| Date: |
Tuesday, October 17, 2000
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| Question/Topic: |
I am doing a report for my gifted class on women in the
1940's. I would like to know where I might find a list of
prominent FL women of the 1940's. Specifically, in
government, medicine, business, etc. Thank you.
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| Answer/Pointer: |
I am listing some prominent Florida women of the forties below. You may be able to obtain additional information on some of them in the Florida collection at the State Library or at the State Archives. Your local library may have some information. Some of these women were prominent for many decades, including the 1940s.
Dorothy Dodd was the state's first Archivist in 1941. The
Dorothy Dodd room at the State Library is named for her.
Rebecca Bowles Marks was the first woman assistant attorney
general (Tallahassee Democrat, October 5, 1948)
Dr. Elsie Marie Gilbert was the first woman physician in
Florida. She started practice in 1909 and continued for 50
years.
Mary Marguerite Baldree became Florida's first elected woman
sheriff (Sumter County) in 1945.
Miss Mae Campbell became the first woman state motor vehicle
commissioner in 1947.
Ellen K. Whiteside was appointed by the governor in 1941
the Welfare Board and in 1947 to the Children's Commission.
Jessie Ball DuPont was appointed by the governor in 1949 to
the Board of Control.
Mary Roberts was appointed by the governor in 1949 to the
Welfare Board.
Zora Neale Hurston, author, folklorist and anthropologist.
Mary McLeod Bethune, educator and founder of Bethune-Cookman
College.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas, author and environmentalist.
Elizabeth Virrick, slum fighter, civic activist.
Edna Pearce Lockett, educator, rancher, legislator.
Helen Muir, journalist and author.
Thelma Peterson Peters, historian.
Dena Snodgrass, educator, historian, executive.
Janet Wood Reno, journalist, mother of attorney general
Janet Reno.
Jacqueline Cochran, aviatrix, commanded Women's Army
Corps in World War II.
Kathryn Abbey Hanna, author, historian, educator.
Barbara Frye, bureau chief in Tallahassee for UPI; covered
11 Florida governors' administrations over 35 years.
Marjorie Carr, environmentalist
Mary Lou Baker, legislator
Eartha Mary Magdalene White, humanitarian and philanthropist
Frances Langford, actress and singer
Here are titles of several books located in the Florida
Collection that you may want to consult to locate other
prominent 1940s women. If your local library does not
carry them, you may be able to obtain them on interlibrary
loan.
Gainesville Women of Vision by Gussie Rudderman
(Gainesville, 1980)
Florida Women's Hall of Fame Awards
(call no. Fla 920.72 F636)
Julia's Daughters: Women in Dade's History by Marie Anderson
(Miami: Herstory of Florida, 1980)
Who's Who and Why of Successful Florida Women (Winter Park:
Currier Davis, 1985)
12 Black Floridians by Leedell W. Neyland
FAMU Foundation, 1970)
Fifty-Five Famous Floridians by Rodney F. Allen (Marceline,
Missouri: Walsworth Publishing, 1985)
The Women of Florida Volume I & II by Lucy Worthington
Blackman (Southern Historical Publishing, 1940)
Florida Biographical Dictionary (New York: Somerset
Publishers, 1995)
Floridians All by George S. Fichter (Gretna: Pelican
Publishing, 1991)
Florida Women of Distinction V. 1, V. 5 by Eloise N.
Cozens (Coranado Publishing, 1956)
The Story of "Florida's Wonderful First Ladies" and the
dolls representing them (a project of the Tampa Doll Club)
by Lucile Clay (Call no. Fla 920 C619)
The Junior League of Tallahassee did an oral history project
which includes several prominent women. The information
and tapes are in the State Archives. The call number is
M77-164. I'm sending you a print-out by regular mail of
the complete record showing names of people interviewed.
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| Librarian: |
SLF
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