Main Event

Triangle: The Fire that Transformed Industrial America with Gerald Henig

Venue

Burlingame Public Library, Lane Community Room

Address

480 Primrose Rd, Burlingame, CA 94010

Dates and Times

Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Pacific Time - US & Canada

Host

Gerald Henig

Host Information

Gerald Henig is a professor emeritus of history at California State University, East Bay, where he received the Outstanding Professor Award and won the Pi Kappa Delta Best Lecturer Award four times. He has authored four books, including "America’s Presidents: What Your History Teacher Never Told You," which was named a “Best Indie Book of 2024” by Kirkus Reviews and a “2025 National Indie Excellence Awards” finalist. He has also published numerous articles on American political, social, and military history.

Activity Description

Professor and historian Gerald Henig will present a history talk focusing on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, a catastrophic event that occurred on March 25, 1911, in lower Manhattan. The fire resulted in the deaths of 146 employees, primarily Jewish and Italian immigrant women and girls, some as young as 13. This tragedy was the worst workplace disaster in New York City until 9/11. The talk will explore the circumstances leading to the fire, its causes, those responsible, and its consequences. It will also highlight how issues raised by the fire, such as immigration, women’s rights, organized labor, and government regulation, remain relevant today. The event will include a Q&A session after the talk.

Registration

Registration is required. There are 66 seats available.