Almeda Sperry (1879–1957) was an American anarchist, political activist, and former prostitute. She is known for the passionate love letters she wrote to fellow anarchist

Emma Goldman Emma Goldman (June 27, 1869 – May 14, 1940) was a Russian-born anarchist political activist and writer. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europe in the first half of the ...

. The letters allude to past sexual encounters between the two women, although the extent to which Goldman may have reciprocated the romantic feelings expressed by Sperry is unknown.

Personal life

Sperry was born Almeda Sode (or Sodi) in

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

to Alsatian parents Christian Sode (or Sodi) and Barbara TreitzPennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906–1964 for Almeda Sperry and married on November 26, 1902 to an Ohio machinist Fred Sperry. Together, the couple lived for most of the duration of their marriage in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

. Her love letters to Emma Goldman dating from 1912 reveal much about her personal life: her sexuality, contempt for men, occupation as a prostitute, and financial standing. On her sexuality, she says "I fear I never will love any man. I've seen too much and I am no fool." By the same token, she was emotionally devoted to her husband Fred. In the same letter, she spoke about her prostitution: "I have absolutely no reciprocation as far as passion is concerned for a man who pays me for sex." In her letters, however, she expressed respect for a man - one

Alexander Berkman Alexander Berkman (November 21, 1870June 28, 1936) was a Russian-American anarchist and author. He was a leading member of the anarchist movement in the early 20th century, famous for both his political activism and his writing. B ...

, who was also Goldman's close friend. Scholars debate whether Sperry and Goldman had a romantic relationship since the latter did not acknowledge it in her autobiography. Sperry's letters, however, showed her romantic and sexual feelings toward Goldman. Sperry died September 10, 1957, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Activism

Sperry first became an activist after hearing anarchist Emma Goldman give a speech on white slavery, at least by the year 1912. She became active in union organizing and advocated to bring

sex education Sex education, also known as sexual education, sexuality education or sex ed, is the instruction of issues relating to human sexuality, including emotional relations and responsibilities, human sexual anatomy, Human sexual activity, sexual acti ...

to students in her school district. She also wrote for several radical newspapers. Her written works showed insights on her position on the oppression of women, her lesbian longings, and her inclination to follow her passions.

References

1879 births 1957 deaths American anarchists American prostitutes Bisexual women Bisexual prostitutes Emma Goldman LGBT people from Pennsylvania {{anarchist-stub