Mary Emily Foy lived to the age of 99, and was a tireless fighter for the Progressive Movement and women's rights.
A room in the old Los Angeles Library downtown was named in her honor. Though her name is seldom mentioned in California histories, it is time for the Women's Movement to rediscover one of its own truly great champions. Mary Foy was born July 13, 1862 in Los Angeles. She graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1879, the fifth class to graduate from that school.
She soon became known as an early spokesman for Women's Suffrage and equal rights. Her voice was heard throughout Los Angeles whenever these issues were mentioned. She became the third city librarian for Los Angeles, and the first woman to serve in that capacity.
But she was even better known for her part in the Progressive Movement. She was an early advocate of women's suffrage and helped organize the California parlor of the Native Daughters of the Golden West. She also helped to found the First Century Families.
She was the daughter of Samuel E. Foy, whose home became a historical monument in downtown Los Angeles. Originally built at 7th and Figueroa in 1873, it was moved in 1906 to 631 S. Witmer St., where it was eventually fully restored and designated Los Angeles Historical Cultural Monument No. 8.
In her early years, Foy was city librarian from 1880 to 1884, directing the two room library that stood at Main and Temple streets.
She then attended the Normal School and turned to a career in education. During her long career she taught at Alameda School in Downey, the Eighth Street School in Los Angeles and the old Los Angeles High School on Fort Moore Hill.
Her years at Alameda School were in the 1890s. The mother of Margaret Hass, Maude Adams Dismukes, was Foy's pupil.
She campaigned for Woodrow Wilson during his national political career and served as a committee woman and delegate to the 1920 Democratic National Convention.
Fascinated by the past, she was also a member of the Archeological Institute of America, and passed this love of antiquity on to many of her students.
When she died on Feb. 18, 1962, her life had encompassed nearly a century, and she had molded Southern California history with her intelligence and drive.
As one longtime friend and writer penned following her death, "The history of this area has been written, in part, by the man and women who were taught and inspired by Mary Foy."