A Ghost of a Girl

7/21/1924

Dear Diary,

You’ll never believe how lucky I am. To-day, I got a job as a radium dial painter! And at only sixteen!The pay is good, so I will be able to help Mother with the bills. It really is a cushy job; we sit in the factory and paint all day– you know how I adore art. Now, I get to do it for a job.

And the paint! Oh, it glows. I must admit, it is a bit eerie. When the day finishes you glow faintly; I believe that some residue gets on your clothes and hair. Nevertheless, the employer assured us all that radium is perfectly harmless, even good for your health.

Because of this, the other girls and I who work in the factory take advantage of our access to the paint. We’ll paint our nails with it or paint darling designs on our faces. My little sister, Lucille, is practically green with envy when I come home glowing or when my nails are delicately painted.

Mother tells me to focus on the purpose of my new job– to make money for our family. I understand this, but what is the harm in enjoying myself a little?

– Virginia

UNDARK

Radium Luminous Material

Shines in the dark

Have you ever heard of radium? This most unusual of elements is now at your disposal. Through the medium of Undark, radium serves you safely and surely. Thanks to radium combined in exactly the proper manner with zinc sulphide, Undark has the ability to continuously shine in the dark.

Undark is applied to the dials of watches and clocks, electric push buttons, to house numbers, compasses, and other articles you frequently wish to see in the dark. The next time you wonder vainly what time it is or fumble for a lighting switch because of the dark, remember Undark.

7/25/1924

Dear Diary,

At the factory, we use this technique called lip-tipping. I can’t believe I’ve never thought of using it in my own art before! They trained us to use it on our first day.

I was with a small group of girls, and the woman who trained us, Mrs. Emerson, told us to point the brushes with our lips every few strokes. This keeps the tip sharp for precision while painting. She told us “lip, dip, paint.” Point the tip with our lips, dip it in paint, then methodically brush on the number or design.

Remember how I told you that they told us the paint is harmless? Well, when she was teaching us lip-tipping, Mrs. Emerson even ate some of the paint to prove it!

I must say, the paint is a bit gritty. I quite dislike that about it, but I want to do well in this job, so I frequently lip-tip my brush. I make sure my designs are clean and precise. I’m actually rather proud of them.

– Virginia

2/27/1925

Dear Diary,

I have awful news. Lucille has got the flu. Mother is noticeably worried. I hate the flu, ever since it took father five years previous.

I’ve tried to stay as far away from her as I can, but, considering we share a bed, I worry my efforts will be in vain. I've taken up more shifts at the factory in hopes of making a little extra to help Lucille.

We called on the doctor; we didn’t want to take any chances. However, this consumes at least a day of my salary, and though we are better off than others, we cannot be careless with our money.

Speaking of money, I have a slight toothache. This may appear unrelated, but a toothache means having to go to the dentist, and that costs money. I haven’t told mother, and Lucille just coughs and sleeps, so I think I’ll keep it to myself a while longer. After Lucille recovers, because she will recover, then I’ll go to the dentist.

I do hope Lucille will make it out okay. She’s only twelve, she must have many years ahead of her! I just don’t know what I would do without Lucille. She may make me insane at times, but she really is a wonderful sister.

– Virginia

DOCTORS IN NEW JERSEY PUZZLED BY ‘GHOST’ GIRLS

Women working in a radium factory in Orange, N. J., have reported unusual symptoms such as aching jaws and loose teeth. Dentists have noticed that the jaw refuses to heal when a tooth is pulled.

These women, sometimes referred to as ‘Ghost’ Girls due to how they glow in the dark from the radium dust on their skin and clothes, all work in the radium plant in New Jersey.

The United States Radium Corporation denies any link between the radium and the illness in the factory girls. USRC claims that the radium has no negative effect on its workers.

3/11/1925

Dear Diary,

Lucille is much better now! She doesn’t cough through the night and her appetite has returned.

However, I have heard about women who work in radium plants in New Jersey becoming sick. They also have had toothaches. Now, the company still claims that radium is perfectly fine, and I want to believe it. I’m only worried because I work in a radium plant and I also have a toothache, which has become more persistent.

I will go to the dentist to-morrow. I confided in Lucille about my toothache and she won’t drop it. I hate to use my salary on the dentist, but my tooth does hurt and I’d quite like it resolved.

– Virginia

3/12/1925

Dear Diary,

When I went to the dentist, he had told me that it was just a normal toothache. He decided to pull it; it hurt horribly. Now there’s a gap in my back teeth, but the pain is starting to subside. He gave me oil of cloves to help. Lucille was happy that I got it checked out.

– Virginia

CAUSE OF ILLNESS IN NEW JERSEY ‘GHOST’ GIRLS CONFIRMED

The women working in a radium factory in Orange, N. J., have been experiencing strange symptoms such as severe jaw necrosis and anemia. Although the United States Radium Corporation claims that radium is not harmful to the health of the women, radium has been confirmed as the cause of their ailments.

8/30/1925

Dear Diary,

The factory has been in chaos since the last article came out!

Women have been continuously asking whether or not the radium is safe; some have threatened to stop working. Our factory told us that the factory in New Jersey was using impure radium and that ours, the radium in Ottawa, Illinois, is pure, safe radium. I’m not completely sure if this is true, but I choose to believe that it is.

The factory actually started screening us to test our health. They told us that we were just fine and that those of us who were sick had diphtheria or other illnesses.

While I try to convince myself that the radium is okay, my jaw won’t heal. I had to go back to the dentist and he was most puzzled. I brought up the radium but he said that it’s not harmful. The same narrative repeats itself, but that doesn’t mean it’s true.

Worse, I have a slight limp. I try my best to hide it while at work, but also at home. I don’t want my family to worry.

–Virginia

11/4/1926

Dear Diary,

Remember how I had said that when I came home from the factory I occasionally glowed?

Well, the other night I was sleeping soundly. I suppose Lucille must have gotten up to relieve herself or get a glass of water. Whatever the reason she was up, upon returning to our room I was awoken by a shrill scream.

I bolted upright, which hurt my aching bones, and saw Lucille staring at me in horror.

“What is it?” I’d asked.

Tears were streaming down her pale face. “You’re glowing!”

“I sometimes glow after working at the factory, you know this.”

“No, look in the mirror. I can see your skeleton!”

At this I limped over to the only mirror in the home, which was in the restroom. When I reached the mirror, I could faintly see a greenish-yellow light emanating from my body, especially near my jawbone. Even my teeth glowed slightly.

I’d seized Lucille by the arm. “Don’t tell Mother; I don’t want her to worry.”

Lucille just sniffled and nodded her head.

I’m going to keep this job as long as I can. I earn even more than Mother, and it has really aided us these previous few years.

– Virginia

RADIUM GIRLS FILE LAWSUIT REGARDING RADIUM POISONING

The women who are affected by radium poisoning from ingesting radium in the factories are now filing a lawsuit against the United States Radium Corporation.

The ‘lip, dip, paint’ method used in the factories caused the women to ingest radium, leading to radium poisoning. These women, along with many others, were under the impression that the radium used in the paints was not harmful to their health.

Further investigation revealed that other women have died due to radium poisoning. The five women leading the lawsuit are experiencing fractured bones, anemia, and decay of the jawbone.

9/3/1927

Dear Diary,

I’m afraid to say my condition has worsened.

My limp has intensified so that they released me from my job, claiming that my limp ‘drew too much attention’! I have trouble walking because of it. My bones have become so weak that I struggle to sit upright. My jaw hurts more, my teeth are loose, and they glow even brighter.

Mother took me to the doctor’s and they diagnosed me with radium poisoning. They told me it’s incurable. Despite this, I can’t remain in the hospital because it’s too expensive. I lay in bed all day painting or writing in this very diary.

Lucille is terribly worried about me. If I’m being honest, I am too. I don’t believe I’ll make it.

Five women from New Jersey are filing a lawsuit against USRC. I desperately hope they win. The company is horrible for letting us be this exposed to radium.

– Virginia

FIVE WOMEN DOOMED TO DIE

In New Jersey there are five women who have for a year tried to obtain a hearing in the courts. They contracted radium poisoning in the plant of the United States Radium Corporation at Orange, N. J., where they painted numerals on watch dials. Thirteen other women from this plant have already perished, and according to six physicians, these five women only have a short time to live.

They are attempting to sue the company for damages. The first suit they filed was in a New Jersey Supreme Court on May 18, 1927– a year ago. As of now, the New Jersey courts decreed that these five women must wait until Sept. 24, 1928, this coming September, before a hearing can be held to determine whether their case can be tried. However, it is uncertain whether these women will live that long.

5/10/1928

Dear Diary,

I can hardly muster the strength to write this entry.

I have been closely following the story of these five women, who truly are an inspiration. I’m hoping against hope that they live long enough to partake in the hearing. I also wish to be alive to witness it, though, similar to them, I don’t know if I’ll live that long.

I lay in bed all day and barely find the strength to write or paint. I dream up beautiful paintings of woodland scenes or of women in flowing dresses, each stroke accenting a ruffle or ribbon. How I wish I could create them on canvas!

My hand is much too tired now. I must take a break.

–Virginia

RADIUM VICTIMS WIN $50,000 AND PENSIONS IN SUIT SETTLEMENT

The suits of five women, who are described as slowly dying from radium poisoning contracted from their employment at the plant of the United States Radium Corporation at Orange, N. J., were settled in Newmark yesterday, June 4, 1928. William Clark, a Federal Judge, led a move for an out-of-court settlement. Clark announced the agreement at his office after an all-day conference for the attorneys of parties involved. Each woman will receive expert medical treatment, $10,000 cash and a $600 yearly pension under the settlement.

6/6/1928

Dear Diary,

I’m simply delighted that the women were able to win the case and be alive to see it, though I heard one had to wear a back brace in court because her spine was too weak to hold her up.

I’m also grateful I am around to witness it, for I feel my body failing and know I am leaving soon. It really is a shame, I know I would have had a wonderful future ahead of me. I could have been a world-class painter, in the ranks with Tamara de Lempicka.

No matter, I have accepted my fate. I will use my last bits of energy to paint a picture for my mother and sister along with a handwritten note on the back, telling each how much they mean to me.

– Virginia

Virginia Mae Williams

July 10, 1908 - June 5, 1928

Virginia Mae Williams, born in 1908 to Edward and Helen Williams in Ottawa, Illinois, perished on June 5, 1928, a mere thirty-five days before her twentieth birthday. Virginia was preceded in death by her father, Edward. She is survived by her sister, Lucille, and her mother, Helen. Virginia was a victim of radium poisoning and contracted it working in the radium plant here in Ottawa. She is buried at Beechwood Cemetery.

THE OCCURRENCE OF MALIGNANCY IN RADIOACTIVE PERSONS

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to call attention to certain data which the writer has accumulated in the study of the radium dial painters which may have an important bearing on future research in the etiology of cancer and of certain obscure blood diseases.

Results

Radium, once ingested, is permanently deposited in the bone structure. As these women used the lip-tipping technique, the ingested radium. This radium, once ingested, acts like calcium and is deposited in the bone structure in its place. Once there, it emits alpha particles that cause inflammation of the bones and eventual malignancy (cancerous cells that grow uncontrollably and affect nearby tissue).

Conclusions

As indicated by these studies, it is important to have proper medical supervision over the use of radium and x-rays for purposes that are therapeutic. It is also imperative to have more thorough regulations and precautions over any industries and occupations that include exposure to radioactive substances.