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Virginia Women in History - Richmond City
Item 7 of 24
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Throughout her career as a labor organizer, which began with her work at the Richmond YWCA, Lucy Randolph Mason championed social reforms and legislation to help Southern workers.

Photograph of Lucy Randolph Mason courtesy Virginia Museum of History and Culture.

Photograph of Lucy Randolph Mason courtesy Virginia Museum of History and Culture.

The Library of Virginia honored Lucy Randolph Mason as one of its Virginia Women in History in 2019.

The Library of Virginia honored Lucy Randolph Mason as one of its Virginia Women in History in 2019.

The Virginia Women in History Digital Trail is made possible by the Library of Virginia and American Evolution: Virginia to America, 1619–2019.

The Virginia Women in History Digital Trail is made possible by the Library of Virginia and American Evolution: Virginia to America, 1619–2019.

The descendent of prominent Virginia families, Lucy Randolph Mason (July 26, 1882–May 6, 1959) used her social status to advocate for the rights of working people. She considered becoming a missionary as a teenager, but decided to serve her own community. Believing that women were vital to social reform efforts, she joined the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia to advocate voting rights for women. She served as president of the Richmond ESL chapter and later of the Richmond League of Women Voters. Through her work for the Richmond YWCA, Mason developed programs to aid white and African American women and became involved in labor issues, advocating legislation to improve working conditions for women and children. As general secretary of the National Consumers' League during the Great Depression, she also fought for a minimum wage and maximum working hours.

In 1937 Mason joined the Congress of Industrial Organizations as a public relations representative. She traveled across the South, meeting with often-hostile community leaders, clergy, journalists, politicians, and others to promote organized labor and the role unions could play in improving the region's economy. She helped organize textile workers and miners, and during strikes negotiated on behalf of workers and brought national attention to civil rights violations. Mason fought racial discrimination throughout her career and believed that unions were the best way to promote interracial cooperation. She also campaigned against the poll tax and organized voter registration drives. In 1952 the National Religion and Labor Foundation honored Mason with its Social Justice Award.

Reprinted with permission of the Library of Virginia.

Jennifer Ritterhouse, "Lucy Randolph Mason 1882-1959," Dictionary of Virginia Biography, Library of Virginia (1998– ), published 2016.

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Image courtesy Virginia Museum of History and Culture.