Dorothy Deemer Houghton (March 11, 1890 - March 15, 1972) was an American Republican public official and civil servant. [1]
Dorothy was born in Red Oak, Iowa and grew up in both Red Oak and Des Moines. [1] She was the daughter of Horace E. Deemer, who was a justice of the Iowa Supreme Court. [2] She met several political figures in childhood due to the connections of her father, with whom she had a good relationship. [1] She studied at Wellesley College, graduating in 1912. [1]
In 1921, she became the first woman on the Iowa State Conservation Board. [3] In 1934, she served as the temporary secretary for the Iowa Republican Party. [4] She became president of the Iowa Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1935. [5] The following year, she was appointed to the State Board of Education and served on the Board of Curators for the State Historical Society of Iowa. [1]
Houghton was elected president of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) in 1950, and served as president until 1952. [5] [6] She supported for the United Nations while president of the GFWC. [6] She also supported Dwight Eisenhower's presidential candidacy and campaigned across several states. [7] Following Eisenhower's election to President, she was appointed assistant director for the Mutual Security of Refugees and Migrants, acting as a goodwill ambassador. [8] She retired in 1956 and received the Nansen Medal that year in recognition of her work with refugees, presented by Eleanor Roosevelt. [9] [1] She subsequently campaigned to re-elect Eisenhower and became vice president of the Electoral College. [1]
She married Hiram Houghton and had four children, but felt a lack of "intellectual stimulation" from being a housewife. [1] After her political career, Houghton retired to Red Oak and continued to serve on various committees. [1] She moved to Iowa City in 1957 after her husband's death, where she published her memoirs, Reflections. [1] She died in 1972 aged 82 and was buried in Red Oak. [1]
Dorothy Deemer Houghton (March 11, 1890 - March 15, 1972) was an American Republican public official and civil servant. [1]
Dorothy was born in Red Oak, Iowa and grew up in both Red Oak and Des Moines. [1] She was the daughter of Horace E. Deemer, who was a justice of the Iowa Supreme Court. [2] She met several political figures in childhood due to the connections of her father, with whom she had a good relationship. [1] She studied at Wellesley College, graduating in 1912. [1]
In 1921, she became the first woman on the Iowa State Conservation Board. [3] In 1934, she served as the temporary secretary for the Iowa Republican Party. [4] She became president of the Iowa Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1935. [5] The following year, she was appointed to the State Board of Education and served on the Board of Curators for the State Historical Society of Iowa. [1]
Houghton was elected president of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) in 1950, and served as president until 1952. [5] [6] She supported for the United Nations while president of the GFWC. [6] She also supported Dwight Eisenhower's presidential candidacy and campaigned across several states. [7] Following Eisenhower's election to President, she was appointed assistant director for the Mutual Security of Refugees and Migrants, acting as a goodwill ambassador. [8] She retired in 1956 and received the Nansen Medal that year in recognition of her work with refugees, presented by Eleanor Roosevelt. [9] [1] She subsequently campaigned to re-elect Eisenhower and became vice president of the Electoral College. [1]
She married Hiram Houghton and had four children, but felt a lack of "intellectual stimulation" from being a housewife. [1] After her political career, Houghton retired to Red Oak and continued to serve on various committees. [1] She moved to Iowa City in 1957 after her husband's death, where she published her memoirs, Reflections. [1] She died in 1972 aged 82 and was buried in Red Oak. [1]