In 1845, a group of young female activists from Lowell, MA organized against the textile mills.  At a time when women couldn’t vote or own property – when they were discouraged from speaking in public – these 18-22-year-olds (who had already launched America’s first women’s literary magazine) took action, sending a petition to the Massachusetts State Legislature that demanded a shorter workday, a longer meal break and cleaner air in the factories.

Help us commemorate their activism throughout Women’s History Month by choosing a name from the two thousand petition signers below, signing it in your handwriting, and posting a picture of it to Instagram.  Tag @MillGirlsMusical, @LowellNPS and #WhyWeRise – then tag three women or allies to join you.  The Lowell National Historical Park will be collecting all signatures for a display in the Park where the mill girls lived, worked and fought.

the signers

JQA Thayer
James Rupell
Gilman Galle
Herman Abbott

Hannah May
Ann White
Elizabeth Meiges
Betsy Shay
Sarah Page
Annah Bunker
Mary Bunker
Mary Reekwith
Sarah Cunningham
Caroline Bunkes
Eunice Brun
Elizabeth Watson
Lucretia Peates
Mary Ball
Mary Watkin
Naomi Busell
Sophia Hassan
Lydia A. Lydia
Charlotte Green
Alice Hute
Eloira Davis
Jane Stone
Nicholas George
Abigail Helen
Sarah Davis
Merve Green
Lucy Hall
Cynthia Ball
Nancy Chandler
Betsy Boynton
Hannah

Annette Warren
Nancy Lensmere
Elizabeth Cole
Mary G. Slunt
Abigail B. Casmoney
Leavier Hastenings
Lucy A. Pear
Nancy G. Ceakes
Hannah Davis
Lucretia Tarber
Almira Gates
May Ceonelle
Lilay Shute
Harriet Shute
Prescilla Small
Harriet Boswell
Martha A. Procter
Slobeet Masther
Lucy Thurston
Susan Bovel
Betsy Moren
Elizabeth Cole
Caroline Banks
May Ballard
Ann Currie
Harriet Merran
Ann White
Helen M. Bloson
Melinda Stubbard
Pernilia Gagdon
Mary S. Cassiet

Emily E. Adams
Sarah E. Simson
Nancy Greene
Lucy G. Pear
Almira B. Leone
Eliza S. Miller
Catharine Gely
Mary Turner
Mary Barrette
Isabel Watson
Ann Sanborn
Susan Willy
I. Willy
Margaret Weller
Abigail A. Black
Eliza A. Bennett
Deborah Gilman
L A. William
Ruth Gile
Oline J. Clarck
Adaline S. Packer
Alva Packer
Leah Davis
Susan Hall
Abby Rollins
Sophia
Rebecca Emerson
Caroline Merrill
Susan S. Kiteridge
Susan Chandler

Loveer Chandler
Harrison B. Masden
A.M. Besset
Mira N. Buet
Lydia G. Run
John M. Plord
S. Moses
B. Chidkin
S. Gale
O. Graves
A.S. Baskes
ME Baskes
George B. Broom
R. Willes
May Josselin
Jade Moses
Sarah Conant
Ann G. Ganlet
Elmira Peeble
Margaret Anderson
Jane Harris
Mary C. Brown
Mary A. Davis
Mary Jenkins
Mehitable Peeler
Mary Andrews
Hannah George
Lusar Seely
A. Becker
L. Thompson
——

Phebe Chase
Isabel Gahan
Mary S. Ford
Elizabeth Hidder
Matilda Belden
Louisa Ricker
Mary A. Hopkins
Abby D. Robbins
Martha Austin
Maria Smith
Arvilla Skinner
Alvina C. Ricker
Jane Danforth
Clara L. Danforth
Laura A. Elliott
Nancy Avery
Sarah J. White
Sate Hills
O. Jane Clarke
Olive Caryl
Rebecca R. Young
Luceba Jones
Roseanna Perkins
Sarah Herrans
Laura E. Phillips
Elisabeth Wallace
Elisabeth Howe
Charlotte Dewey
X Moses

Susan Field
Celicia Phillips
Betsy S. Whitney
Louisa Sauthmaid
Betsy Wells
Sarah Wells
Polly Wells
Mary Ann White
Lois White
Harriett Pratt
Phebe Carroll
Sarah Kenyon
Elisabeth Gilmore
Lydia Bailey
Ann Hulsman
Olive Bennett
Jabea S. Slarrer
May Salman
Margaret A. Linden
Charlotte H. Elderidge
Susan Colton
Sarah Crguard
Esther Perkins
Emily J. Begees
Sarah Rulsom
Lucinda Beers
Agustus Bilden
May Ghant
Rebecca Sampson
Hannah Lame

Nancy Ellis
Catharine R. Chamberlin
Keziah L. Smith
Hannah F. Laverly
Betsy B. Cummings
Joan York
Sarahphina Pack
Ann Keefe
Marhon McParchine
Almira N. Pelle
Mehitable Preble
Susan Hevens
Sarah J. Tull
Lucy A. Sheperd
Julia Clemen
Polly Musey
Mary P. Richardson
Judith A. Osborn
Abigail Willey
Lucy Gage
Keturals Jenness
Elizabeth Beane
Elisabeth R. Jones
Diantha Willey
Susan S. Willey
Clarinda S. Moston
Sarah Farr
Sarah McCary
A Meatcalf
Nancy Gage
Ellen Midself
Betsey A. Blake

Lucy Coburn
Lydia L. Lane
Cynthia Lane
Hannah More
Manidin Dandley
Adelia Gage
An M Hanners
Achsah H. Ryerson
Louisa R. Ryerson
Ann Ritchardson
Harriet Dickanson
Ann Clark
Caroline P. George
Cynthia Preston
Charlotte Lovejoy
Sabrina Herriman
Sarah A. Read
Lydia Gile
Nancy Gordon
Persis F. Dinsmore
Ann W. Dinsmore
Theodate Libbey
Mary A. Peavey
Amanda E. Dollofk
Elisabeth Simonds
Mary B. Bicknell
Eliza Hanson
Mary S. Gutman
Jacob Royal
Nancy Royal
D Prankin
Lucy Packard

Ellen Rankin
Phebe G. Johnston
X Johnston
Abijah Gilson
N.F. Page
Angeline Gilson
S.
Sarah Jane Mason
Mehetabla Butters
Mary Jane Corliss
Betsy E. Corliss
Rebeccah Emerson
Metildia Triat
Laranet Tibbets
Elizabeth Arndt
Jane
Jane Arndt
Lonner Sweet
Mary Cole
Almira Hnery
Christina Henry
Mehitable James
Susan W. Jame
Harriet Keost
Mary Foest

Sarah Moulton
Elizabeth Moulton
Sarah Elizabeth Key
Rosann Slogan
Susan Spressa
Carthenia Man
George W. Moulton
Thomas Bowers
Patrick Hieren
Margaret Butler
Harvey Butler
Janet Butler
Caleb Butler
Ellen Butler
Mary Wood
Ellen Woods
Mary Miller
Catherine Sheridan
Mary Dudley
Judith Pain
Elisa Pain
Adelia P. Beam
G. Wheelock
Arabella Gilson
M.M.H.
Mary Wentworth
Susan G. Keith
Moses H. Hunt
Alnora Rickford
Mary W. Bass
Elizabeth M. Thayer
Lucretia M. Turner

Eliza R. Hemenway
Mary C. Dodge
Abagail G. Down
Susan R. Dodge
Henry M. Leary
Mary Leary
Emilie H. Sherman
Ruth C. Jordan
Mary E. Brooks
Mary A. Lewis
Margaret J. Richardson
Elizabeth E. Spaulding
A. C. Wright
Nancy Lowell
Eunice B. Hudston
Clarissa Bigton
Catherine Morton
Phebe Hickerson
Jerusha Poland
Christina Chalmers
Abagail Masterson
Jane Fofs
Emily Wright
Polly E. Blood
Vernon Lindley
Amelia M. Hutchinson
Caroline Wright
Samson Hutchinson
Hiram Martin
Sarah J. Martin
Samuel P. Hunt
Turner A. Reyes

Melissa J. Chapin
Polly S. Ran
Susan Roundy
Susan Bolton
Sarah A. Pillsbury
Walker Thompson
Sarah G. Bagley
Hannah E. Cheney
Emily R. Fay
Lucy A. Fay
Hannah C. Fay
Amanda Fay
Mariam E. Holt
Elymenea Hanes
Lucy Ann Hanes
Mary Rogers
Mary A. Hill
Annis M. Hewitt
Lydia Robinson
Ruth M Rollins
Nancy Rollins
Susannah Walton
Adelia A. Sinkles
Eliza A Heath
Mahala Sanderson
Mary Ann Eobes
Clara Low
Sarah W. Morgan
Sarah Chipton
Eloisa Crosburn
Elizabeth Snell
Abagail Emer

Mary Packard
Oline Breed
Ann Hovey
Harriet Cowdey
Nancy Cowder
Sarah S. Bath
Leventy Perses
Lydia Moses
Susan Spillings
Mary French
Hannah George
Pelina Sargent
Elhamian Sargent
Sarah M. Clarck
Belinda C. Hill
M.H. Hill
N. Busell
Caroline M. Farrar
Caroline Smith
Elizabeth Sudley
Mary Sanborn
Elizabeth Bennett
Mary Merrill
Hannah Hunter
Mary Gilman

Mary A. Emery
Susan M. Metcalf
Maria Kenney
Oname Rines
Henrietta A. Rines
Maria A. Rines
Martha Hemenway
Jane Ames
Charlotte Prescott
Mary Harmerton
Martha Scale
Elisha B. Morgan
Josiah W. Hanson
George Prescott
Sarah Walton
Elizabeth H. Lewis
Martha O. Nelson
Himan W. Greeley
Catherine Smith
Elizabeth P. Lawlett
Caroline Parkes
Maria Robertson
Eliza Lutney
Sarah Wilson
Mary Holland
Abigail Hart
Didema Hull
Elizabeth Hull
Laura Whitches
Hannah Bangee
Harriet Sargent
Abiah Whitten

Martha A. High
Alice Rufs
Lucinda L.
Caroline Hapfrim
Julia Buffum
Mary Nichols
Lucretia Procter
Betsy Glesst
Thankful Kent
Ellen McHardy
Elizabeth Matthews
Rebecka Fox
Margaret W. Hades
Lydia Crithel
Katherine Small
Sarah Smith
Susan Hacket
Mary Hopkins
Amelia Davis
Ann Burret
Nancy Pelps
Maria Smith
Clarinda Martin
Cordelia Martin
Hannah C. Tarlton
Phebe A. Cass
Susan Garlton
Sarah Garlton
Carolina Garlton
June Thompson
Almy Lang
Emeline M. Upton

Lavinia G. Carney
Mary Lenfest
Sarah Hanunons
Martha Griffin
Sarah Bracket
Julia G. Balcomb
Elizabeth A. Clark
Mary Ann Worter
Maria H. Sanderson
Harriet A. Sanderson
Caroline G. Sanderson
Hannah Bicknell
Mary G. Calef
Martha A. Bridewell
Ellen Myloom
Celia N. Clark
Michaela Peck
Mary Crain
Katherine Buelton
Lavinia McLain
Hannah Desmond
Mary A. Holland
Margaret M. Laughlin
Catherine Carl
Agustas George
Mary G. Dunlap
Sarah J. Kirk
Josephine Bidwell
Persis Clough
Sarah Cordwill
Abigail Martin
Mary A. Russ
Sarah Buckman

Bridget Heney
Pegge Rowe
Emely Combes
Belinda Rundlet
Sarah E. Cushman
Judith Gouldthrite
Mary B. Newton
Mary E. Grant
Sabrina M. Davis
Julia A. Weston
Electa A. Harrick
Jane Fofs
Adelia S. Hayes
Judith Payne
Elisa Payne
Sarah Payne
A.P. Cream
P. Wheelock
Arabella Gilson
M. M. Hearth
Mary Wentworth
Susan J. Hearth
Mary H. Knot
Mary Pearl
Almira Bickford
Sarah C. Hayes
Mary F. Hayes
Mary East
J. Doloff
Maria H. Kibbs
Elizabeth H. Hayes

Melona Brooks
Elisabeth Brooks
Ann E Langley
Mary L Stearns
Caroline Langley
Lucreta Hopkins
Elisa Wilder
Lura Wilder
Elsy Jane Harrison
Mehetable Kilgore
Phebe Clark
Phebe A. Young
Submit Cook
Laura Fay
Anette Cook
Emily Ward
Sarah Ward
Mary Burns
Elisabeth Foster
Lydia Foster
Catherine Edwards
Lavinia Thuston

Louisa Barby
Sarah A Edes
Rhode Mead
Clarinda Sprague
Rhonda C Simmons
Harriet Hannaford
Mary D Worcester
Martha Webster
Caroline Worcester
May Derby
Catherine Murphy
Sarah Smith
Eliza Rodgers
Sarah Spalding
Elisa A Gates
Mary Jane Gates
Arlena More
Levinia Tupper
Alsina Tupper
Sarah Fairbanks
Roseannah Fairbanks
Martha Furbush
Rachel Furbush
Mary A. Wright

Sarah A Bobingson
Harriet Merder
Frances Aldridge
Mary E Pike
Sarah Morill
Maria Robbinson
Herer Twist
Abigail Twist
Mary A Hannaford
Lucinda Hannaford
Elizabeth Much
Grace Burnes
Rhoda Bagloy
Dorcus Dodge
Hannah Herman
Ann Augusta Sprague
Sarah Jane Stickney
Caroline Dickey
Sarah Nefs
Caroline Thompson
Caroline Stone
Ann Coolidge
Elizabeth Derby
Mary R. Knight

Olivia R. Bickford
Abigail Horner
Mary E. Richards
Georgianna F. Richards
Mehitable Green
Adaline Howe
Lyida R. Stiles
Maria A. Kemp
Clara A. Lyman
Mary A. Baldwin
Emily Cheney
Hannah Mason
Betsy Underhill
Sarah A. Mackeever
A.C. Chandler
Mary A.C. Barton
Mary B. Bigelow
Clara G.P. Hall
Nancy Dudley
Clarissa B. Richardson
Philenda Cole
Harriet F. Norton
Ann G. Burley
Minerva Fernald
Lucy Goodrich
Hannah Ridley
Margaret Cameron
Ellen Scott
Alice Clark
Nancy Stevens
Ann Simonds
Frances Smith

Maria A Merrill
May E. Bosworth
Charlotte Goodwin
Julia A. Emerson
Nancy S. Hough
Malvina Chandler
Arvilla Skinner
Eleanor Jones
Caroline Freeman
Abigail Skinner
Mary Ridley
Nancy Sargent
Emily Gray
Jane Baker
Lydia A. Libby
Jerome Kisher
Hannah Jameson
Merinda M. Flint
Laura Turner
Hannah Mooley
Maria G. Smith
Mary Emerson
Margaret J. Curtis
Caroline Allen
Lucy H. Parley
Eve Fulder
Betsy Blest
Elmy Cram
Susan Sargent

Adeline Haristed
Harriet Haristed
Maria Clark
Lucy Holmes
Mary D. Clarck
Cordelia Clarck
Elisabeth Hutchins
Almira Hutchinson
Hannah Meeran
Ann Mariah Hamilton
Christina Cole
Lavina F. Whitney
Maria Babcock
Rosalina Wight
Leah A Wight
Arabella Carpenter
Susan Odell
Susan W Chandler
Abby Bracket
Abby Carpenter
Lucy Ann Parker
Asenath G. Fogg
Amy Caelen

Elizabeth Holms
Julia Livingston
Martha Weeks
Sarah A. Nute
Elisa D. Nute
Clara Weeks
Lucy D. Clarke
Sarah Holt
Martha E. Clarke
Martha Webster
Elmira Cromwell
Lucy Stone
Elisabeth Moody
Sarah E. Burnham
Catherine Meloy
Betsy Hammond
Eveline Barnard
Mary D. Scavey
Sarah A. Dow
Mary A. Newhall
Lydia B. Hilton
Mary E. Higgend
Elisa A. Langley
Sarah A. Bassett
Rachel C. Page
Elmira A. Birch
Lucy A. Nute
Sarah A. Butler
Betsy M. Butler
Sarah E. Hollmes
Caroline B. Pond
Caroline Stickney
Climena M. Butter
Susan M. Clarck

Eben Stevens
Benjamin M. Butler
David Plaisted
George Plaisted
Charles Clarck
George Stone
Enoch Butler
George Clarck
Thomas Rich
Nathaniel L. Dayton
Samuel McIntire
A.F. Graves
John F. Davis
E.L. C. Dixon
Jane Bunker
Lois Fifield
Sarah Cimball
Lydia Hill
Dorcas Thompson
Mary McLuwen
Jacob Vute
Olice W. Gates
Nancy V. Morse
E.A. Breed
Mary Field
Charoline Paiken
Vesta J. Patten
B. Whittemore
Adaline Tibbetts
Ann Fellars
Mary A. Samson
Hannah A. Pinkham
Harriet Symmers

Almira Bicker
May L. Hemstone
Mary Jane Dunlap
Luanda M. Sanborn
Mary E. Dole
Mary Richardson
Cynthia Worthington
Am. M. Dane
E.A. Lang
Martha Jane H–
Lyia Gave
Lucy Smith
Maria Harthsboen
Daniel Harthsboen
Sybil Weaver
Mary Martin
Clarinda Martin
Cordilia Martin
Caroline Sautell
Julia Octavia Potter
Hannah S. Smith
Charlotte Remington
Laura Luther
Amanda Fay
F. Girhes
Hannah Fay
Emely Farmer
Ann Cary
Eliza George
Sarah Jane Burgess
Mehiteble Blaze
Almira J. Potter

Polly B. Watterman
Sarah F. Wate
Hannah A. Midgett
Adaline M. Dustin
Arsenth G. Moulton
Arabell Shearer
Mary Good
Lydia Coevir
Ellen Cheaver
Janet G. Cheaver
Eliza Withan
Martha Jane Burgess
E. Dueker
Sarah H. Chamberlain
Betsy Johnson
John B. Thing
Charles E. Clements
Jefse L. Morrison
Lymnel F. Bicknell
John Ingllis
N.B. Reed
E. Dutton
Mary A. Sheperd
John Shepard
Robert Prince
M.M. Simpson
David Bumford
James M. Larton
George W. Maxwell
Patrick Dolan
James Worthen

see the 1845 petition