Terre Haute in Vigo County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Samuel Gompers
Photographed by Courtesy:: Marilyn S. Wolf, August 12, 2012
1. Samuel Gompers Marker
1850 - - - - - 1924
Born in London, Jan. 27, 1850. Apprentice Shoemaker, 1860. U. S. Immigrant and member Cigarmakers Local 144, New York City, 1863. President, Local 144, 1876. Leader in convening Federation of Trades and Labor Unions, 1881. Founder and first President, American Federation of labor, 1886. Organizer of 28 Unions. For more than four decades the leader and moving spirit of the American Labor Movement, which still bears his stamp. Died in San Antonio, Texas, Dec. 13, 1924.
“My Work has been my life.”
“What does Labor want? . . . . We want more school-houses and less jails, more books and less guns, more learning and less vice, more leisure and less greed, more justice and less revenge.
“. . . We want more . . . . opportunities to cultivate our better nature, to make manhood more noble, womanhood more beautiful and child-hood more happy and bright.”
- - Gompers
In Memoriam
“He was a frontiersman, a pioneer; he built not for himself but for others. Greatly he wrought, wondrously he fought for Human Freedom.”
- - Rabbi Stephen Wise
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Labor Unions. A significant historical date for this entry is January 27, 1860.
Location. 39°
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Central Indiana and in the Wabash Valley. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Walter Philip Reuther (here, next to this marker); Michael J. Quill (here, next to this marker); William H. Sylvis (here, next to this marker); Jerry Wurf (here, next to this marker); Joseph A. Beirne (here, next to this marker); Patrick J. Quinlan (here, next to this marker); Philip Murray (here, next to this marker); Peter J. McGuire (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Terre Haute.
Also see . . . The Samuel Gompers Papers. University of Maryland website entry (Submitted on August 16, 2012, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana.)
Photographed by Al Wolf, July 6, 2008
2. Eugene Debs Home (Museum)
Photographed by Courtesy:: Marilyn S. Wolf, August 12, 2012
3. Samuel Gompers Marker -- (second from the left)
Photographed by National Photo Company, circa 1910/1924
4. Labor leader a voter
"Labor leader a voter--Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, casting his ballot in his home district", image courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 10, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2012, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. This page has been viewed 768 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 16, 2012, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. 4. submitted on August 16, 2012.
