Still, as a new book by awardwinning business journalist kirstin downey suggests, one of the most influential figures in shaping the new deal turns out to be a name few know todayand turns out to be a woman. The woman behind the new deal gives a vivid idea of what they had to go through to get to where they now are. Many thanks to karen price and susan kirk for spearheading this fabulous event. The life and legacy of frances perkins, social security, unemployment insurance. Columbia university libraries online exhibitions frances. The woman behind the new deal by kirstin downey kirkus. While the woman behind the new deal, may portray francis perkins in an overly sympathetic manner at times, it is certainly worth reading to learn more about one of the most influential women in u.
It is amazing that frances perkins is not better known, since the programs she spawned still have such influence on. The life of frances perkins, fdrs secretary of labor and his moral conscience frances perkins is no longer a household. This biography of frances perkins is highly readable even though it has rich detail. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. The center for the book was created in 1977 to stimulate public interest in books and reading. Based on eight years of research, extensive archival materials, new documents, and exclusive access to perkinss family members and friends. Frances perkins, the woman behind the new deal, is.
April 10, 1880 may 14, 1965 was an american sociologist and workersrights advocate who served as the u. The life of frances perkins, fdrs secretary of labor and his moral conscience the current financial crisis is. Based on eight years of research, extensive archival materials, new documents, and exclusive access to perkinss family members and friends, this biography is the first complete portrait of a devoted public servant with a passionate personal life, a mother. Book club copies can be picked up at meetings, or at the. Help bookmark tell a friend outofprint wish list home. The woman behind the new deal the life of frances perkins, fdrs secretary of labor and his moral conscience book. It was a little too long, or maybe just gave too much time to a lot of scenesetting and personal anecdotes.
She was not only a vital labor advocate but a woman s suffrage leader. Perkins was the first female cabinet member, serving as franklin d. Frances perkins, the woman behind the new deal kirstin downeys biography of fdrs labor secretary frances perkins paints an inspiring and substantive portrait of the woman who ushered in the 40. The book is more than a biography of an extraordinary woman. But for the most part it was a great behind the scenes explanation of the politics and policies of the new deal. Frances perkins center the woman behind the new deal. Did she seem to consciously hide herself, knowing that much more can be done in washington if people are willing to let others take the credit. Four years ago, she writes, married to the father of my three children, i fell in.
On monday, march 23, at noon, kirstin downey will discuss and sign her new book, the woman behind the new deal. Woman behind new deal by downey books, find the lowest price on new, used books, textbooks compare book prices at stores. Labor secretary from 1933 to 1945 who was instrumental in helping franklin roosevelt craft the historic and farreaching new deal legislation. Perkins was the first woman member of a presidential cabinet who served as roosevelts secretary of labor during the new deal. Woman behind new deal by downey books, book price comparison. The woman behind the new deal is a nonfiction book published in 2009 by the american author kirstin downey. The life of frances perkins, fdrs secretary of labor and his moral conscience by. Frances perkins, the woman behind the new deal, is subject of.
Frances perkins is no longer a household name, yet s. As the previous commentators have said, this is the story that needed to be told about the woman behind the throne not eleanor in fdrs new deal world. Mar 03, 2009 the new deal was a big deal for americaand, as kirstin downey shows in this illuminating and sparkling book, frances perkins, my predecessor as labor secretary, was the moving force behind much of it. Kirstin downey books list of books by author kirstin downey. Kirstin downeys lively, substantive anddare i sayinspiring new biography of perkins. Frances perkins was named secretary of labor by franklin roosevelt in 1933. The woman behind the new deal audiobook by kirstin downey. Participate in the book swap by bringing a book off your bookshelf to exchange with other. Chicago turabian humanities citation style guide downey, kirstin, the woman behind the new deal. The first half of kirstin downeys book, the woman behind the new deal chronologically explores the frances perkins life up until her early years as the secretary of labor under president roosevelt. The woman behind the new deal audiobook by kirstin. I gave it to my niece for a college graduation present because the book could help her deal with government bureaucracy.
Kirstin downey, author of the woman behind the new deal. Apr 16, 2009 frances perkins, the woman behind the new deal kirstin downeys biography of fdrs labor secretary frances perkins paints an inspiring and substantive portrait of the woman who ushered in the 40. The life and legacy of frances perkins social security, unemployment insurance, and the minimum wage by kirstin downey published in 2009 by anchor books, new york, ny submitted by deborah vose. The woman behind the new deal by kristin downey by cindy g. Married to a man institutionalized with mental illness, she kept her unhappy personal life out of the papers and away from washington. The woman behind the new deal frances perkins 18801965 is no longer a household name, yet she was one of the most influential women of the twentieth century. Frances perkins is no longer a household name, yet she was one of the most influential women of the twentieth century. Her biography by kristin downey is welldetailed and most certainly worth reading.
It is amazing that frances perkins is not better known, since the programs she spawned still have such influence on public policy in both the u. The woman behind the new deal by kristin downey 1 fast facts about our female u. The life and legacy of frances perkins, social security, unemployment insurance, downey, kirstin on. And, in their books on perkins, both downey and miller detail another key piece of guidance from associate justice harlan fiske stone. April 16, 2009 kirstin downeys lively new biography of francis perkins, president franklin roosevelts controversial pick for secretary of labor, is called the woman behind the new deal.
Its a provocative title, but downey convinced me that fannie perkins, of beacon hill, worcester, and mount holyoke college, was the woman behind the new deal. The life of frances perkins, fdrs secretary of labor and his moral conscience kindle edition. Kirstin downey talked about her biography the woman behind the new deal. Jun 16, 2016 join us for the discussion of the book the woman behind the new deal. Kirstin downey talks about her book the woman behind the new deal. Her legacy included social security, unemployment insurance, and other initiatives that have improved the lives of generations of americans.
Based on eight years of research, extensive archival materials, new documents, and exclusive access to perkinss family members and friends, this biography is the. In her life she crosses paths with many icons a few of them actually interesting of early 20th century american political and cultural life. The woman behind the new deal the life of frances perkins, fdrs secretary of labor and his moral conscience. Biographer kirstin downey examines perkins life and enduring impact in a discussion of her book the woman behind the new deal. The life of frances perkins, fdrs secretary of labor and his moral conscience nan a. About the woman behind the new deal kirstin downeys lively, substantive anddare i sayinspiring new biography of perkins. Is a woman s lack of physical beauty an impediment to fame.
The life of frances perkins, fdrs secretary of labor and his moral conscience. The woman behind the new deal book columbus metropolitan. It tells the largely untold story of frances perkins, the u. Secretary of labor from 1933 to 1945, the longest serving in that position, and the first woman appointed to the u.
The life of frances perkins, fdrs secretary of labor and his moral conscience kindle edition by kirstin downey author. The life and legacy of frances perkins, social security, unemployment insurance, and the minimum wage by kristin downey. The life of frances perkins, fdrs secretary of labor and his moral conscience frances perkins is no longer a household name, yet she was one of the most influential women of the twentieth century. The life of frances perkins, fdrs secretary of labor and his moral conscience ebook written by kirstin downey. We welcome new members to join us in reading and discussing current literary fiction, historical fiction and some nonfiction titles. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. The life and legacy of frances perkins, social security, unemployment insurance, paperback february 23, 2010. Downeys book not only illuminates perkins career but also deepens popular understanding of roosevelts character.
The nook book ebook of the woman behind the new deal. The life of frances perkins, fdrs secretary of labor and his moral conscience kirstin downey, author. Perkins is buried in the glidden cemetery in newcastle, maine. Eight years of research, new documents and interviews with family members were among the many sources downey drew on for her new and. See all books authored by kirstin downey, including the woman behind the new deal. The life of frances perkins, fdrs secretary of labor. The woman behind the new deal the life of frances perkins, fdrs secretary of labor and his moral conscience frances perkins is no longer a household name, yet she was one of the most influential women of the twentieth century. The life of frances perkins fdrs secretary of labor. Frances perkins, the woman behind the new deal kirstin downeys biography of fdrs labor secretary frances perkins paints an inspiring and substantive portrait of the woman.
Book description frances perkins is no longer a household name, yet she was one of the most influential women of the twentieth century. The life and legacy of frances perkins social security. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Frances perkins, the woman behind the new deal, is subject.
The life of frances perkins, fdrs secretary of labor and his moral conscience, and isabella. The woman behind the new deal is kirstin downeys new biography of frances perkins, fdrs hardcharging secretary of labor and the first female cabinet member. Frances perkins is no longer a household name, yet. Aug 30, 2017 perkins biographer kirsten downey notes in her book, the woman behind the new deal, that associate supreme court justice louis brandeis gave perkins guidance on social security. The woman behind the new deal book the seattle public. The new deal was a big deal for america and, as kirstin downey shows in this illuminating and sparkling book, frances perkins, my predecessor as labor secretary, was the moving force behind much of it. The life of frances perkins, fdrs secretary of labor and his moral conscience by kirstin downey at. The woman behind the new deal summary supersummary.
The woman behind the new deal book king county library. Would you listen to the woman behind the new deal again. Women have come a long way over those 44 years in politics and in life in general. Mar 03, 2009 kirstin downeys lively, substantive anddare i sayinspiring new biography of perkins. Government official for new york state and the federal government, including industrial commissioner of the state of new york from 19291932, perkins was named secretary of labor by. Maureen corrigan, npr fresh air one of franklin delano roosevelts closest friends and the first female secretary of labor, perkins capitalized on the presidents political. Why were so many men of her era and later generations, even new deal scholars, willing or eager to dismiss her importance. Frances perkins, fdrs secretary of labor and the first woman to serve as a cabinet secretary, was the principal architect of the new deal, credited with formulating policies to shore up the national economy following the nations most serious economic crisis and helping to create the modern middle class. Sep 26, 2009 kirstin downey talks about her book the woman behind the new deal. Book club copies can be picked up at meetings, or at the second floor reference desk at central library, when available. The woman behind the new deal npr coverage of the woman behind the new deal. But for the most part it was a great behind thescenes explanation of the politics and policies of the new deal. Her accomplishments and drive helped changed the united states for the better.