Andrea Friederici Ross was fascinated by the lives of Rose Fay Thomas and her sisters. “Seeing how they moved the needle, how they found a wrong and fixed it, and what they were passionate about, fascinated me,” she said. “The Suffragists were out there calling for change, but sometimes the quieter, gentler voices can be effective, too.”

Her new book, Sisters of Influence: A Biography of Zina, Amy, and Rose Fay, set to release October 14, explores the remarkable lives of three sisters who shaped Chicago society during the Progressive Era, leaving a legacy that resonates nationally.

Story Highlights

• Rose Fay Thomas founded the Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago (1899) to fight workhorse abuse and promote humane treatment of animals.

• Sisters Zina Fay and Amy Fay were prominent advocates for women’s rights, education, and music.

• Rose married Theodore Thomas, founder of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, influencing both the cultural and social landscape of the city.

• The sisters’ social circle included literary and intellectual luminaries such as Longfellow, Emerson, and Agassiz, as well as leading Chicago families.

• Their initiatives included the Cooperative Housekeeping Movement, the National Federation of Music Clubs, and Amy Fay’s international music career, including friendship with Franz Liszt.

Rose Fay Thomas: Compassion in Action

Rose Fay Thomas’s commitment to social reform began with compassion and clear purpose. In 1899, she founded the Anti-Cruelty Society, starting her mission from her Bellevue Place home. Volunteers, including Rose herself, stood on busy streets to educate carriage drivers on the humane treatment of horses. They also built water troughs throughout Chicago and opened the first animal shelter on Clark Street in 1904.

“She was compassionate, gracious—those are the words that come immediately to mind,” Ross said. “Her book about gardening at her summer home, Felsengarten, elucidates her beliefs. She wrote about the importance of trial and error and the power of compassion in causing things to flourish. She was talking about flowers and people.”

Rose’s dedication extended to planting seedlings from Longfellow’s garden and willows begun by Frederick Law Olmsted. Even as a child, she attended school in Longfellow’s home, inspiring a poem from the famed poet himself.

Amy Fay: Music and Global Influence

Amy Fay, the musical prodigy of the family, studied piano in Germany and formed a lifelong friendship with composer Franz Liszt. She authored books and wrote magazine articles, contributing significantly to the cultural discourse of her time.

Ross explained, “Amy’s work in music education, alongside her sisters’ social initiatives, shows how the family combined intellect, artistry, and activism. She helped shape the National Federation of Music Clubs, leaving a lasting mark on American music.”

Zina Fay: Advocate for Women’s Rights

Zina Fay’s activism focused on women’s education and social reform. In 1869, she proposed a House of Ladies to parallel the male Houses of Congress. She also launched the Cooperative Housekeeping Movement, challenging restrictive Victorian-era gender norms and promoting the idea that women could lead and innovate in society.

“Zina, Amy, and Rose bridged the restrictive norms of the Victorian era and the activism of the Progressive Era with their own powerful initiatives,” Ross said. “They navigated tumultuous times and difficult issues: slavery, suffrage, temperance, and education for women.”

Family Roots and the Making of Progressive Leaders

The Fay sisters were children of an Episcopal minister who moved frequently, living in Vermont, Georgia, Louisiana, Cambridge, New York, and Chicago. Financial instability forced the family to live together often, but their upbringing emphasized religion, hard work, and music.

Ross added, “They learned to be influences on their own without depending on husbands, being their own champions. Three of the six sisters chose traditional paths of motherhood, but Rose, Amy, and Zina devoted themselves to societal reform and cultural leadership.”

Legacy of Influence

Rose’s marriage to Theodore Thomas, founder of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, allowed her to merge her love of music with philanthropy. Together, they nurtured Chicago’s cultural scene while Rose continued her advocacy for animals.

“Their efforts were integral to the overall expansion of women’s spheres,” Ross noted. “Every action, whether in music, social reform, or literature, helped move society forward.”

Today, the Anti-Cruelty Society continues to honor Rose Fay Thomas’s vision of humane treatment, public education, and refuge for animals. The sisters’ contributions to Chicago social reform, women’s rights, and national cultural institutions remain an enduring testament to the power of influence.

Appreciating your time:

We appreciate you taking the time to read our most recent article! We appreciate your opinions and would be delighted to hear them. We value your opinions as we work hard to make improvements and deliver material that you find interesting.

Post a Comment:

In the space provided for comments below, please share your ideas, opinions, and suggestions. We can better understand your interests thanks to your input, which also guarantees that the material we offer will appeal to you. Get in Direct Contact with Us: Please use our “Contact Us” form if you would like to speak with us or if you have any special questions. We are open to questions, collaborations, and, of course, criticism. To fill out our contact form, click this link.

Stay Connected:

Don’t miss out on future updates and articles.