Introduction Florence Kelley was born in Philadelphia in 1859 into a cultured
and affluent family. Her family was actively devoted to social reform. Her
father, Congressman William (Pig Iron) Kelley, fought passionately to persuade
government to uphold the rights of the poor and weak. He strongly believed that
every child in America, whether born rich or poor should be afforded the same
opportunities and chances in life. Florence was conditioned from a very early
age to despise the sight of little children hard at work.
Her father was a dominating influence throughout Florence's life. He taught
her to read at the age of seven. He provided books that focused on child labor
and children who were far less fortunate1. He took her on a midnight tour of
factories where young boys helped in the manufacturing of steel and glass. There
she witnessed the deplorable and dangerous conditions children were forced to
work under.
She often contends that through this experience, she developed her enthusiasm
to advocate for child labor reform. She wrote while still a very young woman, We
that are strong, let us bear the infirmities of the weak.2 ____________________
1 Goldmark, Josephine Clara, Florence Kelley's Life Story: Impatient Crusader.
1953.
University of Illinois Press, Urbana. ISBN# 0-8371-9011-8 2 *http://www.idbsu.edu/socwork/dhuff/history/extras/kelly.htm*,
Florence Kelley -- A Woman of Fierce Fidelity. Florence's mother, Caroline
Bartram-Bonsall, lost her parents at a very young age. Caroline's adoptive
family Isaac and Elizabeth Pugh, were close friends of her parents. It was
through them that Florence was connected to Sarah Pugh. Florence's Great-Aunt
Sarah was a leading abolitionist who advocated on behalf of the women's suffrage
movement, the oppression of women, free trade, peace, and a single standard of
morals for men and women.
Sarah was feisty and strong. She confided to Florence that she never used
sugar and she only wore linen undergarments. Her reasoning, she explained was
cotton was grown by slaves and sugar also. 3 I decided many years ago never to
use either and to bring these facts to the attention of my friends. It was
through these influences that Florence developed her passion for socialism.
Florence was mature beyond her years. Her school attendance was often
interrupted due to illness.
She was highly susceptible to infection. To make up for her sporadic
attendance she was educated mainly at home and spent endless hours in her
father's library reading. 4 In 1876 Kelley enrolled at Cornell University; she
was among the first generation of college-educated women. She graduated from
Cornell in 1882 earning her Bachelor of Science degree. ____________________ 3
Goldmark, Josephine Clara, Florence Kelley's Life Story: Impatient Crusader.
1953. University of Illinois Press, Urbana.
