O'Reilly, Leonora, 1870-1927

Leonora O'Reilly was a labor leader, social reformer, a suffragist and peace activist. She was born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan on February 16, 1870; the youngest of two children born to John O'Reilly, a printer, and Winifred (Rooney) O'Reilly, a garment worker. Her parents were Irish immigrants who used their earnings to open a grocery store, which did not succeed. Shortly thereafter their son died, followed by the death of John O'Reilly in 1871, leaving Leonora O'Reilly and her mother destitute. To make ends meet, Winifred O'Reilly worked long hours and brought home additional sewing tasks. Leonora O'Reilly left public school to work in a collar factory at age 11 and eventually became a skilled shirtwaist maker. In 1886, influenced by family and friends, she joined the Knights of Labor where she met Victor Drury, a socialist and life-long friend. With his support, she formed the Working Women's Society, which focused on the welfare and organization of working women. The club's mission drew the attention and support of many upper class social reformers, including Josephine S. Lowell of the State Board of Charities, Louise S.W. Perkins, and others. In 1888 O'Reilly met Edward King and joined the Comte Synthetic Circle, a positivist group that studied sociological theory.

O'Reilly's interaction with wealthy supporters of progressive reform continued to expand, and in 1894, she was invited to join the Social Reform Club, a group consisting of trade unionists and supporters of labor reform. In 1897 she was elected the Club's vice president. That year she also received financial support of Perkins, Josephine Lowell, and Grace Dodge, which enabled her to take a year off from full-time work as forewoman at a shirtwaist factory in order to focus on labor reform. During that period she and her mother lived at the Henry Street Settlement where O'Reilly operated a young boys' club and took charge of a model garment workers' cooperative. 1898 to 1900, O'Reilly attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and took domestic arts courses that offered training to teach sewing to secondary school students. A year prior to graduation, she became head resident at the Asacog House, a Brooklyn settlement (1899-1902), and following graduation she accepted a position at the Manhattan Trade School for Girls (1902-1909).

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