![]() A must-read for anyone interested in American and women’s history, as well as topics of law, health, and industrial safety.” -Library Journal, Starred Review “Current nonfiction obsession! The Radium Girls by Kate Moore is powerful, disturbing, important history.” -Karen Abbott, New York Times bestselling author “Like Dava Sobel’s The Glass Universe and Margot Lee Shetterly’s Hidden Figures, Kate Moore’s The Radium Girls tells the story of a cohort of women who made history by entering the workforce at the dawn of a new scientific era. I particularly admire Moore’s compassion for her subjects and her storytelling prowess, which brings alive a shameful era in America’s industrial history.” -Rinker Buck, author of The Oregon Trail and Flight of Passage “Moore’s well-researched narrative is written with clarity and a sympathetic voice that brings these figures and their struggles to life. ![]() Uplifting and beautifully written, The Radium Girls is a tribute to the strength of women everywhere.” -Nathalia Holt, New York Times bestselling author of Rise of the Rocket Girls “Kate Moore’s gripping narrative about the betrayal of the radium girls-gracefully told and exhaustively researched-makes this a nonfiction classic. In describing their heart-wrenching struggles and bittersweet triumphs, Moore delivers an intimate portrait of these pioneers. For more information on the Radium Dial Girls Statue and Plaza, visit for The Radium Girls “Kate Moore vividly depicts the female factory workers whose courage led to a revolution in industrial safety standards. Tom Aussem, local historian and owner of Awesome Ottawa Tours, will be introducing the screening and providing local historical context. the Reddick Public Library will be hosting a free screening of 1987’s landmark documentary labor film, “Radium City”. Following the ceremony, on September 2nd, at 6 p.m. Speakers will include Darlene Halm (niece of Margaret "Peg" Looney, one of the first to die of radium poisoning) and former Mayor Robert Eschbach. a public memorial will be held in front of the plaza, with Father Caster leading the ceremony. Local unions provided key funding to erect this beautiful life-size bronze statue, which depicts a young woman extending a wilting tulip, symbolizing a radium-dipped paintbrush. The statue plaza came to fruition when a local 8th grade student, Madeline Piller, learned what had happened in her hometown and successfully lobbied elected officials to erect a memorial. This tragic chapter of local history, and many hard fought legal battles, directly resulted in new State and Federal labor legislation being enacted, ensuring that future generations of factory workers would have knowledge of what materials they were working with and access to proper safety equipment. As chronicled in the 1987 documentary film “Radium City” and Kate Moore’s New York Times Bestselling book The Radium Girls, these women experience decades of very troubling illnesses, resulting in many untimely passings. Located at the intersection of Jefferson and Clinton street, this statue, garden and interpretive signage was erected in 2011 to memorialize and honor the legacy of local women who, while under the employ of the Radium Dial Company, were subjected to years of exposure to dangerous radium-laced, glow-in-the-dark paint. Thursday, September 2nd, marks the 10th anniversary of the unveiling of Ottawa’s Radium Dial Girl Statue Plaza.
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