Almeda Sperry
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July 13, 1879
Almeda Sperry | |
|---|---|
| Born | Almeda Sode July 13, 1879 Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | September 10, 1957 (aged 78) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Political activist |
| Known for | Wrote passionate love letters to fellow anarchist Emma Goldman |
Almeda Sperry (July 13, 1879 – September 10, 1957) was an American anarchist, political activist, and former prostitute.[1] She is known for the passionate love letters she wrote to fellow anarchist Emma Goldman.[2] The letters allude to past sexual encounters between the two women, although the extent to which Goldman may have reciprocated the romantic feelings expressed by Sperry is unknown.[3][4]
Sperry was born Almeda Sode (or Sodi) in Pennsylvania to Alsatian parents Christian Sode (or Sodi) and Barbara Treitz[5][6] and married on November 26, 1902[7] to an Ohio machinist Fred Sperry. Together, the couple lived for most of the duration of their marriage in Pittsburgh.[8]
Her love letters to Emma Goldman dating from 1912 reveal much about her personal life: her sexuality, contempt for men, occupation as a prostitute, and financial standing. On her sexuality, she says "I fear I never will love any man. I've seen too much and I am no fool."[9] By the same token, she was emotionally devoted to her husband Fred. In the same letter, she spoke about her prostitution: "I have absolutely no reciprocation as far as passion is concerned for a man who pays me for sex." In her letters, however, she expressed respect for a man - one Alexander Berkman, who was also Goldman's close friend.[10]
Scholars debate whether Sperry and Goldman had a romantic relationship since the latter did not acknowledge it in her autobiography.[11][12][13] Sperry's letters, however, showed her romantic and sexual feelings toward Goldman.[11]
Sperry died September 10, 1957, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[5]