Florence Kelley

Biography

Florence Kelley was a tireless social reformer who used research and moral clarity to fight for a more just workplace. She served as chief factory inspector in Illinois and later became the first general secretary of the National Consumers League, pushing for laws that protected children and improved pay for women.

Kelley helped found the Women's Trade Union League and rallied middle-class allies to the cause of labor, publishing studies on the physical toll of industrial work and advocating for national oversight. Her courage and persistence reshaped the dialogue on child labor, sanitation, and consumer protection, leaving a legacy of stronger communities.