In the last part of the 19th century, a dramatic surge in immigration and rapid industrial growth took place in Boston.
By the beginning of the 20th century, the Women's Union had established itself as one of Boston's primary service providers and advocacy organizations.
Many of the city's most prominent women, including Abby Morton Diaz, Louisa May Alcott, and Julia Ward Howe, were involved with the Union's early history.
[3] [citation needed] In 1926, Amelia Earhart came to The Women’s Union for employment assistance and was placed as a social worker in a Boston immigrant settlement house.
Each year, the award honors a woman who has significantly contributed to the expansion of opportunities for women.