Alice Lakey

Alice Lakey (October 14, 1857 – June 18, 1935) was an activist in the pure food movement.^[1] She first became interested in this work in 1896 when her mother Emily died, and she took over the household duties; her father was picky about food.^[1] She joined the Cranford Village Improvement Association's Domestic Science Unit and soon became president of the whole association.^[1][2] In this capacity she invited Harvey Wiley to speak to the association about tainted food.^[1] She then convinced the association and the New Jersey Federation of Women's Clubs to petition Congress to enact the Pure Food and Drug Act.^[2] She also asked the National Consumers League to support the cause, and they created an investigation committee to find out about the food and the conditions of the workers producing it, which was eventually known as the Pure Food Committee, and which Lakey was appointed the head of in 1905.^[2] She and others including Harvey Wiley met with President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905, and he asked them to present signed letters in support of the act to Congress, saying he would then help them to pass the bill.^[3] Due to the efforts of Lakey and others, over one million women wrote letters supporting the act.^[2] In 1906, the Pure Food and Drug Act was enacted. Alice Lakey's name was inscribed in the National Archives, and she was the first woman to be listed in Who's Who.^[2][3] She was also elected to the National Academy of Social Sciences.^[2][3]

References