Esther Peterson: Difference between revisions
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'''Esther Eggertsen Peterson''' ([[December 9]], [[1906]] – [[December 20]], [[1997]]) was a lifelong [[Consumer protection|consumer]] and [[Feminism|women's]] advocate. |
'''Esther Eggertsen Peterson''' ([[December 9]], [[1906]] – [[December 20]], [[1997]]) was a lifelong [[Consumer protection|consumer]] and [[Feminism|women's]] advocate. |
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==Background== |
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The daughter of [[Danish]] immigrants, Esther Eggertsen grew up in a Mormon family in [[Provo, Utah]]. She graduated from [[Brigham Young University]] in 1927 with a degree in physical education. She moved to [[New York City]] where she married Oliver Peterson. In 1932, the two moved to [[Boston]], where she taught at a prep school and volunteered at the [[YWCA]]. |
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==Career== |
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In 1938, Peterson became a paid organizer for the [[American Federation of Teachers]] and traveled around New England. In 1944, Peterson became the first lobbyist for the [[National Labor Relations Board]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] In 1948, the State Department offered Peterson’s husband a position as a diplomat in [[Sweden]]. The family returned to Washington D.C., in 1957 and Peterson joined the Industrial Union Department of the [[AFL-CIO]], becoming its first woman lobbyist. |
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She was Assistant Secretary of [[United States Department of Labor|Labor]] and Director of the [[United States Women's Bureau]] for President [[John F. Kennedy]], Special Assistant for [[Consumer Affairs]] under Presidents [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and [[Jimmy Carter]], Vice President for Consumer Affairs at [[Giant Food]] Corporation, and president of the [[National Consumers League]]. |
She was Assistant Secretary of [[United States Department of Labor|Labor]] and Director of the [[United States Women's Bureau]] for President [[John F. Kennedy]], Special Assistant for [[Consumer Affairs]] under Presidents [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and [[Jimmy Carter]], Vice President for Consumer Affairs at [[Giant Food]] Corporation, and president of the [[National Consumers League]]. |
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She received the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] in 1981 and was named a delegate the [[UN]] as a [[UNESCO]] representative in 1993. |
She received the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] in 1981 and was named a delegate the [[UN]] as a [[UNESCO]] representative in 1993. |
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==Selected Works== |
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* ''Restless: The Memoirs of Labor and Consumer Activist Esther Peterson'' (Caring Publishing, 1997) |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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*[http://www.consumersunion.org/aboutcu/estherp.htm Consumers Union bio] |
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*[http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:RAD.SCHL:sch00029 Esther Peterson Papers |
*[http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:RAD.SCHL:sch00029 Esther Peterson Papers] |
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*[http://www.radcliffe.edu/schles Schlesinger Library Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University] |
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*[http://www.greatwomen.org/women.php?action=viewone&id=120 National Women's Hall of Fame] |
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*[http://www.aflcio.org/aboutus/history/history/peterson.cfm AFL-CIO Profile] |
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*[http://www.fcs.utah.edu/undergrad/scholarships/peterson.html Esther Peterson Scholarship] |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Great Society]] |
*[[Great Society]] |
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[[Category:American feminists]] |
[[Category:American feminists]] |
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[[Category:Consumer rights activists]] |
[[Category:Consumer rights activists]] |
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[[Category:Danish Americans]] |
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[[Category: Brigham Young University alumni]] |
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[[Category: Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients]] |
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{{US-activist-stub}} |
{{US-activist-stub}} |
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Revision as of 19:39, 2 September 2009
Esther Eggertsen Peterson (December 9, 1906 – December 20, 1997) was a lifelong consumer and women's advocate.
Background
The daughter of Danish immigrants, Esther Eggertsen grew up in a Mormon family in Provo, Utah. She graduated from Brigham Young University in 1927 with a degree in physical education. She moved to New York City where she married Oliver Peterson. In 1932, the two moved to Boston, where she taught at a prep school and volunteered at the YWCA.
Career
In 1938, Peterson became a paid organizer for the American Federation of Teachers and traveled around New England. In 1944, Peterson became the first lobbyist for the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, D.C. In 1948, the State Department offered Peterson’s husband a position as a diplomat in Sweden. The family returned to Washington D.C., in 1957 and Peterson joined the Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO, becoming its first woman lobbyist.
She was Assistant Secretary of Labor and Director of the United States Women's Bureau for President John F. Kennedy, Special Assistant for Consumer Affairs under Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Jimmy Carter, Vice President for Consumer Affairs at Giant Food Corporation, and president of the National Consumers League.
She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981 and was named a delegate the UN as a UNESCO representative in 1993.
Selected Works
- Restless: The Memoirs of Labor and Consumer Activist Esther Peterson (Caring Publishing, 1997)
External links
- Consumers Union bio
- Esther Peterson Papers
- Schlesinger Library Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University
- National Women's Hall of Fame
- AFL-CIO Profile
- Esther Peterson Scholarship
See also
  | This biographical article about a United States activist is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |