History is bunk. Anyway, that’s what the old fascist Henry Ford said. Ford was the guy who ruthlessly opposed union efforts by his employees, published and distributed the dangerous anti-Semitic fantasy Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and received the Grand Cross medal from Adolf Hitler for helping to build the Nazi war machine. You can look it up. Maybe that’s why Henry didn’t like history. His Nazi medal is still in his archives, hidden away.
Actually, history is cool. There are three basic reasons I think history is so important– critical, really– to all of us who believe that 0ur society needs fundamental, transformative social change:
Practical knowledge– In 2011, outraged citizens sat-in at the Wisconsin State Capitol in response to the governor’s 
attack on workers. They were following in the footsteps of students who in 1960 occupied the lunch counters at Woolworth’s in a successful challenge to Jim Crow. These young civil rights activists found inspiration in the 1936-37 sit-in by auto workers at the Flint factory. Their actions echoed the Wobblies of 1906, who occupied the General Electric plant in New York instead of walking out on strike. And those Wobs learned from Lucy Parsons, who inspired them with a vision of “strikes of the future” from the 1905 IWW convention stage.
Inspiration– Every generation believes that they live in “the worst of times,” which then gives rise to impatience, cynicism, and discouragement. But if history teaches anything, it is that there are victories but no permanent defeats. We are in it for the long haul. As Rabbi Tarfon said, “It is not granted you to complete the task, and yet you may not give it up.”
A Continuum– The people’s history we honor is not some ancient, static text. It’s a river in which we all swim. Each one of us has a place in the ongoing struggle for social and economic justice. “Never doubt that you can change history,” Marge Piercy reminds us. “You already have.”
“We need to recover the disappeared story of the struggle of common people to create a democratic culture. We need to inject into the current debate a vision of a just society where competition is replaced with cooperation, where greed is replaced with love allowing power to be shared by all.”
-Peter Kellman
Thanks…
To my old comrade Terry McDonough (now Terrence McDonough, professor of Economics, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway). In the 1970s we researched and wrote some local Hartford history, and Terry came up with the name “Shoeleather History.”
Some of the projects we’ve organized or cosponsored:
The Shoeleather History Project 
Steve. I’m on your side. This website rocks!
I second that emotion!
Steve: Just finished your book about the IWW in CT. I had read about the Wobblies syarting on HS, but knew nothing abouttheir presence in CT. The lack chronological sequence threw me a little bit. There are minor errors along the like saying McCarthism started in the 1940s and that New Canaan is in Litchfield County, Canaan and North Canaan are inLitchfield County, NewCanaan is in Fairfield County.Some of my grandfather’s friends organized a society in Bantam, I wonder if the IWW ever made it to there?
Thanks for the corrections Blair! Your message got cut off as you were writing about your grandfather. I’d be interested in the story. Additions and corrections are now listed on “More Hidden History of the Wobblies.”
Steve
Hi Steve…I’m reading every word of your site!!! I love that the Bobby Sands Memorial is at the end of my street…every time I drive by I think our time and energy to work continuously to free political prisoners internationally.
The Shoeleather History Project is so fascinating and it makes me proud of our amazing history here in Hartford.
In Solidarity,
Jill Friedman
Thanks Jill. This is a lot of fun. I’m retired now so I have a lot of time to write! Take care, Steve
How can one contribute an article to this project? I think it is of utmost importance to document the history of LGBT Hartford and this seems like such a great place to do so.
I was so excited to read about your book in Z magazine. In writing about my town of Napa, I have tried to include significant labor history. It is interesting how both Connecticut and Napa would not seem to have participated in the labor movement, but there was actually significant organization in both. Your can read more about my book at my website. I plan to order your book.
And still rockin’ strong! Steve, this site is a treasure trove.
I love your site, Steve. It is so great to connect with you again after all those picket lines in 1199 and anti Iraq war demos. it is really wonderful that you are keeping the history of struggle in Connecticut alive.
Hey Steve, just read your article on Paul Robson in CT Explored. I enjoyed it.
An old friend of mine Mark Breitbart was a Registrar at Asnuntuck. He was a student at Queensboro Cc in Bayside Queens and lived in the Robson house.
Enjoyed the article and pics. Will try to find your book on the IWW.
Be well.
Kim Karath
Thanks Kim! Be well, Steve
gr8 site, maybe we can collab in the future. http://Www.meroemuseum.com, glad i found this site. peace