Rose Jolly
1876-1937
McDonough County produced two great social crusaders
during the Progressive Era. Rose Jolly and Josie Westfall are these
women.
The first to have an impact was Rose Jolly, born in Macomb, the daughter of British immigrants. As a young woman, Rose worked in the hotel business with her father, and met a range of people who were visiting Macomb. She was an excellent student at a time when only a few women were starting to seek careers and even fewer were accepting leadership positions. Rose worked in Chicago for a time, in the mid 1890's, but returned to Macomb.
In the early 20th century, Rose became the organizer and most active leader in the county's first social organization,
the McDonough County Humane Society. Formed in 1909, it was devoted to "the protection of children and animals." Rose was clearly the central figure although she surrounded herself with male leaders because it was expected that men would naturally have to lead any agency of significance.
The county's pioneer in what we would now call "children and family services" or "anti-cruelty work," she filed papers to seize neglected and abused children, gave them immediate attention, placed a number of them in alternate homes or Illinois orphanages, initiated precautions of various kinds, and, of course, rescued tormented animals - and for all this she never received any pay. It was during this time that Rose Jolly called on the county for the establishment of a local orphanage and a dog pound.
Photo and information courtesy of Malpass Library Archives and John Hallwas.
The first to have an impact was Rose Jolly, born in Macomb, the daughter of British immigrants. As a young woman, Rose worked in the hotel business with her father, and met a range of people who were visiting Macomb. She was an excellent student at a time when only a few women were starting to seek careers and even fewer were accepting leadership positions. Rose worked in Chicago for a time, in the mid 1890's, but returned to Macomb.
In the early 20th century, Rose became the organizer and most active leader in the county's first social organization,
the McDonough County Humane Society. Formed in 1909, it was devoted to "the protection of children and animals." Rose was clearly the central figure although she surrounded herself with male leaders because it was expected that men would naturally have to lead any agency of significance.
The county's pioneer in what we would now call "children and family services" or "anti-cruelty work," she filed papers to seize neglected and abused children, gave them immediate attention, placed a number of them in alternate homes or Illinois orphanages, initiated precautions of various kinds, and, of course, rescued tormented animals - and for all this she never received any pay. It was during this time that Rose Jolly called on the county for the establishment of a local orphanage and a dog pound.
Photo and information courtesy of Malpass Library Archives and John Hallwas.
