Troy Women

I spent this afternoon in Troy, the Collar City. It is so named because of the detachable collars that were first imagined and then manufactured there. The purpose of my visit was primarily to visit the campus of the Emma Willard School for a job interview. Emma Willard was a pioneer in education for women, and felt there was no reason women could not be as well-educated as men. She was right. Over 200 years ago, she started a school for women and it is still going strong (although it has moved locations over time). The campus is stunning, and the staff are friendly and engaging.

In addition to the advancement of education for women, Troy was also the home of Kate Mullany, the first woman to organize a labor union. She was a young Irish immigrant who took issue with the dangerous conditions and low wages paid to laundresses who washed and ironed the detachable collars Troy was known for. Kate organized her co-workers into the Collar Laundry Union in 1864.

After my interview at Emma Willard, I made my way to 8th Street to tour Kate Mullany's home. It is a National Historic Site which is in the process of being completely restored to its 1864 state. The upper floor is presumed to be where Kate made her home, with the lower two floors being apartments rented out to provide extra income. You can tell by the wear on the stairs and the low handrail that they are original to the home. The wooden floors are worn from decades of use. The local painter's union has donated their time to completely repaint both inside and out.

A display of honors and awards given to Kate Mullany posthumously, as well as sample shirts and collars similar to those she worked so hard to launder, starch and iron.

There were several old irons on display, as well as a variety of informational displays about labor unions. Kate is credited with the saying, "Don't Iron While the Strike is Hot." Although there is no known photo of Kate, an artist's rendering of how she may have looked was on display, featuring this famous saying.

Because I grew up in Texas, I am not all that familiar with labor unions in general. It was a fascinating tour, and much of it is recreated on their website. If you're interested in learning more about Kate Mullany, the plight of Irish working immigrants, or labor unions, you might be interested to visit www.katemullanynhs.org. 

An interesting day, made possible by the legacies left by pioneering women from all walks of life. Powerful.