College Days at Smith

Against all odds, a teacher who believed in Jessie helped her gain admittance to Smith College, in New England. A world away from her father’s cattle ranch, Jessie couldn’t believe her good fortune, and threw herself into her studies. She loved the “easy” college life, the bountiful meals and most of all—no more endless housework. She soon became aware of women and children trudging past the school grounds on their way to work at the nearby stocking factory. Jessie would later help the workers at that factory when she interviewed that very company for the Minimum Wage Commission.