Mary Lilly

Mary Madden Lilly (July 18, 1859, in Roxbury, Massachusetts – October 11, 1930, in Brooklyn, New York ) was a Progressive Era activist who had a prominent role in New York City's social reform movements during the last decades of the 19th century and early decades of the 20th century. In particular, Lilly supported prison reform in the form of separate facilities for females who were first time offenders. Lilly was an advocate for women's suffrage and other legislation to better the lives of women and children. After women gained the right to vote in New York in 1917, Lilly ran for elected office in the November 1918 election, and was one of two females elected to serve in the 1919 session of the New York State Assembly.

Family and early life Mary married John F. Lilly. Mary and John Lilly were the parents of J. Joseph Lilly, an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of NY.

Early career

Public school teacher Lilly graduated from Hunter College teachers school in 1876 when still a teen, and took a job teaching at P.S. 37 in Manhattan. In total, Lilly worked as a public school teacher for thirty-six years until she retired. Lilly joined The Association of Retired Teachers of the City of New York and held the position of secretary.

For a brief time Lilly had a joint law practice with Eve P. Radtke who was admitted to bar in 1906.

Superintendent of inmates In 1919 Lilly was appointed as the superintendent of female inmates at the Workhouse on Blackwell's Island. By the time that Lilly retired in 1928, she had worked under three Commissioners: James A. Hamilton, Frederick A. Wallis and Richard C. Patterson.