First U.S. Labor Day parade

Background. In the late 19th century, trade unionists proposed a day to celebrate labor. The Knights of Labor, the largest American labor movement of the 19th century, claimed nearly one million members. The Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor promoted Labor Day, organizing the first parade in New York City in connection with a General Assembly convened in September 1882.

Holiday Proposals. A September holiday called Labor Day was first proposed in the early 1880s. Matthew Maguire, Secretary of the Central Labor Union, is credited for proposing a national Labor Day holiday on the first Monday of September after the successful public demonstration. McGuire, according to his own account, proposed to the Central Labor Union in New York City on May 8, 1882 that a day be set aside for a "general holiday for the laboring classes," suggesting the first Monday in September for its weather and its position between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. Alternative accounts of the holiday's origin exist, with descendants of two men with similar last names each claiming their great-grandfather was the true father of the holiday.

Organizational Context. The Knights of Labor operated mainly in the United States and Canada, with chapters in Great Britain and Australia. They served as the first mass organization of the working class in the United States. In 1882, the Knights ended their membership rituals and removed the words "Noble Order" from their name, reflecting their evolving structure during this period.