Female Mill Worker
You are a young mother and wife who works 60-70 hours per week for a textile mill in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Your husband was injured on the job this year and you are the sole financial support for your family. Your family recently won a trip to the fair in a church raffle. For this perspective, you will want to consider women, industry, social class and labor activism. Some resource suggestions are:
World's Columbian Exposition Search Page:
This resource is composed of several books which have been digitalized by the Illinois Institute of Technology. Some suggested search terms are: women, industry, textiles. Also, click on 'Highlights' and 'Floor Plans' for the layout of the Woman's Building, Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building, Machinery Hall and Machinery Dept.
"Women Dedicate a Building", New York Tribune
This front page of the New York Tribune features an article titled 'Women Dedicate a Building', which overviews the ceremony that opened the Women's Building at the Columbian Exposition. You might also visit the main page of the Chronicling America website, which has digitalized dozens of American newspapers from 1836-1922. Some suggested search terms are 'Columbian Exposition' + woman, industry, machinery. You can also narrow down your search to the years between 1890-1895.
Encyclopedia of Chicago
This entry describes the World's Fair in general terms, but hints at the perspectives that were included and ignored at the Fair.
Women Working
This site is a digital collection of primary sources centering on women and their work from 1800-1930. This link will direct you to search results on the Chicago World's Fair of 1893, however, some of the documents are more relevant than others. Read the titles and dates carefully when choosing which sources to view.
Art and Handicraft in the Woman's Building
This website hosts a digital copy of the book Art and Handicraft in the Woman's Building of the World's Columbian Exposition Chicago, 1893. Each chapter of the book features a different author and subject within the Woman's Building exhibit. Art and Handicraft in the Woman's Building of the World's Columbian Exposition Chicago, 1983