Dorothy Deemer Houghton (March 11, 1890 - March 15, 1972) was an American Republican public official and civil servant.[1]
Early lifeedit
Dorothy was born in Red Oak, Iowa and grew up in both Red Oak and Des Moines.[1] She was the daughter of Horace E. Deemer, who was a justice of the Iowa Supreme Court.[2] She met several political figures in childhood due to the connections of her father, with whom she had a good relationship.[1] She studied at Wellesley College, graduating in 1912.[1]
Careeredit
In 1921, she became the first woman on the Iowa State Conservation Board.[3] In 1934, she served as the temporary secretary for the Iowa Republican Party.[4] She became president of the Iowa Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1935.[5] The following year, she was appointed to the State Board of Education and served on the Board of Curators for the State Historical Society of Iowa.[1]
Houghton was elected president of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) in 1950, and served as president until 1952.[5][6] She supported for the United Nations while president of the GFWC.[6] She also supported Dwight Eisenhower's presidential candidacy and campaigned across several states.[7] Following Eisenhower's election to President, she was appointed assistant director for the Mutual Security of Refugees and Migrants, acting as a goodwill ambassador.[8] She retired in 1956 and received the Nansen Medal that year in recognition of her work with refugees, presented by Eleanor Roosevelt.[9][1] She subsequently campaigned to re-elect Eisenhower and became vice president of the Electoral College.[1]
Personal lifeedit
She married Hiram Houghton and had four children, but felt a lack of "intellectual stimulation" from being a housewife.[1] After her political career, Houghton retired to Red Oak and continued to serve on various committees.[1] She moved to Iowa City in 1957 after her husband's death, where she published her memoirs, Reflections.[1] She died in 1972 aged 82 and was buried in Red Oak.[1]
Referencesedit
Citationsedit
^ abcdefghijk"Houghton, Dorothy Deemer". The Biographical Dictionary of Iowa. University of Iowa. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
^"Joan of Arc to Be Given for Furlough Home Fund". The Des Moines Register. 14 July 1918. Retrieved 9 July 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Of Interest to Women". The Marion Star. 28 October 1921. Retrieved 9 July 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Iowa Republicans Start Des Moines Convention Trek". The Daily Times. 16 July 1934. Retrieved 9 July 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ab"Dorothy Deemer Houghton". International Presidents of the General Federation of Women's Clubs : 1890—2012. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
^"Federation Head Authors Reference". The Valley Independent. 25 November 1957. Retrieved 9 July 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Intensive Tour". Ames Daily Tribune. 10 October 1953. Retrieved 9 July 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^"NANSEN MEDAL AWARDED; Honor for Aid to Refugees Is Won by Mrs. D.D. Houghton". The New York Times. 1956-08-04. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
Sourcesedit
Mason, Karen M. (Winter 1997). "Women's Clubs in Iowa: An Introduction". The Annals of Iowa. 56 (1): 1–11. doi:10.17077/0003-4827.10994. S2CID 151180009.
External linksedit
Records of Dorothy Deemer Houghton at the Women's History and Resource Center
March 16, 2024
dorothy, houghton, dorothy, deemer, houghton, march, 1890, march, 1972, american, republican, public, official, civil, servant, early, life, editdorothy, born, iowa, grew, both, moines, daughter, horace, deemer, justice, iowa, supreme, court, several, politica. Dorothy Deemer Houghton March 11 1890 March 15 1972 was an American Republican public official and civil servant 1 Early life editDorothy was born in Red Oak Iowa and grew up in both Red Oak and Des Moines 1 She was the daughter of Horace E Deemer who was a justice of the Iowa Supreme Court 2 She met several political figures in childhood due to the connections of her father with whom she had a good relationship 1 She studied at Wellesley College graduating in 1912 1 Career editIn 1921 she became the first woman on the Iowa State Conservation Board 3 In 1934 she served as the temporary secretary for the Iowa Republican Party 4 She became president of the Iowa Federation of Women s Clubs in 1935 5 The following year she was appointed to the State Board of Education and served on the Board of Curators for the State Historical Society of Iowa 1 Houghton was elected president of the General Federation of Women s Clubs GFWC in 1950 and served as president until 1952 5 6 She supported for the United Nations while president of the GFWC 6 She also supported Dwight Eisenhower s presidential candidacy and campaigned across several states 7 Following Eisenhower s election to President she was appointed assistant director for the Mutual Security of Refugees and Migrants acting as a goodwill ambassador 8 She retired in 1956 and received the Nansen Medal that year in recognition of her work with refugees presented by Eleanor Roosevelt 9 1 She subsequently campaigned to re elect Eisenhower and became vice president of the Electoral College 1 Personal life editShe married Hiram Houghton and had four children but felt a lack of intellectual stimulation from being a housewife 1 After her political career Houghton retired to Red Oak and continued to serve on various committees 1 She moved to Iowa City in 1957 after her husband s death where she published her memoirs Reflections 1 She died in 1972 aged 82 and was buried in Red Oak 1 References editCitations edit a b c d e f g h i j k Houghton Dorothy Deemer The Biographical Dictionary of Iowa University of Iowa Retrieved 8 July 2017 Joan of Arc to Be Given for Furlough Home Fund The Des Moines Register 14 July 1918 Retrieved 9 July 2017 via Newspapers com Of Interest to Women The Marion Star 28 October 1921 Retrieved 9 July 2017 via Newspapers com Iowa Republicans Start Des Moines Convention Trek The Daily Times 16 July 1934 Retrieved 9 July 2017 via Newspapers com a b Mason 1997 p 1 a b Dorothy Deemer Houghton International Presidents of the General Federation of Women s Clubs 1890 2012 Retrieved 2017 07 09 Federation Head Authors Reference The Valley Independent 25 November 1957 Retrieved 9 July 2017 via Newspapers com Intensive Tour Ames Daily Tribune 10 October 1953 Retrieved 9 July 2017 via Newspapers com NANSEN MEDAL AWARDED Honor for Aid to Refugees Is Won by Mrs D D Houghton The New York Times 1956 08 04 ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2017 07 09 Sources edit Mason Karen M Winter 1997 Women s Clubs in Iowa An Introduction The Annals of Iowa 56 1 1 11 doi 10 17077 0003 4827 10994 S2CID 151180009 External links editRecords of Dorothy Deemer Houghton at the Women s History and Resource Center Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dorothy D Houghton amp oldid 1194868702, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
