Margaret
Dreier was
born in Brooklyn in 1868. Her father, Theodor Dreier, had arrived
in the United States from Bremen, Germany, in
1849. He settled in New York and eventually became a partner in an
important iron company. He married his cousin, Dorothea Dreier, in
1864, and the couple had four daughters. As well as Margaret there
was Dorothea Dreier (1870-1923), Mary Dreier (1875-1963) and Katherine
Dreier (1877-1952).
Margaret attended George Brackett's School in Brooklyn Heights but
none of the children were allowed to go to college. As a young woman
she suffered from severe migraines and in 1894 was diagnosed as suffering
from a "strained heart", a malady that brought with it fatigue,
anxiety and depression. Unable to leave the home, she spent much of
her time reading and was greatly influenced by the work of Ralph
Waldo Emerson.
In 1902 Margaret met the social reformer Josephine Lowell, who was
the leader of the Woman's Municipal League (WML). Lowell told Margaret
that: "The interests of the working people are of paramount importance,
simply because they are the majority of the whole people, and the
indifference and ignorance and harshness felt and expressed against
them by so many good people is simply awful to me and I must try and
help them, if I can." Margaret was convinced by Lowell's arguments
and became a member of the WML.
Margaret was introduced to members of other reform groups and in December,
1904, joined the Women's Trade Union League
(WTUL). Other members included Mary Kenney
O'Sullivan, Jane Addams, Mary
McDowell, Margaret Haley, Helen
Marot, Agnes Nestor, Florence
Kelley and Sophonisba Breckinridge.
In 1905 Margaret heard Raymond Robins deliver a lecture on the social
gospel in a Brooklyn church. Robins was the brother of Elizabeth
Robins, the famous actress, playwright and campaigner for women's
rights in Britain. Margaret married Robins and for a while lived
at the Hull House settlement in Chicago
Margaret became a leading figure in the Women's
Trade Union League and served as its president between 1907 and
1922. Robins moved to Florida in 1925 and remained active in progressive
politics until her death in 1945.
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