Analyzing Photographs of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

This activity can be used as an introduction to labor issues during the Progressive Era. For grades 4-8. Approximate time needed is 15-20 minutes.

Present the activity to the entire class. Ask students to describe the image and try to determine what is happening. Ask students to record as many observations (setting, people, and objects) as possible from the image. Encourage students to pay attention to specific details in the image. Remind students to look at the whole visible area for context clues; even the smallest details may reveal the answer.

Ask students to answer the following in a 3-column chart:

• What I See
• What I Think
• Questions I Have

Once students have offered some guesses, move to the additional photographs. Reveal that these images relate to the same tragic event. Ask students complete the same questions again for these photographs:

• What I See
• What I Think
• Questions I Have

Engage students in a whole-class discussion about the inferences they made while observing the images. An inference students might make is that the photographs relate to a major fire. Ask students about questions they might have. Some possible questions include:

• When and where did this event occur?
• How did the fire start?

Click on “View Primary Source Details” on the first image to reveal the full title and context for the event – the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.

This activity was adapted from “The Tragedy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire” in the New York City Department of Education’s Passport to Social Studies, Grade 8, Unit 2, Lesson 15 (pg. 221-232).