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Title
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Perkins, Frances (1929-1965)
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birthday
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1880-04-10
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Birthplace
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Boston, MA
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Death Date
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1965-05-14
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Occupation
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Secretary of Labor
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Commissioner
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Labor activist
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Biographical Text
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Frances Perkins was an American labor rights advocate and activist and the longest serving Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945. She was born in Boston MA, to Susan and Frederick Perkins in 1880. Perkins grew up in a republic family which was middle class. Her family came from a long line of Main Farmers and craftsmen. She graduated from Classical High School in Worcester and then went on to earn a bachelor's degree in chemistry and physics from Mount Holyoke College in 1902. Perkins interest in progressive politics grew while attending college. She discovered the suffrage movement and was even named class president. One of Perkins' professors assigned students to tour a factory to study working conditions. She recalled this course being an important influence on her career. After college, Perkins taught chemistry at Ferry Hall School from 1904 to 1906. In Chicago, she volunteered at settlement houses, including Hull House, where she worked with Jane Addams. In 1907, she worked as a social worker while simultaneously pursuing economics at University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. During this time she joined the Socialist Party of America but left two years later. Shortly after, she moved to Greenwich Village, New York, where she attended Columbia University and became active in the suffrage movement. In support of the movement, Perkins attended protests and meetings, and advocated for the cause on street corners. She earned a master's degree in economics and sociology from Columbia in 1910.
In 1913, Perkins married New York economist Paul Wilson. She kept her maiden name because she didn't want her activities to affect her husbands career. Perkins had one daughter named Susanna. Perkins cut back a little at work in order to help take care of her family. In 1917, Perkins returned to work in New York and became the first female member in the New York State government. She helped organize factory inspections, settled strikes and most importantly established a reputation as one of the nation’s leading experts of labor relations. In 1919, she was added to the Industrial Commission of the State of New York. Perkins became the highest-paid woman in New York State government. Towards the end of her life, Perkins served as a commissioner. She remained active and returned to teach at universities occasionally. Perkins passed away in 1965, at the age of 85.
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Contributor
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Phillip, Emelda
