Margaret Blackshere: Difference between revisions
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Blackshere began her career as a kindergarten teacher in Madison, Illinois. There, she organized her fellow teachers, leading to the school's teachers becoming affiliated with the Illinois Federation of Teachers, part of the [[American Federation of Teachers]].<ref name=":0" /> She served as president of IFT Local 763, and later as statewide vice president of the IFT.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2019-07-15 |title=Trailblazing former Illinois AFL-CIO President Margaret Blackshere, first woman president of a state federation, dies |url=https://labortribune.com/trailblazing-former-illinois-afl-cio-president-margaret-blackshere-first-woman-president-of-a-state-federation-dies/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=The Labor Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> |
Blackshere began her career as a kindergarten teacher in Madison, Illinois. There, she organized her fellow teachers, leading to the school's teachers becoming affiliated with the Illinois Federation of Teachers, part of the [[American Federation of Teachers]].<ref name=":0" /> She served as president of IFT Local 763, and later as statewide vice president of the IFT.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2019-07-15 |title=Trailblazing former Illinois AFL-CIO President Margaret Blackshere, first woman president of a state federation, dies |url=https://labortribune.com/trailblazing-former-illinois-afl-cio-president-margaret-blackshere-first-woman-president-of-a-state-federation-dies/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=The Labor Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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In 1993, Blackshere was elected secretary-treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO. In 2000, she was elected president after the organization's first ever contested election.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Chicago |date=2000-01-09 |title=NO. 2 OFFICIAL NAMED STATE AFL-CIO CHIEF |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2000/01/09/no-2-official-named-state-afl-cio-chief/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> She was the first woman to hold the position in Illinois, and the second woman to lead a state federation in the country.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> She served as president until her retirement in 2007.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2019-07-08 |title=Margaret Blackshere, 78, trailblazing ‘giant of the Illinois labor movement’ |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2019/7/8/20686714/margaret-blackshere-trailblazing-giant-illinois-afl-cio-labor-movement-obituary |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref> |
In 1993, Blackshere was elected secretary-treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO. In 2000, she was elected president after the organization's first ever contested election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Chicago |date=1999-11-26 |title=TOUGH BATTLE FOR STATE’S TOP AFL-CIO POST |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/11/26/tough-battle-for-states-top-afl-cio-post/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Chicago |date=2000-01-09 |title=NO. 2 OFFICIAL NAMED STATE AFL-CIO CHIEF |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2000/01/09/no-2-official-named-state-afl-cio-chief/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> She was the first woman to hold the position in Illinois, and the second woman to lead a state federation in the country.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> She served as president until her retirement in 2007.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2019-07-08 |title=Margaret Blackshere, 78, trailblazing ‘giant of the Illinois labor movement’ |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2019/7/8/20686714/margaret-blackshere-trailblazing-giant-illinois-afl-cio-labor-movement-obituary |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref> |
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Blackshere was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention<!-- When? --> and a member of the Democratic National Committee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Democractic Party Super Delegates -- 2008 (washingtonpost.com) |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/interactives/campaign08/primaries/2008_superdelegates.html |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> After retiring from the Illinois AFL-CIO, Blackshere campaigned for Barack Obama across the country during the the [[2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries|2008 Democratic presidential primary]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCormick |first=John |date=2007-12-03 |title=Illinois union leaders try to boost Obama in Nevada |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2007/12/03/illinois-union-leaders-try-to-boost-obama-in-nevada/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> She was also a [[superdelegate]] to the [[2008 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]] in 2008, where she supported [[Barack Obama]] over [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-03-16 |title=Illinois Labor Leader, Women's Advocate Backs Obama |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/illinois-labor-leader-wom_b_91765 |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> |
Blackshere was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention<!-- When? --> and a member of the Democratic National Committee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Democractic Party Super Delegates -- 2008 (washingtonpost.com) |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/interactives/campaign08/primaries/2008_superdelegates.html |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> After retiring from the Illinois AFL-CIO, Blackshere campaigned for Barack Obama across the country during the the [[2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries|2008 Democratic presidential primary]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCormick |first=John |date=2007-12-03 |title=Illinois union leaders try to boost Obama in Nevada |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2007/12/03/illinois-union-leaders-try-to-boost-obama-in-nevada/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> She was also a [[superdelegate]] to the [[2008 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]] in 2008, where she supported [[Barack Obama]] over [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-03-16 |title=Illinois Labor Leader, Women's Advocate Backs Obama |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/illinois-labor-leader-wom_b_91765 |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 19:24, 25 March 2024
Margaret Blackshere was a labor organizer and leader. She was the first woman to serve as president of the Illinois AFL-CIO.
Early life and education
Blackshere was raised in the Metro-East area of southwestern Illinois.[1]
She received her master's degree in education at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.[1]
Career
Blackshere began her career as a kindergarten teacher in Madison, Illinois. There, she organized her fellow teachers, leading to the school's teachers becoming affiliated with the Illinois Federation of Teachers, part of the American Federation of Teachers.[1] She served as president of IFT Local 763, and later as statewide vice president of the IFT.[2]
In 1993, Blackshere was elected secretary-treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO. In 2000, she was elected president after the organization's first ever contested election.[3][4] She was the first woman to hold the position in Illinois, and the second woman to lead a state federation in the country.[1][4] She served as president until her retirement in 2007.[2][5]
Blackshere was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention and a member of the Democratic National Committee.[6][5] After retiring from the Illinois AFL-CIO, Blackshere campaigned for Barack Obama across the country during the the 2008 Democratic presidential primary.[7] She was also a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2008, where she supported Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton.[8]
Personal life
Blackshere had two sons. She died in 2019 of complications of Parkinson’s disease.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Margaret Blackshere, historic force in Illinois labor and politics, dies at 78". Chicago Tribune. 2019-07-08. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ a b admin (2019-07-15). "Trailblazing former Illinois AFL-CIO President Margaret Blackshere, first woman president of a state federation, dies". The Labor Tribune. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ Tribune, Chicago (1999-11-26). "TOUGH BATTLE FOR STATE'S TOP AFL-CIO POST". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ a b Tribune, Chicago (2000-01-09). "NO. 2 OFFICIAL NAMED STATE AFL-CIO CHIEF". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ a b "Margaret Blackshere, 78, trailblazing 'giant of the Illinois labor movement'". Chicago Sun-Times. 2019-07-08. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ "Democractic Party Super Delegates -- 2008 (washingtonpost.com)". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ McCormick, John (2007-12-03). "Illinois union leaders try to boost Obama in Nevada". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ "Illinois Labor Leader, Women's Advocate Backs Obama". HuffPost. 2008-03-16. Retrieved 2024-03-25.