Women in the Workplace in the 19th Century

By jessmcpherson123

  • First Patent

    First Patent
    During the 19th century women would always somehow find a way to create work for themselves. Although creating something isn't technically in the workplace, it is still known to be work. A women named Mary Kies is known to be the first woman to receive a patent for her creating a new method of weaving straw with silk.

  • Lowell Female Labor Reform Association (LFLRA)

    Lowell Female Labor Reform Association (LFLRA)
    Women from Lowell, Massachusetts in the textile mills had created an organization which was led by Sarah Bagley. These women had went up against Massachusetts legislation and forced the legislation that the new laws they had created was putting these women in physical danger.

  • First Woman Journalist

    First Woman Journalist
    Margaret Fuller was known to be one of the first American women journalist. She had went to Horace Greeley's New York Tribune as literary critic.

  • First Woman Doctor

    First Woman Doctor
    Elizabeth Blackwell was known to be the very first woman to graduate from medical school. She had the highest grades in her class, and had went on to become a doctor.

  • Clara Barton

    Clara Barton
    Clara Barton was known as a war hero during the Civil War. This is mainly because of her work as a nurse during the war. Barton did not have any formal nursing training or went to school for it but she still became one of the greatest nurses known today.

  • Strike For Better Wages

    Strike For Better Wages
    Women who were just freed from slavery began working as laundresses. These women were experiencing very low wages which they then created a union and fought for higher wages.

  • First Woman Lawyer

    First Woman Lawyer
    Arabella Mansfield was one of the first women to practice law. Although she had not graduated from law school she was known to be one of the first women lawyer.

  • International Working People’s Association (IWPA)

    International Working People’s Association (IWPA)
    Lucy Parson's and her husband had both co-founded the International Working People’s
    Association (IWPA). Lucy Parson was an influential person and had helped several different organizations.

  • The Knights of Labor

    The Knights of Labor
    The Knights of Labor was the first national labor federation that allowed women to admit. A woman named Leonora O’Reilly was part of this federation and organized a woman chapter called the United Garment Workers of America.

  • The National Consumers’ League

    The National Consumers’ League
    The National Consumers’ League had been founded and was created to improve the working conditions of women in the workforce. This was founded by Florence Kelley.