Charlotte Odlum Smith American activist Country: USA

Biography of Charlotte Odlum Smith

Charlotte Odlum Smith was an American activist, reformer, magazine publisher, and lobbyist who advocated for women's political and economic rights, public health, and safety. She was born in Waddington, New York in 1840, the eldest daughter of Irish immigrants Richard Odlum and Catherine Odlum. Charlotte grew up with six younger siblings and faced a difficult childhood. Three of her siblings died in infancy, her father abandoned them, and her mother took in boarders to support Charlotte and her three brothers.

Due to their constant moving, Charlotte's education was affected. In the mid-1850s, Charlotte's father passed away, and the family continued to relocate. Over the following years, the Odlums lived in New Orleans, New York City, Boston, Detroit, Cleveland, and even Montreal, Canada. These frequent moves were partly due to Charlotte's mother seeking medical assistance for her dental pain.

Despite being under 20 years old, Charlotte managed her own shop in St. Louis, Missouri, where her mother ran a boarding house. In 1860, the Odlums traveled to Cuba and returned to New Orleans on March 21, 1861, the same day Louisiana ratified the Confederate Constitution. Charlotte's underage brother, David Odlum, enlisted as a Union soldier, and the family attempted to bring him home but became trapped in occupied Memphis, Tennessee during the Civil War. David went missing after the bloody Battle of Shiloh, and his fate remained unknown to the family.

However, Charlotte managed to earn a good income during the blockade of Memphis. After the end of the Civil War, the family moved to Mobile, Alabama, where Charlotte opened a highly profitable manufacturing and sewing goods trade. Her mother managed several boarding houses. In Mobile, Charlotte married Edward Smith, an Irish merchant, but the marriage was unsuccessful. After the birth of her second son, Charlotte moved to Chicago. The Great Fire of 1871 destroyed her bookstore, and she and her children relocated to St. Louis, where she published a book about the fire and started a newspaper.

By 1873, Charlotte joined forces with Mary Nolan, another Catholic entrepreneur, to establish their first magazine, 'Inland Monthly'. The magazine was notable for having a female editor but was not specifically aimed at women. It covered topics such as science, and the stories, poetry, and essays were tailored for highly educated readers. 'Inland Monthly' lasted until 1878 when Charlotte sold it for a significant profit and moved to Washington, D.C.

In St. Louis, Charlotte focused on poverty issues and advocated for equal pay for equal work for both men and women. Besides influencing Washington politicians, Smith founded the Women's National Industrial League, a union for female federal employees. She also became involved with the Knights of Labour and actively participated in conventions, often being the only female delegate. In 1886, she launched her second magazine, 'Working Woman', which was more radical but less successful than 'Inland Monthly'.

By the early 1890s, Charlotte Odlum Smith had been involved in implementing over fifty legislative bills, working on data collection, and was considered an authority on women's labor conditions. She achieved particular success with immigration projects and laws against food, cosmetic, and drug adulteration. She also assisted women inventors and actively participated in charitable and reform work, supporting impoverished women and children, providing housing, creating jobs, and often using her own money. By the late 19th century, she was one of the most well-known women in the United States, with hundreds of articles written about her in newspapers and magazines.

Charlotte spent her final years in Boston, continuing her work in social reform. She passed away in 1917, largely forgotten, and was buried in a cemetery for the poor.