Jane Cunningham Croly, aka Jennie June

Sep 1, 2025

Discover the inspiring journey of Jane Cunningham Croly, a pioneering journalist and advocate for women's rights. Learn how her vibrant personality and activism led to the founding of one of the first women's clubs in the U.S. Explore her progressive partnership with David Crowley, which fueled her impactful career. Delve into the growth of Sorosis and its influence on women's empowerment. Her legacy remains significant in promoting equality and opportunities for women, with personal anecdotes that add a light-hearted touch to her story.

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INSIGHT

Journalism As A Platform For Reform

Jane Cunningham Crowley used journalism to advocate for women's equality while writing popular 'women's' columns.
Her syndicated Parlor and Sidewalk Gossip made her a nationally known voice for women's issues.

ANECDOTE

A Marriage That Supported Her Career

Jane and David Crowley married in 1856 and maintained a marriage where she continued working as a journalist.
David supported her career verbally even while Jane managed household duties and long work hours.

ANECDOTE

A Short Illinois Interlude

The Crowleys briefly moved to Rockford, Illinois in 1859 when David edited the Rockford Register, but they returned to New York after a year.
Jane became head of the women's department at the New York World and wrote for Demarest's fashion magazine.

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Jane Cunningham Croly, who wrote under the pen name Jennie June, was a journalist who advocated for equality for women. She is most well known for founding one of the earliest clubs for women in the U.S.

Research:

Croly, Jennie June. “Jennie June's American Cookery Book, Containing Upwards of Twelve Hundred Choice and Carefully Tested Receipts.” Excelsior. 1878. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Jennie_June_s_American_Cookery_Book_Cont/enEEAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
Croly, J.C. “Sorosis: Its Origin and History.” New York. J.J. Little & Co. 1886. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/sorosisitsorigin00crol/page/n3/mode/2up
Croly, J.C. “Thrown on her own resources, or, What girls can do.” New York. T.Y. Crowell & Co. 1891. https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/100170730
Croly, J.C. “The history of the woman's club movement in America.” New York. H.G. Allen. 1898. https://archive.org/details/historywomanscl00clubgoog/page/n10/mode/2up
“The Dickens Dinner.” Louisville Daily Courier. April 19, 1868. https://www.newspapers.com/image/119304180/?match=1&terms=%22Jennie%20June%22%20press%20club%20dickens
https://web.archive.org/web/20120120014321/http://www.gfwc.org/gfwc/Jane_Cunningham_Croly.asp
“Jane Cunningham Croly.” General Federation of Women’s Clubs. https://web.archive.org/web/20120120014321/http://www.gfwc.org/gfwc/Jane_Cunningham_Croly.asp
“Jane Cunningham Croly.” National Women’s Hall of Fame. https://www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/jane-cunningham-croly/
“Jane Cunningham (“Jennie June”) Croly.” Ebsco. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/womens-studies-and-feminism/jane-cunningham-jennie-june-croly
“Our Mission.” General Federation of Women’s Clubs. https://www.gfwc.org/who-we-are/
“Rockford Register (Rockford, Ill.) 1855-187?” Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/sn82014331
Morse, Caroline M., ed, and Woman’s Press Club of New York City, “Memories of Jane Cunningham Croly, ‘Jenny June,’” Produced by Ari J Joki and PG Distributed Proofreaders. Accessed online: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12099/pg12099-images.html
“The New York Sorosis.” The Charleston Daily News. Nov. 5, 1868. https://www.newspapers.com/image/87596013/?match=1&terms=sorosis
Puchko, Kristy. “Journalist Jennie June Was "Having It All" in the 19th Century.” Mental Floss. April 14, 2015. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/62964/journalist-jennie-june-was-having-it-all-19th-century
“The Sorosis Lunch.” Chicago Evening Post. Sept. 28, 1868. https://www.newspapers.com/image/668238331/?match=1&terms=sorosis
“Sorosis.” Leavenworth Daily Commercial. Aug. 11, 1868. https://www.newspapers.com/image/425238609/?match=1&terms=sorosis

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