Mary Julia Workman (1871-1964)

Women’s History Month makes this a good time to mention the life and work of social reformer Mary Julia Workman (1871-1964). The daughter of Los Angeles Mayor Henry Workman, she attended Catholic schools and became a public school teacher. In 1901 she founded the Brownson House Settlement Association to meet the needs of L.A.’s urban poor. The settlement houses were in the tradition of those founded by Jane Addams in Chicago. During her long life, Workman was involved in a myriad of organizations and causes: the National Council of Catholic Women; the Catholic Association for International Peace, the Catholic Interracial Council; the League of Women Voters; the National Conference of Christians and Jews, to name a few. A member of the Los Angeles Civil Service Commission, she fought for urban reform. During World War II she protested the treatment of Japanese-Americans. In 1926, Pope Pius XI awarded her the prestigious Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal. She was the first person in the Los Angeles Archdiocese to receive this honor.