Siegel, Frances, 1909-2006.

Frances Siegel, labor activist, graduated from Radcliffe College (A.B. 1931), and held secretarial positions in Cambridge, Massachusetts at ISIS magazine (1934-1952) where she worked for George Sarton, and with Harvard chemistry professor Arthur Lamb. She later worked in the biochemistry department of Brandeis University. Her major interests and activities lay in the labor movement and in peace and social justice organizations. She was volunteer secretary for the Labor Research Association, 1934-1939, a Communist sympathizer, and frequent contributor to the Daily Worker (now The People's Weekly.) She travelled frequently abroad to the Soviet Union, Cuba, and South America and within the United States. Her wide circle of correspondents included Anant Pandya (from India), Hu and Tsi Pei (from China), Ruth Rubin, servicemen Joel Rothschild and Hy Gordon, her sisters Mary Siegel Russak and Fanny Siegel Jacobs, and many friends she met on her travels.

From the description of Papers, 1927-2006 (inclusive). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 123526687

Frances Siegel was born March 24, 1909, the daughter of Myer Siegel and Annie Siegel in Portsmouth, N.H. She received her A.B. from Radcliffe College (1931) in Economics, focusing on Labor Economics.

While at Radcliffe, Frances Siegel worked part-time as a secretary for Harvard Professor George Sarton, the editor of Isis, a journal on the history of science, medicine and technology and their cultural influences. After graduation, Frances Siegel went to New York City looking for employment, but with the scarcity of jobs due to the Great Depression, she returned to Cambridge. Briefly, she worked (Jan.-Apr. 1932) for Professor Arthur Lamb, proofreading the Journal of the American Chemical Society . From 1934 to 1952, Frances Siegel returned to work as a secretary for George Sarton in Cambridge, Mass., assisting in proofreading, editing, and compiling bibliographies on the history of science for Isis, as well as compiling the indices to Volumes 2 and 3 of Sarton's Introduction to the History of Science . During this time, Frances Siegel corresponded frequently with Dr. Alexander Pogo, the Astronomy Editor at Isis . Later in her life (start date unknown) until 1974, Frances Siegel worked as an administrative assistant for various professors in the biochemistry department at Brandeis University.

Although Frances Siegel was never able to find work within her field of interest she devoted much of her life to the labor movement, as well as other peace and social justice organizations. From 1935 to 1939, she volunteered as a secretary for the Labor Research Association, where she edited the association's monthly bulletin and prepared several reports for local trade unions. Although sympathetic to the Communist Party, it is unknown whether she was actually a party member. Her support caused the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate her for "subversive activities" during the 1940s and 1950s, according to her college file.

Frances Siegel's advocacy and support focused on peace and anti-nuclear organizations, progressive and leftist politics and political candidates, and health care reform. Among the local Cambridge and Massachusetts organizations she worked for were the Massachusetts Tenants Organization and the Massachusetts Senior Action Council. Other organizations she supported were the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the B'nai B'rith Anti-defamation League, and United Farm Workers of America. She subscribed to several progressive periodicals, including The Nation and contributed to People's Weekly World (formerly the Daily Worker ). She was, wrote the former editor of People's Weekly World, Tim Wheeler, a "legendary contributor." Frances Siegel's collection of pins and buttons illustrate her support of numerous labor, peace, and social justice organizations and movements, including a pin most likely from the 1930s, advocating "Save the Spanish refugees."

For her contributions, Frances Siegel received many awards, including recognition from the National Committee of Christians and Jews for "Outstanding Service to the ideals of brotherhood and for the dedication to the betterment of mankind and the improvement of human relations" (1983), from the City of Cambridge a resolution for outstanding community service (2006), and the John Phillip Sousa Award (September 10, 1984), in recognition of outstanding advocacy efforts made on behalf of Cambridge-Somerville elders. This award was given by the Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services, the Cambridge Council on Aging, the Somerville Council on Aging, and the Cambridge Committee of Elders.

Frances Siegel traveled extensively abroad to Mexico, the Soviet Union, Cuba (a Women Strike for Peace tour), and South America, as well as all over the United States and Canada. Throughout her life Frances Siegel maintained correspondence with many traveling companions and friends that she met during her travels.

In the later years of her life Frances Siegel continued to live in Cambridge, but spent summers in Ogunquit, Maine with her sisters Mary Russak and Fannie Jacobs. Frances Siegel died on January 12, 2006.

From the guide to the Papers, 1927-2008, (Radcliffe College Archives, Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute)