Sophonisba Breckinridge

Sophonisba Breckinridge

Sophonisba Preston Breckinridge (April 1 1866 – July 30 1948) was an American activist. Born in Lexington, Kentucky, she was the daughter of William Breckinridge, a member of Congress from Kentucky and a lawyer. Her grandfather was the abolitionist minister Robert Jefferson Breckinridge. Her great-grandfather was John Breckinridge.

She graduated from Wellesley College in 1888 and worked as a school teacher in Washington, DC, before studying law at her father's office. She later became the first woman to be admitted to the Kentucky bar. She was also the first woman to graduate from the law school of the University of Chicago.

"My record there was not distinguished", she wrote, "but the faculty and students were hot, and the fact that the law school, like the rest of the University...accepted men and women students on equal terms publicly" ( [http://magazine.uchicago.edu/0306/features/cause-timeline.shtml] ).

She obtained an appointment as a part-time professor in the Department of Household Administration, and in 1907 became a resident of Hull House. As a resident of Hull House until 1920, she became active in several causes, including:

*Women's suffrage
*African-American civil rights (she helped establish the NAACP)
*Labor
*Progressive Party
*Pacifism

She wrote several books on family, public welfare, and children.

The University of Chicago currently houses undergraduate students in Breckinridge House, named after Sophonisba Breckinridge, where students celebrate "Sophie Day" in the early Spring.

Publications

*"The Delinquent Child and the Home" (1912)
*"Truancy and Non-Attendance in the Chicago Schools" (1917)
*"New Homes for Old" (1921)
*"Family Welfare Work in a Metropolitan Community" (1924)
*"Public Welfare Administration" (1927)
*"Women in the Twentieth Century" (1933)
*"The Family and the State" (1934)

Organization Involvement

*National American Woman's Suffrage Association (Served as vice president)
*American Social Science Association (ASSA)
*National Conference of Social Workers (NCSW)
*American Association of Social Workers (AASW)
*Chicago School of Civics and Philanthropy (CSCP)

Death

On July 30 1948 Sophonisba Breckinridge died from a perforated ulcer and arteriosclerosis, aged 82,

External links

* [http://www.boisestate.edu/socwork/dhuff/history/extras/SB/sophonisba_preston_breckinridge.htm Essay on Sophonisba Breckinridge]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Breckinridge — may refer to:PeopleWith surname Breckinridge:Breckinridge Political Dynasty * Aida de Acosta Breckinridge, in 1903 flew Santos Dumont s Dirigible Airship * Desha Breckinridge (1867 1935), editor and publisher of the Lexington Herald. * Clifton… …   Wikipedia

  • Breckinridge House — is currently a dormitory serving the University of Chicago. One of the smaller dormitories on campus, it houses on average 90 undergraduates, though has been known in the past to serve as the residence for graduate students. A prominent feature… …   Wikipedia

  • Breckinridge family — The Breckinridge family is a family of politicians from the United States. Below is a list of members.*Alexander Breckinridge, (1670 1743), First Breckinridge in New World, emigrated to Staunton, Virginia c. 1728. Married to Jane Preston, sister… …   Wikipedia

  • Sophonisba — For the Renaissance painter Sofonisba Anguissola (ca. 1532 1625), see Sofonisba Anguissola. For the American activist Sophonisba Breckinridge (1866 1948), see Sophonisba Breckinridge. Sophonisba (also Sophonisbe, Sophoniba; in Punic, Saphanba al) …   Wikipedia

  • Breckinridge, Madeline McDowell — ▪ American social reformer née  Madeline McDowell   born May 20, 1872, Woodlake, Ky., U.S. died Nov. 25, 1920, Lexington, Ky.  American social reformer whose efforts focused on child welfare, health issues, and women s rights. Educated in… …   Universalium

  • Breckinridge, Sophonisba Preston — ▪ American social worker, educator and lawyer born April 1, 1866, Lexington, Ky., U.S. died July 30, 1948, Chicago, Ill.       American welfare worker who led the social work education movement in the United States.       Breckinridge graduated… …   Universalium

  • Mary Breckinridge — (February 17, 1881 – May 16, 1965) was an American nurse midwife and the founder of the Frontier Nursing Service. She also was known as Mary Carson Breckinridge. She started family care centers in the Appalachian mountains. She was known for… …   Wikipedia

  • Desha Breckinridge — in 1920 Desha Breckinridge (1867 – 1935) was the editor and publisher of the Lexington Herald from 1897 to 1935. In 1898 he married Madeline McDowell, who became nationally known as Madeline McDowell Breckinridge. He was a brother of Sophonisba… …   Wikipedia

  • Madeline McDowell Breckinridge — (May 20, 1872 November 25, 1920) was a leader of the women’s suffrage movement and one of Kentucky s leading Progressive reformers. She was also known as Madge Breckinridge and Mrs. Desha Breckinridge . She was born in Woodlake, Kentucky and grew …   Wikipedia

  • Robert Jefferson Breckinridge — Infobox clergy name = Robert Jefferson Breckinridge image size = caption = birth date = March 8, 1800 birth place = Cabell s Dale, Kentucky death date = death date and age|1871|12|27|1800|03|08 death place = Danville, Kentucky church =… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”