Extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures. In an effort to protect the health of our staff and our community, the Frances Perkins Center office and exhibit are currently closed to the public. We have instituted a work-from-home policy for our staff for the duration of the public health crisis. We remain accessible via phone and email and look forward to continuing our work together with you. And you can keep up with our news via Facebook and our regular e-newsletter. Like our namesake, the Frances Perkins Center is committed to being part of the solution. 

Here at the Frances Perkins Center, the Coronavirus hasn’t changed our work so much as it has made it even clearer why it matters. Americans of 1932 saw their country moving fast in the wrong direction. Americans of 2020 are anxious about their futures. New Deal principles, intelligently implemented, rescued millions of Americans in earlier generations. Applied to twenty-first century challenges, we believe that New Deal principles can make the difference today.

PBS, in March, launched the national premiere of
“SUMMONED: FRANCES PERKINS AND THE GENERAL WELFARE”   Preview 6-minute video-clip.

You can access the film on Amazon.  For a time, you can also access for free at KCET public tv.    

Frances Perkins Center Purchases National Historic Landmark 

On Friday, January 3, 2020, following a decade of planning and fundraising, the Frances Perkins Center successfully purchased the Frances Perkins Homestead to preserve and protect this National Historic Landmark as an educational resource for Maine and the nation. This achievement was made possible by the generosity of 120 donors who seek to honor the principles and legacy of Frances Perkins. Thank you to all who helped us meet the $100,000 gift challenge to help us purchase the Homestead. To learn more about our goals and how you can add your support, visit Homestead Campaign.

Mission Statement

The Frances Perkins Center honors the legacy of Frances Perkins by sharing her commitment to the principle that government should provide all its people with the best possible life, and by preserving the place that shaped her character. The Center convenes leaders and future leaders in public policy, labor and related fields to generate creative solutions to today’s social and economic problems and teaches students of all ages about a remarkable woman whose work continues to improve the lives of ordinary Americans.