THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT

Nellie Fox-Edwards

December 15, 1923 – October 6, 2017

“Through their grandchildren, grandparents can understand what’s going on today and form a link with the future.”

A working woman’s hero with a life spent championing the rights of women, union workers and the mentally ill. Opened the door for women in the labor movement in 1975 when she was elected director of political education and legislation for the Oregon AFL-CIO, at the time the highest elected woman union official in the United States. A founder of the Oregon Pioneer Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW). Served as president of the Pacific Northwest Labor History Association. Lobbyist at the Oregon Legislature on behalf of mental health organizations and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). President of AARP’s Oregon branch and a member of its national governing board.

Photo. The 1970-1971 AFL-CIO Oregon Executive Board included only one female member, Nellie Fox-Edwards. Credit: OHS Research Library, MSS 2768, box 2.