Perkins papers, ca. 1884-1965.
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Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections South Hadley, MA
Finding aid generated in MARC format from database, then encoded using Perl scripts and XSL stylesheet. 2004-04-06
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Perkins papers
Perkins, Frances, 1880-1965.
Biographical History for: Perkins papers
Biographical Note Frances Perkins was born on April 10, 1880 (some sources say 1882) in Boston, Massachusetts. She was christened Fannie Coralie Perkins but later changed her name to Frances. She was the daughter of Frederick W. Perkins, the owner of a stationer's business, and Susan Bean Perkins. The family moved to Worcester, Massachusetts in 1882. After attending Worcester Classical High School, Perkins entered Mount Holyoke College in 1898. She was president of her class and majored in chemistry and physics, receiving her B.A. degree in 1902. She became interested in labor issues after studying working conditions in Massachusetts and Connecticut factories for two political economy courses taught by Annah May Soule. After graduation, Perkins taught at Monson Academy in Massachusetts and at the Ferry Hall School in Lake Forest, Illinois. In 1907 she became the General Secretary of the Philadelphia Research and Protective Association. During her time in Philadelphia she joined the Socialist Party and took classes at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1909 she received a fellowship from the Russell Sage Foundation and earned her M.A. in economics and sociology from Columbia University. From 1910-1912 Perkins served as Secretary of the New York Consumers' League and taught at Adelphi College. She worked for industrial reform, women's suffrage, and the passage of a fifty-four hour work week bill in the New York legislature. After witnessing the Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire of 1911 in which 146 workers died, Perkins took a position with the Committee on Safety of the City of New York and worked there until 1915. On September 26, 1913 she married Paul Caldwell Wilson, an economist for the Bureau of Municipal Research in New York. During the 1920s Wilson suffered increasingly mental illness. From 1930 until his death in 1952 he spent most of his time in institutions. The couple had two children; the first died in infancy and the second was a daughter born in 1916 named Susanna Winslow Wilson. In 1918 Perkins was appointed to the New York State Industrial Commission, becoming the highest paid state employee in the United States with a salary of $8,000. From 1920-1922 she served as Executive Secretary of the Council on Immigrant Education before returning to work for the Industrial Commission from 1922-1928. From 1928-1933 Perkins was Industrial Commissioner for New York State. From 1933-1945 Perkins was the Secretary of Labor in Franklin D. Roosevelt's cabinet. She was the first woman to hold a position in a presidential cabinet. She helped draft the Federal Emergency Relief Act, the Civilian Conservation Act, the Social Security Act, and other important legislation. Perkins was the target of much criticism in her position. Because of her pro-labor stance, employers often accused her of encouraging union violence. In 1939 Representative J. Parnell Thomas proposed a resolution instructing the House Judiciary Committee to investigate whether she should be impeached for refusing to deport Harry Bridges, a longshoremen's leader and suspected communist. The resolution failed. From 1934-1944 Perkins also was a trustee of Mount Holyoke College. From 1946-1956 she served on the United States Civil Service Commission and lectured widely. From 1957 until her death, Perkins held a professorship at Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations. She died on May 14, 1965 in New York City at the age eighty-five.
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Frances Perkins Papers contain correspondence, course records, writings, financial records, notes and memoranda, memorabilia, biographical information, and photographs. The most extensive part of the collection consists of notes and notebooks, compositions, student papers, textbooks, assignments, examinations, and other records for courses that Perkins took as a student at Mount Holyoke College, 1898-1902. This material reflects her study of art history, astronomy, the Bible, botany, chemistry, English, English literature, the German language, history, Latin, "pedagogy" (education), "philosophy" (ethics, logic, and psychology), physics, "political economy" (sociology), and zoology. Of particular significance are notes and reports on visits to factories in Massachusetts and Connecticut that Perkins prepared for two political economy classes taught by Annah May Soule. Perkins' course records also include a high school Latin paper, Mount Holyoke catalogues and an entrance examination, and her plans for her course work. Correspondence in the collection dates from 1898-1903 and 1914 and primarily consists of letters written to Perkins by relatives and friends. One letter from her father, dated June 2, 1902, discusses her finances and commencement plans. The other letters are mostly from friends including Mary Alice Bradford, Florence E. Locke, Mary E. Lyman, Kate E. Paterson Ross, Eva Gay Stewart, Alice Bidwell Wesenberg, and other Mount Holyoke students and alumnae. These letters reflect the close friendship among these women and discuss College events (such as Senior Mountain Day) and summer and post-graduation activities. The writings by Perkins include articles, letters to the editor, pamphlets, speeches, and copies of her books "People At Work" (1934) and "The Roosevelt I Knew" (1946). Most of her writings date 1930-1945 and concern labor-related issues such as the problems facing working women and older workers. Financial records date from 1898-1903 and include an account book, notes, and a receipt. Most of this material reflects Perkins' personal expenses for room furnishings, food, travel, clothing, and books. Her notes and memoranda from circa 1898-circa 1903 chiefly reflect Perkins' service as President of the Class of 1902 at Mount Holyoke. These documents also include teaching notes from 1902-1903, when she taught astronomy, geography, mathematics (algebra and geometry), and zoology at Monson Academy in Monson, Massachusetts. Memorabilia, 1901-1965, relates to her activities as a student at Mount Holyoke and to her subsequent professional life. This material includes programs for College events, Class of 1902 publications, programs for meetings and conferences that she attended, and a copy of an April 3, 1939 speech by Representative John A. Martin of the United States Congress that called for the dismissal of impeachment proceedings against Perkins. Biographical information dates from circa 1911-1965 and consists of notes, sketches, and articles chiefly concerning Perkins' professional activities. This material reflects her views on issues such as child labor, the length of the work day, continuing education for married women, a minimum wage for women workers, social security, unemployment insurance, and the best use of leisure time. Several articles also express opinions about her work as Secretary of Labor. Photographs date from circa 1884-1963 and consist of both formal portraits and informal photographs of Perkins. The earliest photograph is a portrait of her as a child in about 1884. Other photographs show her at Mount Holyoke College before and after graduation and with professional associates including United States presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. Material from this collection is available in an online digital format.
College students - Massachusetts.
lcsh
Women college students - Massachusetts.
Teachers - Massachusetts.
Women teachers - Massachusetts.
Social reformers - United States.
Women social reformers - United States.
Friendship - United States - History - Sources.
Zoology - Study and teaching - Massachusetts.
Sociology - Study and teaching (Higher) - Massachusetts.
Physics - Study and teaching (Higher) - Massachusetts.
Ethics - Study and teaching (Higher) - Massachusetts.
Logic - Study and teaching (Higher) - Massachusetts.
Psychology - Study and teaching (Higher) - Massachusetts.
History - Study and teaching (Higher) - Massachusetts.
German language - Study and teaching (Higher) - Massachusetts.
English literature - Study and teaching (Higher) - Massachusetts.
English language - Study and teaching (Higher) - Massachusetts.
Chemistry - Study and teaching (Higher) - Massachusetts.
Botany - Study and teaching (Higher) - Massachusetts.
Astronomy - Study and teaching - Massachusetts.
Art - Study and teaching (Higher) - Massachusetts.
Latin language - Study and teaching - Massachusetts.
Labor movement - United States.
Education - Study and teaching (Higher) - Massachusetts.
Mathematics - Study and teaching (Secondary) - Massachusetts.
Industrial relations - United States.
Women - Employment - United States.
Aged - Employment - United States.
Geography - Study and teaching - Massachusetts.
Bible--Study and teaching(Higher)--Massachusetts.
Mount Holyoke College - Student expenses - 1898-1902
Mount Holyoke College - Student life - 1898-1902
Mount Holyoke College - Student papers - 1898-1902
Mount Holyoke College - Traditions
lcnaf
Soule, Annah May, 1861-1905.
Bradford, Mary Alice, 1877-1957.
Locke, Florence E. (Florence Esther), 1878-1939.
Lyman, Mary E. (Mary Elizabeth), 1881-1945.
Ross, Kate E. Paterson, 1876-1952.
Steward, Eva Gay, 1879-1968.
Bidwell, Alice Townsend.
Mount Holyoke College - Curricula.
Mount Holyoke College - Students.
Mount Holyoke College. - Class of 1902.
Monson Academy.
aat
series
Correspondence, 1898-1903, 1914
This series contains letters written to Perkins from 1898 to 1903 while, and shortly after, she was a student at Mount Holyoke College. There is also a short birthday note dated April 9, 1914. There is one letter, dated June 2, 1902, to Perkins from her father regarding her finances and plans for commencement. Most of the other letters are from friends, including Mary Alice Bradford, Florence E. Locke, Mary E. Lyman, Kate E. Paterson Ross, Eva Gay Stewart, and Alice Bidwell Wesenberg, and other Mount Holyoke students and alumnae. These letters discuss College, summer, and post-graduation activities. Several letters and notes thank Perkins for her kindness and friendship. Other notes were sent to Perkins while she was participating in Senior Mountain Day on June 10 and 11, 1902.
Unrestricted
Course Records, 1898-1902
This series consists of a variety of documents that chiefly reflect Perkins' academic work as a student at Mount Holyoke College from 1898 to 1902. The material includes class notes and notebooks, compositions and other student papers, textbooks used for courses, assignments with teachers' comments, and examinations. Most of the material relates to courses in chemistry, English, English literature, history, physics, and "political economy" (sociology). There are also records for courses in art history, astronomy, Biblical literature, botany, German, Latin, "pedagogy" (education), "philosophy" (ethics, logic, and psychology), and zoology. Of particular significance are records for two courses in political economy that Perkins took in 1900/01 and 1901/02. These classes, taught by Annah May Soule, sparked her interest in labor issues. The first course, entitled "History of Industrial Society in England and the United States," was intended to prepare students "for the study of labor and social problems." The notes for this course are about legislation regarding industry and Industrial Revolution and pauperism. The second course, entitled "Elements of Political Economy," provided students with "a knowledge of the main principles of economic theory" and required them to visit factories and make reports of their findings. The records for this course include notebooks and notes reflecting Perkins' visits to several factories in Massachusetts and Connecticut. These notes concern the organization, financial conditions, and workers of each factory and include information about labor disputes and working conditions. This series also includes Perkins' copies of Mount Holyoke catalogues for 1898/99, 1899/1900, and 1901/02 that contain notes reflecting her plans for her course work. The catalogue for 1901/02 has notes of where many students (probably her friends) lived on campus. The course records also include a paper that Perkins wrote for a high school Latin course and a Mount Holyoke entrance examination, both dating from 1898. In addition, there are records concerning Class of 1902 activities in a notebook for English Literature 1. These notes, lists, and financial accounts are for a class fund-raising sale held on February 22, 1901 in celebration of Washington's birthday and a dance held on March 19, 1901.
Writings, 1925-1946, 1957
This series consists of articles, letters to the editor, pamphlets, speeches, and a book by Perkins dating from 1925 to 1946 and 1957. Most of Perkins' writings date from 1930 to 1945 and concern labor issues, including the impact of the economic depression and World War II, the need for unemployment insurance and retirement pensions, unemployment, and the problems of workers. Several of the articles discuss the situation of women workers and the controversy about whether not they should hold jobs during the economic depression of the 1930s. Of particular note is an article from "The New York Times Magazine," dated March 13, 1938, discussing the plight of older workers. One of Perkins' speeches, given on March 27, 1939, is entitled "The International Labor Organization as an Agency of Democracy." There is a lengthy statement about absenteeism that Perkins delivered to the Committee on Labor in the House of Representatives in March, 1943. This series also includes copies of Perkins' books "People At Work" (1934) and "The Roosevelt I Knew" (1946).
Financial Records, 1898-1902
This series includes an account book, notes, and a receipt dating from Perkins' years as a Mount Holyoke College student from 1898 to 1902. Most of the material reflects her personal expenses. The account book dates from September 14, 1898 to January, 1901 and contains information relating to the purchase of room furnishings, flowers, and food, including candy, soda, ice cream, and Halloween and Valentines Day party delicacies. Other accounts are for travel expenses, laundry and clothing, purchase of books, and a contribution to the College Endowment Fund. Other notes appear to concern Class of 1902 activities.
Notes and Memoranda, circa 1898-circa 1903
This series dates from circa 1898 to circa 1903. It includes two notebooks, notes, speeches, and teaching notes. Most of the material probably reflects Perkins' service as President of the Class of 1902 at Mount Holyoke College. The notebooks include notes about student plays and other activities, Perkins' schedule, and meals. The teaching notes date from about 1902-1903 while Perkins was teaching at the Monson Academy in Massachusetts. The notes are for the subjects of algebra, astronomy, geography, geometry, and zoology.
Memorabilia, 1901-1965
The material in this series dates from 1901 to 1965. Some of this material reflects Perkins' connection to Mount Holyoke College. There are copies of programs for performances and activities that Perkins participated in while she was a student at Mount Holyoke, 1898-1902. A "Class Book" chronicles activities of class members at Mount Holyoke. "Class Letters" describe the lives of class members shortly after graduation. Other material relates to Perkins' professional life. There are programs for meetings and conferences, including one for the "Women's Conference of Current Problems" held in October, 1933, in which Perkins participated. There is an announcement dated June 29, 1934 regarding the release of her book, "People at Work." The series includes a speech, entitled "Dismissal of Impeachment Proceedings Against Frances Perkins, Secretary of Labor," given by the Honorable John A. Martin in the House of Representatives on April 3, 1939. There is also a press release announcing a lecture given by Perkins on December 7, 1960, entitled "Jane Addams and Social Security - Past and Present." The series includes a program for the June 10, 1962, ceremony in which Perkins was awarded the Elizabeth Blackwell Award by Hobart and William Smith Colleges. The series also includes a wedding announcement, dated September 26, 1913, for Paul Wilson and Perkins. The last program in the series is for a memorial service for Perkins held at Cornell University on May 18, 1965.
Unrestricted.
Biographical Information, circa 1911-1965
The documents in this series date from circa 1911 to 1965 and consists of notes, sketches, magazine articles, and newspaper clippings about Perkins. Many of the articles and clippings are photocopies of the original items and these copies are arranged on numbered sheets in roughly chronological order. The material relates primarily to Perkins' professional life. Some of the biographical information concerns her work for the New York Industrial Commission from 1919 to 1929, but most of the material relates to her service as United States Secretary of Labor from 1933-1945. This material reflects reactions to her appointment and describes her views on child labor, the length of the work day, continuing education for married women, a minimum wage for women workers, social security, unemployment insurance, the best use of leisure time, and similar issues. Several articles express opinions about Perkins' ability as Secretary of Labor. For example, one article, "Fearless Frances," published in "Colliers" on July 28, 1934, calls her "the best man in the Cabinet." Another article, "The Unpopular Mme. Perkins," from the Boston "Herald" of March 6, 1938, says that "one would have to look hard to find a more unpopular government official." An article from the "Saturday Evening Post," dated July 27, 1940, is entitled "Madame Secretary: A Study in Bewilderment" and discusses Perkins' "political ineptitude." An article entitled "She Wears a Hat for 16 Hours a Day" from the January 31, 1937, London (England) "The Sunday Express," refers to Perkins as the "Fighting Schoolma'am Cabinet Minister." Two newspaper clippings from April, 1936, discuss the rumors that Perkins was a "Russian Jew." The series also contains reviews of her books, "People at Work" (1934) and "The Roosevelt I Knew" (1946). There are also articles about Perkins' visits to Mount Holyoke College. Very little biographical material relates to her personal life, except for a wedding announcement for her daughter, Susanna Wilson, and information about Perkins' involvement in an automobile accident. The series concludes with several obituaries and tributes from 1965.
Photographs, circa 1884-1963
This series dates from circa 1884 to 1963 and includes formal portraits, informal photographs, and negatives and contacts sheets for the photographs. There are two personal photographs, including a portrait from about 1884 when Perkins was a child and a photograph of her and her daughter, Susanna, taken on May 5, 1917. The series includes many photographs related to Mount Holyoke College. There are several portraits of Perkins while she was a student at the College, and there is one photograph of her at her graduation in 1902. There are several photographs of Perkins at Mount Holyoke with College presidents Mary Woolley and Roswell Ham. Later photographs are Perkins at different Mount Holyoke class reunions. Other photographs are related to her career. There is a photograph of Perkins with two New York State employers, Max Meyer and Maxwell Wheeler, at the Governor's Conference on Unemployment in New York in January, 1931. There is one photograph of Perkins with President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the signing of the Social Security Act in 1935. There is a photograph of Perkins speaking at the commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Social Security Act on Aug 14, 1960. The last photograph in the series is of Perkins speaking with President John F. Kennedy at a dinner on March 4, 1963 celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of the United States Department of Labor.
Correspondence1898-1903, 1914
Correspondence, 1898
Correspondence, circa 1898-1902
Correspondence, 1899-1900
Correspondence, 1900-1901
Correspondence, 1902-1903, 1914
Course Records1898-1902
Paper from high school course, probably Latin, 1898
Mount Holyoke entrance exam, 1898
Mount Holyoke catalogues and note, 1898-1902
Art and archaeology 4a: Notebook, Sept. 1901-Feb. 1902
Art and archaeology 4a: Notebook, Feb. 1902-Jun. 1902
Art and archaeology 4a: Essays and assignment, Sept. 1901-Jun. 1902
Astronomy 1: Notebook, Sept. 1899-Jun. 1900
Astronomy 1: Notes and assignment, Sept. 1899-Jun. 1900
Biblical literature 1: Notebook, Sept. 1898-Jun. 1899
Biblical literature 2: Essays, Sept. 1899-Jun. 1900
Botany 1: Notes, Feb. 1900-Jun. 1900
Chemistry [1]: Lab notebook, [Sept. 1899-Feb. 1900]
Chemistry 1: Lab instructions and notes, Sept. 1899-Feb. 1900
Chemistry 1: Notebook, Sept. 1899-Feb. 1900
Chemistry [2]: Notebook cover, [Feb. 1900-Jun. 1900]
Chemistry [2]: Notebook, [Feb. 1900-Jun. 1900]
Chemistry [2]: Lab notes, [Feb. 1900-Jun. 1900]
Chemistry 1, 2, and 3: Examinations, essays, notebooks, and notes, Sept. 1899-Feb. 1901
English 1: Essay, Sept. 1898-Jun. 1899
English 2: Essays, Sept. 1899-Jun. 1900
English 8: Essays, Feb. 1901-Jun. 1901
English literature 1: Textbook, "A Literary Pilgrimage...," 1895, Feb. 1900-Jun. 1900
English literature 1: Notebook and notes, Feb. 1900-Jun. 1900
English literature 12: Notebook, Feb. 1902-Jun. 1902
English literature 12: Notes, Feb. 1902-Jun. 1902
English literature 1: Notebook, Feb. 1902-Jun. 1902
German 1, 2, or 3a: Notes, Sept. 1898-Feb. 1900
History 1: Textbook, "The History of England...," 1898, Sept. 1899-Feb. 1900
History 1: Notebook, Notes, and syllabus, Sept. 1899-Feb. 1900
History 1: Notebook, Sept. 1899-Feb. 1900
History 7: Textbook, "The Colonies...," 1897, Feb. 1900-Jun. 1900
History 7: Notebooks, Feb. 1900-Jun. 1900
History 2: Textbook, "Outlines of Roman History," 1901, Feb. 1902-Jun. 1902
History 2: Notebook cover, Feb. 1902-Jun. 1902
History 2: Notebook, Feb. 1902-Jun. 1902
Latin 1 or 2: Textbook, "Bennett's Latin Composition," 1896, Sept. 1898-Jun. 1899
Latin 1 or 2: Notebooks, Sept. 1898-Jun. 1899
Pedagogy 1 and 2: Notebooks, Feb. 1902-Jun. 1902
Philosophy 2: Examination, Feb. 1901-Jun. 1901
Philosophy 1 and 2: Notebook, Sept. 1900-Jun. 1901
Physics 1: Notebook, Sept. 1900-Feb. 1901
Physics 7: Notes, Sept. 1901-Feb. 1902
Physics 4: Notebook, Sept. 1901-Jun. 1902
Physics 4: Notes, Sept. 1901-Jun. 1902
Political economy 1: Notebooks, Feb. 1901-Jun. 1901
Political economy 2: Notebook, Sept. 1901-Feb. 1902
Political economy 2: Notebooks (including "factory reports"), Sept. 1901-Feb. 1902
Zoology 1, 2, or 3: Notes, Sept. 1900-Feb. 1902
Writings 1925-1946, 1957
Articles, 1925, 1930-1933
"People At Work"1934
Book: "The Roosevelt I Knew," 1946
Article, 1957
Financial Records1898-1902
Notes and account book, 1898-1902
Memoranda notebooks, speech notes, and notes, circa 1898-1902
Teaching notes, circa 1902-circa 1903
Programs, 1901-1902
Class Book, 1902
First Class Letter, 1903
Programs, announcements, and invitations,1911-1965
Notes, sketches, articles, and clippings,circa 1913-1965
Articles and clippings (numbered sheets),circa 1911-1932
Articles and clippings (numbered sheets), 1933
Articles and clippings (numbered sheets), 1934-circa 1938
Articles and clippings (numbered sheets), 1941-1965
Photographs, circa 1884-circa 1920
Photographs, circa 1930-circa 1937
Photographs, 1938-1948
Photographs, 1952-1963
Photographs from Class of 1902 Book, probably of classmates, 1898-1902
Negatives found in Class of 1902 Book, 1898-1902
Contact sheet of negatives, circa 1884-1963
Negatives, circa 1884-1963