Rose Schneiderman (1884-1972)

This is a photo of one of the pioneer women organizers of the 20th century — Rose Schneiderman, shown in this undated image at a sewing machine that was her vehicle into the labor movement.  She was one of the founding members and leaders of the Women’s Trade Union League, an organization which promoted the cause of women workers at a time when the conventional trade union movement ignored their plight.

During President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal administration, Schneiderman served in the National Recovery Administration (NRA) and as head of the New York State Department of Labor from 1937-1943.  She was a dynamic speaker, a valiant fighter for women’s suffrage and a champion of the cause of the most exploited workers in America industry.  She helped to inspire and train a new generation of organizers.

Photograph from the Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University, Schneiderman Collection.