Dictionary definition of “Stephen Girard job”

Stephen Girard job

n. a task or occupation comprised of make-work or busywork; a repetitive undertaking. Subjects: English, Employment

Editorial Note: This term does not appear to have ever been common. Thanks to Bill Simon of Garvey Schubert Barer for suggesting this term. Etymological Note: The story told in the 1969 citation is repeated by many sources and is presumed to be the origin of the expression. Stephen Girard, 1750–1831, was a French-born business tycoon and philanthropist who made his wealth in Philadelphia during the American Revolutionary War and War of 1812.

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Citations: 1932 Rexford B. Hersey Workers’ Emotions in Shop and Home p. 244 @ (1977): That drawhead on which we had been working was tried and found to be short. We have to do all the work over again. A Stephen Girard job like that makes me lose heart. 1969 John Frier @ St. Louis, Missouri Chicago Tribune (Sept. 2) “Useless Work” p. 16: Years ago in Philadelphia they had what was known as a Stephen Girard job. During some previous hard times this philanthropist fenced in vacant ground, and anyone in need came in, carried bricks from one side to the other, and when the bricks were all stacked on one side, the reverse happened. When the men went home at night they received their pay. 1997 [John Walsh] Usenet: alt.quotations (Oct. 31) “Stephen Girard Work”: Have you ever heard of “Steven Girard Work.” I’m told it is another way of saying “busy work.” 2005 [John H. Fisher] Usenet: alt.politics.democrats (Sept. 16) “Re: Too Little For Some, Too Late for Others, Too Much for True Beneficaries”: That was called a Stephen Girard job!!!-:) He came LONG before Roosevelt!!-:)

Posted 28 Dec 06 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

I am unable to find the connection between Girard and “busy work.”
Does it perhaps refer to the workd that the children in the “college” did?

by Joel Etra 29 Dec 06, 0432 GMT

Take a look at the story told in the 1969 citation above.

by Grant Barrett 29 Dec 06, 0436 GMT

In the November 1975, there was an article in Philadelphia Magazine called “How to Talk Like a Philadelphian” by Jim Quinn that discussed various Philadelphia accents and phrases. One of them was “Stephen Girard Work”, which meant busywork. The article specifically mentioned moving bricks back and forth across a street and Stephen Girard’s distaste for idleness.

by Carolyn 24 Apr 07, 0348 GMT

Hey Joel, this a few years late, but perhaps for others who will stumble upon this like I did, and can not find the connection like yourself, I figured as an Alumnus of the the “Hum” what we call Girard College (Founded by Stephen Girard, wait till you find out how the word “Hum” the way it is used at Girard came about), that I would explain it without getting too long winded.

The connection between Girard and busy work, is that during his (Stephen Girard) lifetime, Girard has fancied himself in keeping busy and never resting, always find some sort of work/business to keep himself busy. Stephen Girard was a Banker, Merchant, Humanitarian, Mariner, Patriot, Philanthropist, Farmer among many other things and in his later years right before he died he was a Railroader.

Here are two quotes to also help explain the type of man Stephen Girard was.

“If I knew I should die tomorrow, I would plant a tree today”

“My deeds must be my life. When I am gone, they will speak for me.”

by Bill Reed Girard College Alumni '96 26 May 08, 0539 GMT