The Iron Puddler: My Life in the Rolling Mills and What Came of It

A vivid, first‑person chronicle, this memoir follows a steel‑mill puddler who learned the trade under harsh conditions and later found his voice in the labor movement. From the clang of rolling mills to the corridors of Washington, the author recounts how determination, camaraderie, and a belief in education propelled him from the shop floor to a national leadership role. The early chapters detail the gritty work of iron‑making and the everyday challenges that shaped his resolve.

Beyond his personal rise, the narrative reveals how he helped forge a community for workers’ children, describing the founding of an ambitious school that welcomed boys and girls of all backgrounds. His reflections on friendship, plain speech versus bureaucratic jargon, and the power of collective effort give a vivid picture of early twentieth‑century America. Listeners will get a front‑row seat to the struggles and ideals that drove a humble puddler toward lasting reform.