The Delinquent (Vol. IV, No. 2), February, 1914

The opening pages of this early‑twentieth‑century periodical introduce “The Delinquent,” a reform‑focused magazine published by the National Prisoners’ Aid Association. Its modest price and city‑wide circulation set the stage for a series of articles that examine the social forces shaping America’s correctional system. The first feature spotlights a remarkable breakthrough: the appointment of the nation’s first female municipal commissioner of corrections, an achievement that reflects the broader suffragist wave reshaping public life.

The profile follows Dr. Katherine Bement Davis from her modest beginnings in Buffalo through a rapid academic ascent at Vassar and Columbia, where she earned top honors in chemistry and political economy. It chronicles her hands‑on experiments in scientific housekeeping at the Chicago World’s Fair and her pioneering leadership at the Bedford Reformatory, where she introduced progressive treatment for wayward women and girls. Her story offers listeners a vivid glimpse into the early struggles and successes of women reformers who helped redefine America’s approach to crime and rehabilitation.