Essay Sample about Leonora O'Reilly Achievements

A memorial is defined as something established to remind people of a person or event. To be memorialized, means to preserve or to commemorate. In other words, in order to be remembered, you must do something worth remembering. Leonora O’Reilly was a name that most do not recognize. She was a women's rights activist and a labor workers advocate in the 1880’s who changed both movements with her voice and dedication to both causes. So why was Leonora forgotten with her many triumphs? Leonora O’Reilly deserves to be given an exhibit in the Museum of Women's history to honor her many achievements in American, Irish and Women's History.

American history covers the lifespan of many historical figures, from George Washington to Sandra Day O'Connor. Over this time, Leonora O'Reilly achievements such as establishing workers rights, and safety protocols can seem minimal compared to others, but the importance of them are no less. This brings up the question, when does a person deserve a memorial, and what do they have to do to receive one? “When the members of a community create a monument or memorial, they are making a statement about the ideas, values…they think their society should remember, if not honor. As a result, these structures…influence the way people understand the subjects of their commemoration…They thus serve as historical artifacts in themselves” (Facing History and Ourselves). A standard for memorialization mainly seems to be people with some historical significance. Looking at this standard, many memorials are recognizable, from the Washington Monument, to the Lincoln Memorial, causing many people to disagree that a seemingly insignificant person such as Leonora O’Reilly, is worthy of something that we associate with controversial figures. The National Parks System says, “The over 2,600 NHLs found in the U.S. today come in many forms: historic buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts. Each NHL represents an outstanding aspect of American history and culture” (National Historic and Landmarks System). With so many landmarks and dedication for numerous achievements, why is there no one specifically dedicated to Leonora O’Reilly? Perhaps establishing safety protocols to protect hundreds of young women, protesting the social norms that women were sentenced to follow and fighting for a nation's independence is all still too little for recognition. Or perhaps people will recognize how she deserves to have the spotlight on her achievements, as an Irish-American woman in the 1880’s Leonora O’Reilly is justified in her recommendation to receive a memorial in the Women's History Museum for her pioneering accomplishments. 

Unlike some activists, Leonora was not afraid to get her hands dirty with her work. According to Irish America, “Leonora marched with the strikers in a 1910 protest “The Uprising of the 20,000,” a revolt against the working conditions in the garment industry. …Nowhere more evident than in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory…demanded 16–20-hour workdays in dangerous, unsanitary conditions, no safety precautions, no bathroom breaks and talking was strictly forbidden. Even humming could get you fired on the spot” (Rogers). Leonora was a major activist for female labor workers rights. Firsthand experiencing the labor lifestyle at the age of eleven, she later convinced manufacturers to adopt safety protocols and measures to help counter and improve the poor working conditions. Her pressure for workers safety broke through the resistant companies defenses after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. Here Leonora states, “We, of New York remember the Triangle fire case. We saw our women burning, jumping to the streets, and dying horrible deaths. We tried to get justice but got instead the same old verdict from the courts, ‘Nobody to blame’” (Rogers).  After her spoken account Leonora went on to organize protests and picket lines, even starting an investigation for what caused the fire when the male dominated company refused to. Leonora deserves to be given this exhibition because she stood up for those who could not, and improved what many thought to be unfixable, or unworthy of good working conditions.

Similar to her role in American history, Leonora had an impact on Irish History as well. Leonora was the daughter of an Irish immigrant who had immigrated to New York before Leonora was born. Leonora did not give up her Irish roots though. Irish America states,“She paid tribute to her heritage by joining the fight for Ireland’s independence. O’Reilly used her contacts to drive support for boycotts, the first a boycott by dockworkers who refused to unload British cargoes across major American cities. Later, O’Reilly was involved in a consumer boycott of British goods, using her connections with the Women’s Purchasing League” (Rogers).” Leonora became a freedom fighter, using her position of power to help her family’s  homeland. She impacted not only the ideals of those in America, but across the globe as well, and therefore is deserving of a memorial worthy of her accomplishments, that can show ans inspire others to become a trailblazer like herself. Additionally, Leonora also was somewhat of a revolutionist during the 1880’s. Alongside with organizing boycotts, Leonora also openly supported the Irish Rebellion. The Maine Irish Heritage Center mentions,  “Leonora joined multiple organizations that supported the Irish Rebellion, and used her connections to organize boycotts. Like many, she argued that British imperialism negatively impacted American workers as well” (Maine Irish Heritage Center). The Women's History Museum says, their mission is to honor the lives and legacies of all women, living and dead. While Leonora's impact on Irish and American history is substantial, her legacy of advocacy for equal rights and privileges should live on through the museum, in an exhibit dedicated to her. 

Names such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. are taught, memorialized and remembered today. What these figures, and Leonora O’Reilly have in common is that they all stood up for a cause that they knew needed to be changed. But, only two of these figures have monuments, dedications and museums in honor of their work. Simply put, Leonora O'Reilly deserves an exhibit in the Women's History Museum, to showcase and acknowledge the groundbreaking work she did similar to the actions of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr..  It takes a true pioneer and icon to change the fate of history as we know it, but it also takes stereotypes and time periods to keep an accolade from being received. If Leonora receives an exhibit in the Women's History Museum, her name will finally be associated with the praise it deserves and the recognition of her achievements and hard work.

Works Cited

Facing History & Ourselves. “After Charlottesville: Public Memory and the Contested Meaning of Monuments.” Facing History and Ourselves, https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/after-charlottesville-public-memory-and-contested-meaning-monuments. Accessed 28, February, 2022.

Maine Irish Heritage Center. “#19suffragestories -Number 4- Leonora O'Reilly.” Maine Irish Heritage Center, Maine Irish Heritage Center, 16 May 2021, https://maineirish.com/19suffragestories-4-leonora-oreilly/. Accessed 28 February 2022.

National Historic and Landmarks Program. “National Historic Landmarks Program (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1582/index.htm. Accessed 28, February, 2022.

Rogers , Rosemary. “Wild Irish Women: Leonora O'Reilly.” Irish America, Irish America, 18 Oct. 2021, https://www.irishamerica.com/2021/09/wild-irish-women-leonora-oreilly/. Accessed 28, February, 2022.