Crystal Eastman

Date of Birth: June 25, 1881

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: July 8, 1928

Biography

Crystal Eastman was an influential American lawyer, suffragist, feminist, socialist, and journalist. Born on June 25, 1881, in Marlborough, Massachusetts, she became a prominent figure in the early 20th century feminist and labor movements. Eastman graduated from Vassar College in 1903 and earned her law degree from New York University Law School in 1907, where she was second in her class. Her career was marked by her relentless advocacy for women’s rights, labor laws, and social justice. She was a co-founder of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and played a pivotal role in the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. Eastman also co-authored the first serious study of industrial accidents and their impact on workers, which led to the first workers’ compensation law in New York State. Eastman’s activism extended to pacifism, and she was a vocal opponent of World War I, co-founding the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. She also worked as an editor and writer, contributing to several progressive publications. Despite facing considerable opposition for her views, Eastman’s legacy endures as a testament to her commitment to equality and justice.

5 Interesting Facts about Crystal Eastman

1. Crystal Eastman was one of the co-founders of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in 1920.

2. She was instrumental in the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in the United States.

3. Eastman co-authored a pioneering study on industrial accidents, which led to the first workers’ compensation law in New York.

4. She was a vocal pacifist and co-founded the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom during World War I.

5. Crystal Eastman was also an accomplished journalist and editor, contributing to several progressive publications of her time.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Crystal Eastman

1. “Until women assume their rightful place on earth, there will never be an end to wars.”

2. “The power of the ballot we need in sheer self-defense, else what our fathers achieved by the Revolution our mothers must lose by submission.”

3. “A good deal of tyranny goes by the name of protection.”

4. “I would not have a woman go into business merely to make money. I would have her do it to stand for the right of women to engage in any form of useful work.”

5. “The only way to make sure people you agree with can speak is to support the rights of people you don’t agree with.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Crystal Eastman’s highest net worth is not well-documented, as her era’s financial records for activists and social reformers were not typically maintained or emphasized. Her contributions were more in the realm of social capital and legislative impact rather than personal wealth.

Children

Crystal Eastman had two children, Jeffrey Fuller Eastman and Annis Fuller Eastman, with her second husband, Walter Fuller. Her children continued to honor her legacy through various forms of public service and activism.