Theresa Wolfson
Encyclopedia
Theresa Wolfson was a Jewish-American labor economist and educator. Wolfson is best remembered as the education director of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
during the second half of the 1920s and as a leader of the workers education movement during the 1930s.
, New York
. Wolfson's parents, Adolph Wolfson and Rebecca Hochstein Wolfson, were ethnic Jewish radicals who emigrated from Russia
in 1894 to escape the pervasive anti-semitism
and political persecution of the Tsarist
regime.
During her elementary school years Wolfson attended public school in Brooklyn before attending high school at Far Rockaway, Long Island.
Wolfson attended Adelphi College in Garden City, New York
, where she helped to organize a campus chapter of the Intercollegiate Socialist Society
in 1916. Following her graduation in 1917, Wolfson worked as a volunteer health worker at a settlement house in New York City
.
, remaining at that job until 1920. In this capacity Wolfson was the author of several reports on child labor in the textile industry of North Carolina.
From 1920 to 1922, Wolfson served as Executive Director of the New York Consumers' League, heading its political efforts on behalf of the 8-hour day and minimum wage
legislation.
During this time Wolfson also attended graduate courses, receiving a Master's degree
in economics
in 1922 from Columbia University
and completing her PhD
in 1924. She also taught briefly as an instructor at Barnard College
in this interval.
Following completion of her academic work, Wolfson went to work for the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
as the education director of its Union Health Center. She also became involved in the workers' education movement by teaching at the Bryn Mawr Summer School for Women Workers and by lecturing at Brookwood Labor College
, headed by A.J. Muste
.
She published her dissertation "The Woman Worker and the Trade Unions" in 1926.
In 1928 Wolfson accepted a post at Brooklyn College
(at the time a branch of Hunter College
), where she remained as a professor of economics and labor relations until her retirement in 1967. Wolfson also remained active in workers' education as a teacher during summer schools conducted by the American Labor Education Service. For this activity Wolfson was recognized in 1957 with the John Dewey Award of the League for Industrial Democracy
.
Wolfson's work in the field of labor relations focused on the education and advancement of women in the workplace, and the unequal treatment of women within trade unions.
, in 1920. The couple had two children before divorcing in 1935. In 1938 Wolfson married Austin Bigelow Wood, a psychology instructor on the staff with her at Brooklyn College.
Her brother Victor Wolfson
was a notable playwright and novelist.
A scholarship in her name allows a Brooklyn College student to pursue graduate studies in labor economics each year.
Wolfson's papers are held at Cornell University
in Ithaca, New York
at the school's Catherwood Library.
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
The International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union was once one of the largest labor unions in the United States, one of the first U.S. unions to have a primarily female membership, and a key player in the labor history of the 1920s and 1930s...
during the second half of the 1920s and as a leader of the workers education movement during the 1930s.
Early years
Theresa Wolfson was born July 19, 1897 in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Wolfson's parents, Adolph Wolfson and Rebecca Hochstein Wolfson, were ethnic Jewish radicals who emigrated from Russia
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
in 1894 to escape the pervasive anti-semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
and political persecution of the Tsarist
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
regime.
During her elementary school years Wolfson attended public school in Brooklyn before attending high school at Far Rockaway, Long Island.
Wolfson attended Adelphi College in Garden City, New York
Garden City, New York
Garden City is a village in the town of Hempstead in central Nassau County, New York, in the United States. It was founded by multi-millionaire Alexander Turney Stewart in 1869, and is located on Long Island, to the east of New York City, from mid-town Manhattan, and just south of the town of...
, where she helped to organize a campus chapter of the Intercollegiate Socialist Society
Intercollegiate Socialist Society
The Intercollegiate Socialist Society was the a Socialist student organization from 1905-1921. It attracted many prominent intellectuals and writers and acted as the unofficial Socialist Party of America student wing...
in 1916. Following her graduation in 1917, Wolfson worked as a volunteer health worker at a settlement house in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Career
In 1918 Wolfson became a field investigator for the National Child Labor CommitteeNational Child Labor Committee
The National Child Labor Committee, or NCLC, is a private, non-profit organization in the United States that serves as a leading proponent for the national child labor reform movement...
, remaining at that job until 1920. In this capacity Wolfson was the author of several reports on child labor in the textile industry of North Carolina.
From 1920 to 1922, Wolfson served as Executive Director of the New York Consumers' League, heading its political efforts on behalf of the 8-hour day and minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
legislation.
During this time Wolfson also attended graduate courses, receiving a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
in 1922 from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and completing her PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1924. She also taught briefly as an instructor at Barnard College
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
in this interval.
Following completion of her academic work, Wolfson went to work for the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
The International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union was once one of the largest labor unions in the United States, one of the first U.S. unions to have a primarily female membership, and a key player in the labor history of the 1920s and 1930s...
as the education director of its Union Health Center. She also became involved in the workers' education movement by teaching at the Bryn Mawr Summer School for Women Workers and by lecturing at Brookwood Labor College
Brookwood Labor College
Brookwood Labor College was the first residential labor college in the United States. The school was established in 1921 near Katonah, New York. The school was closely supported by affiliate unions of the American Federation of Labor until 1928, when pressure began to be exerted by the AF of L's...
, headed by A.J. Muste
A. J. Muste
The Reverend Abraham Johannes "A.J." Muste was a Dutch-born American clergyman and political activist. Muste is best remembered for his work in the labor movement, pacifist movement, and the US civil rights movement.-Early years:...
.
She published her dissertation "The Woman Worker and the Trade Unions" in 1926.
In 1928 Wolfson accepted a post at Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
(at the time a branch of Hunter College
Hunter College
Hunter College, established in 1870, is a public university and one of the constituent colleges of the City University of New York, located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Hunter grants undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate degrees in more than one hundred fields of study, and is recognized...
), where she remained as a professor of economics and labor relations until her retirement in 1967. Wolfson also remained active in workers' education as a teacher during summer schools conducted by the American Labor Education Service. For this activity Wolfson was recognized in 1957 with the John Dewey Award of the League for Industrial Democracy
League for Industrial Democracy
The League for Industrial Democracy , from 1960-1965 known as the Students for a Democratic Society , was founded in 1905 by a group of notable socialists including Harry W. Laidler, Jack London, Norman Thomas, Upton Sinclair, and J.G. Phelps Stokes...
.
Wolfson's work in the field of labor relations focused on the education and advancement of women in the workplace, and the unequal treatment of women within trade unions.
Personal life
Wolfson married Dr. Iago Galdston, a psychiatristPsychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
, in 1920. The couple had two children before divorcing in 1935. In 1938 Wolfson married Austin Bigelow Wood, a psychology instructor on the staff with her at Brooklyn College.
Her brother Victor Wolfson
Victor Wolfson
Victor Wolfson was a dramatist, director, writer, producer and actor. Wolfson began his professional career organizing acting clubs for striking coal miners in West Virginia. He soon found his passion for writing and he wrote numerous plays for Broadway, dramas for television and many novels...
was a notable playwright and novelist.
Death and legacy
Theresa Wolfson died on May 14, 1972 at the age of 74.A scholarship in her name allows a Brooklyn College student to pursue graduate studies in labor economics each year.
Wolfson's papers are held at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in Ithaca, New York
Ithaca, New York
The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area...
at the school's Catherwood Library.
Works
- People Who Go to Beets. New York City : National Child Labor Committee, 1920.
- The Woman Worker and the Trade Unions. New York: International Publishers, 1926.
- The Women's Auxiliary to Trade Unions, and Workers' Education. New York: Workers' Education Bureau of America, 1926.
- Labor and the NRA. 1934.
- Industrial Unionism in the American Labor Movement. With Abraham Weiss. New York: League for Industrial Democracy, 1937
- Frances Wright, Free Enquirer: The Study of a Temperament. 1939.
- The Forward March of American Labor: A Brief History of the American Labor Movement Written for Union Members. With Joe Glazer. New York: League for Industrial Democracy, 1945.
- Labor's Coming of Age. New York: New York Society for Ethical Culture, 1946.
- Overcoming Prejudice: The Role of the Conference in Stimulating Democratic Attitudes. New York: American Labor Education Service, 1946.
- A Decade of Industrial Relations Research, 1946-1956. With Neil W. Chamberlain and Frank C. Pierson. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1958.
- Harry W. Laidler: A Checklist of his Writings in the Tamiment Library: With a Biographical Sketch. New York: New York University Libraries, 1968.
External links
- "Guide to the Theresa Wolfson Papers, 1746-1970 (bulk 1919-1970)," Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library, Ithaca, NY, 2002.