Ellen Sullivan Woodward (July 11, 1887 – September 23, 1971) was a federal civil servant and a Mississippi state legislator. She served as director of work relief programs for women organized as part of the Roosevelt administration's New Deal in the 1930s and continued to work in the federal government until her retirement in the 1950s.
Her mother died when she was seven.[2] She was educated in Oxford, Washington, D.C., and Greenville, South Carolina, and received no formal education after the age of 15. Her father did not want her to attend college.[3][1] She made her society debut in 1905 at the Chickasaw Club in Memphis.
In 1906, she married Albert Y. Woodward, an attorney and elected judge; the couple had one son, Albert, Jr. in 1909.[4][2] Ellen was active in her church, the Mississippi Federation of Women's Clubs, and the City Beautiful Association in Louisville.[4][2] Her husband served in the Mississippi House of Representatives, and he died when Ellen Sullivan Woodward was 37.[1]
Public lifeEdit
Mississippi State GovernmentEdit
Ellen Sullivan Woodward's involvement in public life was influenced by her childhood, growing up around her public servant father, and also her involvement in the women's club movement.[1] When her husband died in 1925, she was elected to serve the remainder of his term becoming the second woman to serve as a representative for the state.[3] Until the end of her term in 1927, she focused on policies around libraries, education, and charities.[4] Part of her motivation to run for office was to support her son, but she found that the salary was not sufficient to support the two of them.[2]
Woodward did not run for reelection. She became director of civic development for the Mississippi State Board of Development (1926-1933), running both the women's program and Civil Welfare and Community Development division before serving as executive director for the board from 1929 to 1933.[4][1] She was also a delegate to the 1928 Democratic National Convention.[5] Woodward also was the executive secretary of the State Research Commission and was on the State Board of Public Welfare.[2]
Federal government workEdit
The Social Security Board in December 1939: George E. Bigge, Arthur J. Altmeyer and Ellen S. Woodward
Woodward was the director of the Women's Division of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) from 1933 to 1935, a division started through pressure from Eleanor Roosevelt to support unemployed women.[6] Part of her work included creating jobs for women through the Civil Works Administration (created in 1933). Starting these job programs was hampered both because public opinion didn't often see women as the head of the household and had beliefs about which job types would be appropriate for women to hold.[6] Some direct relief was given out, but Woodward preferred training women for jobs instead of giving out direct monetary relief.[2]
Woodward then became the director of the Women's and Professional Projects of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1938. At this time, she was noted as being the second highest powered woman that President Roosevelt appointed.[7]
She was a member of the three-member Social Security Board from 1938 to 1946. Woodward believed that standardizing payments between states would assist in postwar reconstruction.[2]
In 1946, Woodward was named director of the Office of Internal Relations of the newly created Federal Security Agency; she retired in December 1953.[1]
Recognition and legacyEdit
The projects she was involved in within the WPA employed at least 500,000 women.[6]
In 1947 the Women's College of the University of North Carolina awarded Woodward an honorary degree in recognition of her dedication to public welfare in Mississippi, social security in the nation, and domestic and international relief efforts.[9]
Woodward's portrait is part of the Mississippi Hall of Fame located in the Old Capitol Museum to honor her significant contributions to the state of Mississippi.[10]
RetirementEdit
After retiring, Woodward was involved with women's clubs, the Democratic Party, and charitable organizations.[4] She died in Washington, D.C., at the age of 84.[3] Her son Albert Woodward, Jr. died in 1990. Woodward did not leave much personal paperwork behind. Her papers are now held at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.[1]
Further readingEdit
"Collection: Papers of Ellen Sullivan Woodward, 1927-1954". Retrieved 2018-11-17.
Seeber, Frances M. (1990). "Eleanor Roosevelt and Women in the New Deal: A Network of Friends". Presidential Studies Quarterly. 20 (4): 707–717. ISSN 0360-4918. JSTOR 20700155.
Ware, Susan (1981). Beyond Suffrage: Women in the New Deal. Harvard University Press. ISBN978-0-674-06922-0.
Ware, Susan (2009). (PDF). History Now. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-18.
"Ellen S. Woodward, 84, New Deal Relief Official". Washington Post. 1971-09-24. pp. C8.
ReferencesEdit
^ abcdefgSwain, Martha H. Ellen S. Woodward : New Deal advocate for women. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi. pp. ix-17. ISBN0878057560.
^ abcdefgBrink, Wellington (June 1944). "Ellen Sullivan Woodward: Only Woman Member of the Social Security Board". Holland's: The Magazine of the South.
^ abcSwain, Martha (July 11, 2017). "Ellen Sullivan Woodward". Mississippi Encyclopedia. Center for Study of Southern Culture. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
^ abcdeLoggans, Regan. "Life Story: Ellen Sullivan Woodward, 1887–1971". Women & the American Story. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
^Sicherman, Barbara; Green, Carol Hurd (1980). Notable American Women: The Modern Period : a Biographical Dictionary. Harvard University Press. pp. 747–48. ISBN978-0674627338.
^ abcSwain, Martha H. (Winter 1983). "'The Forgotten Woman': Ellen S. Woodward and Women's Relief in the New Deal". Prologue: Journal of the National Archives.
^"Women's Work Relief in the Great Depression - Mississippi History Now". mshistorynow.mdah.state.ms.us. from the original on 2014-10-13. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
^Olson, James Stuart (2001). Historical Dictionary of the Great Depression, 1929-1940. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN978-0-313-30618-1.
^*"Woodward, Ellen Sullivan (1887–1971) | Encyclopedia.com". Retrieved 2018-10-29.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ellen S. Woodward.
The Living New Deal - Ellen Woodward (1887-1971)
August 31, 2023
ellen, sullivan, woodward, july, 1887, september, 1971, federal, civil, servant, mississippi, state, legislator, served, director, work, relief, programs, women, organized, part, roosevelt, administration, deal, 1930s, continued, work, federal, government, unt. Ellen Sullivan Woodward July 11 1887 September 23 1971 was a federal civil servant and a Mississippi state legislator She served as director of work relief programs for women organized as part of the Roosevelt administration s New Deal in the 1930s and continued to work in the federal government until her retirement in the 1950s Ellen Sullivan WoodwardBornJuly 11 1887Oxford MississippiDiedSeptember 23 1971Washington D C OccupationGovernment administratorKnown forNew Deal work programs for women Contents 1 Personal life 2 Public life 2 1 Mississippi State Government 2 2 Federal government work 2 3 Recognition and legacy 3 Retirement 4 Further reading 5 References 6 External linksPersonal life EditEllen Sullivan was born in Oxford Mississippi on July 11 1887 to William Van Amberg Sullivan an attorney who later served as a congressman from Mississippi and United States senator and Belle Murray Sullivan She was one of five children Through her mother s side she was a Daughter of the American Revolution and through her father s side she was a United Daughter of the Confederacy 1 Her mother died when she was seven 2 She was educated in Oxford Washington D C and Greenville South Carolina and received no formal education after the age of 15 Her father did not want her to attend college 3 1 She made her society debut in 1905 at the Chickasaw Club in Memphis In 1906 she married Albert Y Woodward an attorney and elected judge the couple had one son Albert Jr in 1909 4 2 Ellen was active in her church the Mississippi Federation of Women s Clubs and the City Beautiful Association in Louisville 4 2 Her husband served in the Mississippi House of Representatives and he died when Ellen Sullivan Woodward was 37 1 Public life EditMississippi State Government Edit Ellen Sullivan Woodward s involvement in public life was influenced by her childhood growing up around her public servant father and also her involvement in the women s club movement 1 When her husband died in 1925 she was elected to serve the remainder of his term becoming the second woman to serve as a representative for the state 3 Until the end of her term in 1927 she focused on policies around libraries education and charities 4 Part of her motivation to run for office was to support her son but she found that the salary was not sufficient to support the two of them 2 Woodward did not run for reelection She became director of civic development for the Mississippi State Board of Development 1926 1933 running both the women s program and Civil Welfare and Community Development division before serving as executive director for the board from 1929 to 1933 4 1 She was also a delegate to the 1928 Democratic National Convention 5 Woodward also was the executive secretary of the State Research Commission and was on the State Board of Public Welfare 2 Federal government work Edit The Social Security Board in December 1939 George E Bigge Arthur J Altmeyer and Ellen S WoodwardWoodward was the director of the Women s Division of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration FERA from 1933 to 1935 a division started through pressure from Eleanor Roosevelt to support unemployed women 6 Part of her work included creating jobs for women through the Civil Works Administration created in 1933 Starting these job programs was hampered both because public opinion didn t often see women as the head of the household and had beliefs about which job types would be appropriate for women to hold 6 Some direct relief was given out but Woodward preferred training women for jobs instead of giving out direct monetary relief 2 Woodward then became the director of the Women s and Professional Projects of the Works Progress Administration WPA from 1935 to 1938 At this time she was noted as being the second highest powered woman that President Roosevelt appointed 7 She was a member of the three member Social Security Board from 1938 to 1946 Woodward believed that standardizing payments between states would assist in postwar reconstruction 2 She served in advisory roles to the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration UNRRA and the United Nations Economic and Social Council 8 In 1946 Woodward was named director of the Office of Internal Relations of the newly created Federal Security Agency she retired in December 1953 1 Recognition and legacy Edit The projects she was involved in within the WPA employed at least 500 000 women 6 In 1947 the Women s College of the University of North Carolina awarded Woodward an honorary degree in recognition of her dedication to public welfare in Mississippi social security in the nation and domestic and international relief efforts 9 Woodward s portrait is part of the Mississippi Hall of Fame located in the Old Capitol Museum to honor her significant contributions to the state of Mississippi 10 Retirement EditAfter retiring Woodward was involved with women s clubs the Democratic Party and charitable organizations 4 She died in Washington D C at the age of 84 3 Her son Albert Woodward Jr died in 1990 Woodward did not leave much personal paperwork behind Her papers are now held at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History 1 Further reading Edit Collection Papers of Ellen Sullivan Woodward 1927 1954 Retrieved 2018 11 17 Seeber Frances M 1990 Eleanor Roosevelt and Women in the New Deal A Network of Friends Presidential Studies Quarterly 20 4 707 717 ISSN 0360 4918 JSTOR 20700155 Ware Susan 1981 Beyond Suffrage Women in the New Deal Harvard University Press ISBN 978 0 674 06922 0 Ware Susan 2009 Women and the Great Depression PDF History Now 17 Archived from the original PDF on 2018 11 18 Ellen S Woodward 84 New Deal Relief Official Washington Post 1971 09 24 pp C8 References Edit a b c d e f g Swain Martha H Ellen S Woodward New Deal advocate for women Jackson University Press of Mississippi pp ix 17 ISBN 0878057560 a b c d e f g Brink Wellington June 1944 Ellen Sullivan Woodward Only Woman Member of the Social Security Board Holland s The Magazine of the South a b c Swain Martha July 11 2017 Ellen Sullivan Woodward Mississippi Encyclopedia Center for Study of Southern Culture Retrieved November 18 2018 a b c d e Loggans Regan Life Story Ellen Sullivan Woodward 1887 1971 Women amp the American Story Retrieved 2021 05 05 Sicherman Barbara Green Carol Hurd 1980 Notable American Women The Modern Period a Biographical Dictionary Harvard University Press pp 747 48 ISBN 978 0674627338 a b c Swain Martha H Winter 1983 The Forgotten Woman Ellen S Woodward and Women s Relief in the New Deal Prologue Journal of the National Archives Women s Work Relief in the Great Depression Mississippi History Now mshistorynow mdah state ms us Archived from the original on 2014 10 13 Retrieved 2021 05 10 Olson James Stuart 2001 Historical Dictionary of the Great Depression 1929 1940 Greenwood Publishing Group ISBN 978 0 313 30618 1 Woodward Ellen Sullivan 1887 1971 Encyclopedia com Retrieved 2018 10 29 Wayback Machine The Mississippi Hall of Fame PDF web archive org Retrieved 2022 02 19 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ellen S Woodward The Living New Deal Ellen Woodward 1887 1971 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ellen Sullivan Woodward amp oldid 1165038123, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
