Coit, Eleanor G.

Labor education expert Eleanor Gwinnell Coit (Smith College, A.B., 1916; Columbia University, A.M., 1919) was the daughter of Emma Gwinnell and Henry Coit, M.D., and was born in Newark, N.J. on May 6, 1894. Coit was Industrial Secretary and General Secretary for three New Jersey branches and one New York branch of the Young Women's Christian Association (1916-1925), before she became Industrial Secretary of the National YWCA in New York City (1926-1928). In 1928 Coit was appointed director of the Educational Department, the research arm of the Affiliated Schools for Women Workers in Industry (known later as the Affiliated Schools for Workers, 1929-1938, and the American Labor Education Service, 1938-1962). Coit served as director of ALES from 1934 until 1962, when the organization was disbanded. At ALES, Coit drew on the expertise of a network of reform-minded women that included academic social scientists and former YWCA industrial and executive secretaries (including Marie Algor, Ernestine Friedmann, Alice Shoemaker, Amy Bruce, and Louise McLaren). Their years of cooperative work resulted in lasting friendships. Coit lived for many years with her companion Amy Bruce. After retirement, Coit remained active in the Council of National Organizations for Adult Education, in church, labor, and social work associations. She died in 1976.

YWCA official. Eleanor Gwinnell Coit (1894-1976) earned an A.B. from Smith College in 1916 and an A.M. from Columbia University in 1919. She worked for the industry department of the YWCA in New Jersey and Buffalo, New York in the 1910s-20s and became education director of the Affiliated Schools for Workers in 1929. Coit later became director of the organization (renamed the American Labor Education Service) in 1934 until it disbanded in 1962. In the late 1930s, she helped establish worker's education programs in 75 localities under the WPA. Coit was also involved in the Committee of Correspondence.

Eleanor Coit, 1916

Eleanor Gwinnell Coit (1894-1976) earned an A.B. from Smith College in 1916 and an A.M. from Columbia University in 1919. She worked for the industry department of the YWCA in New Jersey and Buffalo, New York in the 1910s-20s and became education director of the Affiliated Schools for Workers in 1929. Coit later became director of the organization (renamed the American Labor Education Service) in 1934 until it disbanded in 1962. In the late 1930s, she helped establish worker's education programs in 75 localities under the WPA. Coit was also involved in the Committee of Correspondence.

Eleanor Gwinnell Coit, labor education expert, was the daughter of Emma Gwinnell and Henry Coit, M.D., and was born in Newark, N.J., on May 6, 1894. She received an A.B. (1916) from Smith College and an A.M. (1919) from Columbia University.

EGC was Industrial Secretary of the New Jersey branches of the Young Women's Christian Association at Newark (1916-1917), and Orange (1917-1919), General Secretary at Bayonne (1919-1921), and Industrial Secretary of the YWCA at Buffalo, N.Y. (1922-1925). From 1926 until 1928 she was Industrial Secretary of the National YWCA in New York City. In 1928 EGC was appointed director of the Educational Department, the research arm of the Affiliated Schools for Women Workers in Industry (known later as the Affiliated Schools for Workers, 1929-1938, and the American Labor Education Service, 1938-1962). She was responsible for research in workers' education and for coordinating summer schools for workers.

In 1934 EGC succeeded Hilda Worthington Smith as director of ALES and retained this post until 1962, when the organization was disbanded. In 1935 she was awarded an American Scandinavian Fellowship and visited labor education programs in Sweden, Denmark, and England. During the late 1930s, she helped to establish workers' education programs in 75 different localities under the Works Progress Administration. From 1938, she worked with education directors of AFL-CIO unions to sponsor joint union/ALES education programs and conferences; beginning in 1952 these programs increasingly focussed on the United Nations and the involvement of labor in international affairs. ALES also fostered international exchanges of workers and arranged visits of foreign union members. At ALES, EGC drew on the expertise of a network of reform-minded women that included academic social scientists and former YWCA industrial and executive secretaries (including Marie Algor, Ernestine Friedmann, Alice Shoemaker, Amy Bruce, and Louise McLaren). These women directed summer schools, established workers' education programs, carried out research and field work, and ran seminars and conferences. Their years of cooperative work resulted in lasting friendships.

After retirement, EGC remained active in the Council of National Organizations for Adult Education, in church, labor, and social work associations. She died in 1976.