Why Did Women Work at the Endicott Johnson Corporation?

By Ryan Karetsky

Introduction/Argument: 

The Endicott Johnson Corporation was founded in 1899 when Henry Endicott purchased a struggling Lester Brothers Boot and Shoe Company and formed the Endicott Shoe Company.  In order to run the company efficiently, George F. Johnson, who was once the factory’s assistant superintendent, was promoted to manager. Not too long afterwards, Johnson banded together to form a partnership with Endicott and rebranded the company and formed the Endicott Johnson Corporation. During Johnson’s presidency, the corporation became one of the largest shoe manufacturers in the United States in the early 1920’s. The company was responsible for nearly all of the shoes and footwear for the United States army during both World War I and World War II. Johnson’s success can be related to his square deal version of welfare capitalism, where he implemented various worker benefits and programs even during harsh economic times. This resulted in an unique bond, between employer and employee, which helped him earn their loyalty. With Johnson’s square deal in place, it also provided more opportunity for woman in the workplace. Through oral histories, EJ Worker Magazines, an EJ worker handbook, and the work of historians such as Gerald Zahavi and Diane Vecchio; we get a better sense of why women wanted to work at a company such as Endicott Johnson.

The Evolution of George F. Johnson’s views on women in the workforce according to Gerald Zahavi:

George F. Johnson originally thought that women should not be working and should be home with the children. Johnson wrote to a clergyman in 1923 about the topic and stated that,“Too many of our families, in order to make a little more money, send their wives into the factories. I don’t approve of this except in cases of extreme necessity. The place of the housewife, it seems to me is in the home.” Zahavi states that the company at times made it hard for a female worker, as it offered inflexible part time hiring, and the company did not provide day care services for its employees. However he also states that, “the extensive welfare benefits that the firm offered partially made up for the lack of child care facilities.” Zahavi also claims that as the company employed more women(see statistics below), Johnson faced public controversy over the high percentage of working females within the company. Johnson changes his viewpoint on the topic in 1928 when he published a statement saying, “Women seek employment in our factories, because of the good wages they earn, and the easy work and pleasant factory conditions. If women continue to work after marriage, it is because they want the money they earn.”

 

*Zahavi is a well respected historian who has great knowledge about the history of  Endicott Johnson as a company* 

 

 

 

Growth of women within EJ based on Zahavi's findings:

  • By 1900 there were 400 women employed by the firm, which represented about 22 percent of the company’s workers
  • By 1920 there were 3,962 women employed by the firm, making up around 27 percent of the company’s workers 
  • By 1927 women made up around 35 percent of the company’s workers (Around the time period in which Johnson changes his views)
  • Women that were married at Endicott Johnson allowed themselves to take full advantage of the firm’s welfare services. By the mid 1920s roughly half of EJ female workers were married.

* Zahavi is a well respected historian who has great knowledge about the history of  Endicott Johnson as a company* 

Why Women Worked at EJ: 

In an interview conducted in 1982, Adaline Filip, a married female employee at Endicott Johnson explains why she wanted to work at Endicott Johnson and no where else. She states that, “ I was determined to get to EJ no matter how, because I could get benefits, and my family. I thought well, if I don’t make high wages, so what? I’ll get the benefits, and I’ll be better off.” Adaline also states that her husband Frances worked at the corporation, so they were able to take full advantage of the firm’s welfare services. Zahavi also argues that due to these benefits women more than likely persuaded their husbands to seek employment at EJ, so they too could receive these welfare services. Within another interview, David Neilson interviewed a female employee who states that she was sick prior to employment at EJ and sought  EJ out because of their medical benefits. She says, “ With Endicott Johnson was their medical and their doctors. You’d be taken care of. Of Course, in my mind I knew that I would probably always have to have care. So I applied for a position.” 

Mary Shaughnessy’s Experience at EJ:

Mary Shaughnessy was an employee of EJ and provides a first- hand account of what it was like as a female worker employed by EJ. She supports the claims that there were good working conditions and benefits. Mary worked previously at a cigar factory, but changed occupations and went to work for EJ, as the benefits were better. She said her job at the company was putting the heel lining in the shoe, and she worked there for approximately 2 years. Mary states that she decided to work at EJ because her husband worked at the factory as well, which meant they qualified for specific welfare services that were given to married couples that were employed at EJ. Mary’s experience, also supports the claims that woman joined the company for the worker benefits when she explains that her husband became ill while working the job. She stated that the company paid for his medical bills and placed him in a hospital in the mountains to improve his health. 

Benefits Women Received based on Employee Handbook:

  • Medical plan: As of 1959 45 physicians were on call at Wilson Memorial Hospital:
    • “Everyone eligible regular employee, retiree, and immediate dependent members of their family who are eligible for service are entitled to hospitalization.”
    • “There is no limit, nor is a charge made for any service authorized by your doctor. The authorized cost will be covered by the Endicott Johnson Plan.”
  • Death benefits: “When the deceased employee is survived by a spouse, full benefits will be paid to such spouse” 
  • Maternity leave: “Leaves of not exceeding one (1) year will be given to female employees who have a minimum of months of continues service”
  • "Woman who are on special leaves of absence will receive any vacation, holiday or  bonus payment which are made during the period of their leaves”

Some of the other plans and benefits:

  • Old age and survivors insurance (SS)
  • Pension Plans
  • Surgical benefits- fully covered 
  • Dental care- partially covered 
  • Counseling- fully covered 
  • Paid holidays
  • Injuries on and off the job- covered depending on the circumstance 
  • Home owning plan:
  • Married women whose spouse also worked at the company qualified them to be able to purchase an Endicott Johnson home. Houses were sold at the cost of construction plus the value of the lot on which it was erected. All employees were eligible after the 2ndyear of employment. Widows were able to obtain houses too during this time period. 
The Endicott Johnson Corporation 1959 Employee Handbook (outlines the various worker benefits that workers are entittled to as an employee at EJ)
As depicted within this image, there is an increase of money spent by the company on injury relief showing that these benefits were actually paid by the company (June 1919 Worker Review, page 5)

Evidence of women obtaining help through the various EJ benefits:

 

Primary Source:  EJ Workers Magazine

  • “ I wish to thank Dr. Peterson and the nurses of the Johnson City General Hospital for the care and treatment during my illness” –May Palmer  

Secondary Source:  Diane Vecchio's Novel

  • Elisabetta Manziano was on maternity leave, and asked for financial help while she took time off. In the end, EJ helped her with her bills by paying her heat, electricity, mortgage while she was gone. 
  • Mary Simona, a widow, had four children who had the opportunity to purchase her own home. Simona was a tanner who worked with the company for 16+ years and was very loyal to the company 

Although women worked at EJ for the benefits, they also were incentivized to have a lot of children:

Women worked primarily for the benefits, but women were also financially incentivized by EJ to have more children. Upon birth of the child, the mother and the child were given each a $10 gold coin by the corporation. This was done by the corporation for a reason, as worker Ann Bell states that, “Children were regarded as material which could be molded in any shape the parent desired…This guidance will come especially from the mother.” This means that mothers had an important role in raising their children(Having control of them) could result in their children more than likely working at EJ. Johnson was known for preached the saying, "One Big Happy Family"- which made it easy for a family member to get a job, if there family member already worked at the company. Johnson was a fan of helping other family members getting jobs because they were responsible for one another, and it increased productivity.   

 

 

An EJ Nurse taking care of an EJ workers child.
Image of a little 6 year old girl waiting for her mother to get off work. Schoolchildren waiting at the factory after school was a common thing. This was because George F. Johnson did not make a daycare service for his employees. Children also were watched by other family members while women were at work.
Future EJ workers ( Image from June 1919 EJ Worker Review Page 35)

Works Cited:

  1. Broome County Oral History Project, Special Collections, Binghamton University Libraries, Binghamton University, State University of New York(Interview with Mary Shaughnessy- employee of Endicott Johnson)
  2. Diane, Vecchio. Merchants, Midwives, and Laboring Women: Italian migrants in Urban America(University of Illinois Press,2006).
  3. Endicott Johnson Management, 1959 Endicott Johnson Corporation Employee Handbook, New York, 1959.
  4. Gerald Zahavi, Workers, Managers, and Welfare Capitalism: The Shoeworkers and Tanners of Endicott Johnson, 1890-1950(Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 1988).
  5. George F. Johnson Photo. George F. Johnson Memorial Library, New York, http://www.gfjlibrary.org/johnson.htm
  6. Russell Aikins. Partners All: A Pictorial History of an Industrial Democracy, Huntington Corporation, 1938(New York, NY).
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