February 18th

Born this day in 1874, Mary "Molly" Dewson, one of the United States great political leaders. Dewson's class-mates at Wellesly College believed she would be the first woman elected president. Out of college her first job was secretary of the Domestic Reform Committee of the Women's Educational and Industrial Union. Listed below are some of Dewson's career highlights: Parole department of the Massachusetts State Industrial School for Girls. Executive secretary of the Minimum Wage Investigative Committee. Dewson was another "right hand" for Roosevelt and the reforms needed to put all Americans in a safety net. Dewson's work for Social Security, and all the services connected to it made her the first "female political boss" in the United States. I include a link to this speech because as I read it....I felt the points made are as true today as they were in 1938.


•"This Social Security - What Is It?" An address by Mary W. Dewson before the Women's City Club of Boston, Massachusetts February 17, 1938.

February 17th

Born this day in 1858, Margaret Warner Morley, author of children's books, biologist, educator. Morley books connected children to nature in a realistic way, but always with child like wonder.

Song of Life (1891), Insect Folk (1903), Little Mitchell, the Story of a Mountain Squirrel (1904), and the Apple-Tree Sprite (1915). Many of her books were used in the classroom as texts. Her, The Renewal of Life: How and When to Tell the Story to the Young (1906), is a sensitive and frank account of procreation. The Carolina Mountains, written while Morley was in residence in Tryon, North Carolina from 1890-1920

Born this day in 1879, Dorothy Canfield Fisher, educational reformer, social activist and author. Canfield studied with Maria Montessori while in Rome Italy(1911-12). And in 1912, published, The Montessori Mother Also introducing the Montessori Method of education in the United States. Canfield wrote children's books:
Understood Betsy,The Bent Twig (1915), Home Fires in France (1918), The Day of Glory (1919), The Brimming Cup (1921) and The Home-Maker (1924)
Canfield was also an advocate for adult education and served on the selection committee The Book of the Month Club from 1925-1951. Also, named in her honor since 1959, The Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award   which the recipient is selected by the votes of their young readers.