Unraveling Workers’ Letters: The Voices behind Nelly Don

Katherine Hamel

Item

Title

Katherine Hamel

Description

Letter by factory worker who identifies herself as a long-term employee of the Donnelly Garment who had work through the Great Depression. Hamel is satisfied with her wages and working conditions.

Contributor

n/a

Date Original

Undated

Location

Kansas City, Missouri

Collection name

James A. Reed Collection, K0443

Identifiers

Box 34

Source

The State Historical Society of Missouri-Kansas City

Publisher

n/a

Access Rights

The Donor hereby gives and assigns to the University all rights of copyright which the Donor has in (a) the Materials and (b) in such of his works as may be found among any collections of Materials received by the University from others.

Type

Text

Format

Letter

Transcript

Mrs. Katherine Hamel
2717 Gillham Road
Kansas City, Missouri

I am a pioneer of the Donnelly Garment Co. which means I have been employed here over fifteen year’s during that time I have had two week vacation once a year with pay.

This year because of my fifteen years service I will get three week’s vacation with pay. And each year following as long as I am an employee of the Donnelly Garment Co. I have received for Xmas each year five dollars. I was carried all through depression without any loss of salary. I have always recieved [received] a salary that allowed me a comfortable living. I have been paid for all time I have been off sick. We are furnished nice clean hospital room’s clean wash rooms. A recreation room a cafeteria with home cooked food in the building.

Katherine Hamel