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Labor Connections Between Seattle and Spokane in the Early Twentieth Century

Mon, Mar 10

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Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum

An NEA Big Read presentation by Dr. Betsy Pingree.

Labor Connections Between Seattle and Spokane in the Early Twentieth Century
Labor Connections Between Seattle and Spokane in the Early Twentieth Century

Time & Location

Mar 10, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM PDT

Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum, 93 Pike St #307, Seattle, WA 98101, USA

About the Event

Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum is pleased to welcome Dr. Betsy Pingree for an NEA Big Read presentation exploring Seattle-Spokane labor connections and the migratory extractive labor in the PNW.


In the early twentieth century, thousands of workers migrated between jobs in the Pacific Northwest, creating a dynamic network of transient labor. Seattle and Spokane emerged as key hubs in this system, where workers navigated the exploitative practices of employment agents—known as "job sharks"—who charged fees for access to new job opportunities in the surrounding forests, mills, fields, and canneries. This talk examines how workers, bosses, and employment agents collectively shaped this network of labor migration, often clashing over control of labor and its terms. These conflicts extended beyond the workplace and raised questions about free speech, society, and power in the rapidly industrializing west.


Dr. Betsy Pingree is an upper school history teacher at Seattle's Lakeside School. She earned her…

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