Life in the Original Larkinville (Explore Buffalo Speaker Series)
Schedule
Sat Aug 16 2025 at 01:00 pm to 02:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
1 Lafayette Sq, Buffalo, NY, United States, New York 14203 | Buffalo, NY
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The Grosvenor Room, the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library’s Special Collections Department, will present a speaker series with Explore Buffalo in 2025.This free speaker series will take place in the Ring of Knowledge in the Central Library in downtown Buffalo at 1 Lafayette Square. Admission is free and no registration is required. All presentations will begin at 1 PM and be approximately one hour in length, including time for Questions & Answers.
Today, Larkinville is a revitalized neighborhood that boasts of successful businesses, a vibrant arts scene and, of course, food truck Tuesdays. The area has arisen from the neglect of the late 20th Century and in many ways represents the re-birth of 21st Century Buffalo. Many people, however, know very little about the namesake Larkin Soap Company, which was one of Buffalo’s major employers 100 years ago. When one thinks of large corporations in the early 20th Century, images of over-worked and under-paid women and children working in dangerous sweat-shops comes to mind. While this period became known as the Progressive Era in American history, most large businesses were very slow to improve the working conditions for the average worker. The Larkin Soap Company was a leader in changing the work place environment by placing an emphasis on the overall well-being of their employees. They created an environment where all of the “Larkinites,” which included not only the employees but also management and their customers, were treated with respect creating a very dedicated and loyal organization. This talk will look at the policies and benefits that were instituted by the Larkin Soap Company that not only improved the lives of their employees but also the lives of the citizens of Buffalo.
Presenter: Christine Campbell
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Where is it happening?
1 Lafayette Sq, Buffalo, NY, United States, New York 14203Event Location & Nearby Stays:
