ASSOCIATIONS

      Eleanor Roosevelt was involved in many associations fighting for causes for which she was passionate. She and other reformers spoke publicly, protested, and wrote about the changes they wished to see in society. 

Women's Trade Union League

      The Women’s Trade Union League is the first national association dedicated to organizing women workers. Women of all classes were united in the fight for better working conditions. They supported and organized strikes which many women took part in while upper class women supported the League financially.

Women's Trade Union League float. Bain News Service, Library of Congress, 1908.

League of Women Voters 

     The League of Women Voters was set in their belief that women had strong qualities needed in politics. Meetings were held at the Roosevelt’s home in Hyde Park, New York. The League worked to educate women about their responsibility as voters and empower more women’s participation as voters and political leaders. They also helped working women fight for better wages. 

Brochure. League of Women Voters New York State, Ann Lewis Women's Suffrage Collection, 1922.

     Eleanor Roosevelt was the vice president of legislative affairs and received many honors. She also wrote many articles for the newsletter and spoke at many public events. Roosevelt was also on the cover of TIME magazine in 1952, highlighting the work she did for the league. The International Congress of Working Women, which Roosevelt was also a part of, had similar goals of improving the workforce for women.

Women's Division of the New York State Democratic Committee

      Eleanor Roosevelt joined the Women’s Division of the New York State Democratic Committee while her husband was serving as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. The committee’s purpose was to help find places for women on party committees and become more involved in politics. They also broke boundaries creating new divisions for women.

Daughters of the American Revolution

     Roosevelt was a member of the historic preservation and education association for a long time. However, she later decided to leave due to discrimination towards women of color. She wrote a letter to the president general of the Daughters of the American Revolution regarding her disagreement with the attitude of the majority of leagues members towards a specific issue.  

Letter from Eleanor Roosevelt to Mrs. Henry M. Robert. National Archives and Records Administration.