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Jane Benedict

1911 – 2005

American union organizer

Union organizer
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About Jane Benedict

Lived 1911 – 2005 (aged 93). Jane Benedict was an American union organizer.

Jane Benedict (November 10, 1911 – June 18, 2005) was an American housing advocate and trade union organizer. She co-founded the Metropolitan Council on Housing, a tenants' rights organization in New York City.

Biography Born Jane Wiley Benedict in Manhattan, she attended Connecticut College for Women before transferring to Cornell University, where she graduated in 1933 with a bachelor's degree in English. After returning to New York City, she worked in Macy's book department and became involved in union organizing through the Book and Magazine Guild, part of the United Office and Professional Workers of America. She formed the Yorkville Save Our Homes Committee, campaigning for affordable, integrated public housing. The committee later merged with other tenant groups to establish the Metropolitan Council in 1958, focusing on rent regulation, eviction protection, and affordable housing.

In 1982, Benedict ran for governor of New York as the Unity Party of America candidate, representing a coalition of labor, tenant, and community groups.

Her first marriage ended in divorce. In 1942, she married union organizer Peter Hawley, who died in 1996. Benedict died in Berkeley, California, in 2005 and was survived by a son and a daughter.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Union organizer
Nationality
Education
Connecticut College, Cornell University
Employers
Macy's, United Office and Professional Workers of America
Also known as
Jane Wiley Benedict

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Jane Benedict's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Jane Benedict?

American union organizer

When was Jane Benedict born?

Jane Benedict was born on 10 November 1911 in Manhattan.

When did Jane Benedict die?

Jane Benedict died on 18 June 2005 in Berkeley.

What was Jane Benedict's occupation?

Jane Benedict was a union organizer.

What nationality was Jane Benedict?

Jane Benedict was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Jane Benedict

· Wikidata: Q126364689

· DBpedia: Jane Benedict

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jane Benedict. https://biography.guide/jane-benedict/

MLA: "Jane Benedict." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jane-benedict/.

Chicago: "Jane Benedict." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jane-benedict/.

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