Biographies

Louisa May Alcott (1832-88) Although author Louisa May Alcott (1832-88) is best known for her book, Little Women, describing her family life in Concord, Massachusetts, she had several homes in Boston where she was better able to earn money to support her family. When her writing began to sell, … [Read more...] about Louisa May Alcott

As the first woman supervisor of the Boston Public Schools, Lucretia Crocker (1829-86) pioneered the discovery method of teaching mathematics and the natural sciences during her decade-long tenure, which began with her appointment in 1876. Earlier, in 1873, she was among the first women elected to … [Read more...] about Lucretia Crocker

As the founder and editor of the Woman’s Journal, the newspaper of the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA), which Lucy Stone co-founded, she located the Journal offices in the shadow of the Massachusetts State House where she and her colleagues would have ready access to legislators. Lucy … [Read more...] about Lucy Stone

Mary Antin (1881-1949) Mary Antin articulated in her writing and speeches the experience of being an immigrant. Her book, The Promised Land, is still read today as an expression of the quintessential 19th century Eastern European immigrant experience with universal appeal to all … [Read more...] about Mary Antin

Melnea A. Cass (1896-1978) Melnea Cass Boulevard in Lower Roxbury is named for one of Boston’s most beloved and effective advocates for African Americans in Boston. She was relentless in her pursuit of educational and economic opportunities and racial justice for her community. Known as the “First … [Read more...] about Melnea A. Cass

Pauline Agassiz Shaw (1841-1917) In 1881, when Pauline Agassiz Shaw (1841-1917) founded the North Bennet Street School to train primarily European Jewish and Italian immigrants in skilled trades, Boston’s North End was home to thousands of recent immigrants who crowded into the neighborhood’s … [Read more...] about Pauline Agassiz Shaw