FiIm Producer & Historian
Michael Hirsch is the preeminent authority on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. He
co-produced, researched, and wrote the HBO documentary: “Triangle: Remembering the
Fire,” which aired on HBO on March 11,2011. This documentary won the DuPont Award
presented by Columbia University. Michael is an exemplary individual who spent years
researching the six unidentified victims of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. After
100 years, these victims now have properly rnarked and named graves, and Michael was
finally able to give closure to the victims’ families.
Michael was born in Nutley and was graduated by Nutley High School in 1975. After his
college graduation, he became a freelance photographer and was published in magazines
such as Time. His photography career led him to become the photo editor for McGraw
Hill’s Business Week publication.
Michael began collaboration with Blowback Productions in 2008 and provided research
for the documentary: “Rags to Riches” which aired on HBO in 2009. In 20l2 he
provided research for the documentary: “Hard Tirnes: Lost on Long Island,” which also
aired on HBO. Michael has appeared on CNN and CBS Sunday Morning. Also, a feature
article was published in the “New York Times” regarding the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory
Fire. He is currently working on a new project for HBO which will chronicle the poli-economic concerns of our times, and on May 7, 20l3, Michael was asked to co-author an Op-Ed for the Los Angeles Times.
ln 2012 the “Jewish Daily Forward” recognized Michael as one of the 50 most influential
Jews, and the Keel Center of Cornell University invited Michael to revise and write
a comprehensive new forward for the 50th anniversary edition of Leon Stein’s “The
Triangle Fire.” Michael Hirsch’s contribution to history is his drive to give victims a
voice in our nation’s history. Michael Hirsch is a commendable individual who has shown
his compassion by soliciting local groups to adopt graves of the victims