President John F. Kennedy meets with recipients of the 1962 Federal Woman's Award, 1962.
President John F. Kennedy meets with recipients of the 1962 Federal Woman's Award for outstanding contributions to government on February 27, 1962. Shown from left to right are Dr. Allene R. Jeanes, Research Chemist at the Department of Agriculture; Evelyn Harrison, deputy director of the Bureau of Programs and Standard at the Civil Service Commission; Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, Chief of Astronomy and Solar Physics at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); President Kennedy; Margaret H. Brass, Attorney at the Department of Justice; Katherine W. Bracken, Director of the Office of Central American and Panamanian Affairs at the Department of State; Dr. Thelma B. Dunn, cancer researcher at the National Cancer Institute; Katie Louchheim, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs (accompanying the recipients). Photo taken in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C.

The Federal Woman's Award, also known as the Federal Women's Award, was given by the United States Civil Service Commission from 1961 until 1976.[1]

The Federal Woman's Award was established by Barbara Bates Gunderson in 1960, while she was serving on the Civil Service Commission. Her goal was to publicize the ways women were excelling in federal employment, and to encourage young women to consider careers with federal laboratories and agencies.[2] Gunderson was also the first chair of the award's board.[3] Katie Louchheim, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, and later Patricia Hitt, Assistant Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, issued press releases about the awards and appeared at the presentation events.[4][5][6]

Nominations were submitted annually by federal departments and agencies to the board of trustees for the Federal Woman's Award. The nominations were judged by a panel of "persons prominent in public life", including magazine editors, broadcasters, journalists, business executives, and college presidents. Among the judges were Milton S. Eisenhower, Carl Rowan, Doris Fleeson, Arthur Sherwood Flemming, Sol Linowitz, David Brinkley, Betty Furness, and Katharine E. McBride.[5][7][8]

About six recipients were selected each year, for their "outstanding achievement and ability in an executive, professional, scientific, or technical position in the federal service."[9] Award winners were invited to a ceremony in the Oval Office. The president posed for official photographs with the group, and made remarks for the occasion.[10][11]

The awards were discontinued after the 1976 presentations, though there were nominations for 1977.[12] "Although the prize had served its purpose at no cost to the government, its continuation in the era of equal opportunity as a separate compensatory award for women only, which had seemed so harmless and even chivalric before, began to raise concerns and embarrassment," noted historian of science Margaret Rossiter.[13] In 1978, Rosalyn Yalow, one of the award's first recipients, recalled that "I viewed this award as second-class", adding "I was therefore delighted to learn last year that the Federal Woman's Award was to be discontinued — I hope permanently."[14]

President Lyndon B. Johnson poses in the Oval Office with six white women, all winners of the 1964 Federal Woman's Award; from left to right: Elizabeth Messer, Evelyn M. Anderson, Gertrude Blanch, President Johnson, Patricia van Delden, Margaret Schwartz, and Selene Gifford
President Lyndon B. Johnson poses in the Oval Office with six winners of the 1964 Federal Woman's Award; from left to right: Elizabeth Messer, Evelyn M. Anderson, Gertrude Blanch, President Johnson, Patricia van Delden, Margaret Schwartz, and Selene Gifford

Awardees by year

1961[4]

1962[10]

  • Katherine W. Bracken (Director of the Office of Central American and Panamanian Affairs, Department of State)
  • Margaret H. Brass (attorney, Department of Justice)[15]
  • Thelma Brumfield Dunn
  • Evelyn Harrison (Civil Service Commission)
  • Allene Jeanes
  • Nancy Roman

1963[16]

1964[17]

1965[11][19]

1966[20]

  • Fannie N. Boyls (1906-2002; National Labor Relations Board)
  • Stella E. Davis (Desk officer, East and South Africa, USIA)
  • Jocelyn Gill
  • Ida Craven Merriam
  • Irene Parsons (Personnel, Veterans Administration)[21][22]
  • Ruth G. Van Cleve (director, Office of the Territories, Department of Interior)

Also nominated: Julia Brown Wright (US Naval Propellant Plant)[23]

1967

1968[26][27]

1969[6]

1970[29]

Also nominated: Marilyn Levy

1971[31]

Also nominated: Frances L. Whedon, Miriam H. Thomas, Joyce L. House, Joyce I. Allen, Vilma B. Harper, Cleo S. Cason[32]

1972

  • Lois Albro Chatham
  • Phyllis Dixon Clemmons (d. 2013; Government of the District of Columbia)
  • Ruth M. Davis
  • Mary Harrover Ferguson (d. 1999; Office of Naval Research)
  • Ruth M. Leverton
  • Patricia Ann McCreedy[33]

1973[34]

1974

1975


Also nominated: Theresa V. Brassard[37]

1976[38]

  • I. Blanche Bourne (Public Health, Government of the District of Columbia)[39]
  • Carin Ann Clauss[40]
  • Dorothy I. Fennell (Department of Agriculture)
  • Marion J. Finkel (FDA)
  • Mary Patricia Murray (VA, kinesiologist)
  • Joyce J. Walker (OMB)[41]

1977

Nominated: Lola McFerson[12]

References

  1. ↑ Central Intelligence Agency (1969-09-01). CIVIL SERVICE JOURNAL. Emma Best.
  2. ↑ "Federal Woman's Award Announced by Miss Bates". Pensacola News Journal. 1960-10-12. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-05-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Gilbride, F. J. (1964-07-19). "Permanent Designation". Argus-Leader. p. 30. Retrieved 2021-05-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 "Will Cite High-Caliber Career Women in Federal Positions". Asbury Park Press. 1961-10-29. p. 23. Retrieved 2021-05-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 "Katie Loucheim Announces Federal Women's Judges". The Pittsburgh Courier. 1965-11-27. p. 6. Retrieved 2021-05-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 "Gov. Career Women Receive Top Honors". The Pittsburgh Courier. 1969-03-01. p. 10. Retrieved 2021-05-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Judges Told for Career Womens' [sic] 8th Annual Award". The Pittsburgh Courier. 1967-11-18. p. 10. Retrieved 2021-05-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "List Federal Woman's Awards Judges for '63". Asbury Park Press. 1963-03-04. p. 6. Retrieved 2021-05-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Federal Award for Women Lists Open". Reno Gazette-Journal. 1962-12-30. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-05-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. 1 2 "Visit of recipients of 2nd Annual Federal Woman's Award". JFK Library. February 27, 1962. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  11. 1 2 Johnson, Lyndon Baines (March 2, 1965). "Remarks at the Federal Woman's Award Ceremony". The American Presidency Project, UCSB. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  12. 1 2 "Lola McFerson, AFLC Nominee for Federal Women's Award". The Hill Top Times. 1977-04-29. p. 2. Retrieved 2021-05-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Rossiter, Margaret W. (2012-04-02). Women Scientists in America: Forging a New World Since 1972. JHU Press. ISBN 9781421402338.
  14. 1 2 Yalow, Rosalyn (1978-06-21). "'Ghetto' Awards That Say 'Not Bad for a Woman'". The Des Moines Register. p. 15. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  15. ↑ "Federal Women's Award to be Given to Margaret H. Brass". The Daily Courier. 1962-02-06. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-05-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Visit of winners of the 1963 Federal Woman's Awards". JFK Library. May 2, 1963. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  17. ↑ "Government Cites WPAFB Scientist". The Journal Herald. 1964-02-03. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-05-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Elizabeth Messer, 65, Retired Civil Service Commission Aide". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  19. ↑ King, Jan (1965-04-26). "Federal Woman's Awards Presented to Career Women". The Amarillo Globe-Times. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-05-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ Crowther, Rodney (1966-02-07). "Honor is Set For 6 Women". The Baltimore Sun. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-05-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "Irene Parsons is Winner of Federal Woman's Award". The News and Observer. 1966-02-27. p. 65. Retrieved 2021-05-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Miss Parsons Receives Career Service Award". Asheville Citizen-Times. 1972-03-21. p. 6. Retrieved 2022-02-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "Julia Brown Wright Nominee for Federal Woman's Award". Rocky Mount Telegram. 1965-11-14. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-05-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ "Former City Woman Wins U. S. Honor". The Morning News. 1967-02-10. p. 27. Retrieved 2021-05-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ "Wilma L. Victor, Choctaw, to Receive Federal Woman's Award | Indian Affairs". Bureau of Indian Affairs, U. S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  26. ↑ Johnson, Lyndon Baines (March 14, 1968). "Remarks at the Federal Woman's Award Ceremony". The American Presidency Project, UCSB. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  27. ↑ "7 Federal Workers Win Woman's Award". The New York Times. 1968-02-12. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  28. ↑ "Veterans News Told". The Prattville Progress. 1969-03-03. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-05-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "Ithaca Woman National Winner". The Post-Standard. 1970-02-17. p. 6. Retrieved 2021-05-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ "Mary H. Ayers". The News and Observer. 1999-03-20. p. 26. Retrieved 2022-02-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ↑ "Federal Women's Award Honors Six Top Females". Enterprise-Journal. 1971-02-04. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-05-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ↑ "Army Nominates 6 Employed in R&D for Annual Federal Woman's Award". Army Research & Development Newsmagazine. 12: 18. January–February 1971.
  33. ↑ "Former Biloxian given Federal Woman's award". Sun Herald. 1972-04-26. p. 22. Retrieved 2022-02-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ↑ Office, United States Government Printing (1999). Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Richard Nixon, 1973: Containing the Public Messages, Statements, and Speeches of the President. Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780160588655.
  35. ↑ "Menomonie Native Earns Federal Award". The Dunn County News. 1973-03-07. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-05-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ↑ Townsend, Marjorie Rhodes (March 1973). "Remarks for Federal Woman's Award Banquet". Marjorie Rhodes Townsend Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  37. ↑ "Waterford Woman Runner-Up". The Times Record. 1975-01-10. p. 13. Retrieved 2021-10-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ↑ "Labor Dept. Official Named to Women's Award". Rocky Mountain Telegram. September 20, 1976. p. 3. Retrieved June 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ↑ Bush, Frances W. Sr. (1976-12-31). "Dr. I. Blanche Bourne Receives Federal Woman's Award for 1976". The News. p. 9. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  40. ↑ Jimmy, Carter (1977-01-01). Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Jimmy Carter, 1977. Best Books on. ISBN 9781623767648.
  41. ↑ "Joyce Walker Honored for WHS Homecoming". Windsor Beacon. 1977-10-13. p. 2. Retrieved 2022-02-02 – via Newspapers.com.
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