Brown Opens

After opening industrial laundries in Superior, Wisconsin and Duluth, Minnesota,…more

1911

Apr 16

“Auto in New Role” – Yale Laundry plans transition from horse and carriage to all auto delivery force

Jul 16

“Quick Delivery Gains: Laundry Companies Praise Auto Truck System”

The involvement of drivers into the workflow of the industrial…more

1914

Dec 11

The Industrial Welfare Commission of Oregon publishes its report on power laundries in Portland

Caroline Gleason’s 1914 report on the power laundries of Portland…more

1915

Jan 01

“Attempts to Bribe Union Official”

1916

Sep 01

The Industrial Welfare Commission Order No. 13, providing further restrictions on hours and a higher minimum wage for female laundry workers, is effective

1917

Jun 19

Seattle: “Laundry Strike Growing: Union Contends Prices Have Increased, but Not Wages”

Sep 27

“Women Get Increase”

Announcement is made that wage increases amounting to thousands of…more

Sep 29

“Laundry Workers Change Meeting Place”

Oct 06

“Laundry Workers Hold Interesting Meeting”

Oct 13

“Laundry Workers Give Dance Tonight”

Dances were often held by unions to recruit members and…more

Oct 20

“Laundry Members are Boosting Membership”

Oct 20

“Unions Will Help the Women Workers”

Oct 20

Editorial: “Protecting the Alien Women Toilers”

Nov 17

“Laundry Workers Having Hard Fight”

1918

Jan 12

“Help the Laundry Workers to Win”

Jan 19

“Laundry Workers Making Gains”

Feb 09

“Laundry Members Gain Membership”

Feb 09

Directory of Local Unions

(Zoom)

Mar 19

“Open Meeting of Laundry Workers”

Apr 13

“Organization Only Hope for Women Workers”

Apr 20

“Laundry Girls Quit When U.S. Discriminates”

Apr 30

Oregonian Classifieds: “Wanted—Strong girl…”

“Wanted—Strong girl for starch and dry room; $10 to $11:…more

1919

Feb 06

Seattle General Strike

Over 65,000 workers went on strike for five days, crippling…more

Aug 03

Oregonian Classifieds: “Position open for a young man…”

Sep 18

“Laundry Workers Ask Withdrawal of Unfair Patronage”

Sep 18

“Strike of Laundry Workers Spreading: Hundreds of Men and Girls Out; Closed Shop Demanded”

Sep 19

“Funds Collected for the Striking Laundry Workers”

Sep 19

“Workers Are Determined: Laundry Employees Ask Organized Labor for Aid”

Sep 19

“The Public”

In an effort to influence public opinion against the strike,…more

Sep 20

“Strike of Laundry Workers Spreading: Walk Out at National Week Ago Effects All in City Except Three– Labor Pledges Full Support”

Sep 20

“Laundries Still Running: Number Work Only Half Shift and Do Not Specify Return Time”

Sep 21

“Laundries Decline Work: Boilermakers’ Union Decides to Support Strikers”

Sep 24

“Laundry Work Proceeds: Strike Fails of Object, is View of Employers”

Sep 27

“The Bolsheviki Spirit” (Editorial from Laundry Owners)

One of the tactics Laundry owners employed in their attempts…more

Sep 27

“Laundry Workers Flocking to Union: Non-Union Workers Still Coming Out––Support by Labor is Greatest in Local Labor History”

Sep 28

“11 Laundries Say Run Again as Normal/Three Others Admit Walkout Still Hampers Them; Strikers Deny Claims of the Proprietors”

Sep 29

Sep 29

“Workers Meet Tonight: Strike of Laundry Employees Will Be Discussed”

Oct 02

Oct 03

“Laundry Strike Approved”

Oct 04

“The Laundry Strike Hits Vancouver: Portland Workers Still Joining Ranks of the Girls on Strike”

Oct 06

“Laundry Trust, Hard Hit, Seeks Injunction to Stop Picketing by the Unions”

Oct 09

“Help Promised Strikers: Head of Laundry Workers’ Union Directing Campaign”

Oct 11

“The Laundry Situation is Satisfactory: Intern’l President Brock Arrives and Directs the Strike”

Oct 12

“Strikers to Try Trade: Vancouver Laundry Workers Will Compete With Former Employer”

Oct 12

“Laundry Drivers Meet: New Union Proposed to Help Workers Win Strike”

Oct 17

“Pickets to Use Autos: Central Labor Body Would Trail Laundry Wagons”

Oct 17

“Laundry Hearing Set: Picketing Injunction Case to be Heard Today”

Oct 17

“Effort of Attorneys to End Laundry Strike Futile”

Oct 18

“Profiteering Laundrymen are Shown Up: Women Working for Pittance, and Trust Charging Outrageous Prices”

Oct 18

“Laundry Picketing Case Compromised: Temporary Injunction Defines Both Sides’ Rights”

Oct 24

“Labor Planning Laundry: Co-Operative Plant to Win Strike Recommended”

Oct 25

“Police Raid Hotel Room of J.F. Brock: Laundry Worker Official and Wife are Treated Disgracefully”

Oct 26

“Picket Order Clarified: Court Limits Speakers at Each Laundry to Two”

Nov 01

Financial Statement of the Laundry Workers Strike

Nov 01

“Co-Operative Laundry is a Possibility: Adequate Union Concern in Ninety Days is Predicted”

Nov 08

“Laundry to be Built by Union Labor: Campaign to be Started Immediately to Raise $40,000”

Nov 08

“Conservatives Give Up to Labor ‘Reds’: Radicals Dominate Council’s Wrangle Over Charters”

Nov 15

“Support is Being Given for Laundry”

Nov 22

“Co-Operative Laundry has Labor’s O.K.”

Nov 26

“Pickets Are Restrained: Injunction Issued in Case of Vancouver Laundry Strikers”

Nov 29

“Laundry Aid is Coming to Committee: Unions Voting to Provide Funds for Co-operative Concern”

Dec 06

“Laundry to Incorporate Immediately: Council Instructs Committee to Proceed with Legal Phase”

Dec 20

“Labor to Open Laundry: Weapon in Strike to be Wielded This Month”

Dec 27

“Laundry is Delayed by Location: Suitable Building is Object of New Laundry Committee”

Dec 29

“Exchange to Open Soon: Reorganizing of Labor Council Store About Completed”

1921

Apr 04

1926

Jun 06

“Laundry Merger Denied”

Portland Heads Claim No Plan with Seattle...

Oct 22

“Home Service Co. Sells $650,000 Issue of Bonds”

Oct 22

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Oct 23

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Oct 24

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1927

Aug 16

“Laundry Interest sold: Ralph P. Meyer’s Stock Goes to Home Service Company”

1929

Aug 18

“Laundry Job Awarded: Shuholm & Co. Will Build Yale-Union Addition”

Sep 29

“Laundry Roof Will Start: Erection of Structural Steel to be Underway This Week”