kids encyclopedia robot

Sophonisba Breckinridge facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Sophonisba Preston Breckinridge
Sophonisba P. Breckenridge.jpg
Lawyer, educator, social scientist, civil rights activist
Born April 1, 1866
Lexington, Kentucky
Died July 30, 1948(1948-07-30) (aged 82)
Chicago, Illinois
Occupation economist, social work researcher, political scientist, lawyer, suffragist, mathematics teacher, diplomat
Parent(s) Issa Desha Breckinridge (1843–1892) and William Campbell Preston Breckinridge (1837–1904)

Sophonisba Preston Breckinridge (born April 1, 1866 – died July 30, 1948) was an important American activist. She was a social reformer and a leader in higher education during the Progressive Era. She was the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in political science and economics. She also earned a J.D. from the University of Chicago. Sophonisba was also the first woman to pass the bar exam in Kentucky, becoming a lawyer.

In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt chose her to represent the U.S. government at an international meeting. This was the 7th Pan-American Conference in Uruguay. This made her the first woman to represent the U.S. at such a conference. She also helped create the professional field and degree for social work.

Early Life and Family History

Sophonisba "Nisba" Preston Breckinridge was born in Lexington, Kentucky. She came from two well-known families, the Desha family and the Breckinridge family. Her father, William C.P. Breckinridge, was a member of Congress, a lawyer, and an editor. Her grandfather, Robert Jefferson Breckinridge, was a minister who worked to end slavery. Her other grandfather, Joseph Desha, was a U.S. Representative and the ninth governor of Kentucky.

Her great-grandfather, John Breckinridge, was the United States Attorney General. Her cousin, John C. Breckinridge, was the Vice President of the United States. When she was 14, Sophonisba attended the Kentucky Agricultural & Mechanical College (now the University of Kentucky). Women were allowed to study there starting in 1880, but they could not earn a degree yet. She studied there for four years.

Education and Legal Career

Breckinridge graduated from Wellesley College in 1888. After college, she taught mathematics at a high school in Washington, D.C. for two years. She then traveled in Europe. In 1892, she returned to Lexington when her mother passed away. She studied law in her father's office. In 1895, she became the first woman to be allowed to practice law in Kentucky.

However, it was hard for a woman lawyer to find clients. So, Breckinridge moved to Chicago. She became a secretary for Marion Talbot, who was the Dean of Women at the University of Chicago. Sophonisba also became a student there. She earned a Ph.M. degree in 1897 and a Ph.D. in political science and economics in 1901.

In 1902, she became an assistant dean of women at the university. The next year, she was hired as an instructor. In 1904, she made history again. She became the first woman to graduate from the University of Chicago Law School. She also became the first woman to join the Order of the Coif, which is an honorary legal society.

A Leader in Social Science

At the University of Chicago, Sophonisba Breckinridge taught and researched as a social scientist. She focused on important social issues. These included the challenges faced by immigrants, African Americans, child laborers, and working women in cities. She was very active in her work. She joined the Women's Trade Union League (WTUL) and worked as a factory inspector.

In 1907, she started working with the Hull House project. This was a famous settlement house in Chicago. She worked with leaders like Jane Addams and Mary McDowell. They focused on things like job training, housing, and helping young people.

Breckinridge also helped create the Chicago School of Civics and Philanthropy. She became its first dean. By 1920, she helped merge this school with the University of Chicago. This created the Graduate School of Social Service Administration. This school became very important for social work education. In 1927, Breckinridge and Edith Abbott started a scholarly journal called Social Service Review. It is still a leading journal in social work today.

Breckinridge became an assistant professor in 1909. In 1920, she became an associate professor at the University of Chicago. She became a full professor in 1925. She retired from teaching in 1933.

Helping During the Great Depression

Breckinridge and Edith Abbott were very important in creating new programs during the Great Depression. These programs were part of the New Deal. They helped design and promote laws like the Social Security Act of 1935. This law created the basis for many of the social support programs we have today. She also helped promote the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. This law set rules for maximum work hours and minimum wages.

Important Books by Sophonisba Breckinridge

Sophonisba Breckinridge wrote many books about social issues.

The Delinquent Child and the Home (1912)

This book looked at the behavior of children in Chicago. It explored how their home life and surroundings affected them. Breckinridge discussed how courts needed to better understand young people. She also wrote about how growing up in certain neighborhoods or in poverty could lead to children making poor choices. She explained that children from different backgrounds were treated differently.

The Modern Household (1912)

In this book, Breckinridge and Marion Talbot wrote about the roles of women in homes and society. They discussed how women who worked outside the home often had to do double the work. This was because they still had to manage the household. The book also looked at how technology was changing home life.

New Homes for Old (1921)

This book explored the experiences of immigrants moving to the United States. Breckinridge wrote about how immigrants adjusted to a new country. She discussed family life, work, and financial challenges. She also highlighted how organizations helped immigrants.

Marriage and the Civic Rights of Women (1931)

This book studied the effects of the Cable Acts on women who moved to the U.S. from other countries. It focused on how these laws affected their citizenship. Breckinridge looked at legal issues and shared stories of women in Chicago. These women were trying to become U.S. citizens.

Women in the Twentieth Century (1933)

This book documented how women's roles changed in the early 1900s. Breckinridge showed how women started joining clubs and groups. These groups focused on social, political, and economic issues. She wrote about groups like the General Federation of Women's Clubs and the National American Woman Suffrage Association. She also discussed how changes in the workplace led to new labor laws. These laws helped protect women and children workers.

Activism and Community Work

Breckinridge was involved in many important social and political causes.

  • Women's suffrage: She worked for women's right to vote.
  • African-American civil rights: She helped create the NAACP. She also led a group focused on African-American children's welfare.
  • Labor conditions: She was a founding member of the Chicago branch of the Women's Trade Union League.
  • Immigration: She worked to help immigrants adjust to life in the U.S.
  • Children's protection: She fought for laws to protect children and improve child labor laws.
  • Pacifism: She believed in peaceful solutions to conflicts.

In 1907, Breckinridge became a resident of Hull House. She lived there during her vacations and while teaching at the University of Chicago. She also helped establish the Wendell Phillips Settlement House. This house trained African-American social workers and provided community services.

She was the vice president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association in 1911. In 1913, when women in Chicago gained some voting rights, Breckinridge ran for alderman. She did not win, but she showed her commitment to public service.

In 1915, she was part of the American group that attended the Women's Peace Congress at The Hague. She worked closely with Jane Addams there. Breckinridge spoke to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in 1916. She asked them to create a "commission for enduring peace."

Organizations She Was Part Of

Sophonisba Breckinridge was a member of many important organizations:

Later Life and Legacy

After retiring from the University of Chicago faculty in 1933, Breckinridge continued to teach until 1942. She passed away in Chicago on July 30, 1948, at the age of 82. She is buried in the Breckinridge family plot in Lexington, Kentucky.

Sophonisba Breckinridge received many honors. She was the first woman to represent the U.S. at a high-level international conference in 1933. In 1934, she was elected president of the American Association of Schools of Social Work. This organization later became the Council on Social Work Education.

She also received honorary degrees from several universities:

The University of Chicago named a student residence hall, Breckinridge Hall, after her. Students there celebrate Sophie Day each spring.

Images for kids

  • Sophonisba P. Breckenridge

    Sophonisba Preston Breckinridge

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Sophonisba Breckinridge Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.