Mary Kenny O'Sullivan - Early Life

Early Life

Mary Kenny was born in Hannibal, Missouri to Irish immigrants. She achieved only a fourth grade education but went on to apprentice as a dressmaker. She spent a two-year period dressmaking with no pay. Post-dressmaking O'Sullivan learned the bindery trade and became an accomplished book binder. It is this experience, and her early work in bookbinding that lead her to understand the need for unionization. Working to support her mother, O'Sullivan moved to Chicago in 1888. There she continued her bindery career, but to garner support for herself and other women like her she joined Ladies Federal Local Union Number 2703 and started her union organization, Woman’s Bookbinding Union Number 1.

While organizing women’s labor she lived in Hull House. Upon meeting and getting to know Jane Addams she gained permission to hold union meetings at the house. Eventually she would establish her own co-op within the house specifically for women making low-wages. Her union organization became a part of the AFL and as a result she was elected to delegate to the Chicago Trades and Labor Assembly. Further along in 1892 she was made the first full salaried organizer for the AFL, where she was given the opportunity to travel extensively on the east coast, organizing a multitude of workers.

In the year after she was terminated Kenny would continue to work in labor organization, particularly with Florence Kelley. She also worked on women's suffrage while in Chicago, a bill which unfortunately did not pass.