Mrs. A. M. Palmer

Mrs. A. M. Palmer (, Laura Adelize Mowbray; after first marriage, Shook; after second marriage, Palmer; 1848–1923) was an American clubwoman and civic leader. She was the founder and first president of the Professional Woman's League of New York. For 25 years, she served as president of the Rainy Day Club.

Biography Laura Adelize ("Ada") Eliza Mowbray was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1848.

She was involved with organizations to rectify short weights and false measurements. According to authorized statements, it was said that New York City lost yearly on shortweighted package goods. All devices for fraud resorted to by merchants and dealers were to be brought to account. She had been joined in this work by Mrs. William Grant Brown, of New York.

Palmer was the founder and president of the Professional Woman's League of New York City. For 25 years, she served as president of the Rainy Day Club, which campaigned for short skirts for rainy days, but eventually, the movement grew until it had become largely responsible for the shorter clothing that U.S. women wore by the time of her death. She was a member of many other clubs, among them Sorosis, Woman's Press Club of New York City, Little Mothers' Aid Association, New England Women, American Defense Society, Woman's Forum, Rescue Home of the Salvation Army, New York Theater Club,

About 1866, she married Sheridan Shook (1828-1899). They had two children, Louise (b. 1867) and Lydia (b. 1870),