Agnes Smedley

Born in Missouri in 1892, oldest of five children, father was a laborer and mother ran a boardinghouse. Moved to Colorado in 1902 and attended school.

Dropped out of grade school and didn't attend high school but enrolled in the Normal School in Tempe, Arizona. Married Ernest George Brundin, August 23, 1912 but divorced soon thereafter. Moved to New York City and attended lectures at New York University. Became involved in an Indian revolutionary movement (financed by Germany, then an enemy of Britain). Joined Friends of Freedom for India and assisted the group with hiding secret documents and information.

Moved to California in 1915, studying at the University of California. Arrested along with Salindranath Ghose, considered a political agitator. Was indicted for fraud (but not prosecuted). Moved to New York City but soon migrated to Berlin. Was aligned with Viren Chattopadhyaya who was also considered a Communist agitator. The two lived together for eight years.

Visited Moscow in 1921 for a meeting of Indian revolutionaries. After various illnesses began teaching English at the University of Berlin. Founded a birth control clinic in Berlin before moving to Denmark. Wrote a book called "Daughter of the Earth" in 1927 continued her writings as a correspondent for the Frankfurther Zeiting. Was sent by Moscow to China in 1928, settling in Shanghai where she became an outspoken advocate of sexual freedom and women's' issues as well as pushing other leftist issues.