The True Story Behind These Shining Lives
While it’s known today as a radioactive material, radium was not always seen that way. The production “These Shining Lives” by the ONU Theater Department takes a deeper look into the lives of individuals affected by radium poisoning. Here is a quick look into the real events in the history of radium as well as its uses:
1898
Husband-and-wife scientist team Marie and Pierre Curie discover radium; it is soon used for cancer treatment
1917
The United States Radium Corporation begins to use radium to give paints a glowing effect
1922
The Radium Dial Company is established in Ottawa, IL and paints dials for clocks with radium
1926-27
The first employees begin to show signs of radium poisoning
1937
The Illinois Industrial Commission rules in favor of the radium workers, although many have already died
1978
The last remaining factory using radium paint is shut down
It was supposed to be a miracle drug.
As it was thought to be the cure to many ailments, the discovery of radium was seen to be an incredible advancement in the world. Renowned scientists and husband-and-wife duo Marie and Pierre Curie discovered radium in 1898, right before the turn of the century, according to CNN. It was immediately used to help in cancer treatments, although all properties of this newly found element were not yet known.
Used in both beauty treatments and medicine, radium became more and more prominent as we got further into the twentieth century. It was also discovered that it had a glowing property, and for that reason, it began to make its way onto the dials of watches to give a glowing effect.
Along with other advancements of the 1910s, women began to get into the workforce. Many began to be employed by watch manufacturers to put radium paint on the watch dials. This was a well-paid job, and due to contributions to the war effort, it was also seen as patriotic.
All seemed to be right in the world when it came to this element that could seemingly do it all.
That was, of course, until the women began to feel excruciating amounts of pain, and some even began to die.
Surely this couldn’t be the miracle drug that was thought to cure cancer, or could it?
Unbeknownst to the workers who surrounded themselves with it day after day, the radium was killing them slowly. Making its way into the bones of the workers, it was decaying their bodies bit by bit. Even though the outlook wasn’t looking good for them, some brave workers decided to speak up against the use of radium and stop production involving it once and for all.
Catherine Donohue, immortalized in portrayals such as the one in “These Shining Lives,” was one of several workers who met an untimely death due to radium poisoning. Working at the Radium Dial Company, Donahue fell ill along with her coworkers, and they decided that legal action was the necessary next step.
As reported by the Library of Congress, the women finally got a hearing with the Illinois Industrial Commission on July 23rd, 1937, after years of trying. After a grueling process, the women finally won their case. The Radium Dial Company tried to appeal, and it went as far as the Supreme Court, but it was to no avail.
Unfortunately, however, Donahue and several other women passed away before the final verdict was announced. They never got to see their fight pay off in the end. That said, this was a starting point for many cases involving health and safety standards that were to come in the future.
These events were inspiration for Melanie Marnich in creating the play “These Shining Lives.” The stories of these women, although tragic, will live on forever in written media. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten. We will always be reminded that the needs of human lives need to be put before the needs of corporations.
