#OtD 6 Dec 1907 the worst mining disaster in US history took place in West Virginia killing all but 5 of 367 workers. It left over 1000 mostly Italian children fatherless and inspired the first Fathers' Day the following year https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/10597/origin-of-fathers-day
Grace Golden Clayton suggested to her minister that he honour all fathers at a Sunday service, which he did on 5 July 1908.
Sonora Smart Dodd attempted to establish an official equivalent to Mother's Day for fathers, which was implemented statewide in 1910. It grew from there was established as a federal holiday in 1972.
Sources
http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/fathers-day
https://libcom.org/history/monongah-mining-disaster-1907-steven-johns
#FathersDay #migrantworkers #mineworkers #Monongah #WestVirginia