History & Culture

Frances Perkins

Born in 1880 in Massachusetts, Frances Perkins often visited her grandmother at the Perkins Homestead in Maine and always considered it her “true home”. At a time when opportunities were generally limited for women, Perkins was extremely well-educated and worked her way up to top-level state and federal positions. In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed her as Secretary of the Department of Labor, thereby becoming the first woman to hold a presidential cabinet position.

Perkins has an extensive list of accomplishments spanning many decades of public service. Many were considered progressive at the time, yet standard today. Her efforts include social security, shorter work weeks, safety requirements at the workplace, and anti-discrimination practices. Perkins led the Department of Labor through the Great Depression with famous initiatives such as the New Deal and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), then mobilizing a home front workforce during World War II.

Perkins Family Homestead

The Perkins family continuously owned the Perkins Family Homestead in Newcastle, Maine, for more than 270 years. They operated a brick-making business in the 18th century, remnants from which can be found on the property today. The family built a new home known as the Brick House in 1837 and ran a saltwater farm for many years. The Brick House and historic farm buildings remain standing today.

Frances Perkins often visited the 57-acre homestead throughout her life to rest and recharge. The property is similar to how it appeared during Perkins’ lifetime. The site also has many objects and documents belonging to the Perkins family.

Recognizing the Site’s Importance

The Brick House was included in the National Register of Historic Places under the “The Brick House Historic District”. It was also designated as a national historic landmark in 2014, a recognition given to places with exceptional value to American history.

The property purchased by Frances Perkins Center in 2020, which has a mission to preserve and share her legacy. The local community, including the Center, advocated for the homestead to be added to the National Park System to preserve it for future generations of Americans. It was designated a national monument in 2024 by President Joseph R. Biden through a presidential proclamation.