National Women's Trade Union League of America

Variant names
Dates:
Active 1903
Active 1950

History notes:

The National Women's Trade Union League was founded in Boston, Mass., in 1903 to organize women workers into trade unions. The league also held training programs for workers, conducted research re: working conditions, and supported strikes.

From the description of Records, 1914-1942 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 232007821

The National Women's Trade Union League of America was founded in Boston, Mass., in 1903 to "assist in the organization of women wage workers into trade unions and thereby to help them secure conditions necessary for healthful and efficient work and to obtain a just reward for such work."

From the description of Records, 1903-1950 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 232007653

The Trade Union League was established in Boston in 1903 to organize women workers into unions, thereby helping them to "secure conditions necessary for healthful and efficient work and to obtain a just reward for such work." The League was dissolved in 1950.

From the description of Records, 1904-1950 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 232006761

The Women's Trade Union League was founded in 1903 during the annual convention of the American Federation of Labor. Local branches were organized within a year in Boston, Chicago and New York. In 1907 its name became the National Women's Trade Union League of America. The League sought to counter the exploitation of working women by organizing them into trade unions and by securing protective legislation regulating their hours and working conditions and setting minimum wage standards. Its dual membership of working and middle class women made the League unique among social reform organizations of its day.

As the League's president from 1907 to 1922, Margaret Dreier Robins, the well-to-do daughter of a Brooklyn businessman, guided it through the period of its most active work. Among her close associates were several working class women who served as officers of the national or local Leagues, including Leonora O'Reilly of New York and Agnes Nestor and Mary Anderson of Chicago. After 1922, working women took over the leadership; Rose Schneiderman, a veteran leader of strikes in the needle trades, served as national president from 1926 to 1950.

From the description of Records, 1903-1950. [microform] (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 64755372

The Women's Trade Union League was founded in Boston in 1903 during the annual convention of the American Federation of Labor. In 1907 its name became the National Womens Trade Union League of America. Local branches were organized within a year in Boston, Chicago and New York. The League sought to counter the exploitation of working women by organizing them into trade unions and by securing protective legislation regulating their hours and working conditions and setting minimum wage standards. Its dual membership of working and middle class women made the WTUL unique among social reform organizations of its day.

As the League's president from 1907 to 1922, Margaret Dreier Robins, the well-to-do daughter of a Brooklyn businessman, guided it through the period of its most active work. Among her close associates were several working class women who served as officers of the national or local Leagues, including Leonora O'Reilly of New York and Agnes Nestor and Mary Anderson of Chicago. After 1922, working women took over the leadership; Rose Schneiderman, a veteran leader of strikes in the needle trades, served as national president from 1926 to 1950.

From the description of National Women's Trade Union Legaue of America papers of the Women's Trade Union League and its principal leaders, 1855-1964, bulk 1903-1950. [microform] (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 64091532

Organizational History

1903 Founded, Boston, Mass. Mary Morton Kehew elected president 1904 Women’s trade union leagues founded in Chicago, Ill., New York, N.Y., and Boston, Mass. 1907 National convention, Norfolk, Va. 1907 1922 Margaret Dreier Robins served as president 1909 National convention, Chicago, Ill. 1911 Founding of Life and Labor, official organ of the National Women’s Trade Union League of America National convention, Boston, Mass. 1913 National convention, St. Louis, Mo. 1914 1926 Conducted a training school for women labor leaders 1915 National convention, New York, N.Y. 1917 National convention, Kansas City, Mo. 1919 National convention, Philadelphia, Pa. International Congress of Working Women, Washington, D.C. 1921 International Congress of Working Women, Geneva, Switzerland 1922 National convention, Waukegan, Ill. Maud O’ Farrell Swartz elected president 1923 International Federation of Working Women, Vienna, Austria 1924 National convention, New York, N.Y. 1926 National convention, Kansas City, Mo. Rose Schneiderman elected president 1929 National convention, Washington, D.C. 1936 National convention, Washington, D.C. 1947 National convention, Washington, D.C. 1950 League dissolved

From the guide to the National Women’s Trade Union League of America Records, 1903-1950, (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

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Subjects:

  • Child labor
  • Civil rights
  • Clothing workers
  • Eight-hour movement
  • Federal aid to education
  • Feminists
  • Household employees
  • Labor and laboring classes
  • Labor and laboring classes
  • Labor and laboring classes
  • Labor and laboring classes
  • Labor laws and legislation
  • Labor unions
  • Lobbyists
  • Minimum wage
  • Quality of work life
  • Social legislation
  • Social security
  • Strikes and lockouts
  • Sweatshops
  • Textile workers
  • Wage-price policy
  • World War, 1914-1918
  • Women
  • Women
  • Women
  • Women labor union members
  • Women social reformers
  • Women's rights
  • Work environment
  • Working class women
  • Labor and laboring classes
  • Labor and laboring classes
  • Labor and laboring classes
  • Women
  • Women

Occupations:

not available for this record

Places:

  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Danville (Va.) (as recorded)
  • Chicago (Ill.) (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)

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