Mary Kenney O'Sullivan, Date of Birth, Date of Death

    

Mary Kenney O'Sullivan

American activist

Date of Birth: 08-Jan-1864

Date of Death: 18-Jan-1943

Profession: suffragette, trade unionist

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn


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About Mary Kenney O'Sullivan

  • Mary Kenney O'Sullivan (January 8, 1864 – January 18, 1943), was an organizer in the early U.S.
  • labor movement.
  • She learned early the importance of unions from poor treatment received at her first job in dressmaking.
  • Making a career in bookbinding, she joined the Ladies Federal Local Union Number 2703 and organized her own group from within, Woman's Bookbinding Union Number 1.Her women's bookbinding union became a branch of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and she went on to become a full-salaried organizer.
  • Though she would not hold the position for long she is remembered as being the first woman AFL employed on a full salary.She was a member of the Jane Addams's settlement house movement, moving into Hull House in the 1880s.
  • There she proceeded to organize women's work and clubs.
  • Later in 1884, she married a labor editor and organizer named John O'Sullivan at Boston.
  • They moved into Denison House, a settlement house where O'Sullivan continued to perform labor organizing.
  • This was a unique opportunity for her as it was uncommon for husbands to support their wives working.
  • Together they had 3 children.In 1903 in what may be her greatest achievement, O'Sullivan would become a founder of the Women's Trade Union League.
  • She worked with the union in many reform actions.
  • She also aided the Industrial Workers of the World during the Lawrence Textile Strike.
  • She ultimately ended her career in labor as an inspector for the Massachusetts Board of Labor and Industries, a position she held for 20 years.

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