Flynn, Elizabeth Gurley (1890–1964)

ELIZABETH GURLEY FLYNN was born in Concord, New Hampshire. Raised by socialist parents committed to activism, at the age of 16 she gave her first speech, “What Socialism Will Do for Women,” at the Harlem Socialist Club, which resulted in her expulsion from high school.

In 1907, she became a full-time organizer for Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and became active in campaigning for the rights of garment workers in Pennsylvania, silk weavers in New Jersey, restaurant workers in New York, miners in Minnesota, and textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts. During the Lawrence strike, she was instrumental in organizing women to participate and support the strike despite male prejudices that strike activity was not appropriate for women. She was arrested 10 times for her work, ...