Origins & Early Life

Lucy E. Parsons (c. 1851 – March 7, 1942) was an American social anarchist and later anarcho-communist, well known throughout her long life for her fiery speeches and writings. She was a founding member of the Industrial Workers of the World.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

There are different versions of Parsons' early life: she herself said she was of mixed Mexican and Native American ancestry; historians believe she was born to an African-American slave, possibly in Virginia, then perhaps married a black freedman in Texas. She met the activist Albert Parsons in Waco, Texas, and claimed to have married him although no records have been found. They moved to Chicago together in late 1873 and her ideology was shaped by the harsh repression of workers in the Chicago railroad strike of 1877. She argued for labor organization and class struggle, writing polemical texts and speaking at events. She joined the Workingmen's Party of the United States and later the Knights of Labor, and she set up the Chicago Working Women's Union with her friend Lizzie Swank and other women.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Parsons had two children and worked in Chicago as a seamstress, later opening her own shop. After her husband was executed in 1887 following his conviction...

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• 1851 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1851
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