Schneiderman, Rose, 1882-1972

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Rose Schneiderman (April 6, 1882 – August 11, 1972) was a Polish-born American socialist and feminist, and one of the most prominent female labor union leaders. As a member of the New York Women's Trade Union League, she drew attention to unsafe workplace conditions, following the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911, and as a suffragist she helped to pass the New York state referendum of 1917 that gave women the right to vote. Schneiderman was also a founding member of the American Civil Liberties Union and served on the National Recovery Administration's Labor Advisory Board under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She is credited with coining the phrase "Bread and Roses," to indicate a worker's right to something higher than subsistence living.

From 1904 through the 1950s, the militant trade unionist and women’s rights advocate spoke on street corners, soapboxes, lecture platforms, and over the radio, impressing even those who did not share her political views. In an age when political oratory was a leading form of entertainment, many contemporaries described her as the most moving speaker they had ever heard. Even her enemies evoked a sense of her emotional punch—dubbing her “the Red Rose of Anarchy.”

Schneiderman’s powers of persuasion won her many influential admirers. A close friend and adviser to Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, Schneiderman taught them most of what they knew about working people. As president of the New York Women’s Trade Union League (NYWTUL) from 1917 to 1949, and of the National WTUL from 1926 to 1950, Schneiderman served both presidents and governors as a liaison to organized women workers. She was the only woman on FDR’s National Recovery Administration Labor Advisory Board. She played a key role in shaping the landmark legislation of the New Deal: the National Labor Relations Act, the Social Security Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act. She also helped make New York State a national laboratory for labor and social welfare legislation, first as a lobbyist for the NYWTUL from 1911 to 1932, and then as New York secretary of labor from 1937 to 1943.

In 1949, she retired from public life, devoting her time to writing her memoirs and making radio speeches and occasional appearances for various labor unions. Schneiderman never married, but she had a long-term relationship with labor movement colleague Maud Swartz.

Rose Schneiderman died in New York City on August 11, 1972, at age ninety.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Schneiderman, Rose, 1882-1972. [Letter], September 13, 1934, Washington, D.C. / Rose Schneiderman, President, National Women's Trade Union Leagure of America. University of Michigan
referencedIn Dennett, Mary Ware, 1872-1947. Papers: Series IV, 1910-1944 (inclusive) [microform]. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Dorothy Kenyon Papers MS 85., 1850 - 1998 Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Gioffre, Marisa. Bread and roses : a documentary play with music on the history of American women from the 19th century to the present : typescript, 1975. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Caylor, George Nathan, 1885-1973. Papers, ca. 1955-1965. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn American Association for Labor Legislation. Series 1, Subseries 6. Correspondence, 1930-1935 [microform]. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Beatrice B. Ettinger Papers, 1964-1998 Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries,
referencedIn Women's Trade Union League of America. Papers of the Women's Trade Union League and its principal leaders, 1855-1964 (inclusive), [microform]. Yale University Library
creatorOf Schneiderman, Rose, 1882-1972. Papers, 1909-1964 (bulk 1909-1920). New-York Historical Society
creatorOf Rose Schneiderman Papers, Bulk, 1909-1920, 1909-1964 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Van Kleeck, Mary, 1883-1972. Papers, 1883-1972 Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Papers of Mary E. (Mary Elisabeth) Dreier, 1797-1968 (inclusive), 1897-1968 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Mary Ware Dennett Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Newman, Pauline. Papers, 1903-1982 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Frieda S. Miller, 1909-1973 (inclusive), 1929-1967 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Rose Schneiderman Collection. Photographic prints, 1909-1962. Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Records of the Office of Management and Administration (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 2001. Mark Lindsay's Files, ca. 1998 - ca. 2001 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Papers of Carrie Chapman Catt, 1848-1950 (inclusive), [microform] Yale University Library
referencedIn International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Local 62 (New York, N.Y.). ILGWU. Local 62 correspondence, 1913-1976. Cornell University Library
referencedIn White, Sue Shelton, 1887-1943. Papers, 1898-1963 (inclusive), 1909-1963 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Records of the White House Office of Records Management (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 2001. Subject Files on Speeches, 1993 - 2001 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Papers of Clara Mortensen Beyer Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Carrie Chapman Catt Papers, 1848-1950, (bulk 1890-1920) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Papers of Frieda S. Miller, 1909-1973 (inclusive), 1929-1967 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Guide to the Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Labor and Radicalism Photograph Collection, 1860-1985 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Papers, 1837 (1900-1975) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Mary E. (Mary Elisabeth) Dreier, 1797-1968 (inclusive), 1897-1968 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Sherwin, Belle, 1868-1955. Papers, 1880-1955 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Aliotto, Marie. Garment workers. California State University, Long Beach
referencedIn Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. Sidney Hillman papers, 1930-1946 (bulk 1935-1945) Cornell University Library
referencedIn Papers, 1918-1960 (inclusive) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn National Women's Trade Union League of America. National Women's Trade Union Legaue of America papers of the Women's Trade Union League and its principal leaders, 1855-1964, bulk 1903-1950. [microform] Cornell University Library
referencedIn Bondfield, Margaret, 1873-1953. Margaret Grace Bondfield papers, 1854-1951, 1898-1951 (bulk). Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn ILGWU. New York Cloak Joint Board records, 1926-1973 Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives
referencedIn Franklin D. Roosevelt Master Speech Files. 1/19/1898 - 4/13/1945. Franklin D. Roosevelt Master Speech Files Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
referencedIn Papers, 1899-1940, 1956 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Women's Trade Union League of New York Records, 1903-1955 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Van Kleeck, Mary, 1883-1972. Papers, 1883-1972 Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Smith, Hilda Worthington, 1888-. Papers, 1837-1975 (inclusive), 1900-1975 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Rose Schneiderman Papers, Bulk, 1909-1920, 1909-1964, (Bulk 1909-1920) Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Bessie Hillman correspondence Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives
referencedIn Guide to the George N. Caylor Papers, 1903-1973 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. New York Cloak Joint Board. ILGWU. New York Cloak Joint Board records, 1926-1973. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Rose Schneiderman Photographs, 1909-1962 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Newman, Pauline, ca. 1890-1986. Papers, 1900-1980 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. Jacob Potofsky correspondence, 1930-1946, 1930-1940 (bulk). Cornell University Library
referencedIn Papers of Bernice Resnick Sandler, 1963-2008 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Laidlaw, H. B. (Harriet Burton), b. 1874. Papers: Series I-IV, 1851-1958 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn ILGWU. Local 62 correspondence, 1913-1976 Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives
referencedIn Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives,. Tamiment Library general photograph collection [graphic]. Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. General Secretary-Treasurer. Joseph Schlossberg correspondence, 1930-1940. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Brookwood Labor College (Katonah, N.Y.). Brookwood Labor College records, 1921-1937. Wayne State University. Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs
referencedIn National Women's Trade Union League of America. Records, 1904-1950. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Hochstein, Irma E., 1887-1974. Irma E. Hochstein papers, 1916-1965. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Tamiment Library Manuscript Files, 1749-1988 (bulk: 1910-1965) Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Dorothy Jacobs Bellanca papers Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives
referencedIn ILGWU Leon Stein Photographs, 1909-1911 Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives
creatorOf Rose Schneiderman Papers, Bulk, 1909-1920, 1909-1964, (Bulk 1909-1920) Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Papers of Charlotte Hawkins Brown, 1900-1961 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn National Women’s Trade Union League of America Records, 1903-1950 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Caylor, George Nathan, 1885-1973. Papers, 1903-1973. Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Papers, 1848-1950 (inclusive) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Laidlaw, Harriet Burton, 1873-1949. Papers, 1851-1958 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Charlotte Hawkins Brown, 1900-1961 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Bondfield, Margaret Grace, 1873-1953. Papers, 1854-1951, 1898-1951 (bulk). Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Kenyon, Dorothy, 1888-1972. Dorothy Kenyon papers, 1850-1998 (bulk 1888-1971). Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Schneiderman, Rose Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
referencedIn Tamiment Library. Tamiment Library manuscript files collection relating to individuals and organizations associated with radicalism, the labor movement, and progressive social action in the United States, 1950-2001 (bulk 1910-1965). Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Papers, 1898, 1909-1963 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn National Women's Trade Union League of America Records on Microfilm, 1903-1950 Cornell University Library
referencedIn Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America records, 1914-1980, 1920-1950 (bulk) Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Safety Light Collection, 1916 - 1949. Records Related to Radium Dial Painters, 1917 - 1949 National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
creatorOf All For One
Relation Name
associatedWith Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. General Secretary-Treasurer. corporateBody
associatedWith American Association for Labor Legislation. corporateBody
founderOf American Civil Liberties Union corporateBody
associatedWith Anderson, Mary, 1872-1964. person
associatedWith Beatrice B. Ettinger person
associatedWith Bellanca, Dorothy. person
correspondedWith BELLE SHERWIN, 1868-1955 person
associatedWith Bernice Resnick Sandler person
associatedWith Beyer, Clara M. (Clara Mortenson) person
associatedWith Bondfield, Margaret Grace, 1873-1953. person
correspondedWith Brookwood Labor College (Katonah, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Brown, Charlotte Hawkins, 1883-1961. person
associatedWith Catt, Carrie Chapman, 1859-1947. person
associatedWith Caylor, George Nathan, 1885-1973. person
associatedWith CHARLOTTE EUGENIA (HAWKINS) BROWN, 1883-1961 person
associatedWith Dennett, Mary Ware, 1872-1947. person
associatedWith Dreier, Mary E. (Mary Elisabeth), 1875-1963. person
correspondedWith Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955 person
correspondedWith EMMA GOLDMAN, 1869-1940 person
associatedWith FRIEDA SEGELKE MILLER, 1889-1973 person
associatedWith Gioffre, Marisa. person
associatedWith Harriet Wright (Burton) Laidlaw, 1873-1949 person
associatedWith Hilda Worthington Smith, 1888-1984 person
associatedWith Hillman, Bessie. person
associatedWith Hochstein, Irma E., 1887-1974. person
associatedWith ILGWU. Stein, Leon, 1912- person
memberOf International Congress of Working Women corporateBody
memberOf International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. corporateBody
memberOf International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. corporateBody
memberOf International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union. corporateBody
associatedWith International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Local 62 (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. New York Cloak Joint Board. corporateBody
associatedWith Kenyon, Dorothy, 1888-1972 person
correspondedWith Kenyon, Dorothy, 1888-1972. person
associatedWith Laidlaw, H. B. (Harriet Burton), b. 1874. person
correspondedWith LEON MALMED, 1881-1956 person
associatedWith MARY ELISABETH DREIER, 1875-1963 person
associatedWith MARY (WARE) DENNETT person
associatedWith Miller, Frieda S. person
memberOf National American Woman Suffrage Association corporateBody
memberOf National Women's Trade Union League of America. corporateBody
memberOf National Women’s Trade Union League of America corporateBody
associatedWith Newman, Pauline. person
associatedWith Newman, Pauline. person
associatedWith Newman, Pauline, 1891-1986. person
associatedWith PAULINE NEWMAN, 1888-1986 person
associatedWith Perkins, Frances, 1880-1965. person
associatedWith Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives. corporateBody
associatedWith Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962. person
associatedWith Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945. person
associatedWith Smith, Hilda Worthington, 1888- person
associatedWith SUE SHELTON WHITE, 1887-1943 person
associatedWith Tamiment Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, corporateBody
employeeOf United States. National Recovery Administration corporateBody
correspondedWith van Kleeck, Mary person
correspondedWith Van Kleeck, Mary, 1883- person
associatedWith White, Sue Shelton, 1887-1943. person
memberOf Women's Trade Union League of America. corporateBody
memberOf Women's Trade Union League of New York. corporateBody
associatedWith Zaritsky, Max, 1885-1959. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Sawin 75 PL
New York City NY US
Montréal 10 CA
Subject
Labor unions
Labor unions
Textile workers
Textile Workers' Strike, Southern States, 1934
Women labor union members
Women labor union members
Occupation
Authors
Labor leaders
Socialists
Suffragists
Activity

Person

Birth 1882-04-06

Death 1972-08-11

Female

Poles,

Americans

English,

Polish

Information

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Ark ID: w6010r6z

SNAC ID: 83826953