Big Annie of Calumet

By Jerry Stanley

In 1913, miners in Calumet, Michigan, fought to a bitter stand-off with the powerful C & H Mining Company. An inspiration for many strikers was the wife of a Croatian miner, Annie Clemec. At 6-foot-2 inches, "Big Annie" led marches seven days a week over the months of the strike, carrying a "massive American flag on a 10-foot staff." Protesting the brutal working conditions, low pay, and the fact that "on average, one worker a week died in the mines, and two were crippled for life every day" at Calumet, Annie's dedication won the hearts and attention of many citizens and newspapers, who in turn backed the striking miners. A book for intense teens who might want to change the world.

Bound For Glory

By Woody Guthrie

Woody Guthrie was born in Oklahoma and traveled this whole country over--not by jet or motorcycle, but by box-car, thumb, and foot. During the journey of discovery that was his life, he composed and sang words and music that have become a national heritage. His songs, however, are but part of his legacy. Of note is his famous "1913 Massacre"Behind him Woody Guthrie left a remarkable auto-biography that vividly brings to life both his vibrant personality and a vision of America we cannot afford to let die.

Rebels on the Range

By Arthur W. Thurner

In many opinions, the best reference available on the strike is Arthur Thurner's 1984 publication Rebels on the Range. For those who are interested in a complete history of the strike, I highly recommend this book. Well researched and rich with detail

Tall Annie: A Biography

by Virginia Law Burns

Annie Clemenc was a truly remarkable woman. She was a powerful leader in the copper miners’ strike of 1913 in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She “led daily parades though the entire Calumet area, picketed ‘scabs’ and fought like a man when she believed human rights were being violated.”

RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS