Rose Freedman, Last Survivor of Triangle Fire, Dies at 107

The last survivor of the deadly 1911 factory fire that killed 146 of her co-workers spoke out for worker safety until her death.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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Rose Freedman, the last survivor of the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in New York City that killed 146 of her co-workers, died at the age of 107 in her Beverly Hills, California apartment. Freedman, who was 18 at the time of the fire, escaped by following company executives to the roof to be rescued. She became a lifelong crusader for worker safety, speaking out about the locked doors that trapped many of her colleagues and the owners' indifference to their welfare.

Why it matters

The Triangle Shirtwaist fire was a pivotal moment in American labor history, leading to new worker safety laws and strengthening the fledgling labor movement. Freedman's death marks the end of a direct link to this tragic event that horrified the nation and sparked reforms. Her lifelong advocacy shed light on the ongoing struggle for worker protections.

The details

On the day of the fire, Freedman, then known as Rose Rosenfeld, escaped the inferno by following company executives to the roof, where firefighters rescued them. Many of her co-workers were not as fortunate, with some jumping from eighth- and ninth-story windows as their clothing burned. Freedman later said the owners could have easily opened the locked doors to allow workers to escape, but were more concerned with preventing theft than protecting lives. Though the owners were eventually acquitted of manslaughter, civil suits brought by victims' families resulted in small payments.

  • On March 27, 1893, Rose Rosenfeld was born in a small town north of Vienna.
  • In 1909, the Rosenfeld family emigrated to the United States, sailing on the Mauretania.
  • On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire occurred, killing 146 workers.
  • On February 16, 2026, Rose Freedman, the last survivor of the Triangle fire, died at the age of 107 in her Beverly Hills, California apartment.

The players

Rose Freedman

The last survivor of the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in New York City, which killed 146 of her co-workers. Freedman, known as Rose Rosenfeld at the time, escaped the fire by following company executives to the roof. She became a lifelong crusader for worker safety, speaking out about the locked doors that trapped many of her colleagues and the owners' indifference to their welfare.

Harry Freedman

Rose Freedman's husband, who owned a typewriter store in New York. He died at the age of 59, leaving Rose Freedman with no money or source of income, leading her to get a job at the Manhattan Life Insurance Company where she lied about her age to continue working until she was 79.

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What they’re saying

“That's the whole trouble of this fire. Nobody cares. Nobody. Hundred forty-six people in a half an hour. I have always tears in my eyes when I think. It should never have happened. The executives with a couple of steps could have opened the door. But they thought they were better than the working people. It's not fair because material, money, is more important here than everything.”

— Rose Freedman (PBS documentary "The Living Century")

“To me, 106 is a number. I lived that long, not only on account of my genes, but on account of my attitude. You've got to stand up for yourself. Am I right?”

— Rose Freedman (PBS documentary "The Living Century")

The takeaway

Rose Freedman's life and advocacy after surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist fire underscores the lasting impact of that tragic event and the ongoing need to protect worker safety. Her death marks the end of a direct link to this pivotal moment in labor history, but her voice and the lessons of the fire must continue to be remembered.