41 Facts About Frances Perkins

Frances Perkins was one of two Roosevelt cabinet members to remain in office for his entire presidency.

Frances Perkins helped form government policy for working with labor unions, although the union leaders distrusted her.

Frances Perkins spent much of her childhood in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Frances Perkins earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry and physics from Mount Holyoke College in 1902.

Frances Perkins changed her name from Fannie to Frances when she joined the Episcopal church in 1905.

In support of the movement, Frances Perkins attended protests and meetings, and advocated for the cause on street corners.

Frances Perkins earned a master's degree in economics and sociology from Columbia in 1910.

In 1910 Frances Perkins achieved statewide prominence as head of the New York office of the National Consumers League and lobbied with vigor for better working hours and conditions.

Frances Perkins taught as a professor of sociology at Adelphi College.

Perkins pressed for votes for the legislation, encouraging proponents including Franklin D Roosevelt to filibuster, while Perkins called state senators to make sure they could be present for the final vote.

In 1913, Frances Perkins married New York economist Paul Caldwell Wilson.

Frances Perkins defended her right to keep her maiden name in court.

Frances Perkins would be institutionalized frequently for mental illness throughout the remainder of their marriage.

Frances Perkins had cut back slightly on her public life following the birth of her daughter, but returned after her husband's illness to provide for her family.

Frances Perkins maintained a long-standing romantic relationship with Mary Harriman Rumsey, who had founded the Junior League in 1901.

The women lived together in Washington, DC until Rumsey's death in 1934, after which Frances Perkins shared her home with Caroline O'Day, a Democratic congresswoman from New York.

Frances Perkins had gained respect from the political leaders in the state.

Frances Perkins's nomination was met with protests from both manufacturers and labor, neither of whom felt Perkins represented their interests.

Frances Perkins was confirmed on February 18,1919, becoming one of the first female commissioners in New York, and began working out of New York City.

Frances Perkins expanded factory investigations, reduced the workweek for women to 48 hours, and championed minimum wage and unemployment insurance laws.

Frances Perkins worked vigorously to put an end to child labor and to provide safety for women workers.

In 1933, Roosevelt summoned Frances Perkins to ask her to join his cabinet.

Frances Perkins presented Roosevelt with a long list of labor programs for which she would fight, from Social Security to minimum wage.

Frances Perkins went on to hold the position for 12 years, longer than any other Secretary of Labor.

Frances Perkins became the first woman to hold a cabinet position in the United States, thus she became the first woman to enter the presidential line of succession.

Frances Perkins sought to implement liberal immigration policies but some of her efforts experienced pushback, especially in Congress.

Frances Perkins left the Civil Service Commission in 1952 when her husband died.

Frances Perkins was a teacher and lecturer at the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University until her death in 1965, at age 85.

Frances Perkins gave guest lectures at other universities, including two 15-lecture series at the University of Illinois Institute of Labor and Industrial relations in 1955 and 1958.

Frances Perkins is buried in the Glidden Cemetery in Newcastle, Maine.

Frances Perkins is famous for being the first woman cabinet member, as well as from her policy accomplishments.

Frances Perkins was heavily involved with many issues associated with the social safety net including, the creation of social security, unemployment insurance in the United States, the federal minimum wage, and federal laws regulating child labor.

In 1982, Frances Perkins was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

In 2015, Frances Perkins was named by Equality Forum as one of their 31 Icons of the 2015 LGBT History Month.

Frances Perkins had a cool personality that held her aloof from the crowd.

Frances Perkins's achievements indicate her great love of workers and lower-class groups, but her Boston upbringing held her back from mingling freely and exhibiting personal affection.

Frances Perkins was well-suited for the high-level efforts to effect sweeping reforms, but never caught the public's eye or its affection.

Frances Perkins was honored with a postage stamp that same year.

The Frances Perkins Center is a nonprofit organization located in Damariscotta, Maine.

In 2022, Frances Perkins was officially added to the Episcopal Church liturgical calendar with a feast day on 13 May.

Frances Perkins is a minor character in the 1977 Broadway musical Annie, in which she alongside Harold Ickes is ordered by Roosevelt to sing along to the song Tomorrow with the title character.