Episode #42: Fighting Poverty with Her Pen: Gilded Age Journalist Zoe Anderson Norris
While the Gilded Age rich and powerful ruled from their mansions on Fifth Avenue far uptown, the poor and immigrant community downtown struggled simply to survive. Arriving in New York in the early years of the 20th century, journalist and novelist Zoe Anderson Norris passionately devoted her time and her talent to uncovering the world of the Lower East Side to do what she could to bring about the acknowledgment of living conditions and to effect social change.
Zoe tirelessly wrote countless newspaper and journal articles and even launched her own literary magazine to further her mission — “I fight for the poor with my pen.” Known as the “Queen of Bohemia”, for solidarity, Norris created the “The Ragged Edge Klub” which met at local restaurants for cheap meals and passion-fueled conversation.
Former New York Times columnist, author and independent scholar, Eve M. Kahn joins the Gilded Gentleman to share her insight and research in rediscovering the life and work of this extraordinary crusader for human rights whose voice seems just as relevant and powerful today.
Carl is joined by special guest:
— Eve M. Kahn, independent scholar and former Antiques Columnist at The New York Times, Eve writes about art, architecture, and design for the Times among other publications. She is biographer of artist Mary Rogers Williams (1857-1907) and writer Zoe Anderson Norris (1860-1914).
LISTEN NOW: Fighting Poverty with Her Pen: Gilded Age Journalist Zoe Anderson Norris
Related Podcasts:
Gilded Age Newspapers: All That Was (Mostly) Fit to Print