Annotated Bibliography
Primary Sources
Books
Perkins, Frances. People at Work. New York: John Day, 1934. Print.
This book was extremely helpful in my research because it was a history, philosophical, and an almost personal history of the Perkins' views on social reform. She began by describing social and industrial conditions of the Colonial era, segway-ed into the Industrial Revolution, and spent the rest of the book explaining her goals as Secretary of Labor.
Perkins, Frances. The Roosevelt I Knew. New York: Viking, 1946. Print.
I enjoyed reading this personal biography of FDR/autobiography about Perkins' connection to his presidency so much I quoted it throughout my website. It was particularly helpful to cite on pages that described her views about government ("Thesis"), initial desire to practice improve social conditions,("Early Activism"), and hopes for the future ("Legacy").
Social Security Board. Why Social Security? Washington, D.C.: Social Security Administration, 1937. Print.
It was an extremely helpful primary resource as it was written by the group that created the Social Security Program. It was interesting to see their own perspective on what Social Security is and why it is necessary.
This book was extremely helpful in my research because it was a history, philosophical, and an almost personal history of the Perkins' views on social reform. She began by describing social and industrial conditions of the Colonial era, segway-ed into the Industrial Revolution, and spent the rest of the book explaining her goals as Secretary of Labor.
Perkins, Frances. The Roosevelt I Knew. New York: Viking, 1946. Print.
I enjoyed reading this personal biography of FDR/autobiography about Perkins' connection to his presidency so much I quoted it throughout my website. It was particularly helpful to cite on pages that described her views about government ("Thesis"), initial desire to practice improve social conditions,("Early Activism"), and hopes for the future ("Legacy").
Social Security Board. Why Social Security? Washington, D.C.: Social Security Administration, 1937. Print.
It was an extremely helpful primary resource as it was written by the group that created the Social Security Program. It was interesting to see their own perspective on what Social Security is and why it is necessary.
Documents
Abraham Epstein. ""Social Security" Under the New Deal." The Nation(1935): n. pag. The New Deal Network. The New Deal Network. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
This article, published soon after the passage of Social Security, criticized New Deal legislation for not providing enough relief and security. It was interesting, and very telling (that in politics especially) no one is ever truly satisfied with the results. Perkins attempted to work along party lines, but her primary focus was serving those under her administration.
Breitman, Jessica. "Letters from the Public." Letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 1932-45. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2015.
Upon the announcement of Frances Perkins' unprecedented appointment as the first woman to head a cabinet-level department, FDR received a flood of reaction mail from the American public. Many citizens supported the appointment, but a large majority of the letters opposed it -- primarily because of Perkins' gender. Roosevelt continued to receive similar letters throughout his presidency.
Scott, Le Roy. "Picturesque Woman Will Tell of Legislative Work." The Washington Herald [Washington D.C.] 14 Apr. 1913: 5. The Okie Legacy, 16 Feb. 2008. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
I used an photocopy of this newspaper article on my timeline. I thought it accurately described the success Perkins had- even early in her political leadership while in the New York Consumers' League - in legislative work. She "haunted the capitol at Albany in the interests of the bill, limiting the working hours of all under eighteen employed in factories to fifty-four a week" and succeeded. It was also interesting that the title and content of the article focused on her appearance ("picturesque woman"), and then her actions. This is an issue that many women in leadership still face today.
Social Security Act, National Archives §§ 7260-37 (1935). Print.
The act aimed to provide for the general welfare by establishing a system of Federal old-age benefits, and by enabling the several States to make more adequate provision for aged persons, blind persons, dependent and crippled children, maternal and child welfare, public health, and the administration of their limited unemployment benefits for those who were between jobs.
This article, published soon after the passage of Social Security, criticized New Deal legislation for not providing enough relief and security. It was interesting, and very telling (that in politics especially) no one is ever truly satisfied with the results. Perkins attempted to work along party lines, but her primary focus was serving those under her administration.
Breitman, Jessica. "Letters from the Public." Letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 1932-45. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2015.
Upon the announcement of Frances Perkins' unprecedented appointment as the first woman to head a cabinet-level department, FDR received a flood of reaction mail from the American public. Many citizens supported the appointment, but a large majority of the letters opposed it -- primarily because of Perkins' gender. Roosevelt continued to receive similar letters throughout his presidency.
Scott, Le Roy. "Picturesque Woman Will Tell of Legislative Work." The Washington Herald [Washington D.C.] 14 Apr. 1913: 5. The Okie Legacy, 16 Feb. 2008. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
I used an photocopy of this newspaper article on my timeline. I thought it accurately described the success Perkins had- even early in her political leadership while in the New York Consumers' League - in legislative work. She "haunted the capitol at Albany in the interests of the bill, limiting the working hours of all under eighteen employed in factories to fifty-four a week" and succeeded. It was also interesting that the title and content of the article focused on her appearance ("picturesque woman"), and then her actions. This is an issue that many women in leadership still face today.
Social Security Act, National Archives §§ 7260-37 (1935). Print.
The act aimed to provide for the general welfare by establishing a system of Federal old-age benefits, and by enabling the several States to make more adequate provision for aged persons, blind persons, dependent and crippled children, maternal and child welfare, public health, and the administration of their limited unemployment benefits for those who were between jobs.
Images
Advertising Social Security on the Radio. 1938. Social Security Administration Archives, New York. Frances Perkins. New York: Columbia University, 2006. N. pag. Notable New Yorkers. Social Security Administration Archives. Web. 1 Feb. 2015.
This photo, which I put on the "Social Security" page of my website, shows Perkins with chairman of the Social Security Board Arthur Altmeyer and Martha Carlson, recipient of the 26 millionth Social Security number, in 1938.
Capa, Cornell. 1952. Cornell Capa/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images, Washington, D.C. Best of Frances Perkins. Seattle: Getty Images, 2015. 2. Web. 15 Feb. 2015.
At 71, Frances Perkins resigned from her position in national public service. She had worked in Washington D.C. for 20 years, with 3 different presidents. This emotional photograph shows her packing up the many papers and souvenirs that she'd collected over the years in her office. I placed it on the "Research" page of my website.
Dorothea Lange. Online Collection. Library of Congress, 2003. Web. 1 Feb. 2015.
All of the photographs in the "Great Depression" page of my website were from the Dorthea Lange Collection in the LOC. Lange worked for the Farm Security Administration, where she became well-respected, most famously for her depiction of migrant mothers during the Depression. I selected photographs from her collection that also represented older workers, African Americans, farmers, and children, who the struggled excessively during the economic downturn of the 1930's.
Photos and Illustrations. 1911. Remembering the 1911 Triangle Factory Fire, New York, NY. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives. Comp. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
I published these photographs on the "Early Activism" page of my website. I thought it was important to showcase the horrors Perkins saw first-hand, and how they inspired her to protect the rights of American workers.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt and His Cabinet. 1933. Hulton Archive, Washington, D.C. Best of Frances Perkins. Seattle: Getty Images, 2015. 2. Getty Images. Web. 15 Feb. 2015.
This photograph was taken in March 1933, shortly after FDR and his Cabinet were inaugurated. On the President's left (l to r): William H. Woodin (Secretary of the Treasury), Homer Stille Cummings (Attorney General), Claude A. Swanson (Secretary of the Navy), Henry A. Wallace (Secretary of Agriculture) and Frances Perkins (Secretary of Labor); on his right (l to r): Daniel Calhoun Roper (Secretary of Commerce), Harold L. Ickes (Secretary of the Interior), James A. Farley (Postmaster-General), George H. Dern (Secretary of War) and Cordell Hull (Secretary of State). I used this photograph as a header image of the "Madame Secretary" page of my website.
Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins Shakes Hands with Carnegie Steel Workers during a Tour of Pennsylvania, July 1933. 2010. Explore PA History, Pittsburgh. Corbis. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Web. 12 Jan. 2015.
This was the header on the "Labor Legislation" page of my website. It shows Perkins, smiling, with other happy workers. Throughout her career (both in New York and Washington), she made many trips to see the workers she was legislating for and listen to their opinions on what should be done to protect their rights.
Unknown. First Recipient of SS Benefits, Ida May Fuller. 1940. Social Security, Rutland, Vermont. Social Security History. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
Ida May Fuller was a school teacher was a legal secretary and teacher before retiring and receiving the first old-age Social Security check in 1940. She only worked for three years before taking out her monthly beneficiary checks, but was able to life securely on that for until her death in the 70's. The automatic, government mandated act of taking out part of the earnings of working citizens to go towards the income of non-working citizens is widely debated, but Ida May Fuller is one of many success stories of the program.
This photo, which I put on the "Social Security" page of my website, shows Perkins with chairman of the Social Security Board Arthur Altmeyer and Martha Carlson, recipient of the 26 millionth Social Security number, in 1938.
Capa, Cornell. 1952. Cornell Capa/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images, Washington, D.C. Best of Frances Perkins. Seattle: Getty Images, 2015. 2. Web. 15 Feb. 2015.
At 71, Frances Perkins resigned from her position in national public service. She had worked in Washington D.C. for 20 years, with 3 different presidents. This emotional photograph shows her packing up the many papers and souvenirs that she'd collected over the years in her office. I placed it on the "Research" page of my website.
Dorothea Lange. Online Collection. Library of Congress, 2003. Web. 1 Feb. 2015.
All of the photographs in the "Great Depression" page of my website were from the Dorthea Lange Collection in the LOC. Lange worked for the Farm Security Administration, where she became well-respected, most famously for her depiction of migrant mothers during the Depression. I selected photographs from her collection that also represented older workers, African Americans, farmers, and children, who the struggled excessively during the economic downturn of the 1930's.
Photos and Illustrations. 1911. Remembering the 1911 Triangle Factory Fire, New York, NY. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives. Comp. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
I published these photographs on the "Early Activism" page of my website. I thought it was important to showcase the horrors Perkins saw first-hand, and how they inspired her to protect the rights of American workers.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt and His Cabinet. 1933. Hulton Archive, Washington, D.C. Best of Frances Perkins. Seattle: Getty Images, 2015. 2. Getty Images. Web. 15 Feb. 2015.
This photograph was taken in March 1933, shortly after FDR and his Cabinet were inaugurated. On the President's left (l to r): William H. Woodin (Secretary of the Treasury), Homer Stille Cummings (Attorney General), Claude A. Swanson (Secretary of the Navy), Henry A. Wallace (Secretary of Agriculture) and Frances Perkins (Secretary of Labor); on his right (l to r): Daniel Calhoun Roper (Secretary of Commerce), Harold L. Ickes (Secretary of the Interior), James A. Farley (Postmaster-General), George H. Dern (Secretary of War) and Cordell Hull (Secretary of State). I used this photograph as a header image of the "Madame Secretary" page of my website.
Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins Shakes Hands with Carnegie Steel Workers during a Tour of Pennsylvania, July 1933. 2010. Explore PA History, Pittsburgh. Corbis. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Web. 12 Jan. 2015.
This was the header on the "Labor Legislation" page of my website. It shows Perkins, smiling, with other happy workers. Throughout her career (both in New York and Washington), she made many trips to see the workers she was legislating for and listen to their opinions on what should be done to protect their rights.
Unknown. First Recipient of SS Benefits, Ida May Fuller. 1940. Social Security, Rutland, Vermont. Social Security History. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
Ida May Fuller was a school teacher was a legal secretary and teacher before retiring and receiving the first old-age Social Security check in 1940. She only worked for three years before taking out her monthly beneficiary checks, but was able to life securely on that for until her death in the 70's. The automatic, government mandated act of taking out part of the earnings of working citizens to go towards the income of non-working citizens is widely debated, but Ida May Fuller is one of many success stories of the program.
Music/Audio
Charles King Orchestra. Happy Days Are Here Again. 1930. CD.
Cheerful and loud, this song became a theme of FDR's 1932 election unintentionally when the speech before Roosevelt's at the 1932 Democratic Convention was so bland, his political advisers demanded a new be played to change the mood. It matched his temperament, a stark contrast to his opponents', but more importantly represented the hope and ability to improve the conditions for the American people.
Crosby, Bing. Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? Yip Yarburg. 1931. Songs of the Great Depression. Web. 19 Dec. 2014.
"Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" is arguably one of the best-known songs of the Great Depression, so it was fitting to put under the website page of the same name. The lyrics describe the physical and emotional hardships of going from the potential and glory of industry and war to "waiting in line for bread". These were the conditions and feeling that New Deal legislation attempted to improve.
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives. "Lectures of Frances Perkins." Lecture Given to School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. 30 Sept. 1964.Collection 3047. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
The horrific scene in the aftermath of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory inspired Perkins to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again. The photographs on the page "Early Activism" were intended to put the viewer in Perkins' position and were courtesy of Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
Perkins, Frances. "The Triangle Factory Fire." Frances Perkins Lecture 3047. Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Ithaca, NY. 30 Sept. 1964. Primary Sources. Web. 7 Feb. 2015.
After retiring from her position in the White House, Perkins continued to lecture and write. I quoted Perkins when she talked about how this experience inspired her to become more involved in public policy on the "TImeline" page of my website. I also cut part of this lecture and used it on the "Early Activism" page.
Perkins, Frances. "Notable New Yorkers." On the New York State Industrial Commission. New York. 31 Dec. 2014. Columbia University Libraries' Oral History Research Office. Web. 12 Jan. 2015.
Perkins' dedication as investigator and lead commissioner following the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire gained the attention of then-governor Al Smith. He appointed her as a member to the New York State Industrial Commission. In the audio clip on the "Early Activism" page, she describes her goals within the Commission. These would evolve to include the entire country with the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938.
Perkins, Frances. "The Roots of Social Security." Social Security Administration Headquarters, Baltimore. 23 Oct. 1962. Social Security Administration. Web. 18 Dec. 2014.
This was probably the most helpful of all my primary sources, as it was written by the object of my research. "The Roots of Social Security" explains just that, and also detailed Perkins' other accomplishments as Secretary of Labor- namely, the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which she introduces in the second half of the book.
Roosevelt, Franklin D. "Miller Center." On the Works Relief Program and Social Security Act. Miller Center University of Virginia, n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2015.
This website was vital in my understanding of the Social Security Act. At the time of this speech, the act was still awaiting action by Congress and FDR was introducing it to the American people via his "Fireside Chats".
Cheerful and loud, this song became a theme of FDR's 1932 election unintentionally when the speech before Roosevelt's at the 1932 Democratic Convention was so bland, his political advisers demanded a new be played to change the mood. It matched his temperament, a stark contrast to his opponents', but more importantly represented the hope and ability to improve the conditions for the American people.
Crosby, Bing. Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? Yip Yarburg. 1931. Songs of the Great Depression. Web. 19 Dec. 2014.
"Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" is arguably one of the best-known songs of the Great Depression, so it was fitting to put under the website page of the same name. The lyrics describe the physical and emotional hardships of going from the potential and glory of industry and war to "waiting in line for bread". These were the conditions and feeling that New Deal legislation attempted to improve.
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives. "Lectures of Frances Perkins." Lecture Given to School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. 30 Sept. 1964.Collection 3047. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
The horrific scene in the aftermath of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory inspired Perkins to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again. The photographs on the page "Early Activism" were intended to put the viewer in Perkins' position and were courtesy of Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
Perkins, Frances. "The Triangle Factory Fire." Frances Perkins Lecture 3047. Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Ithaca, NY. 30 Sept. 1964. Primary Sources. Web. 7 Feb. 2015.
After retiring from her position in the White House, Perkins continued to lecture and write. I quoted Perkins when she talked about how this experience inspired her to become more involved in public policy on the "TImeline" page of my website. I also cut part of this lecture and used it on the "Early Activism" page.
Perkins, Frances. "Notable New Yorkers." On the New York State Industrial Commission. New York. 31 Dec. 2014. Columbia University Libraries' Oral History Research Office. Web. 12 Jan. 2015.
Perkins' dedication as investigator and lead commissioner following the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire gained the attention of then-governor Al Smith. He appointed her as a member to the New York State Industrial Commission. In the audio clip on the "Early Activism" page, she describes her goals within the Commission. These would evolve to include the entire country with the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938.
Perkins, Frances. "The Roots of Social Security." Social Security Administration Headquarters, Baltimore. 23 Oct. 1962. Social Security Administration. Web. 18 Dec. 2014.
This was probably the most helpful of all my primary sources, as it was written by the object of my research. "The Roots of Social Security" explains just that, and also detailed Perkins' other accomplishments as Secretary of Labor- namely, the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which she introduces in the second half of the book.
Roosevelt, Franklin D. "Miller Center." On the Works Relief Program and Social Security Act. Miller Center University of Virginia, n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2015.
This website was vital in my understanding of the Social Security Act. At the time of this speech, the act was still awaiting action by Congress and FDR was introducing it to the American people via his "Fireside Chats".
Secondary Sources
Articles
Berg, Gordon. "Frances Perkins and the Flowering of Economic and Social Policies." Monthly Labor Review (1989): 28-35. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
This article was helpful in understanding Perkins' role in New Deal legislation, particularly her work for labor protections.
Brown, Douglas J. An American Philosophy of Social Security: Evolution and Issues. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1972. 244. Print.
The book questioned whether the system of Social Security as effective and as equitable as it should be. The author, Douglas Brown, was one of the drafters of the original Social Security. He wrote about the policies of the program and the philosophy on which it was built, offering insights into its relation to our current social and political systems.
Degler, Carl N. "The Third American Revolution." Out of Our Past: The Forces That Shaped Modern America. New York: Harper & Row, 1959. N. pag. Print.
Historian Carl Degler argued that the New Deal was revolutionary. He believed that the New Deal represented a drastic change in how Americans viewed government and its role in the economy. Rather than expecting economic troubles to be solved by market forces (a faith in "laissez-faire economics"), Americans began to expect the government to act in times of economic trouble and intervene to help make things better. Degler saw Social Security as a piece of this change, signaling that Americans viewed the government as responsible for ensuring that older Americans would live decent lives. This was a shift from thinking that this responsibility lay only with individuals and families. The American public was ready for a change after experiencing the severe conditions during the Great Depression, when banks were failing, industries were faltering, and people were unemployed. Degler argued that the New Deal constituted a permanent shift in the American public’s expectations: they now wanted the government to be an active player in the economy
Felbinger, Claire L., and Wendy A. Haynes. "Madame Secretary Frances Perkins." Outstanding Women in Public Administration: Leaders, Mentors, and Pioneers. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2004. N. pag. Print.
As someone who wants to work in public service someday, Frances Perkins is an incredible role model. The chapter of this book memorializing her related her life and to broad issues (such racism, sexism, and inefficient bureaucracy) facing our institutions today . As a result, this book was both instructive and inspirational.
Kew, Michelle L. Frances Perkins: Private Faith, Public Policy. Sponsored Content. Frances Perkins Center, 28 July 2011. Web. 25 Jan. 2015.
As a Catholic and student planning to major in Public Policy/Social Work, I related to Perkins' motivations and struggles working towards social justice. This source allowed me to understand more about Perkins' personal convictions, and how they shaped her actions as Secretary of Labor.
Pirro, Jeanine Francis. "Reforming the Urban Workplace: The Legacy of Frances Perkins." Fordham Urban Law Journal 7th ser. 26.5 (1998): 1423-428. The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship & History. Web. 21 Dec. 2014.
The thesis of this journal article was that Frances Perkins was the most influential person to urban America in the twentieth century. It focused on the life and legacy of Frances Perkins as a champion of women's and worker's rights. It examined her work as a reformer and as Secretary of Labor under Franklin Roosevelt, specifically on the issues of women's rights, education, social services and working conditions for poor. I used the information from this article on the "Social Security" and "Labor Legislation" pages of my website.
Wandersee, Winifred D. "“I'd Rather Pass a Law Than Organize a Union”: Frances Perkins and the Reformist Approach to Organized Labor." Labor History 34.1 (1993): 5-32. Web.
This book detailed an important aspect of Perkins' leadership: her methods and feelings toward labor legislation. She felt that labors were already an established and functioning system, and as a reformer she wanted to protect them, rather than create or take over them. This important distinction allowed her leadership to be somewhat unattached yet still helpful to American workers.
This article was helpful in understanding Perkins' role in New Deal legislation, particularly her work for labor protections.
Brown, Douglas J. An American Philosophy of Social Security: Evolution and Issues. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1972. 244. Print.
The book questioned whether the system of Social Security as effective and as equitable as it should be. The author, Douglas Brown, was one of the drafters of the original Social Security. He wrote about the policies of the program and the philosophy on which it was built, offering insights into its relation to our current social and political systems.
Degler, Carl N. "The Third American Revolution." Out of Our Past: The Forces That Shaped Modern America. New York: Harper & Row, 1959. N. pag. Print.
Historian Carl Degler argued that the New Deal was revolutionary. He believed that the New Deal represented a drastic change in how Americans viewed government and its role in the economy. Rather than expecting economic troubles to be solved by market forces (a faith in "laissez-faire economics"), Americans began to expect the government to act in times of economic trouble and intervene to help make things better. Degler saw Social Security as a piece of this change, signaling that Americans viewed the government as responsible for ensuring that older Americans would live decent lives. This was a shift from thinking that this responsibility lay only with individuals and families. The American public was ready for a change after experiencing the severe conditions during the Great Depression, when banks were failing, industries were faltering, and people were unemployed. Degler argued that the New Deal constituted a permanent shift in the American public’s expectations: they now wanted the government to be an active player in the economy
Felbinger, Claire L., and Wendy A. Haynes. "Madame Secretary Frances Perkins." Outstanding Women in Public Administration: Leaders, Mentors, and Pioneers. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2004. N. pag. Print.
As someone who wants to work in public service someday, Frances Perkins is an incredible role model. The chapter of this book memorializing her related her life and to broad issues (such racism, sexism, and inefficient bureaucracy) facing our institutions today . As a result, this book was both instructive and inspirational.
Kew, Michelle L. Frances Perkins: Private Faith, Public Policy. Sponsored Content. Frances Perkins Center, 28 July 2011. Web. 25 Jan. 2015.
As a Catholic and student planning to major in Public Policy/Social Work, I related to Perkins' motivations and struggles working towards social justice. This source allowed me to understand more about Perkins' personal convictions, and how they shaped her actions as Secretary of Labor.
Pirro, Jeanine Francis. "Reforming the Urban Workplace: The Legacy of Frances Perkins." Fordham Urban Law Journal 7th ser. 26.5 (1998): 1423-428. The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship & History. Web. 21 Dec. 2014.
The thesis of this journal article was that Frances Perkins was the most influential person to urban America in the twentieth century. It focused on the life and legacy of Frances Perkins as a champion of women's and worker's rights. It examined her work as a reformer and as Secretary of Labor under Franklin Roosevelt, specifically on the issues of women's rights, education, social services and working conditions for poor. I used the information from this article on the "Social Security" and "Labor Legislation" pages of my website.
Wandersee, Winifred D. "“I'd Rather Pass a Law Than Organize a Union”: Frances Perkins and the Reformist Approach to Organized Labor." Labor History 34.1 (1993): 5-32. Web.
This book detailed an important aspect of Perkins' leadership: her methods and feelings toward labor legislation. She felt that labors were already an established and functioning system, and as a reformer she wanted to protect them, rather than create or take over them. This important distinction allowed her leadership to be somewhat unattached yet still helpful to American workers.
Books
Aaron, Henry J. Economic Effects of Social Security. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution, 1982. Print.
In his book, Aaron argues that the safety net created during the New Deal (to the credit of Frances Perkins) was strong, yet incomplete. He cites the attempts to cut Social Security as attacks on the promised security for the sick, elderly, and unemployed. As the Social Security program is Perkins' most notable legacy, it was important to understand how its perception and role has changed (and for some, stayed the same) over time.
Abbott, Grace, and Edith Abbott. From Relief to Social Security; The Development of the New Public Welfare Services and Their Administration. Chicago, IL: U of Chicago, 1941. Print.
Abbott presented the various temporary and permanent plans for mitigating some of the consequences of the depression that followed the financial collapse of 1929. She also went into great detail about the creation of these plans; Perkins leadership within the Cabinet, her role in legislation, and her legacy- the programs themselves. Many of the policies discussed are still part of our current thinking with regard to the welfare principles of a democratic government with a Federal and state system.
Altmeyer, Arthur J. The Formative Years of Social Security. Madison: University of Wisconsin, 1966. Print.
This book detailed the design, legislation, and opposition to the Social Security Act. I learned many interesting facts from this book, many that were used on the "Timeline" page on my website.
Cohen, Adam. Nothing to Fear: FDR's Inner Circle and the Hundred Days That Created Modern America. New York: Penguin, 2009. Print. I originally read Cohen's "Nothing to Fear" when I first began researching New Deal politics, and it was a large reason for my interest in the subject. This book had a section of Frances Perkins specifically, but I read the whole book for historical context and entertainment.
Colman, Penny. A Woman Unafraid: The Achievements of Frances Perkins. New York: Atheneum, 1993. Print.
As the first woman to hold a U.S. Cabinet post, Frances Perkins served as FDR's Secretary of Labor from 1933-1945 left her mark on history with the passage of the Social Security Act (1935) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (1938). In this biography, the author focused on her struggles and triumphs as a labor reformer and public official. The author quoted from her letters and oral histories reinforce the portrait of Perkins as a courageous and determined pioneer. Black-and-white photographs and political cartoons were included to stress her involvement in the New Deal.
Dauber, Michele Landis. The Sympathetic State: Disaster Relief and the Origins of the American WWelfare State. Chicago: U of Chicago, 2013. Print.
Given the political debates related to taxation, redistribution of wealth, and health care, Dauber's book is timely and relevant to my topic. A popular notion is that the American welfare state stemmed from FDR's Cabinet's (especially Frances Perkins') efforts to pull the nation out of the Great Depression. Dauber's carefully researched and book indicated otherwise. She provided an excellent examination of welfare's history, which dates to the mid-19th century. She explains how even from the very beginning of the United States, the General Welfare clause in the Constitution allowed for relief during times of economic disaster. Drawing on her experience in sociology, law, and history, the author's book greatly aided my research.
DeWitt, Larry, Daniel Béland, and Edward D. Berkowitz. Social Security: A Documentary History. Washington, D.C.: CQPress, 2008. Print. This documentary detailed the development of U.S. Social Security from its birth in 1935 to the controversies of the present day. It was filled with primary source documents, including congressional testimonies, government reports, presidential speeches, and rare archival evidence. This documentary was a valuable resource in my research.
Downey, Kirstin. The Woman Behind the New Deal: The Life of Frances Perkins, FDR's Secretary of Labor and His Moral Conscience. New York: Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, 2009. Print.
I read this book several years ago while researching FDR and the New Deal, but it was too specific to use in my previous project. However, it was very interesting and is what inspired me to create a website on Frances Perkins this year. The author wrote about Perkins' personality in a detailed yet unbiased manner that was different from all of the other books I read. Downey described that Perkins had a gift for ingratiating herself with people who could help her. She began doing this in New York with associates such as Jane Addams, Al Smith, and Sinclair Lewis. As Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor, she fed him ideas and plans and let him take credit for carrying them out. I think this is an admirable, albeit unique, form of leadership.
Golway, Terry. Machine Made: Tammany Hall and the Creation of Modern American Politics. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
While often thought of as simply a notorious coalition, Tammany Hall (the Democratic political machine that dominated New York City politics) played a profound role in laying the groundwork for social reform. Its methods and leadership, were often questionable, but without it political figures like Al Smith, FDR, and Frances Perkins would not have met. They and it eventually affected Democratic Party and progressive New Deal agenda. This book was most helpful in understanding the corruption and bureaucracy that was often involved with social reform measures both in the state of New York and on the federal level.
Josephson, Matthew, Hannah Josephson, and Frances Perkins. Al Smith: Hero of the Cities; A Political Portrait Drawing on the Papers of Frances Perkins. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1969. Print.
Al Smith, who Perkins worked with prior to FDR as governor of New York, is objectively described in this source. He grew up on the streets of New York, and then rose to the governorship and instituted some of the first public assistance program, drafted by Perkins. It was interesting to learn about Smith's later switch to conservatism and criticism of FDR and Perkins' work. Frances Perkins' unfinished manuscript was the basis of this book, so in a sense it was a quasi-biography of her life.
Kennedy, David M. Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
According to David Kennedy, the Depression was both a disaster and an opportunity. In this book, he argues that the economic downturn of the 1930's was far more than a simple reaction to the alleged excesses of the 20's. For more than a century before 1929, America's unbridled industrial revolution had gyrated through repeated boom and bust cycles, wastefully consuming, etc. This extensive and interesting background information, followed by a exploration of FDR's presidency and the legislation that defined it, were a necessary aspect of my research.
Leuchtenburg, William Edward. Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal: 1932-1940. New York: Harper & Row, 1963. Print.
Leuchtenburg was a historian that considered the legislation that FDR and his Cabinet created a “halfway revolution”: “The New Deal achieved a more just society by recognizing groups which had been largely unrepresented- staple farmers, industrial workers, particular ethnic groups, and the new intellectual-administrative class. Yet this was still a halfway revolution. It swelled the ranks of the bourgeoisie but left many Americans—sharecroppers, slum dwellers, most Negroes—outside the new equilibrium.…The New Dealers perceived that they had done more in those years than had been done in any comparable period of American history, but they also saw that there was much still to be done, much, too, that continued to baffle them.”
Lubove, Roy. The Struggle for Social Security, 1900-1935. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1968. Print.
In this book, Roy Lubove examined the clash between the traditional American ethic of individualism and voluntarism and the push for an active government role in social welfare assistance, and the battles within the social security movement itself. He ends the book with the actual legislative enactments of social safety nets in 1935. It was an in-depth look at the history of public services, and aided my understanding of the issues and inspirations of Perkins' goals as Secretary of Labor.
Pasachoff, Naomi E. Frances Perkins: Champion of the New Deal. New York: Oxford UP, 1999. Print.
I read this book for mainly for the chronology and photographic inspiration, as I wanted my timeline to be as accurate as possible and was having trouble finding pictures of Perkins that weren't just a head shot. "Frances Perkins: Champion of the New Deal" provided both.
Schieber, Sylvester J., and John B. Shoven. The Real Deal: The History and Future of Social Security. New Haven: Yale UP, 1999. Print. This work put debates about Social Security reform into historical perspective. I mostly referred to the first part of it, as the second set out a plan to It sets out a change the way Social Security is financed. While it's important to understand the current system and others' view on how to improve it, I focused on the creation and unarguable effects of the Social Security Act.
Storrs, Landon R. Y. Civilizing Capitalism: The National Consumers' League, Women's Activism, and Labor Standards in the New Deal Era. Chapel Hill: U of North Carolina, 2000. Print.
This book extensively described the history of labor policy, the New Deal, and feminism. The author focused on the legislative actives of the National Consumers' League, one of the most influential reform organizations of the early twentieth century. Perkins was a member and Commissioner in the NCL before becoming Secretary of Labor in 1933. She used many of their reform tactics on the federal level in her Cabinet position. This was helpful information that related to the "leadership" aspect of my project, and the book's title also became part of of my website's title.
Ware, Susan. Beyond Suffrage, Women in the New Deal. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 1981. Print.
The New Deal administration of Franklin Roosevelt brought an unprecedented number of women to Washington to serve in positions of power and influence. "Beyond Suffrage" is a study of women who achieved positions of national leadership in the 1930s. Obviously I focused my reading on the sections detailing Frances Perkins' leadership. However, it was interesting and helpful to read about the experiences of other women in Washington at this time to understand the political climate and how their gender affected their work.
In his book, Aaron argues that the safety net created during the New Deal (to the credit of Frances Perkins) was strong, yet incomplete. He cites the attempts to cut Social Security as attacks on the promised security for the sick, elderly, and unemployed. As the Social Security program is Perkins' most notable legacy, it was important to understand how its perception and role has changed (and for some, stayed the same) over time.
Abbott, Grace, and Edith Abbott. From Relief to Social Security; The Development of the New Public Welfare Services and Their Administration. Chicago, IL: U of Chicago, 1941. Print.
Abbott presented the various temporary and permanent plans for mitigating some of the consequences of the depression that followed the financial collapse of 1929. She also went into great detail about the creation of these plans; Perkins leadership within the Cabinet, her role in legislation, and her legacy- the programs themselves. Many of the policies discussed are still part of our current thinking with regard to the welfare principles of a democratic government with a Federal and state system.
Altmeyer, Arthur J. The Formative Years of Social Security. Madison: University of Wisconsin, 1966. Print.
This book detailed the design, legislation, and opposition to the Social Security Act. I learned many interesting facts from this book, many that were used on the "Timeline" page on my website.
Cohen, Adam. Nothing to Fear: FDR's Inner Circle and the Hundred Days That Created Modern America. New York: Penguin, 2009. Print. I originally read Cohen's "Nothing to Fear" when I first began researching New Deal politics, and it was a large reason for my interest in the subject. This book had a section of Frances Perkins specifically, but I read the whole book for historical context and entertainment.
Colman, Penny. A Woman Unafraid: The Achievements of Frances Perkins. New York: Atheneum, 1993. Print.
As the first woman to hold a U.S. Cabinet post, Frances Perkins served as FDR's Secretary of Labor from 1933-1945 left her mark on history with the passage of the Social Security Act (1935) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (1938). In this biography, the author focused on her struggles and triumphs as a labor reformer and public official. The author quoted from her letters and oral histories reinforce the portrait of Perkins as a courageous and determined pioneer. Black-and-white photographs and political cartoons were included to stress her involvement in the New Deal.
Dauber, Michele Landis. The Sympathetic State: Disaster Relief and the Origins of the American WWelfare State. Chicago: U of Chicago, 2013. Print.
Given the political debates related to taxation, redistribution of wealth, and health care, Dauber's book is timely and relevant to my topic. A popular notion is that the American welfare state stemmed from FDR's Cabinet's (especially Frances Perkins') efforts to pull the nation out of the Great Depression. Dauber's carefully researched and book indicated otherwise. She provided an excellent examination of welfare's history, which dates to the mid-19th century. She explains how even from the very beginning of the United States, the General Welfare clause in the Constitution allowed for relief during times of economic disaster. Drawing on her experience in sociology, law, and history, the author's book greatly aided my research.
DeWitt, Larry, Daniel Béland, and Edward D. Berkowitz. Social Security: A Documentary History. Washington, D.C.: CQPress, 2008. Print. This documentary detailed the development of U.S. Social Security from its birth in 1935 to the controversies of the present day. It was filled with primary source documents, including congressional testimonies, government reports, presidential speeches, and rare archival evidence. This documentary was a valuable resource in my research.
Downey, Kirstin. The Woman Behind the New Deal: The Life of Frances Perkins, FDR's Secretary of Labor and His Moral Conscience. New York: Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, 2009. Print.
I read this book several years ago while researching FDR and the New Deal, but it was too specific to use in my previous project. However, it was very interesting and is what inspired me to create a website on Frances Perkins this year. The author wrote about Perkins' personality in a detailed yet unbiased manner that was different from all of the other books I read. Downey described that Perkins had a gift for ingratiating herself with people who could help her. She began doing this in New York with associates such as Jane Addams, Al Smith, and Sinclair Lewis. As Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor, she fed him ideas and plans and let him take credit for carrying them out. I think this is an admirable, albeit unique, form of leadership.
Golway, Terry. Machine Made: Tammany Hall and the Creation of Modern American Politics. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
While often thought of as simply a notorious coalition, Tammany Hall (the Democratic political machine that dominated New York City politics) played a profound role in laying the groundwork for social reform. Its methods and leadership, were often questionable, but without it political figures like Al Smith, FDR, and Frances Perkins would not have met. They and it eventually affected Democratic Party and progressive New Deal agenda. This book was most helpful in understanding the corruption and bureaucracy that was often involved with social reform measures both in the state of New York and on the federal level.
Josephson, Matthew, Hannah Josephson, and Frances Perkins. Al Smith: Hero of the Cities; A Political Portrait Drawing on the Papers of Frances Perkins. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1969. Print.
Al Smith, who Perkins worked with prior to FDR as governor of New York, is objectively described in this source. He grew up on the streets of New York, and then rose to the governorship and instituted some of the first public assistance program, drafted by Perkins. It was interesting to learn about Smith's later switch to conservatism and criticism of FDR and Perkins' work. Frances Perkins' unfinished manuscript was the basis of this book, so in a sense it was a quasi-biography of her life.
Kennedy, David M. Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
According to David Kennedy, the Depression was both a disaster and an opportunity. In this book, he argues that the economic downturn of the 1930's was far more than a simple reaction to the alleged excesses of the 20's. For more than a century before 1929, America's unbridled industrial revolution had gyrated through repeated boom and bust cycles, wastefully consuming, etc. This extensive and interesting background information, followed by a exploration of FDR's presidency and the legislation that defined it, were a necessary aspect of my research.
Leuchtenburg, William Edward. Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal: 1932-1940. New York: Harper & Row, 1963. Print.
Leuchtenburg was a historian that considered the legislation that FDR and his Cabinet created a “halfway revolution”: “The New Deal achieved a more just society by recognizing groups which had been largely unrepresented- staple farmers, industrial workers, particular ethnic groups, and the new intellectual-administrative class. Yet this was still a halfway revolution. It swelled the ranks of the bourgeoisie but left many Americans—sharecroppers, slum dwellers, most Negroes—outside the new equilibrium.…The New Dealers perceived that they had done more in those years than had been done in any comparable period of American history, but they also saw that there was much still to be done, much, too, that continued to baffle them.”
Lubove, Roy. The Struggle for Social Security, 1900-1935. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1968. Print.
In this book, Roy Lubove examined the clash between the traditional American ethic of individualism and voluntarism and the push for an active government role in social welfare assistance, and the battles within the social security movement itself. He ends the book with the actual legislative enactments of social safety nets in 1935. It was an in-depth look at the history of public services, and aided my understanding of the issues and inspirations of Perkins' goals as Secretary of Labor.
Pasachoff, Naomi E. Frances Perkins: Champion of the New Deal. New York: Oxford UP, 1999. Print.
I read this book for mainly for the chronology and photographic inspiration, as I wanted my timeline to be as accurate as possible and was having trouble finding pictures of Perkins that weren't just a head shot. "Frances Perkins: Champion of the New Deal" provided both.
Schieber, Sylvester J., and John B. Shoven. The Real Deal: The History and Future of Social Security. New Haven: Yale UP, 1999. Print. This work put debates about Social Security reform into historical perspective. I mostly referred to the first part of it, as the second set out a plan to It sets out a change the way Social Security is financed. While it's important to understand the current system and others' view on how to improve it, I focused on the creation and unarguable effects of the Social Security Act.
Storrs, Landon R. Y. Civilizing Capitalism: The National Consumers' League, Women's Activism, and Labor Standards in the New Deal Era. Chapel Hill: U of North Carolina, 2000. Print.
This book extensively described the history of labor policy, the New Deal, and feminism. The author focused on the legislative actives of the National Consumers' League, one of the most influential reform organizations of the early twentieth century. Perkins was a member and Commissioner in the NCL before becoming Secretary of Labor in 1933. She used many of their reform tactics on the federal level in her Cabinet position. This was helpful information that related to the "leadership" aspect of my project, and the book's title also became part of of my website's title.
Ware, Susan. Beyond Suffrage, Women in the New Deal. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 1981. Print.
The New Deal administration of Franklin Roosevelt brought an unprecedented number of women to Washington to serve in positions of power and influence. "Beyond Suffrage" is a study of women who achieved positions of national leadership in the 1930s. Obviously I focused my reading on the sections detailing Frances Perkins' leadership. However, it was interesting and helpful to read about the experiences of other women in Washington at this time to understand the political climate and how their gender affected their work.
Websites
"Frances Perkins: Trailblazer for Workers' Rights." APWU. N.p., 03 Apr. 2014. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
Informative, complementary, and brief, this article was written by a union group, and therefore focused on Perkins' work in labor legislation. This was very important in my research, because not many sources talked about this aspect of her leadership and legacy as much as they did Social Security.
"Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum." Frances Perkins: Honoring the Achievements of FDR’s Secretary of Labor. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, n.d. Web. 1 Jan. 2015.
This was one of the first webpages I found while researching. It was very informative; including quotes, primary sources, and chronology that I used on multiple occasions within my website.
Gould, Suzanne. "Let's Give Thanks for Frances Perkins." AAUW. American Association of University Women, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015
This article was a great source of information, both of Frances Perkins' life and her legacy after death. It also had several videos and photographs on it, but unfortunately they weren't cited and I couldn't find the original source so I wasn't able to put them on the website.
"History." NCL. National Consumers League, 2006. Web. 12 Jan. 2015.
Working with reformers such as Florence Kelley and Jane Addams, Perkins worked to expose child labor and other unfair working conditions. This experience of seeing and changing deplorable conditions helped Perkins in her role in Washington. The NCL website provided a detailed history of Perkins' work as a member and Commissioner there.
Knight Lab. "Beautifully Interactive Timeline Creator." Timeline JS. Northwestern University, 2013. Web. 03 Feb. 2015.
The Knight Lab Timeline is a great tool for many research projects, but especially NHD. It is based on information from a Google spreadsheet, but is live-updating and directly embedded on any website. It was a helpful tool and was an interesting way to introduce my topic on my website.
"Online Audio Cutter." 123 Apps. Free Online Multimedia Software, 2012. Web. 03 Feb. 2015.
This audio cutter was a life-saver: it was free, legal, and available online. Especially when I was working on a school computer or at the library, it was important to have access to an editor that didn't require download. I used this tool for all of the audio on my website.
Shetterly, Robert. "Frances Perkins." Models of Courageous Citizenship. Americans Who Tell The Truth, 2006. Web. 12 Jan. 2015.
This webpage included a biography, resources page, and several related articles that all aided my understand of Frances Perkins' work as Secretary of Labor.
Informative, complementary, and brief, this article was written by a union group, and therefore focused on Perkins' work in labor legislation. This was very important in my research, because not many sources talked about this aspect of her leadership and legacy as much as they did Social Security.
"Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum." Frances Perkins: Honoring the Achievements of FDR’s Secretary of Labor. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, n.d. Web. 1 Jan. 2015.
This was one of the first webpages I found while researching. It was very informative; including quotes, primary sources, and chronology that I used on multiple occasions within my website.
Gould, Suzanne. "Let's Give Thanks for Frances Perkins." AAUW. American Association of University Women, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015
This article was a great source of information, both of Frances Perkins' life and her legacy after death. It also had several videos and photographs on it, but unfortunately they weren't cited and I couldn't find the original source so I wasn't able to put them on the website.
"History." NCL. National Consumers League, 2006. Web. 12 Jan. 2015.
Working with reformers such as Florence Kelley and Jane Addams, Perkins worked to expose child labor and other unfair working conditions. This experience of seeing and changing deplorable conditions helped Perkins in her role in Washington. The NCL website provided a detailed history of Perkins' work as a member and Commissioner there.
Knight Lab. "Beautifully Interactive Timeline Creator." Timeline JS. Northwestern University, 2013. Web. 03 Feb. 2015.
The Knight Lab Timeline is a great tool for many research projects, but especially NHD. It is based on information from a Google spreadsheet, but is live-updating and directly embedded on any website. It was a helpful tool and was an interesting way to introduce my topic on my website.
"Online Audio Cutter." 123 Apps. Free Online Multimedia Software, 2012. Web. 03 Feb. 2015.
This audio cutter was a life-saver: it was free, legal, and available online. Especially when I was working on a school computer or at the library, it was important to have access to an editor that didn't require download. I used this tool for all of the audio on my website.
Shetterly, Robert. "Frances Perkins." Models of Courageous Citizenship. Americans Who Tell The Truth, 2006. Web. 12 Jan. 2015.
This webpage included a biography, resources page, and several related articles that all aided my understand of Frances Perkins' work as Secretary of Labor.