Born April 10, 1880 Boston, Massachusetts

Died May 14, 1965 New York, New York

Secretary of labor

Frances Perkins. AP/Wide World Photo. Reproduced by permission.

"When subordinates asked [Perkins] how she should be addressed, she replied, 'Call me Madam Secretary.'… From the beginning she was treated as an equal."

Arthur Schlesinger Jr., in his book The Coming of the New Deal

Trained as a teacher, Frances Perkins became an advocate for the working classes, children, women, and the poor. As a social worker and reformer, she combined a practical approach, which she attributed to her New England common sense, with an energy and focus that allowed her to get things done in politically difficult situations. In a male-dominated workplace, Perkins overcame prejudices and restrictions to establish herself as an outstanding federal government official who significantly improved the lives of Americans. She shaped much of the basic labor legislation...