National Women's Trade Union League of America

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)