Theresa Wolfson was an American labor economist and educator. Wolfson is best remembered as the education director of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union during the second half of the 1920s and as a leader of the workers education movement during the 1930s.
In 1918 Wolfson became a field investigator for the National Child Labor Committee, remaining at that job until 1920. In this capacity Wolfson was the author of several reports on child labor in the textile industry of North Carolina. From 1920 to 1922, Wolfson served as Executive Director of the New York Consumers' League, heading its political efforts on behalf of the 8-hour day and minimum wage legislation. During this time Wolfson also attended graduate courses, receiving a Master's degree in economics in 1922 from Columbia University and completing her PhD in 1924. She also taught briefly as an instructor at Barnard College in this interval. Following completion of her academic work, Wolfson went to work for the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union as the education director of its Union Health Center. She also became involved in the workers' education movement by teaching at the Bryn Mawr Summer School for Women Workers in Industry and by lecturing at Brookwood Labor College, headed by A.J. Muste. She published her dissertation "The Woman Worker and the Trade Unions" in 1926. In 1928 Wolfson accepted a post at Brooklyn College, where she remained as a professor of economics and labor relations until her retirement in 1967. Wolfson also remained active in workers' education as a teacher during summer schools conducted by the American Labor Education Service. For this activity Wolfson was recognized in 1957 with the John Dewey Award of the League for Industrial Democracy. Wolfson's work in the field of labor relations focused on the education and advancement of women in the workplace, and the unequal treatment of women within trade unions.
Personal life
Wolfson married Dr. Iago Galdston, a psychiatrist, in 1920. The couple had two children before divorcing in 1935. In 1938 Wolfson married Austin Bigelow Wood, a psychology instructor on the staff with her at Brooklyn College. Her brother Victor Wolfson was a notable playwright and novelist.
Death and legacy
Theresa Wolfson died on May 14, 1972 at the age of 74. A scholarship in her name allows a Brooklyn College student to pursue graduate studies in labor economics each year. Wolfson's papers are held at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York at the school's Catherwood Library.
Works
People Who Go to Beets. New York City : National Child Labor Committee, 1920.
