NAWSA          General Correspondence             Coe, M.R.

1
Dear Miss Blackwell,
Enclosed is a memorandum
of what I think you might like
to know about wages of women
teachers in Colorado and in Massachusetts.
I have added a few notes?
gleaned in running over the reports
of Boards of Education in the
two states.
For the other suffrage States I find
no statistics available.
As to the other questions, I find no
information as to comparative wages
of women in the industries, nor
could the Bureau of Labor or its
statistical department as the


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Public Library indicate any material for
such comparison.
As to the statement that Mass. has the
best laws for protection of working
women, that is evidently true,
with the possible exception of
Illinois.
Wyoming prohibits women from working
in mines, but makes no other
provisions for them.
Colorado also prohibits women from working
in mines and limits woman's workday
to 8 hours, when her occupation
keeps her on her feet.
Mass. - as you know - limits the womans'
working day to 10 hours in manufacturing

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and mechanical establishments; prohibits 
her work between 10 P.M. and 6 A.M. with 
manufacturing business; and secures to
her half an hour as minimum time for
lunch.
A summary of the laws governing women
and children in Industries is given
in the Mass. Labor Bulletins No. 35
and 37-
I am sorry not to find more
material for you -
Sincerely yours,
M. R. Coe
February 27, 1906


1)

1903-4     Mass. Average monthly wages 
                  of men teachers:  $145.48
                   Mass. Average monthly wages 
                  of women teachers:  $55.37
                  Mass. Percentage of women teacher's
                  wages as compared with mens'. 38% = a trifle 
                   over 4/12
1903-4     Colorado, Average monthly wages 
                  of men teachers:  $142.33
                   Colorado, Average monthly wages 
                  of women teachers:  $108.64
                  Colorado, Percentage of women teacher's
                  wages as compared with mens'. 76.3% = a 
                  trifle over 9/12
These figures taken from the 14th Biennial report of
Supt. of Public Instruction, Colorado, 1903-4, the
last issue at State House, and from the report of Massachusetts
State Board of Education for the same year.

In 1903-4 the Supt. of Public Instruction of Colorado
was Mrs. Helen L. Grenfell. This office is elective,
the incumbent holding the position two years.  Mrs.
Grenfell’s  term has expired, and her successor, the
present Superintendent is Miss Katherine L. Craig. 

Colorado has 59 County Superintendents, elected by
popular vote of the county.  Of this number 35 are
women.  Salaries of these County Superintendents
range from $2800. a year to $100. according to the

Mrs. O. B. Cole
in statistics


1)

1903-4     Mass. Average monthly wages 
                  of men teachers:  $145.48
                   Mass. Average monthly wages 
                  of women teachers:  $55.37
                  Mass. Percentage of women teacher's
                  wages as compared with mens'. 38% = a trifle 
                   over 4/12
1903-4     Colorado, Average monthly wages 
                  of men teachers:  $142.33
                   Colorado, Average monthly wages 
                  of women teachers:  $108.64
                  Colorado, Percentage of women teacher's
                  wages as compared with mens'. 76.3% = a 
                  trifle over 9/12
These figures taken from the 14th Biennial report of
Supt. of Public Instruction, Colorado, 1903-4, the
last issue at State House, and from the report of Massachusetts
State Board of Education for the same year.

In 1903-4 the Supt. of Public Instruction of Colorado
was Mrs. Helen L. Grenfell. This office is elective,
the incumbent holding the position two years.  Mrs.
Grenfell’s  term has expired, and her successor, the
present Superintendent is Miss Katherine L. Craig. 

Colorado has 59 County Superintendents, elected by
popular vote of the county.  Of this number 35 are
women.  Salaries of these County Superintendents
range from $2800. a year to $100. according to the

2)
importance of the district covered.  Miss Emma  H. Herey
is Superintendent of Denver Co., including the City of Denver,
at $2800=, and there seems to be no evidence of monopoly
of the best paid positions by either sex.

Superintendents of Schools in Massachusetts are not elected by
popular vote.  They are appointed by local school committees,
and serve under the school committees at salaries varying 
from $1500= to $3000=.  It is interesting to note that out
of the 148 superintendents given in the Mass. report of
1903-4 referred to above,  6 only are women.

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