Glenn, Susan A. Daughters of the Shtetl: Life and Labor in the Immigrant Generation. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1990.
This book tracks the experience of immigrant women from Jewish towns in Poland and Russia to American cities. Ultimately, it shows how these women influenced the garment industry with strikes, activism and pro-union behavior.
Parmet, Robert D. The Master of Seventh Avenue: David Dubinsky and the American Labor Movement. New York, NY: New York University Press, 2005.
A very detailed biography, this work reveals David Dubinsky's accomplishments during his thirty-four years as head of the ILGWU. Parnet's focus is to bring attention to Dubinsky's role in American history as a labor visionary.
Riesel, Victor. "Garment Workers Country Club" in Survey Graphic ., 388-391.September 1948.
This resource takes a rare look into the vacation rates at Unity House and the union welfare fund. Riesel also provides specific details of the resort's accommodations and amenities of the hotel and grounds. Sadly, eight years after Riesel wrote this article, he was attacked by a garment district terrorist who threw acid into his eyes and blinded him for the rest of his life. Despite this setback, Riesel continued to write articles up until about 1990.
Squeri, Lawrence. Better in the Poconos: The Story of Pennsylvania's Vacationland. University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2002.
Offering multiple perspectives, this book tells the story of the vacation experience in the Poconos from its beginnings in 1829 to the present. Particular emphasis rests on the author's observation that Pocono resorts have continually redefined themselves. This resource includes a wealth of historic photographs and first-hand recollections.
Tyler, Gus. Look for the Union Label: A History of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Armonk, NY: Sharpe, 1995.
This work reveals how the ILGWU inspired other political, social, and industrial movements. It also includes a list of union presidents and an annotated bibliography.
Wolensky, Kenneth. "Unity House: A Worker's Shangri-la." Pennsylvania Heritage 20:3 (Summer 1998): 21-29.
Wolensky, a Pennsylvania historian, uses his research and expertise to unveil the many amenities that awaited the ILGWU worker while on vacation at Unity House.
Wolensky, Kenneth C and others. Fighting For The Union Label: The Women's Garment Industry and the ILGWU in Pennsylvania. University Park:: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2002.
This is the first major work on the garment industry and its workers in Pennsylvania. Much of the book relays excerpts from the Northeastern Pennsylvania Oral History Project, the authors' collection of narratives of more than 350 individuals who witnessed the impact of the ILGWU on the garment industry.
Wolensky, Kenneth C. and Robert P. Wolensky. "Born To Organize" in Pennsylvania Heritage Magazine ., 33-39.Summer 1999.
With fascinating details of Min Matheson's family background, work with the ILGWU and stance against the mob, this article tells a story of bravery and determination. Well-written and highly engaging.
Wolensky, Robert P. and Kennth Wolensky. "Min Matheson and the ILGWU in the Northern Anthracite Region, 1944-1963" in Pennsylvania History ., 455-474..October 1993.
This article provides excellent background of how the economic decline of Pennsylvania's Anthracite coal region attracted garment manufacturers from New York. Oral History excerpts make for a very interesting read.
This site contains the archives of the ILGWU. The heart of the collection is the papers of David Dubinsky who was elected ILGWU President in 1932.
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, "Immigrants in Coal Country: Resources," http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=238
Displaying an invaluable list of print resources and web links for teachers and students, this website is quite helpful for suggestions on continued research on the lesson topics. To further explore background on immigration to Pennsylvania's coal region, accessing this site is a must.
University of California Berkeley, "Institute for Research on Labor and Employment Library," http://www.irle.berkeley.edu/library/index.php?page=24
This site holds numerous resource links including a labor contracts database, photography exhibits, and a labor research portal. There is even a link called "Especially for Faculty and Students" that would prove beneficial for alternate lesson planning.
