As the architect of Social Security and unemployment insurance, Frances Perkins has been called the most important progressive in history. She was the first woman to serve in a cabinet level post, serving as Secretary of Labor for all 12 years of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s presidency, and was also instrumental in creating a host of other worker protections, many eventually adopted across the globe.

However, despite her accomplishments, Perkins was for many decades virtually written out of the history books, her legacy little known even in Maine, where her family roots go deep. Perkins returned to her family’s farm in Newcastle for sanctuary throughout her life. She is buried in Newcastle’s Glidden Street Cemetery.

Following a biography: “The Woman Behind the New Deal,” by Kristin Downey, the pivotal role Perkins played in helping to create programs that millions of Americans now depend on is becoming better known.

Jerry Wiles will give a talk on Perkins at St. Andrews Village on Sunday, March 24 at 2 p.m.  

Before the talk, everyone is invited to attend a Cottage Open House from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at 75 Emery Lane. This cottage is currently available for purchase. Refreshments will be served by the fire in the cottage’s inviting living room and a raffle will be held for a gift certificate for the Boothbay Region Greenhouses.

Following the open house, please join us for coffee at the St. Andrews Village Inn before the talk.

Staff will be on hand to provide tours of this lovely cottage and other available cottage homes. This is the first in a series of monthly cottage open houses.

Wiles taught American and Maine history for 33 years at Greely Middle School in Cumberland. Retired in 2001, he continues to offer his popular history lectures from his home on Chebeague Island. The subjects of many of his lectures have strong Maine connections. In Perkins’ case, the connection is only about 10 miles away from St. Andrews Village.