Activism, music honor memory of tragedy

Simmons College hosted a multi-media performance last week of to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in New York City in 1911. 

"The Cloth From Which We Are Cut," hosted by the Simmons College Student Government Association and introduced by Simmons President Helen Drinan, was in remembrance of the 146 immigrant women who died in one of the largest industrial tragedies in United States history. 

Members of the Yiddish Community Chorus, who are part of Boston Workmen's Circle Center for Jewish Culture and Social Justice, created the show from the stories they had heard passed on by word of mouth, and by the families affected by the factory fire. 

The performance combines historical narrative with the folk music that was born in the sweatshops. The music and lyrics, inspired by the poverty and struggles of immigrant communities in the early 1900s, has deep roots in political activism.

The performance encompasses both trained and untrained musicians, according to Alice Rothchild and Dan Klein, members of the chorus. Lisa Galatin, the conductor, was the driving force behind this production, they said.

Her idea to use music to engage and inspire others is the backbone of the performance.

"It certainly inspires me," Klein said.

The factory fire took place in New York City near Washington Square Park on Mar. 25, 1911. The vast majority of the immigrant workers were women of Jewish and Italian descent, mostly between the ages of 16 and 23. 

History books refer to the fire as one of the nation's "landmark disasters," according to the New York Times. 

Despite the great tragedy, the fire inspired activism surrounding women in the workplace and U.S. labor laws. President Taft created the Department of Labor and many safety labor laws were passed to improve workplace conditions and to regulate wages. 

Each year, The Workmen's Circle—a national organization that supports social justice for those of Jewish descent—continues to strive to provide economic justice for immigrants, equality in the workplace and health care, according to Circle.org.

"The fight isn't over, you have a part to play," said a member of the Yiddish Community Choir as she introduced the chorus. 

Considering what the performance stands for, it is no surprise that Simmons hosted the event. 

Andrew Effrat in the Provost's Office and Samantha Schenk, president of Simmons' Student Government Association, coordinated the event with the help of Andrea Waldstein, a Simmons trustee. Waldstein's husband is one of the lead performers in the show. 

President Drinan started the event with an introduction about John Simmons and his involvement in the women's workforce that led to the founding of Simmons College. 

John Simmons was originally a successful suit maker who used his money to invest in real estate in what is now the financial district in Boston. He eventually sold the property and used the money to start Simmons College. He wanted to fund and endow a college for women, a place where they could acquire an independent livelihood. 

Women faced an incredible struggle at the time trying to support their families and find work. "They worked, not because they wished to, but because they had to," said Drinan in her speech. 

Women tolerated unequal pay, little appreciation, and worked in dangerous environments. This drew many to activism. Drinan said that John Simmons was aware of the realities women faced. He observed his daughters, in contrast to the women who worked in factories, to see what it was like for women who had to work and those who did not. 

Since Simmons strives to educate women and provide them with the tools they need to successfully make a livelihood for themselves, the College served as a befitting venue for the event. 

The performance was well received by spectators. The Linda K. Paresky Center (LKP), which generally holds about 250 people, was packed to capacity and additional seating was brought in to accommodate around 300 guests. The success can largely be attributed to the event's connections to the Jewish and the Hillel community as well as Simmons's advertisement to the student body and faculty. 

The end of the performance brought on a standing ovation. The attendees congratulated the members of the chorus on their performance as they headed out and had nothing but positive comments. 

"The performance was really moving and was displayed in a really unique way," said Schenk. "The audience got sucked into what was happening."