Schneiderman, Rose, 1882-1972

Rose Schneiderman, Jewish labor organizer, socialist, suffragist, campaigner for protective legislation for women, and leader of the Women's Trade Union League(WTUL) was born of working class parents in Russian Poland in 1882 and emigrated to the United States in 1890, where she entered the work force at age 13. In 1903 she organized her follow cap workers, creating Local 23 of the United Cloth, Hat & Cap Makers of North America. She joined the Socialist Party and the WTUL in 1905, quickly becoming a leading figure in the WTUL as full time organizer on New York's Lower East Side and an executive board member. Schneiderman played a leading role in the New York City garment workers upsurge of 1909-14 and was founder and president of Local 62, ILGWU Dry Goods Workers. After losing her bid for the presidency of the NYWTUL, she became in 1914 a national organizer for the ILGWU, but returned to the WTUL in 1916, dissatisfied with the place of women in the Union. She became head of the NYWTUL in 1918, and later the national WTUL, holding both posts throughout the remainder of the WTUL's existence. After World War I her focus shifted to legislative reform (with the notable exception of her opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment), and she drew close to the Democratic party and established a friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt. Schneiderman served on the National Recovery Administration's labor advisory board in 1934, and as Secretary, NYS Department of Labor 1933-44. Her autobiography, All for One, was published in 1967.

From the description of Papers, 1909-1964 (bulk 1909-1920). (New York University, Group Batchload). WorldCat record id: 58666283

...