2012.188.001

This story, written by Carmela Teoli's grandson is about her as a young Italian immigrant who came to this country with her parents for a better life. At the age of 12 she left school to go work in one of the woolen mills in Lawrence as he parents were poor. While working there she was witness to many horrible accidents that would change her life. During the strike of 1912 she was injured and hospitalized for many months. When she was well enough she was called to testify before a Congressional Committee in Washington about the "conditions she and other children were forced to work." Her testimony had power to influence many in Washington, even Mrs. Taft, the First Lady. Carmela was invited to spend the night at the White House at the invitation of the First Lady. Following the testimony by Carmela and others working people saw better working conditions take hold. "The Bread and Roses Strike of 1912 had made an impact on labor regulations as had the testimonies of the children."