HANCOCK — Members of local labor activist “Big Annie” Clemenc’s family visited historic Calumet early this fall. Great-grandaughters Anne Marie Kelly and Debra Devlin first visited the Copper Country in 2013, to receive an award on behalf of their ancestor.

Anna Klobuchar Clemenc, popularly known as “Big Annie” for her 6’2” height, was inducted into the International Labor Hall of Fame at that special presentation. Ever since then, Anne Marie and Debra have visited the Copper Country every few years to enjoy the history and beauty of our region.

This year, another generation came along for the trip - Debra’s daughter, Alexandria. While touring around the area, the family heard about the recent fundraising efforts to erect a bronze statue of “Big Annie” in Calumet. Anxious to learn more about the project, the ladies paid a visit to members of the statue committee, Vada Riederich and Anita Campbell. They were thrilled to hear a recording of a new song composed about “Big Annie”, from local Calumet musician Penny Menze.

During the 1913 Copper Strike, unions were still in their infancy and often were unrecognized by company management. As a miner’s wife, Annie had firsthand experience with the hardships the husbands, fathers, and brothers faced while working underground. She organized the community in support of safer working conditions, better wages, and social justice. She led peaceful parades through town on a daily basis, with hundreds or even thousands of miners and their families marching behind her. “Big Annie” carried a large American flag measuring 6 feet by 10 feet, which symbolized the protection the flag provided to its people.

At a time when women had no voice or vote, Annie's unwavering spirit and passion for labor justice gained recognition across the country during the 9-month strike. In 1980 “Big Annie” was the first woman inducted into Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame. The Michigan House of Representatives declared June 17 as Annie Clemenc Day that same year.

Fast forward to 2023: A local community group, led by Vada Riederich, felt the time was overdue to honor this local heroine who led the way in early labor history. Currently, the committee is raising awareness about Big Annie’s legacy and started fundraising for the statue. Donations are directed to the Keweenaw Area Community Foundation, which has set up a special fund for the statue project.

The public is encouraged to check out the Facebook page “Big Annie Statue Fund” which has wonderful links to more history of Annie Clemenc. There have been several books written about Big Annie including a well-researched non-fiction title, “Annie Clemenc & the Great Keweenaw Copper Strike,” by Lyndon Comstock, and a popular historical novel, “Women of the Copper Country,” by Mary Doria Russell, which was listed as a Great Michigan Read, and a fun children’s book called “Mine Collar Mystery,” written by 4th-grade students at Calumet Elementary School several years ago.

The statue committee is fundraising planning for the upcoming year! Stay tuned for updates regarding the Big Annie Gala, which will be held at the Calumet Theatre, including live music from Penny Menze and a live auction in Spring 2024. The statue committee welcomes any interested volunteers to connect with Vada Riederich (vadalou@gmail.com) or the Keweenaw Community Foundation to get involved.

About the Keweenaw Area Community Foundation

Keweenaw Area Community Foundation’s purpose is to support a thriving community through collaboratively matching community needs with resources to improve quality of life. We are an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula (CFUP), a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization. If you have any questions regarding the foundation please contact us at mail@keweenawgives.org or 906-482-9673.

More Bulletins