The Order of the Knights of St. Crispin was an American labor union of shoe workers formed in Wisconsin in 1867.
They fought to prevent innovation, including the introduction of new machinery, and worked to keep immigrant labor out of the workforce.
The founding members were Newell Daniels, Samuel Wilson, W. C. Haynes, Albert Jenkins, Thomas Houren, F. W. Wallace and Henry Palmer.
[4] The order was revived in 1875 in Lynn, Massachusetts and defeated an attempt by the manufacturers to force their workers to sign a pledge not to join a union.
That effort failed because the new machines could be operated by semi-skilled workers and produce more shoes than hand sewing.