The Anthracite Heritage Museum will commemorate John Mitchell Day at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, with Working Memory: A Conversation on Labor Journalism, Art & Music. Three speakers will explore how labor issues are recorded in print, visual art, and song.
The program will bring together journalist and author Kim Kelly, artist Zach Horn, and musician Brian Reese to discuss the challenges and urgency of telling working-class stories. Visitors can view Horn’s Paradise, a temporary exhibition currently on display at the museum; hear Reese perform traditional labor songs; and learn about Kelly’s coverage of United Mine Workers actions and the black lung crisis in Southern Appalachia.
The program honors John Mitchell Day, a regional observance marking the conclusion of the 1902 anthracite strike, a turning point in the history of the American labor movement. Named for the United Mine Workers leader who organized the strike, John Mitchell Day will also be observed by a memorial service at Mitchell’s gravesite in Scranton’s Cathedral Cemetery on Tuesday, October 29.
The museum program will be included with regular admission: $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $5 for youth. Admission is free with museum membership, which may be purchased in person or online. Advance registration is not required.
The Anthracite Heritage Museum interprets, collects, and presents the story of hard coal mining and its related industries. Located in Scranton’s McDade Park, the museum is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, the Commonwealth’s official heritage agency. Museum hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.
For more information, visit the Anthracite Heritage Museum online or follow the museum on Facebook and Instagram.