Joe Ozanic tells the story of the creation of the Mother Jones Monument in Mt. Olive, IL.  The interview was conducted by  Barbara Herndon in 1974 as part of the COAL MINING AND UNION ACTIVITIES PROJECT, University of Illinois Springfield.

The Origins of the Mother Jones Monument

Promotional trailer for the audio documentary, "We Were Not Ladies. We Were Women."

We Were Not Ladies - Trailer01

"We Were Not Ladies. We Were Women", tells the story of 1930's labor leader Agnes Burns Wieck and her role in the Illinois Mine War.
 
The 1930's was a tumultuous time for workers and Illinois was no exception. Illinois miners were deeply divided in a bloody conflict which lasted for years, later to be known as the Illinois Mine War.  Instigated by John L. Lewis, the controversial president of the United Mine Workers of America, the mine war involved rival unions, coal companies, the state militia, and even former Governor Henry Horner. 

Through her leadership, Agnes Burns Wieck forged a new role for women in the labor movement and confronted John L. Lewis face-to-face to challenge the violence in the Illinois coal fields. 

The documentary features interviews with historians, first-person accounts, and reenacted performances to tell Agnes' remarkable story.  Produced by Greg Boozell.