Goldman, Emma (1869-1940)

Title

Goldman, Emma (1869-1940)

Smith, E.G. (1869-1940)

Contributor

Raisch, Elly

Source

Emma Goldman, half-length portrait, facing left, Library of Congress

birthday

1869-06-27

Birthplace

Kovno, Russian Empire

Death Date

1940-05-14

Occupation

Author

Political activist

Textile worker

Midwife

Public speaker

Biographical Text

Emma Goldman was a political activist best known for her anarchist philosophy. Goldman was born in the Russian Empire (modern-day Lithuania), and spent her youth working various jobs to support her impoverished family. Her father denied her an education as a teenager, leading her to self-study works of philosophy and politics. She developed a hatred for violent authority from a young age due to her experiences with and observations of abuse as a child. Goldman emigrated to New York in 1885, where she would become heavily involved in anarchist circles and meet collaborator Alexander Berkman. Goldman was involved in several anarchist and anti-establishment projects with Berkman and mentor Johann Most, such as public speaking, publishing, and organizing strikes. After public exile for her support of Berkman's attempted assassination of Henry Frick and arrest for inciting worker's riots, Goldman would go on to study and practice midwifery. In the early 1900s she founded the radical magazine publication Mother Earth, and would continue on to write many essays on anarchy and feminism. She was deported in 1919 after her release from prison, and moved throughout Europe and Canada to continue speaking and writing on various political and social issues until her death.

Goldman was married briefly married to Jacob Kershner in 1887 before their divorce the following year. She was later married to her second husband James Colton in 1925 until his death in 1936. However, the two were only acquaintances: Colton had offered to marry Goldman in order for her to gain British citizenship. Goldman's longtime romantic partner was fellow anarchist Alexander Berkman. She passed away due to a stroke at age 70 in Toronto, Canada.

Bibliography

Wikipedia