Timeline — Historical Context in Florence Kelley in Chicago 1891-1899. Primary sources on Chicago labor reform from Northwestern University Libraries.
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 1859 | Born to William Darrah Kelley and Caroline Bartram (Bonsall) Kelley in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 1882 | Graduates from Cornell University |
| 1883 | Leaves for a tour of Europe in 1883 and enrolls in the University of Zurich |
| 1883 | Begins her study of law and government at the University of Zurich |
| 1884 | Marries medical student Lazare Wischnewetzky |
| 1885 | Son Nicholas is born |
| 1886 | Concludes her study of law and government at the University of Zurich |
| 1886 | Daughter Margaret is born |
| 1886 | She, Lazare and Nicolas Wischnewetzky move to New York City |
| 1888 | Son John Bartram is born |
| 1891 | Leaves New York and husband Lazare Wischnewetzky, coming to Chicago with her three children |
| 1891 | Begins her work at Hull House |
| 1891 | Boards her children with Henry Demarest Lloyd in Winnetka while she is working |
| 1892 | Is appointed as a Special Agent of the Illinois State Bureau of Labor Statistics to fill out schedules. She is paid by the schedule |
| 1892 | Hired by the Illinois Department of Labor |
| 1893 | The Illinois General Assembly appoints Joint Special Commissions, Senate and House, to investigate sweatshops; Florence Kelley and Mary Kenney are appointed as Investigators |
| 1893 | Is appointed factory inspector, a four year term with an annual budget of $12,000; Assistant inspector Alzina Stevens is paid $1,500 |
| 1893 | Enters the Northwestern University School of Law |
| 1894 | Receives her degree from Northwestern Law; shortly after, she passes the bar (NOTE: date of graduation is disputed) |
| 1895 | Completes her legal education at Northwestern (NOTE: date of graduation is disputed) |
| 1899 | Helps to establish the National Consumer League (NCL) |
| 1899 | Starts her terms as director of the National Consumer League. The organization's aim is to achieve a minimum wage and limit the number of hours per workday for women and children. |
| 1905 | She, Upton Sinclair and Jack London establish the Intercollegiate Socialist Society |
| 1909 | Helps to found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People |
| 1913 | Begins her term as president of the Intercollegiate Socialist Society |
| 1920 | Ends her term as president of the Intercollegiate Socialist Society |
| 1932 | Ends her term as director of the National Consumer League |
| 1932 | Dies on February 17 |
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