Teaching the New Deal at ILR
Frances Perkins was invited to Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) in 1955 after receiving an invitation from ILR professor Maurice Neufeld. She lectured on labor union history, social security, and collective bargaining to large crowds of enthusiastic faculty and students. In 1957, she was formally invited to be a visiting lecture to co-teach ILR 650 on the New Deal Legacy with ILR Professor Alice Cook. She eventually moved into a residence at the all-male Telluride Association, acting as a mentor to the Cornell students.
ILR professor Neufeld wrote that “She moved throughout the University with presence, courtesy, attention, warmth, and kindness. Under the most trying circumstances, she remained in full mastery of clear thought, precise diction, elegant wit, less-than-innocent irony, good cheer, considered action, and especially, herself.”
Frances Perkins passed away May 14, 1965 at the age of eighty-five. She was buried next to her husband and near her parents and grandmother.
3012 Alice Cook Papers, 1956-1998
Box 12, Folder 37 relates to the class ILR 650: Labor and Government taught from 1956-1961 by Alice Cook. The class was taught with Frances Perkins in 1957.
3047AV Frances Perkins Lectures AV
This collection consists of lectures given by Miss Perkins at Cornell University in the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Subject areas covered are generally labor related with emphasis on the history of the labor movement during her appointment as Secretary of Labor. Discussed are the effect of the Roosevelt administration on labor; New York State labor; labor legislation; poverty; various labor leaders and labor organizations as well as significant labor incidents.
4297 ILR School Biography Files, 1948-2011
Biographical files on select ILR School faculty.
Box 2, Folder 34 Frances Perkins, 1957-1994.
4117P ILR School Photographs, 1945-1996
Images include alumni, visitors, departments, awards, events, and faculty members.
6038P Photographs Archival Collection
This is a varied collection of photographs from many events and celebrations for the ILR School. Included are photographs from the Library, Student activities, Award dinners, Conferences, Faculty meetings, as well as photographs of each Dean of the school.
Box 1, Folder 8 25/3/A Faculty (Group Photographs - 1960s. Photograph of Perkins with other faculty members.
Box 9, Folder 7 IBEW Conf (Frances Perkins) Summer 1960. Photograph of Perkins teaching.
Box 9, Folder 25 Conferences - Gen. 25/6-d Frances Perkins - I.B.E.W. Conferences - 1960. Photograph of Perkins teaching.