Melinda Scott

Feb 23, 2022

in 1870-1889 (Born), Community Activists, Immigrant (born outside the Continental US), Politics & Government, Suffrage

1876-1954

Melinda Scott was an English immigrant and President of a Hat Trimmers Union in Newark & worked for suffrage including being part of a delegation to President Wilson. She was also a key figure in the labor movement and later was a Newark tax commissioner, the first woman on the Newark Tax Board and the first woman to direct a mayoral campaign in Newark.

After arriving in the United States, Melinda became a hat trimmer and worked her way up to President of the Women’s United Hat Trimmers. She was an organizer and was president of the Women’s Trade Union League of New York, and later New Jersey, campaigning vigorously after the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire.

In 1917, she became an organizer in New Jersey for the women’s department of the AFL. She was sent to Europe in 1918, upon the appointment of the AFL president and approval of President Wilson, on the “Labor Mission”, which studied working conditions in England, Scotland and France. Upon returning, she was appointed the only woman member of the state advisory council to the State Industrial Commission. She also worked as a a special representative of the US Employment Service working for better conditions for women and better labor relations.

Later, she also worked as a research investigator for the minimum wage department of the NJ Dept of Labor.

Melinda worked for suffrage including being part of a delegation approaching President Wilson in 1914, when she stated, “We hear about the sacredness of the home. What sacredness is there about a home when it is turned into a factory, where we find a mother, very often with a child at her breast, running a sewing machine? Running up third-seven seams for a cent?” A 1913 article also puts her at the first meeting of the Women’s Political Union in Newark, “presiding” and she spoke at various open-air meetings in the area. Later, Scott did not support the ERA, because of concerns about working conditions for women.

Melinda was appointed tax commissioner by Mayor Murphy and served from 1938 to 1945, and served as President of the board. Her obituary said, “she is believed to be the first woman named to the tax board”. In 1941, Mayor Murphy chose her as his campaign manager, “the first woman to direct a drive for a major candidate.” In later City minutes, she is listed as a clerk to the Mayor.

Melinda was also on the Executive Committee of the Consumer’s League of New Jersey and a member of the board of directors of Union National Bank of Newark. She was honored for her work in 1938 at a testimonial dinner, and met First Lady Roosevelt in 1937, leading a dinner when Mrs. Roosevelt met workers.