Florence+Kelley+Interview

 More and more of the society seem to join, or start their own movement of innovation, trying to change and reform the status quo. Today, these movements within the industries and the over-all society are gradually bringing real changes in variety of areas, such as labor reform, women’s rights, and racial discrimination. In such process, inevitably, “leader-figures” are soon necessary and become crucial to the movements. Florence Kelley, born September 12, 1859, in Philadelphia, a member of the Intercollegiate Socialist Society, an activist for woman suffrage and African-American civil rights, and the daughter of Congressman William "Pig Iron" Kelley, is, with no doubt, one of the “leader-figures” of today’s society. She is well-known for her translation of “ Die Lage der arbeitenden Klasse ,” written in 1844 by Friedrich Engels, whom she corresponded frequently. Today, to have a better understanding of her character, a brief interview which she gladly approved and agreed to share through the papers will be exhibited.     //Was there a specific event or perhaps an experience that led you to become a social reformer? // “When I was at the age of twelve, my father had me visiting glass factories at night. There, I saw a little boy bending towards a hot furnace, coughing, and everyone besides me were looking at this as if it was something that is seen every day in the daily routine. Which, in fact, it was. I still can’t forget that scenery. In fact, I don’t think I will forget this ever. So yes, there was something that gave me an impact to become a reformer.”    //Wow, you were against child labor since you were twelve, then. // “I think for many social reformers there are big and little events like this for every issues, or ‘evils’ as they call it these days.”

//By that you mean? // “I was first known through my work, the translation of ‘The Condition of the Working Class in England’ by Engels. Then, I guess, someone noticed that I was a member of the Intercollegiate Socialist Society, which I joined when I was back in Cornell. That became an issue, and soon the papers started introducing me as an activist for civil rights movement. I think it was because I was constantly fighting for woman suffrage and African-American civil rights. And having this idea of myself being a well known reformer, now everywhere I go, I noticed something that is to be changed. At this state, it is likely to come across an event or an experience about... anything.”

 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN; msoansilanguage: EN; msospacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; msotabcount: 1;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; msotabcount: 1;">  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After you came back from Europe, You campaigned for state statistical bureaus and the creation of the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. How did you come across that? // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“After returning from Europe, I was thinking of writing a book of my own, on the condition of the working class in the United States. But I discovered that there were no adequate statistics. That was the start of it.”

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">You are now living in the Hull House settlement in Chicago. // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Yes,”

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The founder of the Hull House, who is also Ja<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; msotabcount: 1;"> ne Addams' nephew, called you //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> //"the toughest customer in the reform riot, the finest rough-and-tumble fighter for the good life for others, that Hull House ever knew.” Any comments on that?// “I know I am known for firmness and fierce energy. Merely, I try my best to fighting for the good.”

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What are your further plans? // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“As you know, my focus in these days is women’s rights. I am still on to fighting for limiting the long hours female workers are working in hazardous professions.”

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; msotabcount: 1;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">( Florence Kelley with Eleanor Roosevelt and Sophonisba Breckinridge.) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">