This article is about the American politician. For the English architect, see Hilda Mason (architect).
Hilda Mason (June 14, 1916 – December 16, 2007) was an American politician and statehood advocate in Washington, D.C. Mason was a member of the D.C. Statehood Green Party and served as an at-large member of the Council of the District of Columbia from 1977 to 1999, becoming, at the time, the longest-serving elected official in the district's history since the beginning of home rule.[2] Mason was one of a few members of the Democratic Socialists of America to be elected to public office before 2017.[3]
A great-granddaughter of enslaved people, Mason was born in a split log cabin in rural Campbell County, Virginia. Mason first worked as a teacher of "colored" students in racially segregated Altavista, Virginia. After moving to Washington, D.C. in 1945,[4] Mason continued to teach in the public schools there which were also still segregated. Mason was a staff member at the LaSalle Laboratory School and the progressive Adams Morgan Community School Project. In 1957, Mason met fellow activist Charlie Mason,[5] a white man who had graduated from Harvard University and Howard University Law School.[4] They married at All Souls Church in 1965;[4] they had two daughters.[6]
Mason was an elected member of the District of Columbia Board of Education from 1972 to 1977 and then was appointed to the D.C. Council to replace Julius Hobson.[6] Mason's focus while on the council was public education; Mason advocated for the creation of the David A. Clarke School of Law at the University of the District of Columbia.[6] In the mid-1990s, Mason's mental condition came into question; her behavior was "sometimes-erratic and unpredictable".[7] Later in life, Mason began calling herself the "Grandmother to the world".[8] In 1998, she finished third in an at-large race that elected two council members.[6][9]
July 19, 1977 – elected at-large council member in special election (narrow win over Barbara Sizemore)[11]
November 7, 1978 — reelected at-large council member[12]
November 2, 1982 — reelected at-large council member[12]
November 4, 1986 — reelected at-large council member[12]
November 6, 1990 — reelected at-large council member[12]
November 8, 1994 — reelected at-large council member[12]
November 3, 1998 — ran for reelection but was defeated in general by Phil Mendelson and David Catania (the at-large race has two winners)[12]
Activismedit
Mason and her husband were Washington, D.C.'s most significant activist couple from the early 1960s to the 2000s. Before her political career, working as a teacher, she helped organize a school chapter of the Washington Teachers Union. Mason fought for equal treatment for Black students and teachers. In the mid-1960s, Mason organized a rent subsidy project and summer enrichment program for children in the neighborhood around All Soul's Church. Mason also picketed the D.C. Transit Company to demand an end to its racist hiring practices and to protest the Whites-only membership policy of the YMCA. After losing her bid for a Council term in 1998, Mason and her husband continued to provide financial assistance to college students. The couple was instrumental in establishing the University of the District of Columbia School of Law and were great patrons of the institution. They contributed large sums to provide scholarships for students attending the school. In 2004, the school Board of Trustees honored them by naming its library the Charles N. and Hilda H. M. Mason Law Library.
^ abcdSmith, J. Y.; Holley, Joe (18 December 2007). "Vocal Former Member Of D.C. Council Pushed Home Rule, Education". Washington Post. pp. B1. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
^Valerie Strauss, "Mason's behavior worries allies, foes alike", The Washington Post, Aug. 1, 1995, p. B1.
^James Jones, "Loose Lips: Brazil Takes Offense", Washington City Paper, Nov. 17, 2006.
^Mike DeBonis, "Hilda Mason Dies at 91", Washington City Paper, Dec. 17, 2007.
^Williams, Juan; Coleman, Milton (1977-04-03). "Hilda Mason to Fill Hobson Council Seat". The Washington Post. p. 21. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
^Coleman, Milton; Morgan, Thomas (1977-07-20). "Mason Leading Sizemore". The Washington Post. p. A1. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
^ abcdefDistrict of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. . Archived from the original on 2008-07-16. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
hilda, mason, this, article, about, american, politician, english, architect, architect, june, 1916, december, 2007, american, politician, statehood, advocate, washington, mason, member, statehood, green, party, served, large, member, council, district, columb. This article is about the American politician For the English architect see Hilda Mason architect Hilda Mason June 14 1916 December 16 2007 was an American politician and statehood advocate in Washington D C Mason was a member of the D C Statehood Green Party and served as an at large member of the Council of the District of Columbia from 1977 to 1999 becoming at the time the longest serving elected official in the district s history since the beginning of home rule 2 Mason was one of a few members of the Democratic Socialists of America to be elected to public office before 2017 3 Hilda MasonMember of the Council of the District of Columbia At largeIn office April 2 1977 January 2 1999Preceded byJulius HobsonSucceeded byDavid CataniaPersonal detailsBorn 1916 06 14 June 14 1916Campbell County Virginia U S 1 DiedDecember 16 2007 2007 12 16 aged 91 Washington D C USPolitical partyD C Statehood Green PartyResidenceShepherd Park Washington D C 1 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Political career 3 Activism 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksLife and career editA great granddaughter of enslaved people Mason was born in a split log cabin in rural Campbell County Virginia Mason first worked as a teacher of colored students in racially segregated Altavista Virginia After moving to Washington D C in 1945 4 Mason continued to teach in the public schools there which were also still segregated Mason was a staff member at the LaSalle Laboratory School and the progressive Adams Morgan Community School Project In 1957 Mason met fellow activist Charlie Mason 5 a white man who had graduated from Harvard University and Howard University Law School 4 They married at All Souls Church in 1965 4 they had two daughters 6 Mason was an elected member of the District of Columbia Board of Education from 1972 to 1977 and then was appointed to the D C Council to replace Julius Hobson 6 Mason s focus while on the council was public education Mason advocated for the creation of the David A Clarke School of Law at the University of the District of Columbia 6 In the mid 1990s Mason s mental condition came into question her behavior was sometimes erratic and unpredictable 7 Later in life Mason began calling herself the Grandmother to the world 8 In 1998 she finished third in an at large race that elected two council members 6 9 Political career edit nbsp Mason at her Council deskApril 2 1977 appointed by the D C Statehood Party to fill the at large council seat left vacant by the death of Julius Hobson 10 July 19 1977 elected at large council member in special election narrow win over Barbara Sizemore 11 November 7 1978 reelected at large council member 12 November 2 1982 reelected at large council member 12 November 4 1986 reelected at large council member 12 November 6 1990 reelected at large council member 12 November 8 1994 reelected at large council member 12 November 3 1998 ran for reelection but was defeated in general by Phil Mendelson and David Catania the at large race has two winners 12 Activism editMason and her husband were Washington D C s most significant activist couple from the early 1960s to the 2000s Before her political career working as a teacher she helped organize a school chapter of the Washington Teachers Union Mason fought for equal treatment for Black students and teachers In the mid 1960s Mason organized a rent subsidy project and summer enrichment program for children in the neighborhood around All Soul s Church Mason also picketed the D C Transit Company to demand an end to its racist hiring practices and to protest the Whites only membership policy of the YMCA After losing her bid for a Council term in 1998 Mason and her husband continued to provide financial assistance to college students The couple was instrumental in establishing the University of the District of Columbia School of Law and were great patrons of the institution They contributed large sums to provide scholarships for students attending the school In 2004 the school Board of Trustees honored them by naming its library the Charles N and Hilda H M Mason Law Library See also editList of Democratic Socialists of America who have held office in the United StatesReferences edit a b Redmon Jeremy Has her time passed Mason denies she s too old to run The Washington Times October 16 1998 DeBonis Mike February 12 2013 Jack Evans is now the D C Council s longest serving member Washington Post Retrieved May 15 2021 Democratic Left vol 8 no 1 January 1990 page 7 a b c Montgomery David October 15 1998 Mason s Hold on Council Seat May Be Waning The Washington Post p B1 HILDA MASON EDUCATOR ACTIVIST AND WASHINGTON DC S GRANDMOTHER Children s Defense Fund Retrieved 2021 05 15 a b c d Smith J Y Holley Joe 18 December 2007 Vocal Former Member Of D C Council Pushed Home Rule Education Washington Post pp B1 Retrieved 28 November 2020 Valerie Strauss Mason s behavior worries allies foes alike The Washington Post Aug 1 1995 p B1 James Jones Loose Lips Brazil Takes Offense Washington City Paper Nov 17 2006 Mike DeBonis Hilda Mason Dies at 91 Washington City Paper Dec 17 2007 Williams Juan Coleman Milton 1977 04 03 Hilda Mason to Fill Hobson Council Seat The Washington Post p 21 Retrieved 2008 07 21 Coleman Milton Morgan Thomas 1977 07 20 Mason Leading Sizemore The Washington Post p A1 Retrieved 2008 07 21 a b c d e f District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics Historical Elected Officials At Large Member of the Council of the District of Columbia Archived from the original on 2008 07 16 Retrieved 2008 07 19 Council of the District of ColumbiaPreceded byJulius Hobson At Large Member Council of the District of Columbia1977 1999 Succeeded byPhil MendelsonExternal links editHilda Mason Finding Aid Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hilda Mason amp oldid 1177314486, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
