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Florence Kelley is a crucial figure in American social and labor history, best known for her efforts to improve social conditions affecting children and laborers at the turn of the twentieth century. Overcoming both gender barriers and political strife within the Socialist Party, Kelley emerged as an important advocate for the laboring classes. Her activism led to the initiation of later reform efforts, including the push for the eight-hour workday.
Kelley was born on 12 September 1859 in Philadelphia into a family whose reform efforts influenced her activism as an adult. Her father, William Kelley, was interested in workers' rights and opposed to slavery, positions that were later reflected in his daughter's career. Her aunt, Sarah Pugh, was one of only seven women to attend the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention in London. As a member of the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society, Pugh often held her meetings at the Kelley home. Since this society was the first in the nation to include both black and white women, Kelley learned about the importance of equality from an early age.
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