Ruth Baker Pratt
Ruth Baker Pratt | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 17th district | |
In office March 4, 1929 – March 3, 1933 | |
Preceded by | William W. Cohen |
Succeeded by | Theodore A. Peyser |
Personal details | |
Born | Ware, Massachusetts | August 24, 1877
Died | August 23, 1965 Glen Cove, Long Island | (aged 87)
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | John Teele Pratt |
Children | 5, including Edwin H Baker Pratt |
Ruth Baker Pratt (August 24, 1877 – August 23, 1965), was an American politician and the first female representative to be elected from New York.[1]
Early life
She was born Ruth Sears Baker in Ware, Massachusetts, where her father, Edwin K. Baker, was a dry-goods merchant. She studied at Wellesley College.[2]
Political career
She was a member of the board of aldermen of New York City in 1925, being the first woman to serve; re-elected in 1927 and served until March 1, 1929. She was a member of the Republican National Committee 1929-1943; delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1924, 1932, 1936, 1940; delegate to the Republican State conventions in 1922, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1930, 1936, and 1938.[3] She served as president of the Women's National Republican Club 1943-1946
She was elected as a Republican to the 71st and 72nd Congresses (1929–1933),[4][5] being the first woman elected to Congress from New York, beating out her primary competitor Phelps Phelps.[6]
Pratt-Smoot Act
Together with Reed Smoot, she introduced the Pratt-Smoot Act, passed by the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Herbert Hoover on March 3, 1931. The Act provided $100,000, to be administered by the Library of Congress, to provide blind adults with books. The program, which is known as Books for the Blind, has been heavily amended and expanded over the years, and remains in place today.[7]
Later life
She died on 23 August 1965 at the family house and estate, Manor House, Glen Cove, Long Island; she was one day shy of her 88th birthday.[8] She was interred at the Pratt Family Mausoleum, Old Tappan Road, Glen Cove.
Marriage and children
She married John Teele Pratt, a corporate attorney, philanthropist, music impresario, and financier.[9]
Together, they had five children, including Edwin H Baker Pratt (1913–1975), whose son is singer-songwriter Andy Pratt.
See also
References
- This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- ^ 2017, 2009,. "Ruth Sears Baker Pratt, The Junior League of New York". www.ajli.org. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
{{cite web}}
:|last=
has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "PRATT, Ruth Sears Baker - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
- ^ O'Dea, Suzanne. From Suffrage to the Senate: An Encyclopedia of American Women in Politics. A - M. ABC-CLIO. p. 540.
- ^ Ford, Lynne E. (2010-05-12). Encyclopedia of Women and American Politics. Infobase Publishing. p. 521.
- ^ Thorne, Magdalena E. (2005). Women in Society: Achievements, Risks, and Challenges. Nova Publishers. p. 45.
- ^ "National Affairs: Phelps-Pratt". Time. Time Inc. 17 September 1928. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
- ^ Wasniewski, Matthew Andrew (2006). Women in Congress, 1917-2006. Government Printing Office. p. 96.
- ^ Wasniewski, Matthew Andrew (2006). Women in Congress, 1917-2006. Government Printing Office. p. 97.
- ^ Stone, Kurt F. (2010-12-29). The Jews of Capitol Hill: A Compendium of Jewish Congressional Members. Scarecrow Press.
External links
- 1877 births
- 1965 deaths
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)
- People from Ware, Massachusetts
- Wellesley College alumni
- New York (state) Republicans
- Female members of the United States House of Representatives
- Women in New York (state) politics
- New York City Council members
- Politicians from Glen Cove, New York
- Charles Pratt family
- Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- Women city councillors in the United States