News Releases

USM Celebrates First Woman Cabinet Member, New Deal Economics, and Local Activists

March 9, 2006

Federal and state leaders and a Washington Post reporter will join USM’s Women’s Studies Program in celebrating Women’s History Month at USM’s “Commemorating Frances Perkins” conference on Friday, March 17, and Saturday, March 18. The conference marks the 40th anniversary of the Perkins’s death.  Appointed secretary of labor by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Perkins was the first woman to hold a cabinet position, and was a leader in the creation of New Deal social and economic policies.  The conference explores these policies, and Perkins’ legacy in Maine and the nation.

The conference is cosponsored by Southern Maine Community College (SMCC), and is part of a unique learning opportunity designed by USM Women’s Studies Director Susan Feiner and SMCC English Professor Molly R. Chancey. At USM and SMCC, the conference, which is open to the public ($30 registration for both days), is an integral part of several undergraduate courses.

Highlights of the conference include:

• Maine Department of Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman will speak about “Legacies of the New Deal in Maine,” Washington Post Staff Writer Kirsten Downey will speak of her biography of Frances Perkins, and Annie Valliere will sing labor songs at Friday’s opening session, 9-10:15 a.m., Seventh Floor, Glickman Family Library, Portland.

• Susan Ware, author of “Modern American Women: A Documentary History” and “Still Missing: Amelia Earhart and the Search for Modern Feminism,” will give the Friday luncheon keynote address at 12:15-1:45 p.m., Seventh Floor, Glickman Family Library, Portland. 

• Economist and policy analyst James Galbraith, LBJ School of Government, University of Texas, will give the Saturday luncheon keynote address at 12-1:30 p.m., Seventh Floor, Glickman Family Library, Portland.

• Congressman Tom Allen, Congressman Michael Michaud, Representative Glenn Cummings, and Executive Director of the Maine Women’s Lobby Sarah Standiford will be moderated by USM President Richard L. Pattenaude during a Saturday afternoon discussion, “Legacy of the New Deal in Maine Today,” at 2:15-3:45 p.m., Fourth Floor, Glickman Family Library, Portland.

USM also is hosting the annual Women’s History Month Dinner on Friday, March 17. The evening begins with a free reception from 5-6 p.m. in USM’s Woodbury Campus Center, Portland, followed by the dinner (tickets $15 public/$9 students) at 6 p.m.  At the dinner, USM students will perform “Power: A Living Newspaper” (Federal Theatre Project, 1937), and a DVD about Francis Perkins will be shown.

Also during dinner, the annual Women’s Studies Program awards will be presented. The Outstanding Graduate Award will go to Cara Bilodeau, 2002 alumna, who is currently a community organizer for the Maine Women’s Policy Center and has been on the staff of Planned Parenthood and the Maine Civil Liberties Union.

The Friend of Women’s Studies Award will be presented to Maine Won’t Discriminate in recognition of the organization’s leadership in winning civil rights protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Mainers.

A special award will be awarded posthumously to Meg Perry, the local activist who died earlier this winter in New Orleans while doing Katrina relief work. The Program will make a donation to the Meg Perry Fund.

Tickets for the dinner may be purchased by calling 780-4289.

For more information about the conference or the dinner, please contact Judie O’Malley, USM Office of Public Affairs, at 780-4200.

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