Pennsylvania's Coal and Iron Police

A fascinating history of law and power, Pennsylvania's Coal and Iron Police documents the law enforcement group which ruled these communities from 1865 to 1931.
Pennsylvania's Coal and Iron Police ruled small patch towns and industrial cities for their coal and iron company bosses from 1865 to 1931. Armed with a gun and badge and backed by state legislation, the members of the private police force were granted power in a practically unspecified jurisdiction. Set in Pennsylvania's anthracite and bituminous regions, including Luzerne, Schuylkill, Westmoreland, Beaver, Somerset, and Indiana Counties, at a time when labor disputes were deadly, the officers are the story behind American labor history's high-profile events and attention-grabbing headlines. Paid to protect company property, their duties varied but unfortunately often resulted in strikebreaking, intimidation, and violence.

Spencer J. Sadler has researched countless documents and interviewed numerous residents to uncover stories and photographs to chronicle the 66-year legacy of Pennsylvania's Coal and Iron Police. A resident of the coal region of Indiana County, he has incorporated rare photographic materials from historical societies, university libraries, national and state agencies, and private collections.