Sarah Rebecca Blizzard ( Rogers; October 6, 1864 – September 28, 1955) was an American

labor activist A union organizer (or union organiser in Commonwealth spelling) is a specific type of trade union member (often elected) or an appointed union official. A majority of unions appoint rather than elect their organizers. In some unions, the orga ...

involved with the

United Mine Workers of America The United Mine Workers of America (UMW or UMWA) is a North American Labor history of the United States, labor union best known for representing coal miners. Today, the Union also represents health care workers, truck drivers, manufacturing worke ...

(UMWA). She was the mother of UMWA officer

Bill Blizzard William H. Blizzard (September 19, 1892 – July 31, 1958) was an American union organizer, a commander of the miners' army during the 1921 Battle of Blair Mountain, and president of District 17 of the United Mine Workers (UMWA). Blizzard is mo ...

, and was known to the coal miners as "Mother" or "Ma" Blizzard. UMWA President

Cecil Roberts Edric Cecil Mornington Roberts (18 May 1892 – 20 December 1976) was an English journalist, poet, dramatist and novelist. He was born and grew up in Nottingham. Working career Roberts published his first volume of poems, with a preface by Joh ...

is her great-grandson.

Background

Born in Fayette County, West Virginia, Sarah witnessed the arrival of the

railroads Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in Track (rail transport), tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the ...

circa 1880 and the beginnings of the

coal mining Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from ...

industry in

southern West Virginia Southern West Virginia is a culturally and geographically distinct region in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Southern West Virginia is known for its coal mining heritage and Southern affinity. The region is also closely identified with southwe ...

. Blizzard was involved with the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) from its beginnings and encouraged her family to participate with the union. Women were not allowed in the mines, but focused on running their households and raising their families. They held a key role in supporting the men in the mines and when they went on strike. The Blizzard family was evicted from their home in Kilsyth, West Virginia due to Sarah's support of the miners in the

coal strike of 1902 The Coal strike of 1902 (also known as the anthracite coal strike) was a strike by the United Mine Workers of America in the anthracite coalfields of eastern Pennsylvania. Miners struck for higher wages, shorter workdays, and the recognition of ...

. After their eviction, the family moved to

Cabin Creek, West Virginia Cabin Creek is an Unincorporated area, unincorporated community in Kanawha County, West Virginia, Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. Cabin Creek is located on the south bank of the Kanawha River at the mouth of Cabin Creek (West Virgi ...

. During the

Paint Creek–Cabin Creek strike of 1912 The Paint Creek–Cabin Creek Strike, or the Paint Creek Mine War, was a confrontation between striking coal miners and coal operators in Kanawha County, West Virginia, centered on the area enclosed by two streams, Paint Creek and Cabin Creek ...

, Blizzard allowed striking miners to camp on her family's land. Ma Blizzard and

Mother Jones Mary G. Harris Jones (1837 (baptized) – November 30, 1930), known as Mother Jones from 1897 onwards, was an Irish-born American schoolteacher and dressmaker who became a prominent union organizer, community organizer, and activist. She h ...

organized an "umbrella march" where pro-union women marched with umbrellas in support of the miners. Blizzard led a group of women to damage the railroad tracks used by the Bull Moose Special, "train-riding, machine-gunning lawmen" who shot into tent colonies used by miners and their families evicted by the coal companies for striking. Residents of Holly Grove tent colony

After the 1912 strike, Blizzard was called to testify before the Congressional committee investigating the conditions which led to the strike. One aspect of her testimony was the actions of the guards towards the community during the strike. Ma Blizzard never left her community, but in the following years focused her energy on supporting the work of the miners.

References

External links

Blair Community Center and Museum
for a museum and research facility that specializes in the West Virginia Mine Wars * {{DEFAULTSORT:Blizzard, Sarah 1864 births 1955 deaths Activists from West Virginia People from Cabin Creek, West Virginia People from Fayette County, West Virginia Trade unionists from West Virginia United Mine Workers of America people

Background

References

Further reading

External links