Ryan Brown
@redpgh.com
Dad | DSA | CWA 13000
Pittsburgh left and labor history at redpgh.com
Also: British history, wargaming, hobbies galore
Pittsburgh left and labor history at redpgh.com
Also: British history, wargaming, hobbies galore
Just packed years' worth of collected DSA and labor movement ephemera, buttons, clothes etc. into a 27-gallon storage bin forebodingly labeled "Left archive *1*"...
February 9, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Just packed years' worth of collected DSA and labor movement ephemera, buttons, clothes etc. into a 27-gallon storage bin forebodingly labeled "Left archive *1*"...
Some good picket signs (not to mention some great '40s styles) among Westinghouse UE strikers in Beaver, Pa., 1948.
From Pitt's United Electrical Workers archive, which is worth perusing: digital.library.pitt.edu/collection/u...
From Pitt's United Electrical Workers archive, which is worth perusing: digital.library.pitt.edu/collection/u...
January 19, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Some good picket signs (not to mention some great '40s styles) among Westinghouse UE strikers in Beaver, Pa., 1948.
From Pitt's United Electrical Workers archive, which is worth perusing: digital.library.pitt.edu/collection/u...
From Pitt's United Electrical Workers archive, which is worth perusing: digital.library.pitt.edu/collection/u...
On this day in 1944, thousands of Westmoreland County workers joined a wildcat strike wave that disrupted local war industries. Robertshaw Thermostat workers reportedly struck in protest against a foreman, with those in other locations joining in sympathy.
(Plant photo Kristina Serafini/TribLive)
(Plant photo Kristina Serafini/TribLive)
January 5, 2025 at 11:21 PM
On this day in 1944, thousands of Westmoreland County workers joined a wildcat strike wave that disrupted local war industries. Robertshaw Thermostat workers reportedly struck in protest against a foreman, with those in other locations joining in sympathy.
(Plant photo Kristina Serafini/TribLive)
(Plant photo Kristina Serafini/TribLive)
This god me curious so I checked, and now I'm honored that someone thought my lil' local history book was worth uploading to Libgen
January 5, 2025 at 2:30 AM
This god me curious so I checked, and now I'm honored that someone thought my lil' local history book was worth uploading to Libgen
This cute @demsocialists.bsky.social calendar that arrived in the mail today; as a left history nerd I appreciate any source of "this day in history" factoids to offer unsolicited
January 2, 2025 at 4:09 PM
This cute @demsocialists.bsky.social calendar that arrived in the mail today; as a left history nerd I appreciate any source of "this day in history" factoids to offer unsolicited
I've never actually read his political work, but as an amateur astronomy dilettante, his History of Astronomy is a really fascinating (if presumably dated?) introduction.
Happy Birthday to Anton Pannekoek
🎈🎉🥞
"We can find traces of Pannekoek’s influence everywhere from the writings of Lenin to the surface of the Moon."
🎈🎉🥞
"We can find traces of Pannekoek’s influence everywhere from the writings of Lenin to the surface of the Moon."
How Astronomer Anton Pannekoek Planned To Storm the Heavens
'Science and knowledge are important sources of power,' Pannekoek wrote in 1909.
science.thewire.in
January 2, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I've never actually read his political work, but as an amateur astronomy dilettante, his History of Astronomy is a really fascinating (if presumably dated?) introduction.
Ring in 1938 with a New Year's cabaret from the Communist-run Pittsburgh Workers School! 50 cents to see the show (and hear Agnes Pendergrast and Her Sweethearts of Rhythm).
December 31, 2024 at 5:22 PM
Ring in 1938 with a New Year's cabaret from the Communist-run Pittsburgh Workers School! 50 cents to see the show (and hear Agnes Pendergrast and Her Sweethearts of Rhythm).
Reposted by Ryan Brown
In response to the June 1863 Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania the free Black community of McGuire’s Hill, on Pittsburgh’s south side, labored on what they dubbed Fort Robert Smalls. Today an effigy of fort’s namesake made it to the site of the all but forgotten stronghold.
December 30, 2024 at 3:01 AM
In response to the June 1863 Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania the free Black community of McGuire’s Hill, on Pittsburgh’s south side, labored on what they dubbed Fort Robert Smalls. Today an effigy of fort’s namesake made it to the site of the all but forgotten stronghold.
The mantel with all family spiritual traditions represented: Christmas, Hanukkah, Festivus, Marx
December 25, 2024 at 6:50 PM
The mantel with all family spiritual traditions represented: Christmas, Hanukkah, Festivus, Marx
Reposted by Ryan Brown
Stores shut down across 13 major cities, including Pittsburgh, which is absolutely a union town!
December 23, 2024 at 3:41 PM
Stores shut down across 13 major cities, including Pittsburgh, which is absolutely a union town!
Reposted by Ryan Brown
day 1 was amazing.......
but wait until you see day 2 😏
Here's today's anchor pickets! While many more stores are going on ULP strike today, workers want you to turn out for THESE pickets! ⬇️
Don’t live near a picket line? We still need you! Host a canvassing event - tinyurl.com/SBWU-canvass
but wait until you see day 2 😏
Here's today's anchor pickets! While many more stores are going on ULP strike today, workers want you to turn out for THESE pickets! ⬇️
Don’t live near a picket line? We still need you! Host a canvassing event - tinyurl.com/SBWU-canvass
December 21, 2024 at 11:01 AM
day 1 was amazing.......
but wait until you see day 2 😏
Here's today's anchor pickets! While many more stores are going on ULP strike today, workers want you to turn out for THESE pickets! ⬇️
Don’t live near a picket line? We still need you! Host a canvassing event - tinyurl.com/SBWU-canvass
but wait until you see day 2 😏
Here's today's anchor pickets! While many more stores are going on ULP strike today, workers want you to turn out for THESE pickets! ⬇️
Don’t live near a picket line? We still need you! Host a canvassing event - tinyurl.com/SBWU-canvass
A news item this day in 1931: a meeting of the Squirrel Hill branch of Pittsburgh's Socialists. They met at the site of today's Murray Ave. Giant Eagle.
While this was long after the party's local heyday (eclipsed by Communists), the Socialists still held regular meetings all over the city.
While this was long after the party's local heyday (eclipsed by Communists), the Socialists still held regular meetings all over the city.
December 19, 2024 at 1:47 AM
A news item this day in 1931: a meeting of the Squirrel Hill branch of Pittsburgh's Socialists. They met at the site of today's Murray Ave. Giant Eagle.
While this was long after the party's local heyday (eclipsed by Communists), the Socialists still held regular meetings all over the city.
While this was long after the party's local heyday (eclipsed by Communists), the Socialists still held regular meetings all over the city.
My treasured original copy of "Punching Out," Glaberman's classic 1952 pamphlet (which you can read here: libcom.org/article/punc...)
December 13, 2024 at 5:06 PM
My treasured original copy of "Punching Out," Glaberman's classic 1952 pamphlet (which you can read here: libcom.org/article/punc...)
Reposted by Ryan Brown
Utopian communities in the mid-19th century US. From: Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty, vol 1.
December 11, 2024 at 1:20 PM
Utopian communities in the mid-19th century US. From: Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty, vol 1.
In 1900, the local press identified the western end of the modern-day Strip District as "the center of the Italian 'reds' of Pittsburgh." Anarchist clubs and houses could be found along Penn Ave. (this article IDs the site of the modern Penn Liberty Plaza as a meeting house).
December 8, 2024 at 7:34 PM
In 1900, the local press identified the western end of the modern-day Strip District as "the center of the Italian 'reds' of Pittsburgh." Anarchist clubs and houses could be found along Penn Ave. (this article IDs the site of the modern Penn Liberty Plaza as a meeting house).
In the 1930s and '40s, Pittsburgh was home to a robust left-wing Lithuanian culture, including meeting halls and workers' organizations. I wrote about that largely forgotten history:
redpgh.com?p=249
redpgh.com?p=249
Pittsburgh’s lost Lithuanian left - Red Pittsburgh
Lithuanian immigrants in Pittsburgh joined communist and socialist groups and sparred over national politics. Today, only a few signs of the era remain.
redpgh.com
December 5, 2024 at 5:26 PM
In the 1930s and '40s, Pittsburgh was home to a robust left-wing Lithuanian culture, including meeting halls and workers' organizations. I wrote about that largely forgotten history:
redpgh.com?p=249
redpgh.com?p=249
A pleasant 1885 gathering by German socialists on the North Side of Pittsburgh. "A number of outsiders were present who were disappointed, as they expected to hear bloodthirsty and dire threats."
December 3, 2024 at 7:59 PM
A pleasant 1885 gathering by German socialists on the North Side of Pittsburgh. "A number of outsiders were present who were disappointed, as they expected to hear bloodthirsty and dire threats."
Reposted by Ryan Brown
"Since he became an anti-Fascist..." FIGHT: Against War & Fascism, Nov. 1936
December 3, 2024 at 4:24 PM
"Since he became an anti-Fascist..." FIGHT: Against War & Fascism, Nov. 1936
Today in 1975: A Beechwood teacher walks the picket line in the first days of an eight-week teachers' strike. Public school teachers struck over pay, class sizes and job security, among other issues.
December 2, 2024 at 9:04 PM
Today in 1975: A Beechwood teacher walks the picket line in the first days of an eight-week teachers' strike. Public school teachers struck over pay, class sizes and job security, among other issues.
In 1913, thousands gathered at Kennywood to hear Arturo Giovannitti -- of "bread and roses" strike fame -- speak in English and Italian.
"The working class is no longer fighting to feed its stomach," he said. "It now has noble ambitions to struggle for and an ideal to reach."
"The working class is no longer fighting to feed its stomach," he said. "It now has noble ambitions to struggle for and an ideal to reach."
November 29, 2024 at 2:17 PM
In 1913, thousands gathered at Kennywood to hear Arturo Giovannitti -- of "bread and roses" strike fame -- speak in English and Italian.
"The working class is no longer fighting to feed its stomach," he said. "It now has noble ambitions to struggle for and an ideal to reach."
"The working class is no longer fighting to feed its stomach," he said. "It now has noble ambitions to struggle for and an ideal to reach."
Some local Communist events 90 years ago this month: labor talks, a Russian Revolution anniversary party and a Thanksgiving dance at the downtown Slovak Hall -- "sponsored by the Workers Book Shop." (From the Pitt archives)
November 26, 2024 at 12:27 AM
Some local Communist events 90 years ago this month: labor talks, a Russian Revolution anniversary party and a Thanksgiving dance at the downtown Slovak Hall -- "sponsored by the Workers Book Shop." (From the Pitt archives)
Reposted by Ryan Brown
Graduate workers at the University of Pittsburgh voted overwhelmingly to unionize.
Over 97% of Graduate Teaching Assistants, Teaching Fellows, Graduate Student Researchers, and Graduate Student Assistants voted to join the @steelworkers.bsky.social
Tally: 1033 YES - 28 NO
Over 97% of Graduate Teaching Assistants, Teaching Fellows, Graduate Student Researchers, and Graduate Student Assistants voted to join the @steelworkers.bsky.social
Tally: 1033 YES - 28 NO
November 23, 2024 at 12:09 PM
Graduate workers at the University of Pittsburgh voted overwhelmingly to unionize.
Over 97% of Graduate Teaching Assistants, Teaching Fellows, Graduate Student Researchers, and Graduate Student Assistants voted to join the @steelworkers.bsky.social
Tally: 1033 YES - 28 NO
Over 97% of Graduate Teaching Assistants, Teaching Fellows, Graduate Student Researchers, and Graduate Student Assistants voted to join the @steelworkers.bsky.social
Tally: 1033 YES - 28 NO