Sophonisba Breckinridge: Championing Women's Activism in Modern America

"Sophonisba Preston Breckinridge (1866-1948) was an activist, social reformer, and educator who spent most of her life in Chicago whose life and work extended from the Civil War to the Cold War. Though a contemporary and partner to Jane Addams, this will be the first comprehensive biography of Sophie Breckinridge. While nationally and internationally renowned during her lifetime, Breckinridge has only received brief entries in the histories of women activism and social history. In this project, Anya Jabor examines Breckinridge's entire life and work, which includes involvement in nearly every type of reform of the Progressive and New Deal eras, from legal aid for immigrants, civil rights for blacks, labor legislation for workers, and juvenile courts for youth. With an M.A. in political science and a PhD in political economy, Breckinridge was a champion of women's education and helped to professionalize social work, thereby creating new career opportunities for educated women. She also advocated for safe working conditions, minimum wage, and full citizenship rights for women and established the School of Social Service Administration--a feminist "think tank" that addressed all of these issues and made women key players in policymaking. Internationally, her work had an immense influence on the formation of the League of Nations and the United Nations. She cofounded the U.S. chapter of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and was the first woman to represent the U.S. at an international diplomatic conference. Jabour eloquently presents the rich life and works of a figure whose impact spanned decades and expands the definition of women's activism in modern America and offers fresh insights into the development and legacy of feminism"--