Agnes Inglis
Encyclopedia
Agnes Inglis was a Detroit, Michigan
-born anarchist who became the primary architect of the Labadie Collection
at the University of Michigan
.
She was the youngest child in a conservative, religious family, and educated at a Massachusetts
girls' academy. Her father died in 1874, her sister died of cancer sometime later, and her mother died when she was roughly thirty years old.
After her mother's death, Inglis studied history
and literature
at University of Michigan
, receiving an allowance from her extended family. She left the university before graduating, and spent several years as a social worker at Chicago's Hull House
, the Franklin Street Settlement House in Detroit, and the Ann Arbor YWCA
. While working in these settings, she became sympathetic to the condition of immigrant laborers in the United States
, ultimately developing strong political convictions from the experiences.
In 1915 Inglis met and befriended Emma Goldman
, and shortly thereafter, Goldman's lover and comrade Alexander Berkman
. She increased her radical activities with the onset of World War I
, and used much of her time and family's money for legal support, particularly during the Red Scare
of 1919–1920.
She befriended Joseph Labadie
and in 1924 discovered the materials on radical movements he donated to University of Michigan
had hardly been cared for. She began volunteering full-time, carefully organizing and cataloguing what would be known as the Labadie Collection. After a few years, Inglis and Labadie sent letters to 400 radicals soliciting contributions on their personal experiences and organizing efforts. While the initial response was weak, over the next 28 years anarchists would donate an enormous volume of publications, writings, and documentary material to her collection. Inglis' work was known around the U.S., and after many anarchists died decades later, their families would donate their collections to the Labadie Collection.
Inglis died in 1952, leaving an expansive and comprehensive library on radical social movements. With her death, however, some of the nuances of the collection's organization were lost.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
-born anarchist who became the primary architect of the Labadie Collection
Labadie Collection
The Labadie Collection at the University of Michigan is recognized as one of the world’s most complete collections of materials documenting the history of anarchism and other radical movements from the 19th century to the present....
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
She was the youngest child in a conservative, religious family, and educated at a Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
girls' academy. Her father died in 1874, her sister died of cancer sometime later, and her mother died when she was roughly thirty years old.
After her mother's death, Inglis studied history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
at University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, receiving an allowance from her extended family. She left the university before graduating, and spent several years as a social worker at Chicago's Hull House
Hull House
Hull House is a settlement house in the United States that was co-founded in 1889 by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr. Located in the Near West Side of , Hull House opened its doors to the recently arrived European immigrants. By 1911, Hull House had grown to 13 buildings. In 1912 the Hull...
, the Franklin Street Settlement House in Detroit, and the Ann Arbor YWCA
YWCA
The YWCA USA is the United States branch of a women's membership movement that strives to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision—to eliminate racism and empower women. The YWCA is a non-profit organization, the first of which was founded in...
. While working in these settings, she became sympathetic to the condition of immigrant laborers in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, ultimately developing strong political convictions from the experiences.
In 1915 Inglis met and befriended Emma Goldman
Emma Goldman
Emma Goldman was an anarchist known for her political activism, writing and speeches. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europe in the first half of the twentieth century....
, and shortly thereafter, Goldman's lover and comrade Alexander Berkman
Alexander Berkman
Alexander Berkman was an anarchist known for his political activism and writing. He was a leading member of the anarchist movement in the early 20th century....
. She increased her radical activities with the onset of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and used much of her time and family's money for legal support, particularly during the Red Scare
First Red Scare
In American history, the First Red Scare of 1919–1920 was marked by a widespread fear of Bolshevism and anarchism. Concerns over the effects of radical political agitation in American society and alleged spread in the American labor movement fueled the paranoia that defined the period.The First Red...
of 1919–1920.
She befriended Joseph Labadie
Joseph Labadie
Charles Joseph Antoine Labadie was an American labor organizer, anarchist, social activist, printer, publisher, essayist, and poet.-Biography:...
and in 1924 discovered the materials on radical movements he donated to University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
had hardly been cared for. She began volunteering full-time, carefully organizing and cataloguing what would be known as the Labadie Collection. After a few years, Inglis and Labadie sent letters to 400 radicals soliciting contributions on their personal experiences and organizing efforts. While the initial response was weak, over the next 28 years anarchists would donate an enormous volume of publications, writings, and documentary material to her collection. Inglis' work was known around the U.S., and after many anarchists died decades later, their families would donate their collections to the Labadie Collection.
Inglis died in 1952, leaving an expansive and comprehensive library on radical social movements. With her death, however, some of the nuances of the collection's organization were lost.