Nell Donnelly Reed was a bit of an oddity as she was a woman who owned and ran a business in the early to mid-20th century. Not only that, her business was one of the leading dress manufacturers in the country. Located in the Kansas City Garment District and a business that hired many women, Nell Donnelly Reed and her company became key players in union battles, specifically with the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU).