MT. OLIVE Mother Jones Museum

MOTHER JONES MUSEUM
215 E. Main, Mt. Olive
TEL: 217-999-4261

motherjonesmuseummtolive.org

This beautiful banner (below) was recently created by the museum and hangs in the entrance.

Mt. Olive’s small Mother Jones Museum is being expanded. The museum has pride of place because this is the town where Mother Jones chose to be buried (in the Union Miners Cemetery). It is also where “General” Alexander Bradley had his home and base of operation. In addition to explanatory panels and display cases for a small collection of mining memorabilia, the museum exhibits important, original historic papers of, by, and related to Mother Jones, General Bradley, and the miners’ labor organizations.

ON DISPLAY

original painting of Mt. Olive when first established

 
original photo of General Alexander Bradley

 
original telegram signed by “Gen A Bradley” in the lead-up to the Battle of Virden

 
published image of “The Battle of Virden”

 
the restored Mt. Olive Coal Company sign

 tremendously important letter of Mother Jones, dated November 12, 1923, forwarded to Mount Olive, requesting burial in the Union Miners Cemetery 

original Funeral Notice of Mother Jones indicating her transfer to Mt. Olive for services and  burial in the Union Miners Cemetery (and note the union bug at the bottom, indicating that the document was printed in a union shop)

original newspaper

original Progressive Mine Workers of America conveying a charter to a local group

 an original Women’s Ausiliary certificate of the Progressive Mine Workers of America

 an original certificate from the State of Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals

 didactic panels on display explain Mother Jones and the local Illinois context that preceded her activities

The museum also features this beautiful new banner honoring the Union Miners Cemetery nearby.

And it features a modern quilt decorated with Mother Jones biographical inserts.