From the July-August 2016 issue of News & Letters

Caption reads: “Blessing of grave prior to lowering Mother Jones to new grave at new memorial 1-24-36.” Mother Jones died in December 1930 and was reburied when her monument at Mt. Olive was completed.

Mount Olive, Ill.—At the end of April I attended the opening of the Mother Jones Museum, which is temporarily housed at the Mount Olive, Ill., City Hall. At one end of City Hall is the Mother Jones Museum. At the other end is the local police department. I’m not sure Mother Jones would have liked that!

From her birthplace in Cork, Ireland, which holds an annual festival, eight beautiful panels of art and events are displayed on the walls. There is also a life-size board of about five feet with stories of strikes, speeches and statements of her views that helps grace the two rooms. Architects for the proposed stand-alone museum were on hand with a replica of their proposal.

I also went to the Union Cemetery—the only union owned cemetery in the U.S.—where Mother Jones is buried. We were given the tour of the Mother Jones and Coal Miners memorial statue.

—Sue, Chicago