1926 – 2024

Rose Meyer was an active member of Working Women’s History Project for many years. Rose’s best friend was Bobby Hall, the founder of WWHP, so it made sense for Rose to follow Bobby into the new venture. WWHP was also a natural home to Rose, who spent her life working for labor rights, women’s rights, and community rights. When Bobby felt that WWHP needed an all-day, in-person meeting to discuss future strategic plans, Rose encouraged that plan and ultimately chaired the meeting at her place of residence.

Rose quit Marshall High School at age 15 to join the war effort. She lasted in the job for about a year until the bosses were able to confirm her age—too young to be working. But the union said she could stay and work on the union newsletter. She learned from her fellow workers and began helping the unions in every way she could.

Rose credited Bobby for pushing her to return to school. Family and friends also encouraged further education. Rose went back to high school, then to college and finally got her master’s degree in teaching K–8 and a degree in Special Education. Rose taught Special Education at Marshall High School. At Curie High School, Rose was the guidance counselor for special programs in the arts.

She worked as a union delegate of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and became Functional Vice President of the high school when Jackie Vaughn was President of the CTU. She became the first teacher’s representative at the Local School Council of Curie. As a CTU delegate of Curie, she supported the Women’s Rights Committee, worked to get an afterschool program, and worked in favor of Title IX. Rose retired when her husband and her mother required more care. Until her death at 98, Rose kept up with Working Women’s History Project news through the minutes of our Board meetings.