University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--History History 2016 Run of the Mine: Miners, Farmers, and the Non-Union Spirit of the Gilded Age, 1886-1896 Dana M. Caldemeyer University of Kentucky, [email protected] Digital Object Identifier: http://dx.doi.org/10.13023/ETD.2016.075 Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Caldemeyer, Dana M., "Run of the Mine: Miners, Farmers, and the Non-Union Spirit of the Gilded Age, 1886-1896" (2016). Theses and Dissertations--History. 34. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/history_etds/34 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the History at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--History by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained needed written permission statement(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine) which will be submitted to UKnowledge as Additional File. I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the irrevocable, non-exclusive, and royalty-free license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I agree that the document mentioned above may be made available immediately for worldwide access unless an embargo applies. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of my work. I understand that I am free to register the copyright to my work. REVIEW, APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE The document mentioned above has been reviewed and accepted by the student’s advisor, on behalf of the advisory committee, and by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), on behalf of the program; we verify that this is the final, approved version of the student’s thesis including all changes required by the advisory committee. The undersigned agree to abide by the statements above. Dana M. Caldemeyer, Student Dr. Tracy Campbell, Major Professor Dr. Scott K. Taylor, Director of Graduate Studies RUN OF THE MINE: MINERS, FARMERS, AND THE NON-UNION SPIRIT OF THE GILDED AGE, 1886- 1896 DISSERTATION A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky By Dana M. Caldemeyer Lexington, KY Director: Dr. Tracy Campbell, Professor of History Lexington, KY 2016 Copyright © Dana M. Caldemeyer 2016 ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION RUN OF THE MINE: MINERS, FARMERS, AND THE NON-UNION SPIRIT OF THE GILDED AGE, 1886-1896 “Run of the Mine” examines why workers refused to join unions in the late nineteenth century. Through a focus on the men and women involved in the southern Midwest coal industry who quit or did not join unions, this dissertation analyzes the economic, geographic, and racial factors that contributed to workers’ attitudes toward national unions like the United Mine Workers of America (UMW). It argues that the fluidity between rural industries that allowed residents to work in multiple occupations throughout the year dramatically shaped worker expectations for their unions. This occupational fluidity that allowed miners to farm and farmers to mine coincided with farmer and worker stockholding, futures market speculations, cooperative endeavors, and strikebreaking efforts that complicated workplace relationships and muddled local union goals. Taken together, these factors caused workers to craft their own concepts of unionism that did not always fit with national union agendas. Workers’ disinterest in formal unions, then, did not come from an apathy toward unionism, but from a belief that unions did not offer the surest means to attain their economic, political, and social needs. KEYWORDS: Non-unionism, capitalism, rural labor, agriculture, dual occupations Dana M. Caldemeyer April 8, 2016 Date RUN OF THE MINE: MINERS, FARMERS, AND THE NON-UNION SPIRIT OF THE GILDED AGE, 1886-1896 By Dana M. Caldemeyer Dr. Tracy A. Campbell Director of Dissertation Dr. Scott K. Taylor Director of Graduate Studies April 8, 2016 Date “Organization is simply a means to an end and not the end itself….” --“Old Residenter,” Indiana coal miner United Mine Worker’s Journal, May 26, 1892 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Writing labor history pertaining to the late nineteenth century, more often than not, is depressing. Even when the “good guys” were truly good, they seldom won. It makes writing about workers difficult. Without a strong support network, this process would have been more painful than any grad student could stand. But this acknowledgement section is proof that there are people willing to go out of their way to make research easier, writing tolerable, and life so much brighter. I have been blessed with a fantastic family, amazing friends, and astute colleagues who all made this project stronger than I could have ever hoped or imagined. Such teamwork may not have always worked well for labor organizing in the 1880s and 1890s, but it has definitely benefitted me. Those who have known or worked with Ronald Formisano will agree that I could not have found a more knowledgeable, challenging, or helpful mentor. I know he had countless better things to do with his retirement than correct awkward chapter drafts, but he carefully read each one anyway; some of them several times over. I am so grateful he took the time and effort to train me. My first-rate dissertation committee gave fantastic feedback and constant encouragement throughout this process. Mark Summers graciously answered my questions about trade networks, railroads, and politics long after he had likely lost interest. And even after that, he read this entire dissertation, saving me from a host of embarrassing errors. Phil Harling, Amy Taylor, and Michael Kazin carefully read this draft and gave terrific insight on developing this project. Jeremy Crampton and Ernest Yanarella likewise offered excellent critiques. But none of this would have been possible iii without Tracy Campbell. A skilled dissertation director, he waded through atrocious drafts and pushed me to work through organizational issues, research problems, and arguments. This hunk of research would not be passable without him. I have had the benefit of a host of helpful readers through the course of this project. It was truly an honor to have Bruce Laurie read and offer his valuable insight on this dissertation. His knowledge of labor organizing in the late nineteenth century is unmatched and I am grateful he took the time to share his expertise with me. Edward Blum, Matthew Hild, and Chad Montrie all offered great conversation, new perspectives, and fantastic advice that made arguments clearer and chapters stronger. Eric Arnesen, Andrew Arnold, Cindy Hahamovitch, Jennifer Luff, Scott Nelson, and the rest of the participants in the D.C. Working Class History Seminar provided excellent feedback on Chapter Three that helped immensely with the overall structure of my dissertation. J. Burton Kirkwood offered the interest and encouragement that motivated me to turn an undergraduate paper into a doctoral dissertation. I’m not sure where I would be without the support of the University of Kentucky History Department faculty and staff. Bruce Holle’s wisdom and advice were invaluable throughout my time at UK and I consider myself fortunate to have such a great friend and mentor. James Albisetti, Ronald Eller, Joanne Melish, Francis Musoni, Eric Myrup, Gerald Smith, and Scott Taylor offered much appreciated encouragement, interest in my research, and made POT 17 a more welcome place. Tina Hagee, a stellar administrator, receives far too little credit for the work she does. Not only did she help with the mounds of paperwork required to navigate the University bureaucracy, but she went out of her iv way to make sure that the process was as painless as possible and that my research was funded. My research would not have been possible without research award money or the army of librarians and archivists at the University of Kentucky and elsewhere. The National Society of Colonial Dames of America granted me extensive research funds through their Regional History Award that funded my early research trips. UK’s Lance Banning Memorial award, travel support from the UK History Department and Graduate School, as well as generous support from the William T. Bryan Chair all eased research and travel expenses at different points of this project. The William T. Bryan Dissertation Fellowship likewise made it possible for me to focus on writing and last minute research crucial to strengthening this project. UK’s Interlibrary Loan and Circulation departments endured my unending requests for more microfilm and books and Judy Fugate was always happy to order more. John Hoffmann at the University of Illinois and the staff at the Indiana State Archives, University of Iowa, University of Missouri, as well as the Illinois state archives at the University of Illinois-Normal repository and at the state capital happily accommodated my constant requests to see anything they had on coal mining and farming. Glenna Schroeder-Lein and Debbie Hamm at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library made my time in Springfield a joy as they pulled collection after collection for me, helped me track down new ones, and patiently listened as I told them more than they ever wanted to know about the Illinois coal industry.