Papers of Beatrice Sadowsky, 1928-1984

Beatrice Sadowsky, transportation executive and a founder of the Women's Traffic Club, was born in Russia on July 16, 1900. With tickets provided by her brother, who was already in the United States, the rest of the family followed and settled in Brooklyn, where Beatrice Sadowsky graduated from high school in 1917. Following graduation, Sadowsky briefly attended a teachers' training school, but the anti-Semitic views of an instructor dissuaded her from continuing. In 1917, she began working as an aide to Thomas Bradley, who later founded Acme Fast Freight. Sadowsky worked with Acme, a freight forwarding operation, until her retirement in 1966. In 1950 Sadowsky was officially recognized as advertising director for Acme (although she had acted in this capacity for many years before receiving the title). Correspondence with traffic executives and the establishment and editing of "Wings and Arrows," the company publication, were also among Sadowsky's responsibilities at Acme.

Sadowsky has been active in numerous traffic organizations. She was a founder of the American Society of Traffic and Transportation (1950), participated in Associated Traffic CluBeatrice Sadowsky (later Traffic Club International), and was centrally involved in the Women's Traffic Club of New York, which she served as president in 1936-1937. Early meetings of the Women's Traffic Club focused less on women in transportation than upon broad issues in the traffic world; many of the meetings were mainly social. But Sadowsky herself gave speeches and interviews and collected information specifically on women in the field. During World War II, Sadowsky worked for the American Women's Voluntary Service. After retirement Sadowsky traveled extensively, and did volunteer work for the American Jewish Congress. She has also been concerned with consumer and neighborhood issues.