The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and its Legacy
Deadly Factory Fire | Investigation | Impact | Additional Resources
Deadly Factory Fire
On March 25, 1911, just as workers were getting ready to leave for the day, a fire broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City's Greenwich Village. Within minutes, fed by several tons of flammable fabric, the fire spread through the building's upper three stories. Most workers on the 8th floor and managers on the top floor escaped. Dozens of workers on the 9th floor perished in the blaze. Most exits were chain locked, the fire escape collapsed, elevators became impenetrable with heat, and the only accessible exit became blocked by panicked victims. Firemen who arrived at the scene lacked ladders tall enough to rescue victims. In sheer desperation, many workers jumped from the 9th floor windows. In all, 146 employees died, many of them young Jewish and Italian immigrant women.
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Despite employment of the best equipment available to them and gallant efforts to reach the trapped victims, firemen watched helplessly as panicked victims jumped to their deaths. The horrifying scene made clear the need for stricter fire safety laws. The letter below describes safety conditions in the building before and after the fire.
This image is available from the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
The holes in the sidewalk are noted on the Asch Building floor plans, page 3 as seen below and in our Digital Collections.
This image is available from the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
A list of victims, along with brief biographies, are presented in Cornell University's exhibit, Remembering the Triangle Factory Fire.
This image is available from the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
The earliest newspaper reports described the lack of adequate fire safety measures that led to the massive loss of life from the fire.
This newspaper is available from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America
This event and the public’s reaction had a major impact on fire and safety regulations. New York State formed a Factory Investigating Commission to inspect factories in all the major cities of New York and examine working conditions in factories and other businesses.
Page one of a two page letter from Jas. P. Whiskeman, Consulting Engineer to Bernard L. Shientag, Esquire sharing information regarding the conditions of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory building, also know as the Asch Building, on Washington Place and Greene Street in New York City at the time of the March 25, 1911 fire which killed 146 employees due to unsafe work conditions. Three floor plans showing the arrangement of the eighth, ninth, and tenth floors at time of the fire were enclosed with the letter.
You can view an enhanced version of the document along with page 2 of the document in our Digital Collections.
Page one of three floor plans showing the arrangement of the Asch Building's eighth, ninth, and tenth floors at time of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire enclosed with a letter from Jas. P. Whiskeman, Consulting Engineer to Bernard L. Shientag, Esquire sharing information regarding the conditions of the building on Washington Place and Greene Street in New York City at the time of the March 25, 1911 fire which killed 146 employees due to unsafe work conditions.
You can view an enhanced version of this document in our Digital Collections
Page two of three floor plans showing the arrangement of the Asch Building's eighth, ninth, and tenth floors at time of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire enclosed with a letter from Jas. P. Whiskeman, Consulting Engineer to Bernard L. Shientag, Esquire sharing information regarding the conditions of the building on Washington Place and Greene Street in New York City at the time of the March 25, 1911 fire which killed 146 employees due to unsafe work conditions.
You can view an enhanced version of this document in our Digital Collections
Page three of three floor plans showing the arrangement of the Asch Building's eighth, ninth, and tenth floors at time of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire enclosed with a letter from Jas. P. Whiskeman, Consulting Engineer to Bernard L. Shientag, Esquire sharing information regarding the conditions of the building on Washington Place and Greene Street in New York City at the time of the March 25, 1911 fire which killed 146 employees due to unsafe work conditions.
You can view an enhanced version of this document in our Digital Collections
