THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT

Margaret R. Blackshere

November 24, 1940-July 6, 2019

Served as first woman elected president of the million-member labor organization, Illinois AFL-CIO, from 2000 to 2007 after winning its first ever contested election for president.

Educator. Trustee of Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville. Served at all Levels of the Illinois Labor Movement. Lobbyist. Illinois Federation of Teachers. AFL-CIO. Organizer. Delegate to the Democratic National Convention. 

Margaret Blackshere