Mary Catherine Phillips (1903–1981) was an American consumer advocate, author, and member of the Board of Directors of
Consumers' Research
Consumers' Research is an American Conservatism in the United States, conservative 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Established in 1929, it was a founding organization in the Consumer movement, consumer protection movement. It turned to the righ ...
in
Bowerstown, New Jersey
Bowerstown is an unincorporated community in Washington Township, Warren County, New Jersey near the Morris Canal and the Pohatcong Creek. It was founded in 1829 by Jesse Vanetta and Michael B. Bowers with the building of an iron foundry. The ...
. She tested consumer beauty products, promoted safety for cosmetics, and wrote ''Skin Deep. The Truth About Beauty Aids – Safe and Harmful''.
Career
Phillips was hired by Consumers' Research in 1932. Her main area of work was testing consumer beauty products. She was a member of the Board of Directors from 1934 to 1980.
In 1934, she wrote the book, ''Skin Deep. The Truth About Beauty Aids – Safe and Harmful'', about the cosmetics industry, using her initials, M. C. Phillips.
The book was described as "entirely frank and fearless" in a review by ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
''. It was a best seller that year and provided support for the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
The United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (abbreviated as FFDCA, FDCA, or FD&C) is a set of laws passed by the United States Congress in 1938 giving authority to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to oversee the food safety ...
passed in 1938.
She later wrote the sequel, ''More Than Skin Deep'', in 1948.
In 1935, workers at Consumers' Research complained about working conditions, formed a union chapter, and subsequently went on strike. The Board of Directors, including Phillips, rejected negotiations and accused the workers of being
Communists
Communism () is a sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology within the socialist movement, whose goal is the creation of a communist society, a socioeconomic order centered on common ownership of the means of production, d ...
. The workers then formed a new company,
Consumers Union
A consumer is a person or a group who intends to order, or use purchased goods, products, or services primarily for personal, social, family, household and similar needs, who is not directly related to entrepreneurial or business activities. Th ...
, now known as Consumers Reports.
In the first issue of ''Consumers' Digest'' by Consumers' Research, January 1937, she was the associate editor. She wrote the magazine article ''Face Powders'' in 1938. In January 1939, she was the editor of the magazine, now published by the Consumers' Institute of America.
Personal life
Phillips was born in either
Clifton or
Upper Montclair,
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
, in 1903.
In 1924, she received a bachelor of arts degree from
Wellesley College
Wellesley College is a Private university, private Women's colleges in the United States, historically women's Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1870 by Henr ...
.
In 1932, she married
Frederick J. Schlink, co-founder of Consumers' Research.
She died in 1981.
Works
*
*
*
*
*
See also
*
New Jersey Women's Heritage Trail
The New Jersey Women's Heritage Trail is a collaborative effort between the New Jersey's Historic Preservation Office, part of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and 94 historic sites statewide to raise awareness about the roles ...
*
List of The New York Times number-one books of 1935#Nonfiction
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phillips, Mary Catherine
1903 births
1981 deaths
Consumer rights activists
Wellesley College alumni
20th-century American women writers
20th-century American non-fiction writers
Writers from Warren County, New Jersey