bessie margolin was born in 1909 brooklyn new york onte the first american born child russian jewish immigrant, and from there to escape new york's crowded conditions, bessie margolinn simile made its way to memphis, and about a year after giving birth to a third child, bessie margolin mother died leaving bessie margolin's father alone to care for the three young children. it attracted the attention of the rabbi who petitioned the jewish orphans home in new orleans to accept the children as so-called look half wardens t and so in 1913, the orphanage admitted bessie margolin at age four, and her siblings a home as it was known, so prominently on st. charles avenue near the stately mansion it new orleans most prosperous citizens and in the home, bessie margolin grew up with more than 150 other orphans from throughout the deep ussouth edis trustees were not content to provide them with assistance and instead the home groomed bessie margolin in all american girl shared under the local jewish community and reflected the values and culture of her prosperous benefactors in addition it to ref

about a year after giving birth to 1/3 child bessie margolin's mother died leaving bessie margolin's father alone to care for his 3 young children. they attracted the attention of a rabbi who petitioned the jewish orphans home in new orleans to accept the children so in 1913 the orphanage admitted bessie margolin at age 4 and her siblings. the home as it was known sat prominently st. charles avenue near the stately mansions of new orleans prosperous citizens. in the home, bessie margolin grew up with 150 other orphans at half orphans from the deep south. the trustees were not content to provide mere subsistence. instead the home groomed bessie as an all-american girl, reflected the values and culture of her prosperous benefactors. addition to reform jewish education the home provided bessie margolin with a robust secular education at the isidore newman school where the cutting-edge curriculum emphasized home economics and woodworking as well as rigorous academics. the home built its unique school to educate but was open regardless of religion to other children, only white children, w

through college, law school, and into my legal career, i got to know bessie margolin. she was the first female lawyer i ever met, and we were connected by common childhood experiences. bessie and i were both wards of the same southern jewish children's welfare agency which educated both of us at newman school a half century apart. bessie margolin personified excellence in the law and in public service at a time when women attorneys were discouraged -- discouraged if not outright prevented from pour -- pursuing opportunities available to men. while protecting the rights of millions of american workers, she also advanced the careers of countless warriors and other employees many of whom sought out her prestigious and yes demanding [inaudible]. i will share her journey from the social justice to a powerful advocate. she was born in 1909 in brooklyn new york, first american born child of russian jewish immigrants. from there to escape new york's tough and crowded conditions, bessie's family made its way to memphis. about a year after giving birth to a third child, bessie's

through college, law school, and into my legal career, i got to know bessie margolin. she was the first female lawyer i ever met, and we were connected by common childhood experiences. bessie and i were both wards of the same southern jewish children's welfare agency which educated both of us at newman school a half century apart. bessie margolin personified excellence in the law and in public service at a time when women attorneys were discouraged -- discouraged if not outright prevented from pour -- pursuing opportunities available to men. while protecting the rights of millions of american workers, she also advanced the careers of countless warriors and other employees many of whom sought out her prestigious and yes demanding [inaudible]. i will share her journey from the social justice to a powerful advocate. she was born in 1909 in brooklyn new york, first american born child of russian jewish immigrants. from there to escape new york's tough and crowded conditions, bessie's family made its way to memphis. about a year after giving birth to a third child, bessie's

questions, because frances perkins understood that demonstrated the court's unusual interest and bessie margolin's intelligent presentation, thank you. >> you are watching american history tv, explore our nation's past, every saturday on frank micciche. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> more than 300 years ago, the first pioneers crossed the oceans to a new world, a promise of a land where man could build his own house, farm his own acres, raise his children in freedom. they called from the wilderness and empire of agriculture and industry. they set for themselves new and higher standards of living. and yet in one of the great river valleys of america, something went wrong. in the tennessee valley, three centuries later the descendents of the pioneers were a neglected people living in a ruined land. for these children, the hope and promise were dead. the only future was drudgery, the struggle to scratch a bear living from the reluctant soil. even the older men have forgotten the valley was once bright with promise and hope. horace higgins was one of the many who had given up the fight. what is the use, he said. we fill up