Josephine Shaw Lowell (December 16, 1843 – October 12, 1905) was a Progressive Reform leader in the United States in the Nineteenth century. She is best known for creating the New York Consumers League in 1890. Seth Low's biographer described her as the "grand dame of the social reformers". Biography Early years Josephine Shaw was born in the West Roxbury section of Roxbury, Massachusetts into a wealthy New England family in 1843. Her parents, Francis George and Sarah Blake (Sturgis) Shaw, were Unitarian philanthropists and intellectuals who encouraged their five children to study, learn and become involved in their communities. They lived for some years in France and Italy, and then settled on Staten Island while Josephine (known as "Effie") was a child. Her brother was the Civil War officer Robert Gould Shaw. Josephine Shaw married Charles Russell Lowell, a businessman, in 1863. She followed him to Virginia when he was called into service during the Civil War. Lowell helped wounded men on the battlefield. She also prepared and send parcels through United States Sanitary Commission to soldiers on the front. Charles died in battle, less than a year after they were married and only one month before their daughter, Carlotta, was born. During her travels, Lowell made the acquaintance of Thomas Carlyle, who sympathised with the Confederacy. Feeling that he underestimated the quality and patriotism of Union soldiers, she sent him biographical sketches of her husband and brother. He wrote to her on 10 March 1870 in acknowledgment of them, saying that it would be hard "not to recognize the high and noble spirit that dwelt in those young men". Progressive leader A young widow, Lowell moved back to Staten Island with Carlotta, and lived with her parents. After her father's death, she lived with her mother and daughter in New York City. She became a businesswoman and a reformer. Lowell was active in the Anti-Imperialist League where she met other prominent Progressives. She served as Vice-President of the League from 1901-1905 and was a great advocate of Philippine independence. Lowell was committed to social justice and reform and seized the opportunity to become involved in Progressive reform and the eradication of poverty. She once said, "If the working people had all they ought to have, we should not have the paupers and criminals. It is better to save them before they go under, than to spend your life