Shell Games The Life and Times of Pearl McGill, Industrial Spy and Pioneer Labor Activist

by Jeffrey Copeland

Portrays one of the most important battles in the fight for safe and humane working conditions.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Book Club

354 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2012

Reviews

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was so-so but a fairly quick read. The history was fascinating, especially because I'm familiar with the city of Muscatine and I kept trying to envision the places where things took place. The city has changed a great deal in the past century so there were only a few spots I knew for sure, where specific streets were mentioned, but it's always interesting to read something that took place in a setting you are familiar with. I've been to the museum downtown so knew just a little about the pearl button industry, but it was very interesting to learn more details. I knew something, though not a lot, about the history of the union movement (in general, not in Muscatine), and was interested in how it is presented here. I like the fact that Copeland makes it clear that there was both credit and blame on both sides, and how hard it is to know the whole story since there were so many rumors and half-truths. I'd have liked to see more of what went on after the union was recognized, rather than that being pretty much the climax.

[Keith Dickens · Rating 3 out of 5]

All in all, this book is good, but disappointing. Just as the main character, Pearl, is getting going in the labor unions, the book ends. The rest of her story is played out in an epilogue and afterwards that kinda crams the climax of her life into what feels like two rushed chapters just to get the bloody thing done. As it's published, it feels like half a book I would have gladly read more of.

[Susanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting topic - a woman spy in the pearl Button industry in Muscatine at the beginning of the 20th Century, the horrible labor conditions and the dawn of unions. However, the writing did not make it as exciting as it could have been - slow moving.

[Lorraine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would be a good young adult read about the end of the Gilded Age and the struggles of young people in factories who had no control over their working lives. The story of how Pearl McGill entered the union fray gives a fairly good sense of what such a life would risk.

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars
I read this because it told the history about Muscatine's button factories. I wanted to learn more. It was more about how unions were formed.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Life & Times of Muscatine Pearl McGill - union activist. A little slow & stilted at first, but true story of Muscatine challenging pearl button factory times

[Merry Poast · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting about something you take for granted.

[Abby Bell · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF-ed. Couldn’t get into it and it would help if the author ever actually visited Muscatine before writing about it. :(

[Linda K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shell Games is the fictional account of true events that occurred at the height of the pearl button industry.

In 1910, fresh from high school, Pearl McGill arrived in Muscatine, eager to work at the Blanton Button Factory. Owners of numerous button factories were aware of the workers growing dissatisfaction with working conditions and pay scale. Pearl was employed as a spy to ferret out those who were most vocal in wanting change.


In the early 1900’s, Muscatine, Iowa became known as “The Pearl Button Factory of the World”, due to the massive number of clam shell beds that formed in the Mississippi River near the town.

As Pearl worked at the many phases of button production, she began to realize that the worker’s complaints were valid. Due to unsafe working methods, many workers were injured, some critically, or became ill . Owners used methods to prevent full pay to their workers by either changing the amount known to be a full button unit of work or by “doctoring” the scales when pay was measured by weight of a days work.

Although in great danger, even suffering physical harm at the hands of the owner-employed Pinkerton Detectives, Pearl began to meet with others who were struggling to form a union to insure better conditions for workers. Tensions increased on both sides; at one point the National Guard was called in to keep the peace when owners enforced a lock out.

Pearl was gifted at public speaking and urged the two sides to meet together in peaceful deliberations to come to resolutions workable for both of them. In time, the union was formed, due to the boldness shown by Pearl McGill and others.

She continued in union work for several years until a momentous meeting with Helen Keller that changed her focus. Pearls’ life goal was to become a school teacher and after a time, she did gain her teaching certificate and taught for a number of years. Sadly, her life did not have a happy ending.

In addition to the story of Pearl, the formation of the union and the hardships of the industry, Shell Games is a very informative book with good descriptions of button making.

Having read Shell Games, I do not think I will ever look at a pearl button in quite the the same way again.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copeland writes a history lesson, woven into a storybook, sharing insights into the lives of people who worked as laborers in the pearl button factories in Muscatine, Iowa, in 1910-1911. The hopelessness of factory workers in their ability to improve the abysmal conditions of their working conditions and their very lives in the early 20th century is a key theme; Copeland also considers the interests of the factory owners and the problems faced by them (thieving, cost of production, limited raw materials). The book is written in the first person, Ora Pearl McGill, whose family in another Iowa town owned a smaller button factory; Pearl was hired to pose as a worker in the factory, and also to be a patsy, informing the factory owner by name of laborers who were in support of forming a labor union. We see her develop strong opinions about the problems of both sides of the union issue as she discovers valid reasons for the unrest. It is a good story of community conflict, the courage to stand for justice, crime, passion, with a little romance thrown into the telling.


A side story is that of the "clammers" along the Mississippi River, a certain amount of perspective on their lives, and the environmental impact of clamming that lasts even now, more than a century later.


I liked the following quote from the book, of value to the context of the story, of course, but in which I see a valuable guideline to be applied to communication on all levels: "Two rules...to be followed.... First that everyone listen, genuinely listen, to what others are saying...respect the opinion of the other side. That doesn't mean we have to agree...it simply means we have to respect the right for that person to believe that way, even if the views are vastly different from our own. Right and wrong aren't part of the process of listening. Right and wrong are judgments of value we place later on what we've heard.... Second rule...No discussion should be considered an end in itself... [not] the last words on any subject we might broach."


The book is intriguing, educational, a page turner. It presents strong argument for the need for respectful communication between management and labor.

My rating: 4 1/2 stars. I would recommend it for book club discussion.

[Jodie Toohey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shell Games is non-fiction, classified as true crime/biography/history, but it reads like a novel with well-developed characters, action, drama, and suspense.

The book tells the story of Pearl McGill who was involved in the initial establishment of a union and protection of workers' rights in the button industry in Muscatine, Iowa, around 1910. I bought the book because my next novel will take place around the same time period and will involve the clamming part of the button industry. The working of the clammers and button makers was well-researched and weaved well throughout the story. I felt like I got to learn about every aspect of the life of a button, from the mussels being plucked out of the Mississippi River to the buttons being sewn on cards and packed for shipping. The book also gave me a good sense of what Muscatine looked, felt, and smelled like in that time period.

I noticed some typos and confusing moments, but they didn't detract terribly from my reading. For example, when Pearl was kidnapped, I was surprised that she wasn't more afraid for her roommate when she gave her kidnappers her address. At one point, the book mentions how Pearl stopped by to get a library book she'd put on hold; I found it odd that she would've been spending much time reading leisurely with so much turmoil in her life (it didn't mention that the book was related to strikes or workers' rights). I was also surprised that Pearl wasn't concerned about her boss finding out about her involvement with the union when she agreed to such a high-profile role; she didn't seem to consider it until she saw her boss at a meeting. Finally, I was confused about the timeline. The story starts with Pearl's arrival in Muscatine on July 9, 1910, and the story seems to take place all during the summer months, with no mention of winter, but the epilogue states that the agreement Pearl helped to work out occurred in May, 1911.

This is overall a good book, appropriate for those who enjoy historical novels or biographies. It would also appeal to those who like to read about by-gone industries or are interested in union formation history.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Copeland writes in a clear and concise manor and keeps the storyline moving fast enough that you don't really want to put it down. One would hardly know that a century has gone by...........people have not really changed all that much. Issues are slightly different but motives are pretty much the same. There are still people in this country that struggle to put food on their tables due to low wages or in many cases, no jobs. I know personally of several instances where even the working conditions are not much different. It is even possible that employee attitudes have not changed all that much either. Wasting employers time with their private interests and theft.......... I highly recommend the book for anyone that is interested in the study of worker/employer relations, even family relations. The key is listening to how others feel, even when direct opposition to yours, and trying to work out a compromise.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very, very interesting (poor editing though)! I think I connect with the city since my wife hails from Muscatine, IA. And to think that these working conditions existed anywhere let alone right there where we go visit family is a lot to process. The book was gripping and exciting when the lock-out began all the way until after the recognition of the union. At which point, all structure fell apart and I was left quite jolted. Still, I believe the story and the message were extremely important and well presented. I'm not anti-union by any means, but we are so far removed from the early days when workers were used and abused and had no rights.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. I really really did.
I love the historical perspective and a study on a woman of significance from my Iowa small-town.
But the telling was difficult.
Maybe it would've been better if told in third person? Or without some of the really contrived dialogue? Or pretending like Muscatine was the big-city of Chicago? Or without some of the most boring bits of the button making process? I don't know. Aspects just weren't ringing true for me, even though I know the woman and the events surrounding her were real.

[Tjode · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story . . . Pearl McGill from Grandview, Iowa arrives in Muscatine planning to work in one of the town's button factories. Her uncle was part of the button industry and had made arrangements for Pearl to work for one of his friends in Muscatine. Pearl was pro-management at the start but with time begins to sympathize with the workers. The book reads like a novel and is a compelling read.

[Marygrace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting history about the Mississippi River towns button factories at the turn of the century and the move to unionize. The central characters are young women working in a Muscatine, IA button factory. Probably would have enjoyed it more written in the third person. Enjoyed learning about this bit of Iowa history.

[Margie Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muscatine, Iowa was the location of the largest button factory in the world at the turn of the 20th century. Women, men and children worked long hours in terrible conditions making shell buttons out of the freshwater clams found in the Mississippi River. A young girl finds herself thrust to the front of the labor union. This is based on fact. Very interesting.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I thought of the Industrial revolution and unions Iowa did not come to mind. Since I am not from Iowa I did not know about the button industry. Very informative book. I wish there was more about the last years of Pearl's life.

[Rene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot more about both the worker's side of the business as well as about the positions of the owners. I felt enlightened with enough info presented objectively - not overwhelming but just enough so as to appreciate the individuals and their points of view.

[Mike Schaefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing story about the pearl button industry, and the battle for workers rights in the early 1900's. This book did leave me wanting more, like who's responsible for Pearl's murder.
All in all a very good read.

[Ambri Refer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was finally able to get my hands on a copy of this. Now I know what all of the fuss was about. Very well written and an important piece of Iowa history. I have a friend from Muscatine and I had her promise to give me a tour of where all of the events in the book took place :)

[Dan Meier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about a champion of the Labor Movement in Iowa

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on early labor activities in Iowa. While historical and a serious topic, the book is written in the format of a novel. Very enjoyable read that was hard for me to put down.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommend anyone who lives in Muscatine to read this book.

[Ann Hein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating "literary nonfiction" about unionizing the button factories of Iowa and the young woman who worked in the factory and then became an activist.