Dear Miss Perkins

A Story of Frances Perkins's Efforts to Aid Refugees from Nazi Germany

By: Rebecca Brenner Graham

Narrated by: Tanya Eby

She was the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet, the longest-serving Labor Secretary, and an architect of the New Deal. Yet beyond these celebrated accomplishments there is another dimension to Frances Perkins's story. Without fanfare, and despite powerful opposition, Perkins helped save the lives of countless Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany.

Perkins's early experiences working in Chicago's famed Hull House and as a firsthand witness to the horrific Triangle Shirtwaist fire shaped her determination to advocate for immigrants and refugees. As Secretary of Labor, she wrestled widespread antisemitism and isolationism, finding creative ways to work around quotas and restrictive immigration laws. Diligent, resilient, empathetic, yet steadfast, she persisted on behalf of the desperate when others refused to act.

Based on extensive research, including thousands of letters housed in the National Archives, Dear Miss Perkins adds new dimension to an already extraordinary life story, revealing at last how one woman tried to steer the nation to a better, more righteous course.

©2025 Rebecca Brenner Graham (P)2025 Tantor Media

An untold story now told

I appreciate very much the attention in Dear Miss Perkins to Perkins’ dedication to opening immigration and naturalization, at a time of intolerance during an acute refugee crisis. It holds many relevant lessons for today and Perkins’ principles provide a model worthy of emulation.

I also appreciated the historiography of Frances Perkins place in history. And how she has been depicted in culture.

Though it is somewhat thorough there are two books where Francis Perkins is profiled which deserve inclusion.

The first is by Adam Cohen “Nothing to Fear: FDR’s inner circle and the hundred days they created the new deal.” I doubt I would’ve had any interest in this book Had I not read Adam Cohen‘s book first.

And Dave Van Drehle’s “Triangle: The Fire that Changed America”.

In any case both the narrative and narration of Dear Miss Perkins were compelling and rewarding.

Interesting account well told

This was a well written and engaging story of the professional experience of an incredible woman. Brenner Graham does a fantastic job weaving together the story of Perkins’s body of work while providing interesting context that frames the events in their own context and makes the stories relevant to current times.

Narration

The clearly AI generated narration of this book takes away from its message and the importance of the history