Developing the American Economy: People

Dr. Melnea Cass, distinguished in 1977 as a "Grand Bostonian," was a devoted advocate for the city's most vulnerable residents. Among her many efforts, Cass helped achieve legal protections for low-wage migrant workers and proved the potency of Black women's activism.

Leonora O'Reilly was a union organizer, social reformer, and suffrage advocate.

A labor organizer and advocate for women’s suffrage, Margaret Hinchey rose to national prominence in the early decades of the 20th century. Her passionate speeches advocated for both economic justice and political equality for women She spoke especially of the need for poor and working-class women to gain access to the electoral system.

Active early in the United States labor movement, Seth Luther never saw his work towards the ten hour work day come to fruition. Nevertheless, Luther laid important groundwork that still benefits workers today.

Sojourner Truth was born Isabella Baumfree in 1797 in Ulster County, New York, the daughter of James and Elizabeth Baumfree. Born enslaved, she remained the property of others until she freed herself in 1826. After a religious epiphany in 1843, she changed her name to Sojourner Truth and traveled the country advocating for African American and women's rights.

Earl B. Dickerson was a boundary-breaking lawyer, businessman, and civil rights leader. During the 1940s alone, Dickerson completed a term as a Chicago alderman; chaired President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fair Employment Practices Committee; served in national leadership of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); and argued a landmark case against racial discrimination in housing before the Supreme Court.

There are many legends about Mary Fields, an African American pioneer in late 19th century Montana. These myths have been exaggerated in the century since her death, yet oral and written accounts describe her as one of the toughest, most resilient residents of Cascade, Montana. Learn more about her story here!

Mattie Moore Wilson was one of the most notable entrepreneurs of Chaves County, New Mexico, during the early 20th century. She followed two quite different careers in the Chaves County. She was known as in Roswell as the owner of a brothel and in the homesteader community of Blackdom, she owned 640 acres of land.

George Mortimer Pullman was an American engineer and industrialist. He designed and manufactured the Pullman sleeping car and founded a company town, Pullman, for the workers who manufactured it. His Pullman Company also hired African-American men to staff the Pullman cars, who became known and widely respected as Pullman porters, providing elite service.

Grace Lee Boggs was a Chinese American civil rights and labor activist. Her support for causes such as the Black Power movement, feminism, and the environment spanned over 70 years. Throughout her life, Grace Lee Boggs maintained the core belief that if people worked together, they could accomplish positive social change.