As NYLI comes to its conclusion of celebrating Women’s History Month, we’d like to focus on a name far from household knowledge… Helen Marot.

Helen Marot part of feature article from NY Tribune article on Women’s Suffrage and the Labor Movement (NY Tribune; March 3, 1915, pg. 7)

Any one of her many careers — as a literary editor and author, labor activist, and librarian — is a cause for celebration….

As labor activist, Helen Marot

….investigated child labor and helped form the New York Child Labor Committee.. which resulted in the passage of the N.Y. Compulsory Education Law (1903).

was Executive Secretary of the New York Branch of the Women’s Trade Union (1906)….

Created the Bookkeepers, Stenographers and Accountants Union of New York…a pioneering effort in organizing white-collar women….

Organized the first great strike of dressmakers under the newly formed ILGWU (1909-1910)

Assembled data for Louis Brandeis’ famous brief in Muller v. Oregon, a case concerning the regulation of women’s working hours….

For primary and secondary Labor & Employment resources.. check out my LibGuide by clicking here…

As literary author & editor, Helen Marot…

Was the literary editor of The Ladies Home Journal (1895-1896)…

Published American Labor Unions (1914)

on editorial board of the radical Masses (1916-1917) and on the staff of The Dial (1918-20)…

Helen Marlot could have used a Nutshell or two… you can access them as a NYLI member…

And for a profession near & dear to our hearts, as librarian Helen Marot ….

organized the King Library in Andulasia, Pennsylvania…

Catalogued collections in Wilmington, Delaware… where the head librarian remarked on her work that she “..brought to it taste and literary discrimination of a high order….”

Helped form The Free Library of Economics and Political Science in Philadelphia, which focused on collecting government publications, reports of labor societies and newspaper clippings. The Free Library also sponsored speakers; the first free lecture was given by James R. MacDonald, a future Prime Minister of the UK.

& while we are discussing all matters UK….don’t forget Chitty on Contracts… part of NYLI’s print collection…

We hope you celebrate Women’s History Month… by investigating a few unsung heroes — in the fields of political activism, writing… and of course, librarianship…

PLI Handbooks — COMPLETE – including those on employment, copyright… & a few on librarianship… available with NYLI Membership…