“I am Mary Ubaniae, direct me to Hazleton, Pa.” In 1900, a ten-year-old Hungarian girl crossed the Atlantic alone with that tag tied to her dress. Her parents were gone, and relatives in Pennsylvania’s Coal Region were her only destination. A brief newspaper story preserves this remarkable journey. Read the Full Story.
In December 1935, Rebecca Wylie’s death closed a chapter of Coal Region memory. She was the last widow of the Avondale Mine Disaster, where 110 men and boys perished in 1869. Her first husband, Andrew Frothingham, died that day - his eyes “staring wide open.” She carried the loss for life. Read the full story.
Discover the rich history of Rose Hill Manor with Amanda Venable and Kari Saavedra in our latest podcast episode. Learn how they’re reimagining historical interpretation in Frederick, Maryland - from founding governor Thomas Johnson’s legacy to enslaved peoples’ stories and plans for America’s 250th. This conversation showcases the power of local museums to connect communities with their shared past. Listen to the full episode and subscribe.
Discover the inspiring story of Catherine Marie Fischer, a courageous nurse from Wilkes-Barre who fell victim to the deadly 1918 influenza pandemic while caring for soldiers at Camp Dix. Her selfless service and dedication made her a local hero, forever remembered in Coal Region history. Read the full story.
Meet the “Huckleberry Miners” of 1913 Discover how Coal Region women foraged berries to feed their families and even formed a union to demand fair prices. Read the full story.
While boys worked in the dust of coal breakers, young girls - some as young as ten - labored in knitting mills for meager pay to keep their households afloat. A 1903 McClure’s report exposes how this hidden workforce faced brutal hours and hazardous conditions, fueling broader calls for reform. Read the full story.
In September 1900, Mary Harris “Mother” Jones rallied women in McAdoo, Pennsylvania, to join a march supporting striking miners. Her stirring speech and fearless leadership convinced workers at nearby patch towns to lay down their tools in solidarity. Read the full story.
Back in 2021, I led a virtual tour of the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum in Washington, DC. Check out the tour and learn more about Clara Barton's incredible work as a humanitarian during the Civil War-era. The tour also highlights the history of her boardinghouse rooms that became the Missing Soldiers Office after the Civil War. Check it out!
For Women’s History Month, we highlight the remarkable women who shaped Pennsylvania’s Coal Region. From labor strikes to suffrage activism, their impact on industry, politics, and daily life endures. Read powerful stories of resilience, advocacy, and community strength.
A reporter in Hazleton interviewed a working class woman near the site of the Lattimer Massacre in 1897.