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AUTHOR Ohrn, Deborah Gore, Ed. TITLE Women of Achievement. Iowa City. INSTITUTION Iowa State Historical Society, REPORT NO ISSN-0278-0208 PUB DATE 93 well. NOTE 33p.; Photographs may not copy of Iowa, 402 Iowa AVAILABLE FROMGoldfinch, State Historical Society Ave., Iowa City, IA52240-1806 ($10/4 issues). PUB TYPE Collected Works Serials (022) People; vl5 n2 Win JOURNAL CIT Goldfinch, Iowa History for Young 1993

EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. Education; DESCRIPTORS *Civil Rights; Elementary Secondary *Females; *Feminism; Local History;*Social Action; Social Studies; Womens Education;*Womens Studies IDENTIFIERS *Iowa

ABSTRACT This issue of the Goldfinchhighlights some of Iowa's 20th century women of achievement.These women have devoted their lives to working for human rights,education, equality, and individual rights. They come fromthe worlds of politics, art,music, education, sports, business,entertainment, and social work. They Americans, represent Native Americans,African Americans, Hispanic Chapman and European Americans. Thefirst woman featured is Carrie Catt, who served for 51 years as anofficer in either a state or suffrage. Seven of those years she national group supporting women's National American was president of thelargest national group, the is Edna Woman Suffrage Association.The next woman highlighted life to Williams Gri,fin, a black womanwho dedicated much of her tells of Cora civil rights and peaceorganizations. The third article The fourth Bussey Hillis and her work tosupport children's rghts. black woman to own woman recognized isPauline Humphrey, the first and operate her own cosmetologyschool in Iowa. Maria Running Moccasins Pearson, an elder ofthe Yankton Sioux, ishighlighted for first law in her work for Indian rights.She was responsible for the The next the United States enacted toprotect ancient burial sites. who in 1974 woman featured is MaryLouise Smith, a political worker The last served as the chair of theRepublican National Committee. fiction portrayed woman described isRuth Suckow, a writer whose quiz women as strong andindependent. This issue includes a game testing familiarity with the womenfeatured and a comic strip. (DK)

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TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE: INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC).- HISTORY MAKERS This issue of The Goldfinch highlights just a few of the many Gioldfinch famous Iowan women of achieve- Volume 15. Number 2 """-N. ment. One of the winners of the Winter 1993

1993 Write Women Back into EDITOR: Deborah Gore Ohrn History Essay Contest tells PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR: Christie Dailey FICTION EDITOR: Steven Blasi(' the story of such a woman. CONSULTING EDITORS: Karen Mason. curator, Jenny Tindall of Urbandale Iowa Women's Archives. University of Iowa Libraries: Charlotte Nelson. administrator. Iowa writes about Eleanor Rodger, a Commission on the Status of Women: and Louise neighbor who brings more than a R. Noun, author, and member. Iowa Women's Hall plate of cookies to the people in of Fame. EDUCATORS ADVISORY BOARD: Jan Carlson, her life. Here is part of Jenny's South Clay School, Gillett Grove: Margie Hood. prize-winning essay. (For more Horn Elementary. Iowa City: and Pat Rod. North Hill Elementary, Burlington. information on how YOU can enter CHILDREN'S ADVISORY BOARD: Audrey Ann the contest, see page 30.) Coffield. Montezuma: Mathew Kendall and Jacob / Knoll, Cedar Rapids: Amber Massa and Jill Pennington. Iowa City. Eleanor Rodger, Iowa Bell-Ringer by Jenny Tindall, Urbandale THANKS TO: Barbara James. Ila Plasencia. Edna Griffin. and Mary Louise Smith of Des Moines, Eleanor Rodger rang our bell two years 500 cf Iowa's children learned to read. She Phylliss Henry and Maria Running Moccasins Pearson of Ames for allowing us interviews and/or ago. We had just moved in, and when Mom taught In Webster County, Otho, Oldebolt. use of family photographs. Sherri Dagel. Jen answered the door, we saw a petite, 80- Cherokee, and Le Grandand while she taught, she worked on her four-year degree Guttenfelder. and Amy Ruth for editorial year-old woman with a plate of cookies in assistance. Tory Pomeroy for graphic design hand. We knew right away that she would from Iowa Teacher's College the Univer- assistance. Photo research by Jennifer A. Langi II. be a good neighbor. What we didn't know sity of Northern Iowa). The characters of Wild Rosie and Goldie by Jerry Is that Eleanor Rodger has been ringing In 1947, Eleanor was ready for a new Brown. bells, one way or another, all her life. challenge. She accepted a teaching Job at CREDITS: The articles on pages 8 and 14 are Eleanor was born In Otho, Iowa, in the Bella Vista school In Venezuela. There, she met and married Bob Rodger. adapted from two sold-out issues of The 1910. Growing up on a farm, her work was Goldfinch: " and Woman When the couple returned to Iowa, important to the family, and she learned to Suffrage.- September. 1989: and -Caring for do whatever was needed. "I even drove the Eleanor began teaching in the Des Moines Iowa's Children," November, 1990. The story on hay wagon," she said. school district. In 1966, she turned her page 28 is excerpted from 's The Eleanor really started making a attention to other teachers, serving as an Bonney Family Part One, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, difference in 1930, when she began a long elementary consultant until her retirement 1928, pp. 36-8. career as an elementary school teacher. In 1975. Widowed four years ago, Eleanor COVER: Cover design by Art A La Carte Ltd., Her early years In teaching were in rural Newton. schoolhouses, sometimes with only one or continues an active lifeexercising, two students. Each day she would ring the serving as a deacon in her church, and The Goldfinch 15514 0278 02081,s puniisned ouaneny by bell that called the students in from their ringing the doorbells of the sick, the the State Historical Society of Iowa. 402 Iowa Avenue. lonely, and the new neighbors who might tows City. Iowa 52240-1806 (319/335 39165 Second play, and then they would learn together. class postage said at Iowa City. Iowa. Subscriptions we Eleanor never tired of watching children appreciate a friend. $1.0 for fox issues. learn. "It's a real privilege to teach. Seeing History Is full of people who shot guns, Postmaster Send address changes to. Carol Carey. met In assemblies, and made the big subScriptions (-mutilator. The Goldfinch. State Historicai a child learn to read is the biggest thrillof Society of Iowa. 402 Iowa Avenue. Iowa City, Iowa 52240 decisions. The books need a few more all." The job was not always easy. 1806. Sometimes the children didn't like to be "bell-ringers" like Eleanor Rodger, who set out In small, quiet ways to improve the State Hstoncat Society of Iowa. 1993 taught, or had trouble understanding. But No portion of The Goldhnch may be reproduced without Eleanor persisted, and with her help, over lives of those around them. prior permission.

2 The Goldfinch WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT "Carrie Chapman Catt "Women are absolutely (part] of the history of Iowa but so many 2 Edna Griffin times their stories have not been told and have been lost," wrote 3 Cora !Warmly HMIs Mary Louise Smith. one of Iowa's most famous women involved in 4 Pauline Humphrey Marla Running Moccasins Pearson 20th century politics. Here are some of these stories. This issue 6 Mary Louise Smith highlights only a few of Iowa's 20th-century women of achievement. 7 Ruth Suck These women have devoted their lives to working for human rights, education, equality, and individual rights. They have stepped out beyond the front doors of their homes and broken boundaries, pushed limits, tested laws, and oursued their ideals. This issue highlights the notable Iowa women we should all know. They come from the worlds of politics, art, music. education. sports, business, entertainment, and social work. They represent Native Americans. African Americans. Hispanic Americans, and European Americans. We'd love to hear about notable women from other ethnic groups. Send us their stories and photographs to: The Goldfinch, 402 Iowa Avenue. Iowa City. Iowa 52240. We'll try to include more women's stories in upcoming issues. It's important to tell the story of Iowa's women before the women themselves or their stories are forgotten. Our cover highlights the many accomplishments of the Iowa women of achievement you'll read about in this issue.

CONTENTS Features Departments Iowa Women News 4 History Makers 2 Carrie Chapman Catt 8 Answers 30 Edna Griffin 11 The Roost 31 Cora Bussey Hillis 14 Rosie's Dinner Party 16 Pauline Humphrey 18 Maria Running Moccasins Pearson 21 Warning: The material you are about to read In this 24 Issue about Iowa women of achievement may seem Mary Louise Smith confusing. Ruth Suckow 26 Throughout history, most women who marry change The Bonney Family 28 their last names to their husband's last names. Names get even trickier when women marry more than once and change their names several times, or combine last names. We've tried our best to make the names of women In this issue clear. Today many women are deciding to keep the names they were given at birth or even make up totally new names of their own. 9 4 The Goldfinch 3 I, rear,: This was the kind of sexist two-year law enforcement program attitude Des Moines' first female at Des Moines Area Community ri ng patrol officer faced when she College. entered the force in 1972. In 1970 Phylliss passed all of the written the Blue there were fewer than 10 women and physical tests to he a police officers on patrol in the entire officer. She lucked out by passing United States. It took women like the height and weight requirements Iowa's Phylliss Henry to break the (for men!) that prevented most Barrier harriers that kept women out of the women from becoming patrol police force. officers. Growing up in Des Moines. "At the time, women could serve Phylliss graduated from East High only as jail matrons or as record School in 1958 and married Earl clerks; they couldn't even be Henry, a police officer. Phylliss dispatchers because it was thought worked as ajail matronin the women would get too emotional county sheriff's office where Earl over the air during emergencies." DES MOINESAmale police worked for a few years. After her Henry said in a newspaper officer once asked Phylliss Henry divorce in the late 1960s. Henry interview. For 10 years Henry criticized and why she wanted to go into police moved with her daughters, Shelly work involving "blood and guts." and Ellen, to California for a few challenged the sex discrimination "Why don't you take up nursing years. She then returned to Des she faced at work. She filed legal complaints challenging height and instead?" he asked. Moines and in 1971 enrolled in a

and honor achieving women. In 3. How can kids get involved? 1972, the Iowa State Legislature Enter the "WriteWomen Back Into created the Iowa Commission on History" essay contest sponsored Goldie the Status of Women to help assureevery year by the Iowa Ask equality for all Iowa women. Commission on the Status of 1. What is the Iowa Women's Women, the State Historical Hall of Fame? 2. Who are the Hall of Famers Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Department of Education. Kids in It's an award given to four Iowa in this issue of The Goldfinch? women every year. The winners areCarrie Chapman Catt, Edna Griffin,grades six through nine can womendead or alivewho haveCora Bussey Hillis, Mary Louise participate through their schools. See page 30 for more info. Q contributed their talents and skills Smith, , and to the state. The Iowa CommissionRuth Suckow. We wish we could on the Status of Women createdthepublish something about all of the Hallof Fame in 1975 to recognize women who have been honored!

.1M 1141-'forr. 4 Write. Women, Isac\(i. worActri arg tenls 1-0 tlecil,5 ofwcime.rt oM.viirYt. Inio I-1 ran.es1 iplinitampumi_Special Collections, University of Iowa Lbraries

folK crb;StSt pecole wl-k3 create S3%11/, stoVe.S, etitS, cif food iTo.J;-1-;ovv:\t ways weight regulations, the separate (MOO-gin) often wore two pairs of lines of promotion for men and glasses to see the fine knots. "I'll do women, the rejection of women for this [lacework] as long as I can," she certain jobs. and the department's said after she retired. "I'll tell you ban on her public speaking. what, they'll have to bury me with a In 1978 she was promoted to needle and thread." police sergeant. In 1980. Henry was Because of her lacemaking, named to the board of the Genevieve won a $5,000 award as a International Association of National Heritage Fellow, one of 17 Women Police. Two years later, American folk artists honored by the she resigned to get a Ph.D. in National Endowment for the Arts, in communication studies at the President Bill Clinton nominated 1984. She is the only Iowa woman to University of Iowa. PhyllissHenryIowa's first woman date to win the award. Women's struggle to take on U.S. Marshal. The U.S. Afarshars Although Genevieve and her office provides security for the federal non-traditional jobs like police husband, Bud, had no children, she courts, captures higitives. transports tried to hand down the tradition to the officer is still being fought. Out of federal prisoners. and coordinates the next generation of nieces. Her 356 Des Moines police officers witness protection program, which lacework can be seen at the Interstate- today. only 18, or five percent arc protects people whose lives are women. The national average is 10 endangered when they agree totestify 80 Welcome Center near Victor, Iowa. percent. incourt. It is part of an exhibit called Folk Arts on the Freeway. 9 Steven Ohm

Each cif Genevieve Nahra Mougin's unique lace pieces, like spiderwebs, In 1921 the Nahras moved to the Making Lace: (Wel cm Davenport area where Genevieve's Genevieve father and mother operated an eight- \1 acre vegetable farm to support their 11 Nahra Mougin children. Throughtout her life Genevieve DAVENPORTSeven-year-old continued to perfect her knotted-lace Genevieve Nahra (NAY -ra) learned doilies and tablecloths. After she how to make knotted lace using an married, she worked full-time, first as ordinary sewing needle and fine threada tailor, and then at Detroit, Michigan, from her Lebanese mother. Her parentsand Davenport, Iowa, defense plants. had immigrated from Lebanon to Genevieve created her knotted -lace Illinois. Knotted lace-making was a without books or patterns. "It comes Lebanese tradition passed down from straight out of my head," she said. generation to generation. While in her early 70's, Mougin Star Athletes

Setting Records on Skis

DES MOINESThe world went explained Sheila in a Dowling dark for Sheila Holzworth of Des High School/St. Joseph Moines when she was 10 years old. Education Center publication. .':04. ''vf....- :.4 with Iserdog, The metal headgear attached to her "I believe God works through me poses blind braces snapped off, gouged her eyes. to help change people's attitudes OAworth who are but Sheila Manypeopleguide them, and blinded her. about blind people and Snapper, dogs to seeing-eye pet and Within two months Sheila began handicapped people in general." Q have isHotztoortit's learning Braille. She quickly Snapper mastered the use of a cane. Soon she Protector. joined her family in horseback riding, canoeing, and water-skiing. The Pied Piper of Bowling Sheila ran track at Dowling High School and at Central College in OTTUMWAThe first U.S. quickly improved her score. In Pella. (She ran with a radio attached woman to gain fame as a pro- 1927 she heat the champion howler to a headband to help guide her.) fessional bowler was born in at his own game and turned pro the In 1981, the International Year of Ottumwa in 1889. Almost 100 years next year. From that moment on. the Disabled, Holzworth scaled Mt. later, Floretta Doty McCutcheon life dramatically changed for Rainier in Washington with nine was inducted into the Iowa Sports McCutcheon. She and her husband other people with disabilities. She Hall of Fame in 1988 for her divorced. Floretta traveled around entered record books as the "first amazing pro-bowling career. the country for 10 years giving blind woman to make it to the peak." Floretta moved with her family exhibitions. With her earnings she By the mid-1980s. Sheila had won to when she was two sent her daughter, Barbara. to the several medals in water- and snow- years old. She didn't try howling University of Colorado. skiing events in World Cup and until 1923 when her doctor Writers called her the "Pied Piper Olympic international competitions st}ggested she get in shape. Her of Bowling" when she and a business for people with disabilities. husband, Robert, who was starting partner formed the "Mrs. The star athlete also received an a women's league at his company McCutchcon School of Bowling." Outstanding Young American Awardtalked his wife into trying the sport. Newspapers and bowling alley from the United States Jaycees. She At the time when fewer than 3,000owners across the United States met with former President George women were registered bowl- sponsored the schools. Floretta gave Bush at the White House in 1989. ers in the United States, McCutcheonfree lessons to women and children. When she's not competing in an tossed her first ball down a lane when Some experts believe Floretta athletic event, Holzworth works at she was 35 yea.s old. She scored Doty McCutcheon taught more than The Principal Financial Group and only a 69 (out of 300). 250,000 women and children to uses a talking computer. Three years later she watched the howl. Her motto: "Let your ball "I guess I've come to believe that form of Jimmy Smith, the World's roll. Don't try to throw it." some good must come of the accidentChampion Bowler. Trying to The Queen of the Ten Pins died which caused my blindness," imitate his bowling style. Floretta in 1967 at the age of 78. -l*:flos; Latina.. a 9."0.el"( wctes-0.0 ke'3Ve of f"..'315' teoe 4e..scavot can jesceo.t. WS() LA1-1ntwneX;co,n Pn <

A Community Star

When Ila Plasencia (EYE-la plah- raising corn. pigs, and cows, her "I'm good at whatever I do," she SENS-ee-ya) was in high school, she father worked at a cement factory said. and 11 other Latina girls organized awith many other Hispanic workers. But her greatest accomplish- club called The Twelve Stars. The !la's mother died when she was ment was the creation of Midwest West Des Moines girls baked cookies,seven and the family moved to Education Resources Development collected scrap metal, and wrote to West Des Moines. During her teen Fund, Inc. (MERDF). As executive servicemen during World War II years and even into her 20s she wasdirector, she writes grants for (1939-1945). a pitcher on the neighborhood girls'funding to help provide I always liked organizing." said Ilasoftball team. "We played softball scholarships for young Latinos to Plasencia in a recent interview with down by the railroad in empty' I.s. attend leadership conferences and The Goldfinch. "We weren't allowedI learned leadership, teamwork, andcollege. In the past, she offered to join certain groups. Latinos and how to win." she said. classes in history. government, and Anglos didn't mix then. As a result of After graduating from Valley English to new immigrantsmore the discrimination I faced in high High School, Ila worked as a clerk-than 200 people studied at MERDF. school, I knew I'd have to make my typist for the Department of According to Ila. some 10.000 own way in life." Agriculture for about five years. Latinos live in Polk County. She Born in Earlham, Iowa. in 1928. IlaShe married and then was helps many new Spanish-speaking was named Adelita. But the people indiagnosed with TB and spent 10 Iowans make the adjustment to life the community changed her name to months in a hospital. After she in the United States. She helps "Ila" because they said they couldn't recovered, Plasencia worked as a families set up hank accounts. pronounce "Adelita." Her parents. bookkeeper and later had four establish credit, and buy insurance Pablo and Pilar, came from Mexico. children: Paula, Raphael, Brian, and homes. Ila was the youngest of seven childrenand Lisa. Ila also gives public speeches on and grew up speaking Spanish at home Soon she was organizing events racism and the Latino community. and English at school. The family in the community. Ila served as "We are the most forgotten moved to Des Moines to farm when Ila president of the girls' softball minority group in the United was two years old. In addition to organization in West Des Moines. States," said Ila. "We are left out of In 1970, 1971. and 1993. she was the stories." named Woman of the Year by the Ila Plasencia's message to kids League of United Latin American who grow up in two cultures: "Be Citizens (LULAC). In 1983. proud of who you are and what you Plasencia organized a folkloric do. You have a gift of having the 0 dance troupe, Los Bailadores ability to live in two worlds. Share / Mestizos. A group of adults and your culture with others." Q children perform traditional I Mexican dances around the state. AThis story is available in Spanish. year later, Ila was inducted into the Please contact the editor if you Mexican Bowling Hall of Fame. would like a copy.

Ila Plasencia is a civil rights leader and activist The Goldfinch 7 for the Latino community in Iowa and nationwide. O Iowa Women of Achievement

Carrie Lane ChapmanCatt Working for Women's Right toVote (1859-1947)

Like children everywhere, Carrie Clinton Lanewho

would later he known as Carrie Chapman Cattunderstood ..11111.; justice. She knew when people were being fair and when they /000.4.A. weren't. Carrie was 13 before she realized that women were nut allowed to vote. Her family had spent many hours that year- 1872discussing the coming election for U.S. President. The candidates were Ulysses S. (rant and Horace Greeley. Carrie had named her kittens after the candidates, and she named the cutest after the man favored by her parents: Mr. Greeley. On election day, her father and a farm helper dressed in good clothes to go to town to vote. "Mother. why aren't you changing clothes?" Carrie asked. Are you going to town in your work dress?" Her mother laughed. "Why, Carrie, don't you know that women t.,in't vote?" Carrie was stunned. Years later she said. "I never forgot that ... injustice done to my mother. I !truly] believe I was born a suffragist." Carrie Chapman Catt devoted her life to working for Carrie was to become one of America's best-known women women's rights in Iowa and around the world. in the early part of the 1.900s. Her fame grew out of her ambitious activities for justice: justice for women and peace lA,i`Dbeb for the world. Now she is most remembered for her work for wo((1`.'131-1c-135 -FtmrQ he women's right to vote. <2,c the0

8 The Goldfinch ,J0.$ ord(-1; Carrie Chapman Catt at 50 years of age in her garden.

She had two brothers, one older and required to march and drill. one younger. Carrie's father, Lucius, Carrie asked the general who built a brick home a few miles from taught the drills if he could do the same for women. Ile Charles City (population 500) on land they NA%..s.j.::- would call Spring Iirook Stock Farm. A welcomed the chance and I.ucius planted maple saplings he'd brought told the women to make comfort- from Wisconsin. 11-- able uniforms. For pretend rifles, he bought Carrie's mother. Marie Clinton Lane, had broom sticks at the local broom factory. gone to a college for women in Massachusetts (women were 'The second change was about speaking in public. In those not yet allowed into most of the colleges that men attended), days before television and movies, speech-making was a and her pleasure in reading was one of the things she taught popular entertainment and a way to spread ideas. The her daughter. One of Carriirs greatest joys was to take a book Crescent literary Society had weekly meetings where young to one of the maple trees, climb into the branches, and read men gave three minute talks to practice their skills at quick for a while. thinking. The women were only allowed to recite memorized Carrie's interest in politics and her delight with animals lines or read a short. essay. Carrie organized other friends, continued as she grew. Her parents probably influenced her and the women formed their own society where they could in both matters. Her father ran for office several times when speak out as the men did. she was a teen-ager. After college, Carrie studied law for a year and then moved to Mason City to teach. She later became principal and then College adventures superintendent of schools. After high school, Carrie went to the Iowa State Agricul- When she was 2(i, she married Leo Chapman, the crew tural College (now Iowa State University). She earned most of editor of theMason City Republican.She went to work with the money needed for school, first by teaching, then by him on the paper, writing and editing. washing dishes, and working in the library. Leo died less than two years later. Carrie moved to Charles At Iowa State, Chapman made two big changes. There City and bought a house where her younger brother could were no exercise classes for women, although men were live while he attended high school. She earned a living giving The Goldfinch 9 1 0 terelz:o..t'r..krce% (nave erit to Sto L'Se c; alcohol I M E speeches on temperance and womets rights. The Weekly Newsagazine

Working for the right to vote Carrie began her active won; kne suffrage in 1885, when she attended conventions in 1)es Moines and Cedar Rapids. During her life. Carrie served 51 years as an officer in either a slate er national group supporting suffrage. Seven ofthose !,ars she was president of the largest national group,the National .Anivrican Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). She spoke in every county in Iowa, in dozens of states. and oventually in minty countries around the world. In 1590, she married George Call, a wolo-do engineer ,vIto designed bridges. Carrie and George lived in Seattle, , and the New York City area. George Can died in 1905. Catt traveled extensively in (he 189(ls lecturing about Carrie ,haprnan Cast was re;iturcci on the cover of Time woman's suffrage. She served as chairperson of NAWSA magazine in June. 1926. for ner work a5 a 5uffragit. wont 1595 to IWO, and the n as its president until1904. From 191)1 until the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Catt worked she turned her attention to international winnan's suffrage and world peace. By the end of her career, Carrie had spoken tier the international woman's suffrage movement. on every continent and in nearly every country.She helped o 1915 she served once again as the presidentof the NAWSA. With Catt at the helm, the association worked hard women get the vote in 26 countries. Carrie Lane Chapman Catt, one of Iowa's most famous for the next four years until Congress passed the 19th women, died at the age of 55 at home in New Rochelle, Now amendment in 1919 allowing woolen to vote. York, in 1947. She was nominated to the Iowa Women's Hall In 1920. the 19th Amendment to the Constitution became law . Xomen could vole! Carrie wrote about women's new of Fame in 1975. right to vote: "Prize it ... I Inderstand what it means and what it can do for the country."

Visiting Iowa Cates last trip to Iowa was on Mother's Day. 1936. for a O How did Carrie Chapman Catt support women's right to vote? ceremony in I/esloines..rh, Iowa Suffrage Memorial Commissiona group founded in 1922 by women kvho had 0 What do you admire about Catt? worked for suffrageraised money for a memorial to honor 0 Can you find other Iowans who have worked for Justice? Write your own biographies of others who all of the women who had worked so long and hard to gain the vote.1-lw sculpture was dedicated by Catt on that day in have supported justice for women arid for minority groups or who have worked for peace like Catt. 1936. It is in the hallway of the state capitol. Alter Cates many years of working for woman's suffrage, 10 the' Goldfinch Iowa Women of Achievement EdnaWilliams Griffin Civil Rights Activist (1909- )

In 1 )21. 12-year-old Edna The young scholar would Williams and her four younger grow up and move to Iowa where she would fight for equal brothers loved to spend their free mi rights for blacks. time catching bullfrogs and S playing on their New Hampshire farm. Growing up In the North But slowly things began to Edna was born in 1909 in change. Her brothers and the Kentucky where her father, neighbor boys excluded her Edward H. Williams, trained from their games. She found saddle horses. When Edna was herself spending a lot of time by just a baby, the family moved to a farm in Walpole, New !lamp- herself because there weren't °W. many girls living on nearby shire. Her father continued to farms. train horses and her mother, "I was very isolated. In the Henrietta Williams, managed the farm world you don't have a lot household and took care of her of contact with others," she told five children and the hired The Goldfinch in a recent workers. interview. Edna and Stanley Griffin, her Edna turned to books for husband, out for a picnic in 1905. companionship and developed Griffin was so busy working for an interest in literature and civil rights throughout the 19605. history. She read books about that she had few photographs of her African-American heritage. herself. ]9 The Goldfinch11 When Edna Williams was in her teens, the family moved to Although the waitress almost took their order, the fountain Lennox. Massachusetts. She and a neighbor boy were the manager stopped her, and refused to serve them.Griffin only African-American students at the high -. ool. '11wfamily immediately filed a suit against the drugstore for discrimina- later moved to Pittsfield. Massachusetts. where she gradu- tion. Other African Americans who had been refused service ated from high school. there followed her example. After high school. Williams traveled to Nashville. Tennes- Griffin won her case, and Katz Drug, Store was found guilty see, where she studied English and Sociology atFisk of violating the state's civil rights law and fined $50. University and graduated in 1933 with an English degree. owners appealed the court's decision, and the case went to After graduation. she moved to New York and married the Iowa State Supreme Court. While waiting for Stanley Griffin, whom she had met at Fisk the high court's decision, Griffin arid In 1947, the couple supporters picketed in moved to Des Moines front of the store. where Stanley enrolled at Griffin's daughter, the College of Osteopathic Phyllis, was among Medicine and Surgery. They the protesters. She had only been in Des Moines carried a sign that for about a year when Griffin read "No Food for realized that many restau- !\ Mommy Me." rants wouldn't serve Africar "Originally we Americans. She decided things picketed outside." needed to change ire ,)es S said Griffin. "but Moines. people would go through our lines Taking a stand to go into the Katz Drug Store in downtown restaurant, and Des Moines was well-known for they wouldn't pay discriminating against African any attention to Americans. "The manager Edna and Stanley Griffin enjoying an evening out for dinner. in us." boasted about it," Griffin told the the 19405 African Americans were not allowed to eat in many So, she took Des Moines Register in 1983. European-American owned restaurants. it took people like the protest inside Griffin decided to make her stand Edna Griffin to change Iowa's laws. to get people's there. "Efforts had been made by individuals to sue Katz, [bull attention, they didn't know how to do it." she said. "It took what Edna "We organized sit-ins at high noon on Saturdays! so there down." Griffin had to do it!" were no places for [white customers! to sit On July 7, 1947, Griffin, her I.1/2-year-old daughter. Katz Drug Store continued to refuse service to African- Phyllis, and a few friends sat down at the lunch counter, American customers, who in turn tiled new suits against the ordered cold drinks, and waited. store. 12 The Goldfinch On December 13, 1949. the Iowa State Supreme Court ruled against Katz's appeal. Griffin had won her ease! By standing up for her rights. and the rights of African Americans throughout Iowa. Griffin worked to end public crA5e broL)361- discrimination. Her lawsuit was also a warning to other coUrt' boccie?. by one restaurants that had discriminated against blacks. oU ?er5cmo'r After she had won the lawsuit, Griffin settled into raising Se-hl le Al?U'te her to be-tiveeri her three children. but never strayed too far from activism. She dedicated much of her life to civil rights and peace organizations. In the 1960s she organized the local chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality, an organization which encour- aged and helped southern African Americans to register to vote. In August 1963, she participated in the historic March on Washington in Washington. D.C.. where I tr.lartin [Adler King. Jr delivered his -I Have a Dream" speech. While waiting for the In the early 1980s Griffin also wrote a weekly column, high court's decision, "Strokes and Folks.- for Thr Iowa State Bystander, a statewide Griffin and supporters African-American newspaper published in Des Moines from picketed in front of the 1884 to the mid-1980s. In 1985. she was inducted into the store. Griffin's daughter. Iowa Women's Hall of Fame. Phyllis, was among the Griffin lives in Des Moines and at 84, she isn't as active as protesters. She carried a she used to he. But her dedication to improving the lives of sign that read "No Food African-Americans remains a vital part of Iowa history. for Mommy & Me." Amy Ruth

O How did Edna Griffin win theright for African Americans to be served at Iowadrugstores? Have you ever been discriminatedagainst? How did It make you feel?How do you think it made Edna feel? O Can you find other Iowanswho fought discrimi- nation? Write your own biography. .14 11w Goldfinch 13 Iowa Women of Achievement

-4 CoraBussey Hillis Children's Rights Supporter (1858-1924) area, and children who didn't own a bathing suit could rent One. The swimming area was a success Cora Bussey Hillis decided to do more. con9fess.. nleet',03

Mothers educate themselves I Cora Bussey was born in 1858 in Bloomfield. near the Missouri border. When she was 25 years old, she and her husband. Isaac Hillis, settled in Des Moines. Cora was a busy mother. She cared for five children and a younger sister. She dent to Washington, D.C. for a mothers congress The other women there wanted to help parents and teachersimprove child-rearing. Cora invited the congress to meet in Des Moines the next ye..:. Hillis went back to Iowa and organized Mothers Clubs across the state. By May 1900, Iowa had 644Mothers Clubs. Cora Bu9oeyHillis These clubs had many projects, Some collected clothes for needy children. Others worked for better health and safety at One hot summer day in 1894. Cora Bussey Hillis' son. schools. Some planned ways to improve home and family Cyrus. spent the day swimming in the Des Moines Riverwith care. Many women came to the 1900 MothersCongress. his friends. The river was a favorite spot for children. but Cora thought of more ideas to help children. swimming there was dangerous. Every summer someone drowned. Cora worried for a long time that day. The worry Young law-breakers helped her decide to try to change things. The children of Imagine being a child in 1900. If you committed a crime, Des Moines needed a safe place to swim. you would be treated like an adult. You would be put injail Cora talked to many people about this problem. "Fhey and go to court, like an adult. If you were found guilty, you helped her. and soon money was raised. A bathhouse was would be sent to prison with adults. Cora felt this was wrong. built on the river bank. Adults watched over the swimming Children cou4dAot be expected to behave like adults, so they

14The Goldfinch 4 should not be punished like adults. Hillis wrote about chikren in trouble with the law: "In Des .0' .77,7 Moines we have a miserable system of taking care of these little folks. The only place for the detention of these young people is one small room, the most of which is cut up into [little] holes just large enough for a cot and a chair. In these, the children sleep and during the day are all allowed to mingle in the small remaining space.... There have been as many as 30 there at once. These children are fed but black :k 4 coffee with bread and molasses with soup for dinner." 1"" Cora wanted a juvenile court for young people separate

from the adult court and jails. Children would stay in special 414. homes where they would be guarded by trained probation officers instead of police. Cora Dussey Hillis organized tne first Parent Teachers Other states had juvenile courts that worked well. Hillis Association (PTA) branch in Iowa. Elementary School in asked many people to help her persuade the Iowa govern- Des Moines is named for this farno..,5 children's rights leader. ment to vote for a juvenile court, too. Ministers gave sermons. and labor unions and clubs asked their members to help. Then the United States entered World War I. Many young Cora's efforts convinced legislators to pass the Juvenile Court men wanted to fight, but a lot of them could not pass the Bill. This was a victory for Hillis and the children of Iowa. physical exam. In one day in Des Moines. 259 young men The juvenile court changed in 1967 so that children could were tested, but 209 failed. Most of their problems were have all of the rights that adults have. Before that time, the physical handicaps from poor diets and childcare. This helped judges tried to make the best decisions for the children. Now, Cora win her battle. The bill was passed. lawyers make many decisions for the children. Cora Bussey Hillis promoted good child care until her death in 1924. She helped Iowa's children and parents in Learning from small children many ways. Hillis began thinking about the advice women received on Elise Sehebler Dawson raising children. She learned that much of it came from imagining and not from watching and studying real children. In fact, more was known about raising animals than raising children. 0 How did Mothers Clubs improve the care of So Cora helped establish the Child Welfare Research children? Station at the University of Iowa in Iowa City in 191 ?. Here. O What did Cora Bussey Hillis do to support adults could learn more about the ways children grow. The children's rights? researchers could find better ways to care for children from O Can you draw, paint, or make a puppet of Cora baby years into the teens. Iowa parents could take better care Bussey Hillis? Write a speech for her to give about of their children. Cora fought for ninny years to get this her life. project started. The Goldfinch 15 Rosie's Dinner Party

Rosie has invited seven remarkable Iowa women over for a dinner. (Yes, in her dreams, because these women have lived at different times in Iowa history.) Check each place for clues on where the guests should sit. Write each guest's name near the chair she will sit in.

Ask Yourself I What do the items at each place represent? 2 Pretend that you've been invited to the dinner party, too. Draw something that represents you on your place setting. What questions would you ask these women if you could talk to them? 3 Whom would you invite to the dinner party? Why?

ROSIE'S CHALLENGE: Write a play using these characters. What would the women talk about at the dinner party? It doesn't matter how long your play is. If you send us a play with all of these women as characters and a dinner party as the setting, we'll give you a free subscription to The Goldfinch. Send your "Rosie's Dinner Party" play to The Goldfinch, 402 Iowa Avenue, Iowa City, Iowa 52240.

16The Goldfinch

Iowa Women of Achievement PaulineHumphrey Of dreams and beautyshops (1906-1993)

Pauline Robinson Brown wanted to open a beauty school City for two years. When her grandparents could no longer in Des Moines in the 1930s. Because she was an African- pay her tuition, she left school and marriedWilliam Brown. American woman, business opportunities were hard to find. When she and her husband divorced, she decided to enroll in Despite this, Pauline opened Crescent School of Beauty cosmetology school. Culture in 1939. She was the first African- "She made up her mind to he indepen- American to own and operate a dent," said Pauline's daughter, Barbara certified cosmetolo*.school James. "She always used to tell me 'You in Iowa. She was also the first must be ready to hold your own so that African-American woman whatever you go into, you go into it as a certified to teach cosmetology in whole person." Iowa. When no school in Iowa would admit Pauline was born Myrise her because she was African American, Pauline Robinson in 1906 in Des Brown moved to Chicago with Barbara Moines. Because her parents, and studied cosmetology at Madame Myrise and Eliza Robinson. C.J. Walker's cosmetology school from divorced when she was very 1934 to 1935. Walker was a leader in young, she never knew her father the development of African-American beauty culture and from her, Pauline Pauline lived in Des Moines with right) ni ph rey(on the her grandparents, Julia and Frank paulineHu learned how to care for the special ofher otudente. Diggs, and saw her mother when with one beauty needs of African-American curly she came for visits. women. She learned techniques to straighten Pauline's education began at a very young age. Her hair using irons and about special shampoos and oilsneeded grandparents couldn't stay home from work to take careof coSrneta149y: her, so Pauline started school at age four. of fq(A-1.9 the ortor o'cael-;cP_ ccle 5{c'n After graduating from East High School in 1922, Pauline and body na;(S, studied physical education at the University of Iowa inIowa 19 18 The Goldfinch to keep hair healthy. to go into business. Many people weren't willing to rent When she arrived back in Des Moines in 193(1. Brown business property to African Americans and loans were opened a beauty shop and began to save money to start her almost unheard of. Pauline also had trouble with the suppliers own school. who sold her the beauty products she needed to run her She wanted a school to enable other people to make a school. Businessmen in those clays didn't want to share the living and have a certain amount of freedom." said her business world with women, and often wouldn't sell them the daughter. "The school was really a dream she had for products they needed. herself." "It was hard for a woman being in that position," her She was getting closer daughter Barbara recalled. to her dream, but she "She fought the needed her instructorship -(1;k:1-;`,..1 racial fights and b4ore she could teach. also gender fights." Sometime between 1936 But Brown didn't and 1939 the Fort Dodge give up and became Beauty Academy one of only a few admitted her, and she women distributors spent nine months in Iowa. Her business there studying beauty was a distributorship iechniques for for several lines of European-American beauty products for men and women. and African-American women, even though Pauline also most beauty shops in developed and success- those days were -. fully marketed her own segregated For her I line of cosmetics and final exam, Brown beauty products. Myrise Pattie. the only local styled the hair of a Studentsat Pauline Humphrey's white woman and out the latest Crescent School of African-American styles for African-Amer Beauty Culturetry thought she had ican women. cosmetic line in Iowa. She clone a terrible job. The sold cologne, lipstick, examiners disagreed, and Pauline was certified to mascara, face powder and teach. cream in her school as well as in drugstores, grocery stores. On February 2, 1939. Pauline opened the Crescent School and beauty shops. of Beauty Culture in Des Moines. In those days it was Although the school was a success, it did not make enough extremely difficult for a woman, especially a woman of color. money to support itself. Brown used the profits from her se3C'e3ated cosmetics and other business enterprises to expand and )tacNte of ci;c{eferi- faeat grebeswere Swkrated improve the school. Her business outgrew its original building and moved to two larger facilities. i The Goldfinch 19 A timeentrepreneur,Brown also started and leased a chain of beauty shops around Iowa. Several tines a year she held seminars and clinics for barbers and beauticians to

0-11- She thought education update them about the concerns and trends of their t'( 'ben, industry. N was a lifetime process," e\ "She thought education was a lifetime process," said her ov.tOb' said her daughter. "She daughter. "She had a great impact in that she was able to a-) had a great impact in take a number of people who hadn't finished high school that she was able to and allow them to have a profession." take a number of people Students came from all over the United States, the Virgin who hadn't finished high Islands. and Africa to study at the Crescent Beauty schools. school and allow them to Her students have worked throughout the United States and have a profession." in Africa. In 1944, Pauline married Major Humphrey, who joined her in running the business she loved. Pauline Humphrey also coordinated the state and regional chapters of the National Negro Beauty School and started the first beauty shop for African-American women in the U.S. Women's Army Corps in 1943 at Fort Des Moines. After giving a lifetime of opportunities to others, Pauline Humphrey died in March. 1993, at the age of 57. Amy Ruth

O Why did Pauline Brown Humphrey have such a difficult time starting her own beauty school? O Explain how Humphrey faced two kinds of discrimi- nation: gender and racial. 0 Can you Interview older people In your family or community to find out if they have faced discrimina- A professional photographer came to Paullne's house to take this picture of her when she was a young girl, tion? Write your own oral history interview.

20 The Goldfinch 21 Iowa Women of Achievement

Maria Running Moccasins Pearson Indian Rights Activist (1932- )

Her mother 1..ned her -Running Moccasins- (Or "Feet burial sites (see page 23). She works to combat alcoholism That Go Fast") because once her feet hit the floor, they never and substance abuse. Pe arson's an ambassador for her stopped. culture. Her moccasins rarely slow down. The Winnebago call her "Woman Stepping Into Water." Being an elder, Maria said, laughing, "means that I'm The Arapaho named her "Whirlwind getting old. And it means." she continued, "that soon I'll be IRENE, Woman." making preparations for my spirit journey." She is \l aria Pearson. a Maria explained this preparation Yankton Sioux who has lived in as a time of separation from the Iowa for the last 35 years. Born in material aspects of life. A time rif t. 1932 in Springfield. South concentration on spiritual Dakota. on the edge of an matters. Indian reservation, she is now V "As Indians, we live with that an elder in her tribe. But the detachment," Pearson said. "We do name "Running Moccasins" not become attached Ito things!, or still suits her. She's raised try to own. That's where we're six children, has 21 grand- different from most non-Indians. They have a drastic need to own Mother children and three great- twa/Ia kunrung tirne Earth. try to own everything." grandchildren. She is wfth MoccasIns daughter.Nick,her Pearson One of Maria's grandsons, Nick president of the enjoying Governor's Interstate and Darlene,fainily Jensen, 12, added another perspective to her Indian Council. serves on what it means for his grandmother to be an the Transportation Research Board, elder among the Yankton Sioux. chairs the Indian Advisory Council of the State "Elders are older people who speak with Archeologist's Office and State Historical Society, and is the wisdom." Nick said. 'They pass down our heritage and our Governor's Liaison for Indian Affairs. traditions." Most of the time Nick isn't supposed to look Maria's efforts on behalf of American Indians take her elders in the eyeto show respect. "Except," he qualified, across the nation and around the world. She wasresponsible "when it's your grandma!" for the first law in the United States enacted to protect ancient Nick, who is in the seventh grade at Ames Middle School. The Goldfinch22. Photo Iron the collection of Nland Running Moccaqns Pearson 1 22 was given his Indian name, "Yellow Haired Fox," in a means I pray with a pipe," she said. "It's a way of life. Like ceremony when he was eight years old. I3w his education on praying with a rosary if you are Catholic." Then she began a what it means to be an Indian began when he was much story explaining the significance of the pipe. younger. "When the White Buffalo Calf Woman came to the Sioux 'The rituals, the teaching, begin at a young age," Maria people and brought the pipe from the Creator for us as a said. "We teach our traditions to our children. Ongoing. Everysymbol to live by, the Creator was happy with his people. And day. We relate stories to our children. Teach them the basic she told us how to pray with the pipe. She told all of the Sioux philosophy that they are Indian." people," Maria said. "And to be proud of it." Nick added. Nick, too, is learning the rituals involved in carrying the pipe. "I'm a pipe carrier," he asserted. Spiritual beliefs "He prays with his grandparents when he prays," Maria The philosophy Maria described is rooted in the spiritual said. "He is just being taught." beliefs of her people. "We teach our children to pray; On the same day Nick to he aware of the Creator received his Indian name. he in everything," Maria also earned the privilege of began. 'They are related to carrying an eagle feather. That the trees, and the grass, and means. according to Nick, that the birds." Everything and he is a "warrior in a spiritual everyone comes from battle," Mother Earth, she explained. The eagle is sacred, he "When your grandparents explained. "It is a beautiful pass away and go back to bird. Powerful. It represents Mother Earth, the elements of wisdom. It can see all. their bodies become food for Grandma told me all about the worms and insects, which my feather when I got it." in turn become food for the 3Lornik. Nick said. For Nick, the birds. And [their bodies' feather represents his part hometown ofAmes, become food for the grass. plant rant in their in "supporting the earth Maria andNick at a reetau life. and guarding against evil 'The plant life, Maria contin- things evil spirits like revenge and jealousy." ued, "in turn generates the oxygen that you breathe. So There isn't a certain age Nick must reach, or specific tasks you're breathing your grandparents and great-grandparents. he must accomplish to make him a true warrior. "When he The birds become food for the four-leggeds. The four-leggedsgets everything accomplished, he becomes a warrior," Maria become food for the two leggedsand so goes the cycle of said. "Indians do not have times. [Other people! have times. life ..." For us. everything happens in its right time." "Over and over and over again," Nick concluded. When Nick becomes a warrior, the transition will be "Over and over and over again." Maria agreed. marked by a change in his name. Instead of "Yellow Haired Maria also is a pipe carrier among her people. "It just Fox," ("It means I'm younger, when I have an animal in my l'hoto by Millie Frew 22The Goldfinch 23 name like that," Nick said.! he will be known as "Yellow Hair" the name of great-greatgreat grandfather. Protecting Indian Burial Sites Maria says it "makes a grandmother's heart happy" tosee Maria Pearson was a key figure In convincing Iowa's legislators to pass a law protecting ancient Indian burial the young grow up. To see the whole process trom children sites. In 1976, the State Legislature gave the Office of the to grandchildren and on through the generations. "I see a lot State Archaeologist (OSA) the responsibility to protect Iowa's ancient burial grounds, making Iowa the first state of culture coining back." she said. "It needs to. Children can In the nation to pass such a law. Before 1976, there was easily get lost: feel isolated. There needs to be that home tie." no legal protection for Indian burial grounds like there was she stated. for other cemeteries. Today, many of Iowa's ancient burial grounds are "If you don't know your history," Maria said. "you will threatened by soil erosion, and human activity such as never know where you are going. You will never know your construction and vandalism. The OSA monitors and future, either, because you'll end up making the same protects already discovered burial sites and examines and verifies newly found burial grounds. The OSA's main lob Is mistakes you always make." to preserve sites. If this Is Impossible, the office may have Maria is certain that Nick is sure of his identity within the to dig up the burial ground and move the graves to another context of the history of his people. "He knows who he is," site. When ancient human remains (150 years old or older) she states. "Nobody else can tell him." are found, the OSA analyzes them and then reburies them Nick began following in his grandmother's footsteps as In one of four state-owned cemeteries created especially ambassador for his culture when he was in elementary for that purpose. The Indian Advisory Committee that works as a liaison between the OSA and the Indian school. When it was his turn for "Show and Tell," he took his community, determines an appropriate ceremony to grandma. accompany the burial. "We took along my outfit, told about our ways, showed Although Indians have had to adapt over the years to changes In this country's non-Indian American culture, pottery, beadwork. and dances," Nick remembered. "The kids their burial ceremonies have stayed the same. Indian weresurprised at what Indians are really like!" Surprised to burial grounds have been sacred sites to Indians for collect baseball hundreds of years. discover that Indian kids like Nick "We Indians respect our ancestors," Marla Pearson cards and model trains, wear blue jeans and T-shirts and play wrote In The Indian Point of View: Exhumation and computer games like everyone else, while belonging to a Reburial. "They are present In our ceremonies, and we call upon them to help to live our lives helping one another." Q culture that is foreign to most other children. Amy Ruth Nick said that the best thing about his grandma is "That she has so much knowledge and she takes time to explain it. She never gets an aggravated voice even if she has to tell me things many times. ) "Grandma will always support me." Nick said. "She'll always be there to back me up." Frese

0 How does Maria's name Running Moccasins fither life? O What does Pearson do as an elder In her tribe? 24 The Goldfinch23 Iowa Women of Achievement 4s MARYLOUISE SMITH Political Worker (1914- )

What do you want to be when you grow up? A teacher? A Many girls did not go to college at the time. They business person? The ['resident? Kids today can be almost stayed home and raised families. Mary anything they want to be with some effort, You Ionise remembers, 'little was never have so many choices! any suggestion from 1»y parents that you shouldn t do Isomething I because Mary Louise fi Epperson Smith is an you were a girl." Her parents taught Iowa woman who / her site was 'quill to everyone. She wanted choicesfor could have an; career if she prepared hnsell to become a herself and studied. politician and for other Mary lAmise did study hard. She women to become what finished high school early and went they dreamed. to the University of Iowa. There Mary [Mike was born she met Elmer M. Smith, a October ti, 1914, in medical student she married in Eddyville, Iowa, into an 1. 1934. Mary Louise graduated in active family. tier father. 1935 with a degreein social work Frank, was a banker. He administration. was involved in local and The day after she county politics for the received her degree, Mary Republican party. Her Louise went to work for the mother. lAmise, took care of .5Iowa Emergency Relief the family and was involved in -It,in Davenport community work. They and later moved to State encouraged Mary I,ouise and Center. Mary Louise had three her older sister, Lynette. to t'AG:rtrvel::::::11;':th7rrtet6f:allngl4rut7"°antw.h0i:16rtt'sn'. She cared forher family as a single parent study and go to college. while Elmer served in the military during World War II. 1'11010 iron, (ilpitillatIC2fvfl 24'Ile Goldfinch her husband returned Iron) the war. the family chair of the Republican National Committee. Niary Louise moved to Eagle Grove. Mary I ()His). loved her tinnily and was became yell loimvii by speaking in public, appearing on 'IV happy to cd, e for them bill %vilified to do more for the country. and traveling.. In 1974. she traveled tlIOrt. than 38,001) miles community, and herself. In Eagle Grove. Louise lied throughout the Slates to "turn people back on to became involved in politics. She answered pi mailed I tut reporters were not used to seeing a letters, and campaigned door-to-door woman in this role and sometimes asked her for a local Republican questions about her clothes it ist ead of her I Ater she represented her county as ViCWS. vice chairperson of the county In 1977. Mary Louise resigned from her 12uptiblicart party. Smith believed, "II national duties and headed home to I h'ti Moines I was going to spend time doing where her husband and children were living. volunteer work in the area of pOlitiCti, This 511110' year she was named to the Iowa 111(.11 I %Valllefl it 111 be worthwhile. Women's flail of Fame for her accomplish- had something to say about the InentS. continued encouraging people to organization and dip direction the lake part in politics. party was going. Working tor peace .ind women remain important to Smith. She helped found the Iowa State and national politics Peace InsituU and the Iowa Women's Archives \'llen the family moved to I )(ts al the Ihtiversity of Iowa. Slit' serves on the Moines. the state's capital city. Mary Mary Louise Smith hasdedicated hoards of Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa Louise had the opportunity to work more than 40 years of her life to publicin.1 the University of Iowa Foundation. in state and national politics. Iler service. Here she was in I974. Mary I AIMS' has advice tor all kids: "Pay children were growing up, and her retired husband supported close attention to your government lessons to learn the her decision. She decided to learn more about how state and political processes your country. Learn what's happening national politics worked by volunteering. around you and gel involved." She later was elected as state vice-chairperson of the Iowa Maybe someday you will thous' a career in politics, like Presidential Campaign inI P1)4. That same year she served on Mary Ionise Smith did! the Republican National Committee. .Sherri IkArrl Smith has held many important positions in the Republican pally. In 111711 al the Republican Convention in Kansas City she became the firtit wutnalr to serve as chairperson of a 0 How did Mary Louise Smith get Involved in national party convention. Mary Louise feels that. "a woman politics? who is first in any field has an unmistakable extra responsibil- 0 What challenges did she face in politics? ity. If she fails or succeeds. it affects other women." Mary 0 Can you find other Iowa women who have been Louise succeeded in her roles and provided leadership and involved in politics? ',Vrite your own biographies of support lor other women. them. After moving to Washington. D.C.. in 1974 to serve as rhoio trom '11w Goldfinch 25 Iowa Women of Achievement uth Suckow Writer (1892-1960)

Seven-year-old Ruth Suckow (pronounced SOOK-oh) loved countryside and rural people in her poems, short stories, and to play in her father's studya room that was sometimes novels. Ruth saw a beauty in Iowa and Iowans that she lively, sometimes quiet, but always well-stocked with stories, captured and shared with the rest of the world. imagination, and inspiration. Careful not to disturb her father Asa child. Ruth formed special friendships with while he wrote his Suaday sermon. Ruth would write and older women and would often visit and illustrate her own stories in little black chat with them over dinner. It was in and red notebooks. an old kitchen, over howls of mush Ruth didn't know it then, and milk. that a young Ruth heard but this was the beginning of stories about the early suffrage an impressive writing career movement. Nat surprisingly, she that would span tour decades of grew up to write about the her adult life. emote ;cal and physical lives of Ruth Suckow was born in Iowa women, both young and old. Hawarden. Iowa. in 1892 into a She made her women characters family with a German-American strong and independent during a heritage. Her parents. William J. time when much of the world Suckow, a Congregational thought women were "weak" minister, and Anna Kluckhohn and "fragile." Suckow, raised Ruth and her older Because their parents sister, Emma. in small rural Iowa were open-minded and communities and towns, including believed in equality between Earlville, Algona. Fort Dodge, men and women (some- mHawarden, Manchester, and Grinnell. portrait. and thing unusual for the turn posed forthis the floor, During her childhood travels, Ruth father on of the century), Ruth and famIly by her theirmother. TheSuckowRuth sits next. to teal ned to observe the people and stands her sister grew up in a ahout1987. Sauna, &toter, landscapes around her. In later years, her older she used her memories of Iowa's t;iht to SuC40-A-3.e...the 26The Goldfinch gate loving home filled with activity and opportunity. It was during this time that Ruth began to impress other Most importantly, the Suckows encouraged their daugh- writers and editors. Her stories began to appear in such ters to read and appreciate art and literature. During the popular magazines as The Smart Set.In 1924, she published evening hours, the family would gather in the study where her first novel, Country People. The 1920s were a busy time Rev. Suckow would read aloud from favorite novels. In their for Ruth, who published a total of 30 short stories and five spare time, Emma and Ruth could read whatever th,:y novels in that decade. In 1929, she married Ferner Nuhn, also wanted, something not many parents of the time would have an Iowa writer. The couple lived in several states during the allowed. next 30 years but always considered Iowa their home. As young women, Ruth and Emma attended Grinnell Besides a distinguished writing career, Ruth was recog- College. Ruth also studied at the Curry School of Expression nized for enhancing the lives of Iowa women through her in Boston, and received her bachelor's and master's degrees portrayal of strong women in her fiction. She was named in English from the University of Iowa's Woman of the Year in 1934 and named to the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame in 1917 and 1918. The Suckow sisters were part in 1978. Ruth continued to write of a growing group of young women who were college regularly until her death in educated. Although these 1960. Although many of her women could expect that their hooks are out of print. The lives would he different from University of Iowa Press reprinted some of her stories in the lives of their mothers and t v.; A Ruth Suckow Omnibus, in grandmothers, women were 44.644 1988. Some of Ruth Suckow's still not considered equal to other works include Country men and were denied the Ruth amidstbeehives at herEarIvIlle apiary. People, The Bonney Family, Iowa same rights and opportunities. bees andsold honey between She raised her business 1919 and 1925. in 1926 to She sold Interiors, and The Odyssey of a writefull time Nice Girl. Writing and beekeeping When she finished her university studies, Ruth began to Amy Ruth publish sonic of her writing. Her poem, "An Old Woman in a C? Ctryt ?t0Getv6pre Garden." was published in Touchstone magazine in 1918. bees ofe kce?-1- Although Ruth loved to write, she knew she would need to rely on something else to support herself. She cleverly learned the seasonal trade of beekeeping while living in O How did Ruth Suckow's upbringing affect her as a Colorado. In 1919. she and her father opened an apiary in Earlville where Ruth spent the next six years raising bees and writer? selling honey during the summer months. When her apiary 0 How did she portray women? O Can you find other Iowa writers who wrote about work was done for the year, Ruth was free to write full time Iowa? How did growing up In Iowa affect their writing? during the winter months. Sometimes she traveled to New Write your own biographies. York.--"the place to be" if you were a writer. 27 l'Itotos Irmo Special Collections, University of Iowa Libraries ,,.28 The Goldfinch by Ruth Suckow TheSOririeV Famil The Bonney Family was first "Oh. I guess we're old enough. published in 1928 and tells the story as long as there isn't any Intermedi- of a midwestern family in the early ate." 1900s. The Bonney family's situation "Well. Then I don't know that I is similar to Suckow's own family: Mr. see your trouble." Bonney was a Congregational Sarah leaned against the table, minister and moved his family around quite a bit. True to her commitment scowling and getting red. She said to show strong and positive female gruffly: "Well. there are some characters in her stories. Suckow things I don't like in that pledge. wrote about Sarah Bonney's struggle Nobody that takes it means to keep to find her place in the world. In the it --" following excerpt, Sarah, a young "Oh, Sarah, isn't that a pretty teen-ager, and her mother are talking sweeping statement?" about the Endeavor, a church group "Well, I don't see that they do. for girls. Sarah doesn't want to join. Unless Lyddy Towle does, and I although her father has encouraged don't know who'd want to do the her to attend the meetings. way she does. It says to 'attend all a other, clad wants all of us the Sunday and mid-week services girls to join the Endeavor of my church unless I have some now." reason I can conscientiously give to "Well?" my Lord and Master.' Well. I'd like "Well, I've been thinking it to know how many of those kids over," Sarah said, feeling blunt and ever go to prayer meeting. 1 s'pose clumsy. "I guess maybe I'd better that's what 'mid-week services' are. not." Warren doesn'texcept when dad "Why do you say that? Aren't sends him over to play the organ." you girls old enough to be mem- Mrs. Bonney looked at her. She might have expected something bers now?" 28'11c Goldfinch 29 Goldfinch Fiction

*said scowling, "if Jesus came to tell the world about God, and the world's just one planet and Sarah blurted out: "I don't there's all the rest of those know whether I can take like this stars, why, what did he have to that pledge." She scowled from Warrenhe had already had doget born on all those still harder, but spoke a little stormy times with his fltherbut planets?" pleadingly. "I don't know "Oh, goodness, Sarah!" not from Sarah, who always went well, whether I believe much methodically to the Christian "Well, mother, it makes you Endeavor after having learned her wonder, now, I tell you! You read of it or not." verse of scripture for the roll-call. all those little slips from the and who loved to help Miss Reed Endeavor topics and everything in the primary department.... well, if that other's true, then all Sarah blurted out: "I don't know this can't be, and I don't see how whether I can take that pledge." you're going to know which is and She scowled still harder, but which isn't. Anyway, I just can't spoke a little pleadingly. "I don't join the Endeavor." knowwell, whether I believe She stared gloomily out of the much of it or not. If it's like what window. Mrs. Bonney did not say the physical geography says" anything for a moment. She felt at "If what's like?" her mother a loss in this kind of speculation, demanded. and would have smiled if she had "Well, the world, I guess. I not seen that Sarah was fiercely in mean all that it tells about the earnest. People had to think these different ages, and ice ages, and things out for themselves, and she then all those stars. Well," Sarah did not want to interfere. 30 The Goldfinch 29 Answers C4-\ IN( .5u"-K-ovv --\\ Pages 16-17: 1.4-11- I-) ...... ee ,,,...' , II : 7:::: il 1 -.- .1 :,...... --, ,.....,N, , , ke....,,, k cr..: ,,,..P:.%I , v...... ,...,...." .""'" 4 1 C"...- ,''...... r. i , .4.1.1,.6.1.ALA.P. ',.65,-77 -...V. :$:'-' .'"' .il-.....,-.. ., , '"Trt)-7.7(_..)... :,.,:--,___.-j-....:1?":,,,.r: ,...... / \'----7---N: -,---=:-.,c ( ;inC;:..,....-:.1\,-,-,_,_.__1. ...,_..t. .s,v;---_-.2±...k. .1'.7-7--,'

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Announcing P411 the annual V "Write Women Back Into History" New,updated Essay Contest GOLDFINCH Now On sale Index! you canlook now! Sponsored by this updated, up any topics The Iowa Commission on the Status of Women easy-to-use in lowa the people, GOLDFINCH history The Iowa Department of Education and articles, with magazine and activities Index The State Historical Society of Iowa from 1975 published to 1993. inin the To celebrate Women's History Month in March. the To order, "Write Women Back Into History" Essay Contest is sendcheck Plus (62.00 or money looking for essays written by young Iowans. Essays for postage order for should highlight the accomplishments in the life of a GOLDFINCEX, and handling) $9.95 H INDEX, to: THE woman who made a difference to the writer, the State 402 to Avenue,State Historical Swaociety of Iowa, or the nation. IowaCity, lowa of Iowa 52240-1806 , The contest is open to sixth through ninth graders.

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