Rose Livingston

Her parents were also born in New York State. There do not appear to be any other sources that support Dutka's account of Livingston's childhood. For instance, another account of her childhood and adult life does not mention Livingston having ever been abducted.

Life's work Initially, about 1903, Livingston worked at Sunshine Settlement, a settlement house on Baxter Established in 1900, Sunshine Settlement helped mothers and poor children by providing health services, education, and "healthful" visits to the seaside beaches. Gospel services and lectures were performed there. It offered a kindergarten, sewing school, and a library. Clients could request medical and legal advice.

Rescues

Focusing on girls who were between nine and seventeen years of age, Livingston made it her life's work to free thousands of girls and women from sexual slavery

Her modus operandi was to follow men that were sexual slavers, figure out what females were held captive, make friends with them, and encourage them to escape. Bridgeport, New Haven, and Chicago. In 1907, there were 300 girls younger than 18 in Chinatown that were sex workers, out of a total of 800 white slaves. Six years later, she could not find any girls under age 18 there.

Once freed, she offered the girls and young women rehabilitation

Fighting the Traffic in Young Girls, "a book designed to awaken the sleeping and to protect the innocent", according to its title page. By 1934, with over 30 years of experience, the number of young women Livingston had reportedly rescued varied: 800, About 1911, she became affiliated with suffragettes who offered her support. A few women met her when she was trying to save a girl from killing herself. They introduced Livingston to Harriet Burton Laidlaw whose husband, James Laidlaw, created the Committee of Three with Rev. M. Sanderson and Lawrence Chamberlain. She was severely beaten, shot, wounded, and thrown out windows. (After hearing of the attack against Livingston, New Yorkers petitioned William Jay Gaynor, the mayor, to ensure that reform workers and women missionaries were given more police protection in Chinatown.) The police commissioner stated that the area was safer than ever and the mayor followed that with the advice that if she does not want to be in danger there, Livingston should not visit Chinatown.

Awards A week of testimonial dinners were conducted in 1927 to celebrate the 24 years that she helped girls attain freedom. In 1937 she was awarded a silver cup by Mrs. J. Sergeant Cram (Edith Claire Bryce) of the Peace House for her "deeds of courage without violence".

Personal life

In 1914, she participated in one of the Suffrage Hikes from Manhattan to Albany, New York and over the years, she lectured about women's suffrage. for about three hours. In 1934, she was found living in poverty, and a retirement fund was established for her.

Although she read the Bible and a book on Christian Science, she did not attend church services unless she had agreed to speak at the church. She did not consider herself a Christian Scientist. but had retired around 1937 and received a pension of $100 per month. She was cared for by neighbors who helped her obtain a supplemental Social Security pension and did chores for her. She particularly needed help once she started to lose her sight. She died on December 26, 1975, believed to be 99 years old. A rabbi conducted a Jewish service for her, and her friend, Mike Supple, a Catholic, arranged for a Catholic funeral service in her memory.