ILGWU v. Donnelly Garment Company and Related Cases Court Filings

Nell Donnelly Reed was a prominent women's clothing manufacturer and entrepreneur who influenced women's fashion through her sophisticated and popular designs. Born Ellen Quinlan on March 6, 1889, in Parsons, Kansas, she was the twelfth of thirteen children. Her father, John Quinlan, was an Irish immigrant who worked for the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT). Nell, as she was commonly known, learned to sew at an early age. She mended clothes for her family and created dresses for her dolls. After graduating from Parsons High School, Nell moved to Kansas City. There she met and married Paul Donnelly. At a time when most women stayed home and did not go to college, Paul supported Nell's desire to pursue her education. In 1909, Nell graduated from Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Missouri, and returned to Kansas City. In 1916, unhappy with the shapeless and unflattering dresses of the time, Nell began making her own dresses. Her flattering, innovative style caught the attention of other women. Sensing a demand for stylish, inexpensive women's clothing, Nell arranged to sell her dresses at the George B. Peck Dry Goods Company in Kansas City. Although Nell's dresses cost one dollar when the average dress cost 69 cents, they quickly sold out. Three years later, Nell established the Donnelly Garment Company which produced affordable housedresses and aprons. By 1931 the company employed over 1,000 workers and had sales of $3.5 million dollars. The company survived the Great Depression due to Nell's business acumen, her commitment to producing fashionable, reasonably priced clothing for women, and her loyalty to her employees. She provided an employee pension plan, established an on-site medical clinic and cafeteria, paid for group hospitalization and life insurance benefits, and provided a recreation center for her employees. Nell even paid tuition for workers who wanted to take night classes at the local college and created a scholarship fund for the children of e employees. When the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union attempted to unionize the Donnelly Garment Company in 1937, its effort was rejected by company employees. This sparked a long, drawn out battle between Donnelly and the union. It was not until 1968, long after Nell Donnelly Reed had retired, that the employees joined the ILGWU. By 1953 Donnelly Garment Company was the largest dress manufacturer in the world. In 1956 Nell sold her interest in the Donnelly Garment Company, and it was renamed Nelly Don, Inc. The company did not do well under new ownership, and filed for bankruptcy in 1978. Nell Donnelly Reed died on September 8, 1991, at the age of 102. She helped set the precedent for stylish, affordable women's clothing and influenced the American clothing industry for decades.

The Donnelly Garment Company produced affordable housedresses and aprons. By 1931 the company employed over 1,000 workers and had sales of $3.5 million dollars. The company survived the Great Depression due to Nell Donnelly's business acumen, her commitment to producing fashionable, reasonably priced clothing for women, and her loyalty to her employees. She provided an employee pension plan, established an on-site medical clinic and cafeteria, paid for group hospitalization and life insurance benefits, and provided a recreation center for her employees. Nell even paid tuition for workers who wanted to take night classes at the local college and created a scholarship fund for the children of e employees. When the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union attempted to unionize the Donnelly Garment Company in 1937, its effort was rejected by company employees. This sparked a long, drawn out battle between Donnelly and the union. It was not until 1968, long after Nell Donnelly Reed had retired, that the employees joined the ILGWU. By 1953 Donnelly Garment Company was the largest dress manufacturer in the world. In 1956 Nell sold her interest in the Donnelly Garment Company, and it was renamed Nelly Don, Inc. The company did not do well under new ownership, and filed for bankruptcy in 1978.