Pat Eng, found of New York Asian Women’s Center, via Makers
"By the eleventh minute of the fire—the sixth minute of the nightmare on the ninth floor—only two escape routes remained, and they, too, would be gone in thirty or sixty or ninety seconds more. To survive at this point required decisiveness, a sudden burst of action, and good luck, which was a vanishing commodity."
—
Triangle: The Fire That Changed America by David Von Drehle
Today is the 102nd anniversary of the Triangle Factory fire in which 146 women died.
wnyc:
Former New York State Senator Serf Maltese talks about how grandmother and her two daughters — ages 14 and 18 — were among the 146 who died in the fast-moving blaze that engulfed the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory on March 25, 1911.
Suffrage hikers in New York on February 10, 1913.
The banner on the left side advertises a speech from Hull House founder Jane Addams. Behind the bus is the 34th Street crosstown trolley.
Portrait of Sarah Loguen Fraser, M.D. painted by Susan Keeter, 2000. On display in the Health Sciences Library of Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY.
Sarah was born to a former slave turned conductor of the Underground Railroad in 1855. Sarah decided to become a physician after seeing a young boy pinned beneath a wagon, vowing “I will never, never see a human being in need of aid again and not be able to help.” Her 1873 enrollment in medical school was celebrated by a local Syracuse newspaper which wrote “This is women’s rights in the right direction, and we cordially wish the estimable young lady every success in the pursuit of the profession of her choice.”
Sarah completed her medical school training in 1876 which made her the fourth black female physician in the US, the second in New York, and the first to graduate from a coeducational medical school. She went on to intern in pediatrics and obstetrics in Philadelphia and Boston before opening her own practice in Washington, DC. While in Washington, Sarah met pharmacist Charles Fraser. They married and moved to the Dominican Republic where Sarah became the country’s first female physician. By law, Sarah was only allowed to treat women and children in the Dominican Republic because of her gender.
Widowed in 1894, Sarah lived in Paris and Washington before returning to Syracuse where she mentored black midwives. Sarah later moved back to the DC area before passing away in 1933. After her death, flags in Santo Domingo flew at half mast in her honor for nine days. A small park in Syracuse honors the Loguen family while the Child Care Center at Upstate Medical University is named in Sarah’s honor.
More about Sarah Loguen Fraser:
Celebrating Sarah Loguen Fraser (Hobart & William Smith Colleges)
Dr. Sarah Loguen’s Dominican Republic (Upstate Medical College)
Today is the 100th anniversary of New York’s Grand Central Station. Jackie Kennedy Onassis played a significant role in preserving Grand Central and other New York City landmarks. A plaque in Grand Central commemorates Jackie’s role in preserving the station:
In an age when few people sought to preserve the architectural wonders that are a daily reminder of our rich and glorious past, a brave woman rose in protest to save this terminal from demolition. Because of her tireless and valiant efforts, it stands today as a monument to those who came before us and built the greatest city known to mankind. Preserving this great landmark is one of her many enduring legacies. The people of New York are forever grateful.
In the 1975 photo above Jackie is pictured with Ed Koch who was at the time serving in the House of Representatives. He went on to serve as Mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989. Ed passed away today at age 88.
U.S. vs. Susan B. Anthony, Indictment for Illegal Voting, 01/24/1873
The indictment charges Susan B. Anthony with “wrongfully and unlawfully” voting for a candidate for Congress from the City of Rochester, New York.
On November 18, 1872 a deputy U.S. marshal arrested Susan B. Anthony for voting in the 1872 presidential election. She was indicted two months later for voting illegally on November 5, 1872, “being then and there a person of the female sex.” She was convicted in June and sentenced to pay a $100 fine and court costs.
via DocsTeach
nypl:
NYPL’s Hunts Point Library received a surprise visit today from Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor! Justice Sotomayor was visiting her hometown and decided to pay a visit to her old library stomping grounds in the Bronx. The staff from the Library, along with one of our patrons, were pleased to welcome her back to the branch!
On December 7, 1993 a lone gunman opened fire on a Long Island Railroad train. In three minutes, he killed six people and injured 19. The shooting rampage ended when the gunman paused to reload and was tacked by three passengers: Micheal O’Connor, Kevin Blum, and Mark McEntee. The gunman is currently serving a sentence of 315 years to life, making his earliest possible parole date 2309.
Nurse Carolyn McCarthy lost her husband Dennis during the Long Island Railroad Massacre. Her son Kevin was severely injured. Propelled by this tragedy, Carolyn became an advocate for stiffer gun regulation. When her local Congressman voted in favor of repealing the assault rifle ban, she switched her party affiliation and ran against him. Since 1996, Carolyn has represented New York’s 4th District in the US House of Representatives as a Democrat.
Martin Van Buren was born on December 5, 1782 (Happy Birthday Marty!). The eight President of the United States, he was the first president born a US citizen. Martin was born in a Dutch speaking area of New York State and he is the only US President to speak English as his second language. The National Park Service maintains Martin’s Kinderhook, NY home. You can tour the site virtually or visit in person from May to October.
“Hon A B Lincoln…
Dear Sir
My father has just home from the fair and brought home your picture and Mr. Hamlin’s. I am a little girl only 11 years old, but want you should be President of the United States very much so I hope you wont think me very bold to write to such a great man as you are. Have you any little girls about as large as I am if so give them my love and tell her to write to me if you cannot answer this letter. I have got 4 brothers and part of them will vote for you any way and if you let your whiskers grow I will try and get the rest of them to vote for you you would look a great deal better for your face is so thin. All the ladies like whiskers and they would tease their husbands to vote for you and then you would be President. My father is going to vote for you and if I was a man I would vote for you to but I will try to get every one to vote for you that I can I think that rail fence around your picture makes it look very pretty I have got a little baby sister she is nine weeks old and is just as cunning as can be. When you direct your letter direct to Grace Bedell Westfield Chautauqua County New York.
I must not write any more answer this letter right off Good bye
Grace Bedell”
Lincoln responded a few days later:
“Miss Grace Bedell
My dear little Miss
Your very agreeable letter of the 15th is received — I regret the necessity of saying I have no daughters — I have three sons — one seventeen, one nine, and one seven years of age — They, with their mother, constitute my whole family — As to the whiskers, having never worn any, do you not think people would call it a piece of silly affectation if I were to begin it now?
Your very sincere well wisher,
A. Lincoln”
While he made no promises about the beard to Bedell, he stopped shaving and allowed the beard to grow not long after their exchange and was elected as the 16th president of the United States a few weeks later. On his inaugural train ride from Illinois to Washington, D.C., the president-elect stopped in Bedell’s hometown of Westfield, N.Y., and asked to meet her.
(Source: theweek.com)
After prohibiting them for 116 years, McSorley’s Old Ale House was ordered by Mayor John Lindsay to open its doors to women in 1970. The article from that August describes the first co-ed bar brawl in McSorley’s history, when Lucy Komisar, a vice-president of the National Organization for Women and pictured at right, was heckled and antagonized by patrons. Photo: Barton Silverman/The New York Times
You can still visit McSorley’s today and even visit the ladies room which was installed in 1986.
