Bertha Adkins

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Bertha Adkins
Bertha Adkins
Born	(1906-08-24)August 24, 1906 Salisbury, Maryland, U.S.
Died	January 14, 1983(1983-01-14)
Nationality	American

Bertha Sheppard Adkins was born in Salisbury, Maryland on August 24, 1906 and died on January 14, 1983. She was an educator, political activist, public servant, and a community leader.

Early life

Adkins graduated (at age 15) from Wicomico High School in Salisbury, Maryland. Her parents decided that she was not yet ready for college, so she attended preparatory school at the Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. After graduation she attended Wellesley College where she graduated with an AB degree in 1924. She later received Master of Arts degree from Columbia University. Adkins also received honorary degrees from Hood, Salisbury State, Western Maryland, Wheaton and Wilson Colleges.^[1]

Her first job after college was as a teacher at Miss Harold’s School, a private elementary school in Salisbury. She held this position from 1928-1932. She felt unchallenged by the position and left. After a brief trip to Europe she began working as a secretary in the family business, E. S. Adkins Lumber Company.

In 1934 Western Maryland College (currently McDaniel College) in Westminster, Maryland offered her the position of Dean of Women. She accepted and stayed until 1942 when she became the Dean of Residence at Bradford Junior College in Bradford, Massachusetts.

Later life

After the death of her mother in 1946, Adkins returned to Salisbury to run her father’s household. At that time she was active in community affairs and also began her political career by volunteering her services to the local Republican Party. In recognition of her organizational abilities and skill in working with the public, she was appointed as Republican National Committeewoman for Maryland in 1948. Some women who had long been active in the Maryland Federation of Republican Women protested this appointment, resentful that the relative new-comer was appointed over other candidates and fearing that this was a case of the men of the party imposing their will on the women’s activities. Adkins’ down-to-earth strength in organizing and motivating workers at the precinct level soon won over all but her most bitter rivals.

Two years later, she was appointed Executive Director of the Women's Division of the Republican National Committee (RNC). In 1953, she became Assistant to the Chairman of the RNC. During this time, she instituted a series of "Breakfasts with the President" and set an example for a series of annual national conferences of Republican women. In her work for the RNC Adkins traveled extensively across the country speaking to Republican women’s groups, at Lincoln Day dinners, and at a wide range of party events. Frequently in her speeches she encouraged women to take an active role in party politics and to consider running for elected office. An active member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), The Bertha Sheppard Adkins fellowship was established in her honor in 1958, for a female scholar pursuing advanced work in American history, government of politics.

She maintained close relationships with Democratic women leaders throughout her political career, maintaining that strong participation by women in both parties was needed to ensure a strong two-party system. She continued to be active in the Republican Party throughout her life. In 1968 she helped organize the unsuccessful Presidential campaign bid of Nelson Rockefeller.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed Bertha Adkins the Under Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) in 1958. She was the first woman to hold this position. One of her chief responsibilities was the oversight of aging programs. In this capacity she directed the organization of the first White House Conference on Aging in 1961. She also played a role in the White House Conference on Children and Youth held in 1960.

As Under Secretary she also served on the Advisory Board for Economic Growth and Stability, the Committee for Rural Development, the Committee to Coordinate Federal Urban Area Assistance Programs, and served as chairman of the Department Board on Employee Awards. She continued her extensive speaking schedule with a new agenda; now she promoted HEW programs, in particular, the White House Conference on Aging. As Under Secretary she attended the United Nations Seminar on the Participation of Women in Public Life in Bogota, Colombia, May 18-29, 1959 and the UNESCO General Conference in Paris in November-December, 1960. She also traveled to Finland, Norway, Sweden Soviet Union, and Poland in 1959.

In 1957 President Eisenhower appointed Adkins to the Lincoln Sesquicentennial Commission. She served as chair of the Executive Committee. The Commission organized publications, promotions and educational programs to commemorate Abraham Lincoln. The activities culminated on Lincoln’s 150th birthday in 1959.

After leaving Federal service in 1961 Adkins returned to education. She accepted the position as Head of Foxcroft School in Middleburg, Virginia. She worked to strengthen the academic program at the school. In 1967 she retired to her home in Oxford, Maryland.

Instead of a quiet retirement, Adkins once again entered Federal service, returning to her role as an advocate for the elderly and aging programs. In 1969 President Richard Nixon appointed her to the Task Force on the Problems of the Aging. In 1970 she served on the President’s Advisory Committee on Social Security. She served as vice-chairman of the 1971 White House Conference on Aging. In 1972 she served on the Advisory Committee on Older Americans. In 1974 she was appointed to the Advisory Committee on Social Security. Finally, on March 27, 1974, President Nixon appointed her as chairman of his new Federal Council on Aging. As chairman, she organized public hearings on national policy concerns for older women. Her work in this area set the tone for the work of the Council. She served as chairman until 1977 and retired completely from the committee in 1978.

References

↑ Helmes, Winifred G. (2002). Orchids in the Icebox: The Story of Bertha Adkins and Other Influential Women in the Eisenhower Administration, Chapel Hill Press.

External links

Maryland Women's Hall of Fame

1980–1989

1985	Brent, MargaretMargaret Brent Carson, RachelRachel Carson Davidson, Rita C.Rita C. Davidson Spellman, Gladys NoonGladys Noon Spellman Tubman, Harriet RossHarriet Ross Tubman

1986	Jackson, Lillie CarollLillie Caroll Jackson Seton, Elizabeth AnnElizabeth Ann Seton Szold, HenriettaHenrietta Szold Wolman, Jeanette RosnerJeanette Rosner Wolman Zassenhaus, Hiltgunt MargaretHiltgunt Margaret Zassenhaus

1987	Barton, ClaraClara Barton Harper, Frances Ellen WatkinsFrances Ellen Watkins Harper Mitchell, Juanita JacksonJuanita Jackson Mitchell Shorb, Mary ShawMary Shaw Shorb Taussig, Helen BrookeHelen Brooke Taussig

1988	Mikulski, Barbara A.Barbara A. Mikulski Miller, Sadie KnellerSadie Kneller Miller Risteau, Mary ElizaMary Eliza Risteau Thomas, Martha CareyMartha Carey Thomas Welcome, Verda FreemanVerda Freeman Welcome

1989	Adkins, Bertha SheppardBertha Sheppard Adkins Clark, EugenieEugenie Clark Engle, Lavinia MargaretLavinia Margaret Engle Lee, Lena KingLena King Lee Ramey, Estelle R.Estelle R. Ramey

1990–1999

1990	Maurer, LucilleLucille Maurer McMillan, Enolia PettigenEnolia Pettigen McMillan Murray, PauliPauli Murray Stamp, Adele HagnerAdele Hagner Stamp Titcomb, Mary LemistMary Lemist Titcomb

1991	Colwell, RitaRita Colwell Lange, Mary ElizabethMary Elizabeth Lange McCardell, ClaireClaire McCardell Moses, BessieBessie Moses Schrock, AltaAlta Schrock

1992	Armstrong, AnnieAnnie Armstrong Carroll, Anna EllaAnna Ella Carroll Kushner, RoseRose Kushner Schweinhaut, Margaret CollinsMargaret Collins Schweinhaut Votaw, Carmen DelgadoCarmen Delgado Votaw

1993	Bell, Rosalyn BlakeRosalyn Blake Bell Clifton, LucilleLucille Clifton Ellicott, Elizabeth KingElizabeth King Ellicott Spencer, JeanJean Spencer Tyson, Martha EllicottMartha Ellicott Tyson

1994	Abrams, Rosalie SilberRosalie Silber Abrams Banning, Mary ElizabethMary Elizabeth Banning Brown, Harriet ElizabethHarriet Elizabeth Brown Morella, Constance A.Constance A. Morella Nutting, Mary AdelaideMary Adelaide Nutting

1995	Greenberg, Jill MossJill Moss Greenberg Nock, Mary L.Mary L. Nock Norris, Amanda TaylorAmanda Taylor Norris TaylorNettie Barcroft Taylor Willson, Euphemia Mary GoldsboroughEuphemia Mary Goldsborough Willson

1996	Ellicott, Madeleine L.Madeleine L. Ellicott Ennis, Ethel LlewellynEthel Llewellyn Ennis Lee, Mary DiggesMary Digges Lee Leventhal, Brigid GBrigid G Leventhal Robinson, Barbara A.Barbara A. Robinson

1997	Adams, Diane L.Diane L. Adams Eaton, Sol del Ande MendezSol del Ande Mendez Eaton Gira, Catherine R.Catherine R. Gira Koss, Helen L.Helen L. Koss Ponselle, RosaRosa Ponselle

1998	Beims, Constance RossConstance Ross Beims Goddard, Mary KatherineMary Katherine Goddard Hedges, Elaine RyanElaine Ryan Hedges Smith, Mary CarterMary Carter Smith

1999	Bahr, Florence RiefleFlorence Riefle Bahr Compton, Lillian C.Lillian C. Compton Hooker, Edith HoughtonEdith Houghton Hooker Johnson, Elizabeth FranElizabeth Fran Johnson White, Bernice SmithBernice Smith White

2000–2009

2000	Battle, Constance UrioloConstance Uriolo Battle Carr, Lois GreenLois Green Carr Fuentes, Sonia PressmanSonia Pressman Fuentes Jacobsen, JosephineJosephine Jacobsen Stith, RosettaRosetta Stith

2001	Feeley, KathleenKathleen Feeley Khan, MisbahMisbah Khan Krohe, CharmaineCharmaine Krohe Shriver, Eunice KennedyEunice Kennedy Shriver Tomlinson, Sandra W.Sandra W. Tomlinson

2002	Hubbard, Mabel HouzeMabel Houze Hubbard Kendall, Florence PFlorence P Kendall. Pickersgill, Mary YoungMary Young Pickersgill Sheehan, LorraineLorraine Sheehan

2003	Beauchamp, Virginia WalcottVirginia Walcott Beauchamp Clarke, EdithEdith Clarke DuFour, Kathryn J.Kathryn J. DuFour Kirschstein, Ruth L.Ruth L. Kirschstein Maddox, Etta H.Etta H. Maddox Yow, DebbieDebbie Yow

2004	Edmonson, EmilyEmily Edmonson Grasmick, Nancy T.Nancy T. Grasmick McCready, EstherEsther McCready Rawson, Margaret ByrdMargaret Byrd Rawson Simpson, Vivian V.Vivian V. Simpson

2005	Cardin, Shoshanna ShoubinShoshanna Shoubin Cardin Cole, Bessie OliveBessie Olive Cole Panny, Susan R.Susan R. Panny Schoenrich, Edyth H.Edyth H. Schoenrich

2006	Baker, Susan P.Susan P. Baker Diamond, Liebe SokolLiebe Sokol Diamond Gaddy, BeaBea Gaddy Gaston, Marilyn HughesMarilyn Hughes Gaston Hoffberger, Rebecca AlbanRebecca Alban Hoffberger Snively, GraceGrace Snively

2007	Deener, Annette M.Annette M. Deener Grant, Sally T.Sally T. Grant Nair, PrasannaPrasanna Nair Rothenberg, Karen H.Karen H. Rothenberg Scott, Audrey E.Audrey E. Scott

2008	Hawkins, Ramona McCarthyRamona McCarthy Hawkins Heller, Ellen MosesEllen Moses Heller Holiday, BillieBillie Holiday Menes, PaulinePauline Menes Orenstein, Toby BarbaraToby Barbara Orenstein Walker, Emily WilsonEmily Wilson Walker

2009	Fehrer, IliaIlia Fehrer Griffin, Diane E.Diane E. Griffin Legum, HarrietHarriet Legum Solomon, Allyson R.Allyson R. Solomon Wright, Anne St. ClairAnne St. Clair Wright

2010–2019

2010	Fraser, Claire M.Claire M. Fraser Green, Anne Catharine HoofAnne Catharine Hoof Green Kirkaldy, Irene MorganIrene Morgan Kirkaldy Phelps, Almira Hart LincolnAlmira Hart Lincoln Phelps Sandler, Bernice R.Bernice R. Sandler Shockney, Lillie D.Lillie D. Shockney

2011	Greider, Carol W.Carol W. Greider Holdridge, BarbaraBarbara Holdridge Peralta, LigiaLigia Peralta Poe, Gertrude L.Gertrude L. Poe Slowe, Lucy DiggsLucy Diggs Slowe Willenz, June A.June A. Willenz

2012	Black, MaureenMaureen Black Dunkle, MargaretMargaret Dunkle Kopp, Nancy K.Nancy K. Kopp Manicur, AliceAlice Manicur Motz, Diana GribbonDiana Gribbon Motz Rooks, GwendolynGwendolyn Rooks

2013	Bentley, Helen DelichHelen Delich Bentley Cryor, Jean B.Jean B. Cryor Dukes, Charlene MickensCharlene Mickens Dukes Sauerbrey, Ellen R.Ellen R. Sauerbrey Shevitz, Linda A.Linda A. Shevitz Tignor, Beatrice P.Beatrice P. Tignor

Authority control	VIAF: 36273403

Persondata
Name	Adkins, Bertha
Alternative names
Short description	American educator
Date of birth	1906
Place of birth
Date of death	1983
Place of death

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